Unstable Isotope

Opinionated chemist, troublemaker, blogger on national and Delaware politics.

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Coalition Of The Bribed

Filed in National by on December 16, 2009 10 Comments

The Republicans must be having a hard time building a real grassroots movement. Their anti-health care reform die in was a bust yesterday when only 60 people showed up and none of them actually pretended to die. They are sending anti-reform form letters to Congress through Facebook games. Now, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is […]

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Another Dispatch From The GOP Brain Trust

Filed in National by on December 16, 2009 9 Comments

Fox News has figured out how to sell the GOP jobs plan. Cut wages! Now, with its Republican-inspired “Where are the jobs?” campaign in full swing, Fox has gone “on the job hunt” with a “new” idea for increasing employment: cutting the minimum wage. Jumping off from an op-ed by Washington Post editorial board member […]

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Do You Need A Pick-Me-Up?

Filed in National by on December 15, 2009 4 Comments

Do you need a pick-me-up? I know I do. I don’t like spending time arguing with people who have the same goals. Watch this video (edited) of a confrontation between John Thune and Al Franken. Franken to Thune – you’re not entitled to your own facts.

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Tuesday Open Thread

Filed in National by on December 15, 2009 9 Comments

It’s Tuesday of the seemingly longest week of the year (the week before a 2 week vacation). Let’s open this open thread. Please, if you get a chance, read this fascinating article by James Chartrand. James Chartrand writes about her struggles getting by as writer, until she adopted a man’s pseudonym. I struggled to get […]

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Busted!

Filed in National by on December 15, 2009 1 Comment

Eugene Robinson digs up this gem: Sarah Palin is such a cold-eyed skeptic about the Copenhagen summit on climate change that it’s no surprise she would call on President Obama not to attend. After all, Obama might join other leaders in acknowledging that warming is a “global challenge.” He might entertain “opportunities to reduce greenhouse […]

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Does Mike Castle Oppose The FDIC Too?

Filed in Delaware, National by on December 15, 2009 1 Comment

Last week the U.S. House passed an ambitious financial overhaul package. The vote count was 223-202, with some Blue Dogs voting with all Republicans (including Mike Castle) against the bill. Mike Castle released this statement about his vote: “Since the financial crisis began, I have worked with my Republican and Democrat colleagues in the House […]

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Public Option And Medicare Buy-In Dropped

Filed in National by on December 14, 2009 127 Comments

Reports are just coming in that there’s a new “deal” on health care reform. President Lieberman wants only to give U.S. taxpayer money to big insurance companies but doesn’t care anything about lowering costs. Do you know the origin of the Medicare buy-in? Joe Lieberman. Joe Lieberman proposed a Medicare buy-in compromise as late as […]

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Monday Open Thread

Filed in National by on December 14, 2009 17 Comments

It’s Monday so let’s get started on our open thread. How’s your holiday shopping going? Despite my doubts about the new fitness shoe craze, I bought some. I’ve been wearing them and they’re pretty comfortable but my thighs are killing me. Is this a sign they’re working? I find this interesting, especially since Joe Lieberman […]

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Holiday Gifts That Give Back

Filed in National by on December 14, 2009 4 Comments
Holiday Gifts That Give Back

I’m sure many of you have had the experience of trying to shop for the person who has everything (I know I do). Before you buy them yet another gadget that they can’t use, think about giving gifts of charity. My family tried this last year, and it was a big hit. Below is a […]

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Health Insurance Lobby Astroturfs Facebook Games

Filed in National by on December 13, 2009 3 Comments

Millions of Facebook users spend their time as digital farmers, pirates or wise guys and the health insurance lobby has found a way to use these games to further their political agenda. . . . Get Health Reform Right, are paying Facebook users “virtual currency” – which is useful in Facebook games like “FarmVille,” “Mafia […]

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Weekend Open Thread

Filed in National by on December 12, 2009 20 Comments

Only two more weekends until Christmas! Have you got your Christmas shopping finished? I’m definitely not finished. I think ‘Bulo is not the only listaholic around here. I found this through Facebook: The 10 Least Successful Holiday Specials Of All Time. Here’s my favorite: Ayn Rand’s A Selfish Christmas (1951) In this hour-long radio drama, […]

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Carper Fights For His Base

Filed in Delaware, National by on December 12, 2009 22 Comments

Earlier this year Carper voted with the Republicans to block an amendment to allow Medicaid and Medicare to negotiate drug prices. It caused quite a stir because Carper railed against the unfairness of hurting the profits of drug companies. Carper is doing it again. Byron Dorgan has filed an amendment to allow drug reimportation from […]

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ACORN Scores A Victory

Filed in National by on December 11, 2009 7 Comments

ACORN has scored a court victory, successfully arguing that Congress’s defunding bill was a bill of attainder: A judge has put an injunction on Congress’s ban on ACORN funding. U.S. District Judge Nina Gershon today ruled to put a preliminary injunction on the Congressional resolution that barred ACORN or its affiliates from receiving federal funds, […]

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