Sunday Afternoon Reading

The Party of Cruelty was written by James Howard Kunstler last week after the HCR was almost a week ago, but I just saw it yesterday. It is a long read, but a truly excellent retort to the apocalyptic fear and loathing ramped up by repubs -- not just during the process, but also afterwards. Fear and loathing that is now being expressed in physical threats and in property destruction aimed against lawmakers who voted for this. Make sure you go over there to read the entire thing:

Insurance Commissioner is Failing Aggrieved Patients

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That title is stolen from the News Journal Opinion page today, whose writers I have to give some credit to today. They highlight an odd bit of business, where Senator John D. Rockefeller, D-W.V has written to Delaware Blue Cross to ask them to provide detailed documentation of why they would deny cardiac testing prescribed by doctors to patients exhibiting symptoms of heart failure.

Chris Coons’ Statement on Signing of HCR

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Got this via one of our loyal readers:(I still don't get any correspondence from the Coons campaign even though I've signed up for it.):
Congress made history Sunday night, adopting landmark health care reform critical for our nation's economic future and the well being of its citizens. It's great news for the more than 100,000 Delaware residents who are uninsured and the 70,000 Delaware residents who will qualify for tax credits to help them afford the health insurance they need. The bill passed Sunday night will also give 140,000 Delaware seniors access to free preventive care while lowering prescription drug costs for 25,000 seniors on a fixed income.

Mike Castle’s HCR Response — The Unbelievable Lameness of Faux Moderation

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As xstryker noted last night, Mike Castle definitely voted no for HCR and its reconciliation bill. Castle's office put out a press statement on last night's historic vote, that should be read in it's entirety to fully comprehend how badly he is managing to maintain any moderate cred while marching lockstep with his party. But let's take a look at a few things here:

Today’s HCR Vote Program

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So today is the day, and today is when we get to know whether Nancy Pelosi and President Obama have been able to pull this one out (Intrade futures on this effort have been going up since early this month -- you can buy at this writing at 92.1). You can use this as a live blogging thread (if you are glued to CSPAN and not out in this glorious weather).