tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58086752010-03-21T12:47:49.308-05:00PBD - Progressive Blog DigestThis daily blog is composed of clips and links from other progressive blog and news sites, accompanied by my own observations. It documents the failure and decline of the Republican party, the ongoing legacy of the Bush years, and the efforts of the Obama administration to build a new, lasting Democratic coalition.Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comBlogger2085125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-64602120062598038892010-03-21T07:20:00.005-05:002010-03-21T12:47:49.319-05:002010-03-21T12:47:49.319-05:00TRUE COLORSI heard that after some speeches, a contingent of teabaggers was filing into the Capitol, and I knew that meant trouble. But I had no idea this would happen. I hope the Repubs and the right-wing yakkosphere are proud of the “patriots” they have been celebratinghttp://mydd.com/2010/3/20/health-care-opposition-turns-racist-violent-2Tea Party's Health Care Opposition Turns Racist, Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-70986396747547215932010-03-20T07:57:00.003-05:002010-03-20T12:30:21.998-05:002010-03-20T12:30:21.998-05:00VOCABULARY LESSONWhat is the “doc fix”? It’s the subject of a “Democrat memo” circulated by a Republican lobbyist, flogged by Drudge and Politico, hyped by the GOP and its right-wing echo chamber, that supposedly reveals a dastardly plan by the Democrats on health care. Problem is, the document looks like a fake, designed to throw one more monkey wrench into health care passageWhat it means: httpNick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-24966810045797861552010-03-19T07:15:00.002-05:002010-03-19T07:18:48.379-05:002010-03-19T07:18:48.379-05:00SCORE!The CBO score: the health care bill costs $940 billion, is fully paid for, and cuts the deficit by more than a hundred billion dollars. Republicans only want to talk about one of those items (guess which one)http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/18/847432/-Whats-behind-those-CBO-number-Processhttp://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/cbo-score-bill-costs-940-billion-cuts-deficit-by-Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-62210709170714328732010-03-18T06:58:00.002-05:002010-03-18T07:05:07.069-05:002010-03-18T07:05:07.069-05:00NEAR THE FINISH LINEWhy we need health care reform, NOWhttp://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/17/847170/-Insurer-Fortis-Targeted-HIV-Patients-for-RescissionIn May, 2002, Jerome Mitchell, a 17-year old college freshman from rural South Carolina, learned he had contracted HIV. The news, of course, was devastating, but Mitchell believed that he had one thing going for him: On his own initiative, Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-18690096699019109602010-03-17T06:31:00.004-05:002010-03-17T06:48:11.987-05:002010-03-17T06:48:11.987-05:00CODE REDThe anti-health care rhetoric goes completely into the stratosphere (still think the GOP isn’t scared to death this will pass?)http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/03/code_red.phpTea partiers, Republicans, and Republicans masquerading as tea partiers are rallying against health care reform this morning on Capitol Hill at an event they're billing as "Code Red." . . .http://Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-69450268609893336222010-03-16T07:33:00.004-05:002010-03-16T09:02:46.067-05:002010-03-16T09:02:46.067-05:00THE COURAGE OF YOUR CONVICTIONSThere’s nothing wrong with it, but I think this kind of thing doesn’t help when the Dems have been saying all they want is an “up or down vote” on health carehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/15/AR2010031503742.htmlHouse may try to pass Senate health-care bill without voting on itBut of course, you can always count on Republican hypocrisy Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-35709915770122031492010-03-15T06:47:00.003-05:002010-03-15T06:53:47.147-05:002010-03-15T06:53:47.147-05:00WINNING IS WINNINGWinning on health carehttp://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/03/green_shoots_pt_2.phpPssst: the GOP understands that the main reason for opposition to health care reform is that most people HAVE coverage and aren’t afraid of losing it (though they should be – the Dems have done a lousy job of focusing on that danger). A reform that is mainly about covering the uninsured Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-44702452955707908322010-03-14T07:35:00.002-05:002010-03-14T07:38:50.636-05:002010-03-14T07:38:50.636-05:00CREDIBLE SOURCESWhat they considered credible sourceshttp://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/security-clowns.html[Digby] So, it looks like Michael Chertoff's DHS relied on wingnut organizations to keep them apprised of allegedly leftwing threats to the nation. . . . [read on]Good