Reclusive Left

First, they made sure that women’s medical needs would not be considered part of basic healthcare. Then, today, they added in an extra special amendment to make extra-double-plus sure that abortion wouldn’t be covered. Even by private plans! That’s right: any insurance plan that participates in any way in the new exchange, or receives any federal subsidies, or is paid for with any tax credits, will not be allowed to offer abortion coverage. Gosh, it’s almost like making abortion illegal.

Thank god for our brave Democratic leaders. I’m so grateful and happy I think my head is about to explode.

Der Speigel’s account. Not possible to read without weeping, and proof that no tryanny can stand.

Destroying the Democratic Majority

Meanwhile the bill itself will force people to buy insurance, provides inadequate subsidies, and falls hardest on the middle class and young people—forcing them to spend a huge chunk of their discretionary income on average, and doubtless pushing many families into bankruptcy (plenty are on the verge, it is impossible to imagine that this won’t push them over the edge).

And yet it is still supported by the same people who supported it all along. Apparently nothing can happen which would cause them not to support it.

This is the sort of “deal at any cost” thinking which bloggers used to decry. I find it amazing. Absolutely amazing. For any provision which is called “public option”, no matter how weak, folks are apparently willing to swallow hard and get over any number of deficiencies.

tatere at Open Left

so what about the other amendments, then?

we couldn’t allow votes on tying reimbursement to Medicare, or allowing single-payer exceptions for the states, because we couldn’t open the bill up to the Stupak poison pill.
that’s moot now. so? were the leadership, perhaps, full of the digestive byproduct?

i am sure there is a case to still be made voting for this bill as a whole but i’d have to hear it because i can’t think of how it goes…

A documentary and informational website about the controversial role of health care professionals in national security intelligence.

Doctors have contributed to the torture and abuse of detainees through their collaboration with interrogators at Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib and CIA black sites. Doctors and Detainees, currently in production, will tell the inside story of this scandal and how “interrogation doctors” are at the forefront of disturbing new roles for psychologists, psychiatrists and physicians in national security intelligence.

NPR Check

I have to hand it to NPR’s ombudsman, Alicia Shepard, when she posts on her blog, she really knows how to put ugly out there. This was manifest in her June21, 2009 defense of not calling torture torture and her similarly enhanced defense of the same on June 30, 2009. If you’ve not read Glenn Greenwald’s critique of Shepard on this matter, it is well worth the read.

Maybe if everytime someone advocated war crimes over the air waves we filed a formal complaint with the FCC it would have an impact.

Broder does not like democracy.

Someone stole my laptop. I have filed a report with the police; but I am advised the the chances of recovering it are very poor.

If you have steady employment, and are not overburdened with debt, this blogger would be especially appreciative of your support.

watch the video

Infighting and lawsuit likely consequences of mass firings

“The council is struggling with how to handle the arrogance,” said at-large Councilman Phil Mendelson. “We’re struggling with, on the one hand there ought to be a consequence and on the other hand what is in the best interest of the citizens and the school children. It’s finding the right balance.”

What will not happen, sources say: A reversal of the public school reform act adopted by the council in 2007. Fenty will retain his control of public education, and Rhee will retain her job as chancellor.

When the only sources who will defend a public figure are anonymous sources, you have to wonder if the reporter just made it up. On the other hand, it is possible that the reporter had a source. By the name of Michelle Rhee or a member of her staff. Either way, the article has no credibility.

Certainly the lawsuits from this train wreck will be playing for years, draining precious dollars from the District’s coffers. It is possible that the city could sue the American Enterprise Institute and other right wing stink tanks who conspired to inflict this trainwreck on our school system. But to do that you would have to have evidence that Rhee was recruited not to reform the school system, but to destroy it and force everyone into charter schools. I have no idea how such evidence could be obtained.

The Vast Right Wing Conspiracy owes the people of DC some serious reparations.

slowereastside

The Pyrrhic Option: you begged for nothing and you got it.

Stop being peasants and start demanding a specific solution to the country’s healthcare crisis…

Medicare For All / HR 676: Don’t accept any substitutes or legislative rebranding of the only real option for the American public