I just wanted to say we're cool...no offense taken.  You were a bit snarky and obscure in your reference and I misunderstood what you were saying.  I should have had you clarify before I replied.

Single Payer?  HAHAHA...not a chance.  We don't do socialism like those free market countries in Europe and Canada.

 

Public Option?  Nope, it ain't happening.  Because of course that'll lead to single payer socialism.

 

 

Read more »

Reid needs to whip the D's in shape.  They need to vote en masse to send a bill to the floor and cut off any attempts at a filibuster by the R's.  Any D senator can vote any way they want to once the bill reaches the floor, and if it contains a public option (which I suspect it will) those who oppose it on conscience or out of reelection concerns can vote 'no', but there needs to be a vote.

All empires seem to fall.  There is some internal reason why the end comes and usually it is (im)moral in its reason.

 

Our time is near.  While the rest of the industrialized world has moved to universal health care provided for the people at no cost we insist on keeping our for profit system.  This represents our culture putting a monetary price on humanity.  You will be kept alive, but only for a fee.  Once a culture feels it has become so God-like as to decide who lives and dies based on something as selfish as how much certain individuals can profit from it, it tells me that rot has set in and the end is near.  Our moral compass is no longer working...if it ever worked to begin with.

This is a blog where readers, who aren't good at typing and aren't journalists with exemplary spelling skills, post our thoughts. 

 

Is there any way we could have the edit function back, like the one we had at the original site?  Pretty please?  I'll beg if I have to...

 

Even just make it like a 2-5 minute window where we can edit, and only before the comment is replied to, so nobody can change the content of their posts in mid debate.

 

Happier users = more posts = more traffic = more profitable site

I am really a capitalist.  No, I am being serious, I am.  I own and operate a retail venture.  I am all about making money.  I am not all about the wealth redistribution stuff. 

 

But then again. 

 

Capitalism is a economic system that prizes competition in the marketplace.  Many players splitting the money equally while fighting for a share of the market on a level playing field.  Businesses not being able to game the system and use political connections for a competitive advantage over others...government neutral and no more people using their money to get laws passed to give them an unfair competitive advantage in their marketplace.

 

Ya know what?

 

The more I think about it the more that sounds like socialism...wealth being more evenly distributed through the economy and the government making sure no one can gain an unfair advantage?  Yeah that is pretty radical...

Josh just posted this at the Mothership.  The republicans will support health care reform if all the proposed reforms are optional?

 

Hmmmmmm...

 

They want the Public Option to be optional?  Fine not a problem at all, I can live with that "compromise".  People should be able to keep their current health care if they want to.  Let's get the thing passed...

The 2 men were ideological enemies but the closest of friends.  In these times of armed citizens at public forums and talk of violence that politicians on both sides, but mainly the rightwing, remember it is only politics and should never enter into the realm of the personal.

 

How about it Senator Hatch and Republican politicians?  Why don't you try to elevate the discourse to something resembling civility instead of turning it into a hate fest?  You said you were a friend of Senator Kennedy, so do it in his memory.  Squelch the hate that some people on the right are fomenting.

You were our leader.  An untiring progressive warrior who never stopped fighting.  You gave a lifetime to the cause.  Your time had come and for you the battles are over, but rest in peace knowing that us who remain will never give up the/your fight.  Thank you!!!!

 

Vaya con dios mi amigo!!!!

"What planet are you from?" - Barney Frank

 

 

I love the looks on the faces of conservatives when they try to 'blame' Obama for giving away taxpayers money and I remind them that the 'giveaway' to large corporations was initiated by Bush and Paulson.  One said to me "Really?  I hadn't heard that." to wit I replied "Yeah, you can even look it up on the internet if you want to".  Or that Justice Sotomayor isn't going to take away their guns since she is replacing someone on The Court who had the same view as her on the issue.

 

Sometimes conservatives make me want to ask that very good question that came to Mr. Frank's mind.

I am quickly becoming a very discouraged space cowboy. 

 

Ever increasing job losses while the rich have their wealth protected, promised reform not delivered on by politicians who really don't care that it won't be (Diane Feinstein: "I remain unmoved"), nothing being done for the other 98% of us, a President more concerned with bi-partisan comity than the audacity of hope, our troops dispersed all over the globe and still dying, GITMO remains open with no concrete plans to close it, a MSM which is supposed to be our watchdog on the corporate payroll, domestic spying continuing and even increasing, basically as far as I am concerned just a continuation of the last administration.  Nothing has changed and I am having serious doubts anything ever will.