questionhttp://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/03/the-torture-party.phpAn excellent point from Adam Serwer: IfNick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-61932579643812235702010-03-13T08:00:00.003-06:002010-03-13T08:06:23.139-06:002010-03-13T08:06:23.139-06:00RADICAL SOLUTIONSThe Dems decide that governing is best after allhttp://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/03/healthcare-countdown-beginshttp://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/leap-of-faith-house-dems-will-have-to-vote-for-senate-hcr-bill-before-fixes.phpWhy the Repubs won’t repeal health care reformhttp://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/03/future-healthcare-reformIt’s not working any morehttp:/Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-69352463438635717932010-03-12T07:01:00.002-06:002010-03-12T07:06:32.924-06:002010-03-12T07:06:32.924-06:00SPRING FEVERAre we turning the corner?http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/03/green_shoots.phpThe GOP claims now that the Senate health care bill must be passed by the House AND SIGNED BY OBAMA before the reconciliation process can beginhttp://news.firedoglake.com/2010/03/11/Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-21604155470262168182010-03-11T06:48:00.002-06:002010-03-11T06:56:39.948-06:002010-03-11T06:56:39.948-06:00JUST GOVERNFilibuster reform coming?http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/10/844878/-Reid-Says-Filibuster-Reform-Will-Happenhttp://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/03/the-path-to-filibuster-reform.phphttp://news.firedoglake.com/2010/03/10/senate-democratic-leadership-jockeying-for-position-on-senate-rules-reform/http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=03&year=2010&Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-85145041180536149912010-03-10T06:28:00.003-06:002010-03-10T06:35:09.928-06:002010-03-10T06:35:09.928-06:00THE POLITICS OF EVERYTHINGIt turns out that some kinds of waterboarding are much worse than others. How do we know?http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/03/how-waterboarding-was-done.phphttp://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/03/09/the-waterboarding-smoking-gun-again/Has the Cheney hate and fear machine jumped the shark?http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-22751033090762824232010-03-09T07:41:00.002-06:002010-03-09T07:47:14.200-06:002010-03-09T07:47:14.200-06:00SUDDEN REVERSALSHere’s how un-American Liz Cheney’s attack on lawyers who defend terror suspects is: even Ken Starr and other conservative lawyers reject that kind of McCarthyismhttp://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0310/Conservative_lawyers_criticize_Cheney_group.html“The past several days have seen a shameful series of attacks on attorneys inthe Department of Justice who, in previous legal Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-3978979392102633692010-03-08T06:47:00.001-06:002010-03-08T06:49:10.482-06:002010-03-08T06:49:10.482-06:00TORTURED LOGICClarence Thomas reveals the twisted reasoning we can expect to see if torture issues ever make it to the Supreme Courthttp://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/03/07/clarence-thomas-revenge/[LAT] Thomas objected when the high court, in a little-noted recent opinion, said this unprovoked and malicious assault by a North Carolina prison guard amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. . .Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-44238280241656658662010-03-07T06:45:00.004-06:002010-03-07T10:57:44.151-06:002010-03-07T10:57:44.151-06:00ABORTIONWhy Bart Stupak is simply wrong about abortion funding in the health care billshttp://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/022737.php[Steve Benen] Whether he knows he's wrong, and he's just hoping to kill health care reform, is unclear. But the accuracy of Stupak's claims aren't in dispute: the facts aren't on his side. . . . [read on]The Catholic Church wants to Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-72552257058485837792010-03-06T08:03:00.004-06:002010-03-06T08:21:08.545-06:002010-03-06T08:21:08.545-06:00COUNTERFACTUAL HYPOTHESESIf he were a Muslim . . .http://crooksandliars.com/node/35411More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/05/AR2010030504438.htmlExperts: Pentagon shooter, others strike symbols of 'power for the powerless'Will Obama disappoint civil libertarians again?http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2010/03/05/obama/index.htmlThe WP: Obama close to reversing Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-80092047516815717252010-03-05T07:15:00.002-06:002010-03-05T07:19:43.972-06:002010-03-05T07:19:43.972-06:00VIDEO FRIDAYThe release of that RNC strategy document is going to really mess up their plans for the fall campaign. They’ve revealed the deep contempt they have for their supporters and donors, and now the secret is out: they plan