So, Where Was The Republican Outrage On Insurance Ethics Pre-Obamacare?

So, Where Was The Republican Outrage On Insurance Ethics Pre-Obamacare?

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Upfront, let me tell you I was hugely disappointed when the public option and/or single payer got shelved in the formation of Obamacare. And as one in the health care industry I was amazed that candidate Obama was willing to trust the health insurance industry to do the right thing for a revamped health insurance public policy, having seen them in action up close and professionally.
Open Letter to John Carney

Open Letter to John Carney

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Representative Carney, Your Democratic colleagues in the House are supporting an effort to expand Social Security benefits. I think it is time for you to break with the right-wing policies you've supported in the past and join your fellow Democrats in helping restore sanity to the debate over this vital social insurance program that has done so much to allow our nation's elderly to live in dignity. At a time when the 401k system has been proven to be a failed experiment, based on legalized theft, it is not time to cut social security benefits. Rather, it is a time to ensure Social Security's long-term solvency by "scraping the cap" and stop excluding income over $113,700 from the social security tax. The current proposal, supported by your Democratic colleagues, would [...]
Thursday Open Thread [11.7.13]

Thursday Open Thread [11.7.13]

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Hey, the economy was doing pretty good until the Republicans decided to throw a temper tantrum. From the Huffington Post.
The U.S. economy expanded at a 2.8 percent annual rate from July through September, a surprising sign of strength ahead of the 16-day partial government shutdown. Exports rose, businesses stocked up, home construction increased and state and local governments spent at the fastest pace in four years. [...] The third-quarter outcome was nearly a full percentage point stronger than most economists had predicted. Analysts expect the shutdown will slow growth in the October-December quarter.
Who would I pick to be the GOP nominee, Christie or Cruz?

Who would I pick to be the GOP nominee, Christie or Cruz?

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It isn't such a slam dunk. On the one had Cruz is an easy pick, because he'd be oh so easy to beat in a national election. On the other hand I'd like to see some semblance of sanity return the the GOP, and picking Christie would be a nod in the direction of reality. Also, Christie would keep Cruz from even the possibility of becoming President. That issue looms large for me because flukey stuff can happen down the stretch and BAM! - you are looking at President Cruz. As bad as Christie would be, the idea of President Cruz should make ever patriotic American break into a cold sweat.
Beau Biden’s stroke far more serious than reported

Beau Biden’s stroke far more serious than reported

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While the possible switch from Joe to Hillary sucked all of the oxygen out of the room, this Beau Biden item in the recent Halperin book flew under the radar.
Halperin and Heilemann offer behind-the-scenes details about the campaign and other revelations. They say, for example, that the 2010 stroke suffered by Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, the vice president’s son, was more serious than reported and that he suffered months of paralysis. “The stroke was publicly described as minor, but in fact was life-threatening,” Halperin and Heilemann wrote. “There were initial questions about how full his recovery would be. (He suffered paralysis for months.)”

Wednesday Morning Temporary Open Thread

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Maybe we have something to chat about other than Chipman Flowers? GOP shot caller and DC assignment desk editor, Matt Drudge, says that today is a sad day for conservatives: "McAuliffe, De Blasio and Christie: Triple feature in a Republican's nightmare. Hug a conservative today." I'm not so sure. Christie is a conservative with the ability to trick the media into thinking that he is not a conservative - eg THE WORST KIND! McAuliffe only wounded conservatism in Virginia, so that zombie will be shambling around doing some damage, and New York is liberal, so it should have a liberal Mayor.