 

But I am gonna head down to Atlantic City to hopefully have an enjoyable weekend partying with some friends.  Time to reflect and reassess whether all of what we are trying to do here is all in vain and a waste of time.  It seems the more things change the more they stay the same...and the sheep are still the sheep.

 

But seeing I will not be around for at least this weekend have a happy holiday weekend everyone!!!

So with the Al Franken finally being declared the winner in last year's Minnesota Senatorial election the Democrats are going to have their 60 seat super majority in the Senate.  They have a huge numerical advantage in the House and of course have the Executive Branch.

In short they can't make excuses anymore.  The American people voted for change.  On climate change, new energy policies, health care reform (universal health care in fact), a 180 degree change in foreign policy, ending the war in Iraq, stopping the torture of detainees in our custody, etc, etc, etc.  In fact between the 2006 midterm elections and 2008 the Democrats were given a mandate for change.  Are they going to listen to the people and have a nice long stay in power or remain beholden to the same corporate interests that they and the Republicans have been serving and be voted out post haste? 

The time for talk is over it is time to walk the walk.

All I keep on hearing out of democratic senators is we need '60 votes to pass this' and 'we need 60 votes to pass that'.  But I wonder what the story would be when Al Franken is finally seated?  What would be the claimed obstacle to passing health care and climate change reforms then?

I am sick of the 'it has to be bi-partisan to be passed' dodge coming from the Democrats in the US Senate.  These are very crucial times in terms of potential long needed reforms being enacted.  Why aren't Harry Reid and the Democrats pushing harder to get Franken seated?  First, and most importantly, the State of Minnesota is not being properly represented, but secondly, decisions that will affect the future of the American people for decades to come are being decided right now and the dems are ceding their strategic/numeric advantage by not having Franken there in the Senate.

I've noticed here at TPM we have great coverage of Israel and Israeli politics.  I love the discourse and love the authors contributions.  They are usually always thought provoking, salient and provide informed comments.

What I don't see around here are many posts about the other Arab countries.  There was just an election in Lebanon where Hezbollah took a bit of an unexpected beating.  Of course what is currently going on in Iran.  The state of affairs in Pakistan is very troubling/concerning.  And Turkey definitely merits coverage in terms of their clout in the region and how they are a bridge between Europe and the Middle-east.  I think covering what is going on in the region might give some context into better understanding and discussing a whole host of regional issues.  Now I'm not talking about the main TPM site.  I think Josh has been doing a great job staying on top of the post election unrest in Iran.  I am talking about Cafe contributors.

Are there bloggers out there who could provide us with some expertise on the whole region who might be willing/could be asked to contribute here?  And preferably people who currently reside or have lived in the countries in the recent past.  It is a very complex, fascinating and important region of the world to keep up to speed on.  Thoughts anyone?  I would love to see and welcome it.

If it is true that there was widespread and massive fraud in the Iranian elections I think the US, through the auspices of the UN, should push for international review to check the legitimacy of the results. 

If the election was fixed it is a serious misstep for the ruling mullahs in Iran.  It damages the credibility of a government it appears the Iranian people are growing tired of.  If the current regime in Tehran can be taken down by the Iranian people themselves before their current government's nuclear aspirations come to fruition it would be a best case scenario.  This is a golden opportunity to weaken a regime, and hasten its demise, without US forces having to fire a single shot.  And if the US can push this issue with the UN and the world on behalf of the Iranian people. I don't think it would be viewed as US meddling by the Iranian people but as a welcome assist.  And probably even engender a higher level of goodwill towards the US from the Iranian people.

The US, through President Obama's Inauguration Address and his speech in Cairo, extended our hand to the Iranian people and the Iranian people weren't allowed to unclench their fist and grasp that hand even though they wanted to.  This is definitely a case where a wrong should be attempted to be righted...and keep extending our hand to them and let them be safe in the knowledge that we know they tried to reciprocate.  Eventually they will push aside what is preventing them from taking the first small step in the journey they want to take on what will still be a long path to peace.