to run on NO positive alternative, but only on fear and hatred toward Obama, “socialism,” etc. Another huge embarrassment for Michael Steele who, as usual, only makes Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-59962456938220363482010-03-04T07:16:00.005-06:002010-03-04T07:31:42.898-06:002010-03-04T07:31:42.898-06:00ARMED AND DANGEROUSThe GOP’s new fundraising strategy document tells you everything you need to know about the state of politics todayhttp://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33866.htmlThe Republican National Committee plans to raise money this election cycle through an aggressive campaign capitalizing on “fear” of President Barack Obama and a promise to "save the country from trending toward Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-62838143920675073382010-03-03T06:35:00.002-06:002010-03-03T06:40:25.911-06:002010-03-03T06:40:25.911-06:00JUST TRYING TO HELPObama says he will add four key GOP provisions to the health care bill (no, of course they still won’t vote for it)http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/obama-tells-congress-he-likes-four-gop-ideas-for-health-care.phphttp://news.firedoglake.com/2010/03/02/obama-writes-to-congress-cites-gop-proposals-from-summit-to-be-included-in-health-care-bill/The full letter: http://Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-79341437850441161002010-03-02T06:25:00.004-06:002010-03-02T06:39:49.364-06:002010-03-02T06:39:49.364-06:00THE GOP VIEW OF THE WORLDOkay, the mainstream press is afraid to connect the dots, but I will. You have Glenn Beck and others spouting insurrectionist rhetoric (“but no violence please”), you have the radical anti-government, anti-tax teabag movement, which the GOP is actively encouraging, and now we have the second attack in the last two weeks against a federal IRS building. Think this is an Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-54365680127636976582010-03-01T06:46:00.004-06:002010-03-01T06:55:50.701-06:002010-03-01T06:55:50.701-06:00BROKEN BEYOND REPAIR?The need for serious financial regulation – and why we probably won’t get ithttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/opinion/01krugman.htmlhttp://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/02/real-case-broken-governmentHow torture infected the entire Bush adminhttp://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/02/28/the-torture-gang-the-entire-bush-administration/John Yoo’s super-secret e-mail account?Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-22870241867635777292010-02-28T06:55:00.003-06:002010-02-28T07:11:48.545-06:002010-02-28T07:11:48.545-06:00BURIAL PLOTMock burial as a torture technique. Aren’t you proud?http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/02/25/the-mock-burial-in-the-opr-report/[Marcy Wheeler] CIA’s torturers asked DOJ to let them use mock burials. But DOJ said no.PDF page 42 of the OPR Report includes a list of the torture techniques that Mitchell and Jessen recommended be used with Abu Zubaydah. Whereas the Bybee Two TechniquesNick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-10746691592400794942010-02-27T07:03:00.004-06:002010-02-27T07:45:43.356-06:002010-02-27T07:45:43.356-06:00YOU GO FIRST. NO, YOU GO FIRSTOh, criminyhttp://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/02/hard-road-ahead[Kevin Drum] The path forward for healthcare reform is now widely agreed on: pass the existing Senate bill through the House, and then tack on a package of changes negotiated between the House and Senate that can be passed through both chambers on a simple majority vote via the budget reconciliation Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-1851412730354622832010-02-26T06:42:00.002-06:002010-02-26T06:53:38.387-06:002010-02-26T06:53:38.387-06:00MEN BEHAVING BADLYWell, that certainly cleared some things up. When the minority party's negotiating stance is, “throw away everything that’s been worked on for the last year, start with a clean sheet of paper, and build your proposal around OUR core ideas,” you know things are going nowhere. Time for reconciliationhttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/health/policy/26health.htmlIf there was any Nick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808675.post-68171018419136383002010-02-25T06:26:00.003-06:002010-02-25T07:07:38.873-06:002010-02-25T07:07:38.873-06:00HEALTH CARE HOEDOWNToday’s health care kabuki theater: what to expecthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/23/read-white-house-draft-sc_n_473774.htmlWhite House Schedule Of Health Care Summithttp://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/02/game-on-party-strategies-for-health-care-summit-emerge.phpGame On: Party Strategies For Health Care Summit Emergehttp://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/senate-republicansNick Burbuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11052188822471256837noreply@blogger.com