Your Abbreviated Pundit Round-up

post from Daily Kos on 20 March 2010 08:57:52 AM. © Daily Kos

Saturday hot air, courtesy of the chattering class.

WaPo editorial (Fri):

Health reform is a risk worth taking

Et tu, WaPo? Victory has a thousand fathers...

Charles Blow:

As we stand at the verge of the historic vote on the health care bill — a signature piece of President Obama’s agenda — it feels appropriate to take a look at how he has fared during the long slog that got us here. My quick assessment: remarkably well.

The pundits didn't fool us into thinking Bush was doing poorly, but they have no issue pretending Obama is 'plummeting'.

The empty-headed chattering class began another round of speculation and inane analysis this week when his approval rating dropped to 46 percent, its lowest yet. Silly pundits.

It was a minor tick and overplayed. If I were a Republican strategist (God forbid!), I would actually be very worried that the lower 50s/upper 40s could be Obama’s bottom. He has weathered some of the worst months of his young presidency recently, and his numbers have barely budged.

That's no surprise. We write about it all the time. Pundits don't know how to read polls (or are paid not to know.) Amy Walter and the Hotline crew, Chuck Todd, Charlie Cook and few other exceptions...

Buffalo News:

For proof, witness the results of a Kaiser Family Foundation poll that showed 46 percent of Americans in favor of the health reform proposal and 42 percent opposed. The poll has a margin of error of 3 points ... meaning the public is almost evenly divided on the issue.

However, Democratic support is solidifying, with 52 percent of Democrats now strongly in favor of the plan, up from 30 percent in January.

If Republicans were in power, the media would call it a mandate.

Medscape on H1N1:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that as of mid-January 2010, between 41 million and 84 million cases of H1N1 influenza have occurred in the United States. Estimates of H1N1-related hospitalization range from 183,000 to 378,000, and estimates of deaths number between 8330 and 17,160. In nearly all reports, most infections occurred among young adults. In addition to this study, a synchronous publication of H1N1 cases from Mexico echoed previous reports of increased rates of disease in obese patients (36% of patients in the Mexican cohort).[3] Although chronic respiratory disease has not been a consistent risk factor for H1N1 infection, chronic comorbid medical conditions are disproportionately high in patients with H1N1 influenza.[4] Fortunately, treatment with neuraminidase inhibitors is nearly universal and is associated with improved survival.[3] At present, it seems that the pandemic phase of H1N1 disease may be waning, although vigilance remains important as sporadic cases continue to occur.

41 to 84 million is a lot of Americans. With the next pandemic (yeah, there'll be another, quite possibly worse) they will mostly have health insurance.

Chris Cillizza:

I think it is because so much of the vote-counting is going on behind closed doors and, hence, not available for public consumption.

Remember that simply because there remain a number of undecideds publicly on the bill doesn't mean all of those ame people are undecided privately. My guess is that there are only a handful of truly undecided members at this point.

I have long believed that the White House simply cannot let this bill fail as it would fundamentally undermine the argument Obama made in 2008 that he could get Washington working again.

That said, there is at least one very smart observer of the House that I speak to regularly who insists it is going to be much harder for Pelosi to get to 216 than people realize.

Either way, C-SPAN on Sunday is going to be must-watch TV.

Dana Milbank:

"This is the largest tax bill in history," the Republican leader fumed. The reform "is unjust, unworkable, stupidly drafted and wastefully financed."

And that wasn't all. This "cruel hoax," he said, this "folly" of "bungling and waste," compared poorly to the "much less expensive" and "practical measures" favored by the Republicans.

"We must repeal," the GOP leader argued. "The Republican Party is pledged to do this."

That was Republican presidential nominee Alf Landon in a September 1936 campaign speech. He based his bid for the White House on repealing Social Security.

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New York Dems

post from Talking Points Memo on 20 March 2010 08:57:00 AM. © Talking Points Memo

TPM Reader HW has a question ...From my point of view, it's hard for me to understand why any Democrat is opposing this bill, but the ones I really have trouble understanding are the two NY Dems in opposition: Michael McMahon (NY-13) and Arcuri (NY-24).[...]

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hp

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Listen To The President Live... Right Now

post from DownWithTyranny! on 20 March 2010 08:57:00 AM. © DownWithTyranny!

While the racists and bigots who voted against Obama in 2008 and came out on the losing side are running around Capitol Hill threatening everyone and yelling like monkeys, why not listen live as the President explains what's happening with healthcare reform right now:

JOIN THE LIVE CHAT VISIT WHITEHOUSE.GOV

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Assume we have a can-opener...

post from Open Left - Front Page on 20 March 2010 08:30:00 AM. © Open Left - Front Page

When I was an undergrad math TA, most of the students I dealt with were economics majors, so[...]

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-canopener

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There Goes My Babe

post from American Street on 20 March 2010 08:29:00 AM. © American Street

Video here.The end has comeThe sky has lost its sunThe harm is doneHe was the only oneThere goes my babeThere goes what might have beenThere goes my babeIn the cool morning rainAnd now my heartLies empty and still againIf she were hereI’d long to hold her nearBut now it’s clearThe price of love is dearThere [...]

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http://www.reachm.com/amstreet/archives/2010/03/20/there-goes-my-babe/

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National Democrats Still Hooked on Blue Dogs

post from They gave us a republic... - Front Page on 20 March 2010 08:11:09 AM. © They gave us a republic... - Front Page

If health care reform finally passes Congress, it will be thanks to dirty fucking hippie liberals like Dennis Kucinich, who betrayed the insane So-Beyond-Left-They're-Right to do the right thing for the country.

It will pass despite the determined and desperate efforts of Blue Dog DINO scumbuckets like Ben Wire Hanger Chandler, who claims to be pro-choice but voted for Stupak and against the actual bill.

So, the Democratic Establishment is gearing up to support all the liberals making primary challenges against Blue Dog traitors like Stupak. Right? RIGHT???!

Sigh.

Down with Tyranny exposes the DCCC's hypocrisy in attacking certain repug representatives while continuing to support worthless DINOs who commit the same crimes.

Anyway, yesterday's full frontal against Ryan by the DCCC-- which, ironically, still refuses to give the time of day to his opponent, progressive activist Paulette Garin-- asks the straightforward question, "As insurance premiums skyrocket, will Representative Paul Ryan continue protecting insurance company profits?"
SNIP
So is that D-trip hypocrisy? I mean, sure, Ryan is a disgrace to America. But what's Suzanne Kosmas, who they are pointlessly pouring resources into protecting? And John Barrow has a thoroughly progressive and incorruptible former state senator, Regina Thomas, running against him in the primary. If the DCCC can denounce Ryan, they can denounce Barrow for the exact same crime. Of course, like I said, they're not supporting the progressive running against him either!

Earlier, DWT noted that the DCCC's "Red to Blue" campaign is pouring resources into promoting yet more Blue Dogs rather than supporting liberals who actually could, like Alan Grayson, turn a red district blue.

The good news yesterday was that the DCCC added Donna Edwards (D-MD) as a vice chair of their Red to Blue program, which, in the past, has been badly flawed. The less good news is that Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who once ran the Red to Blue program herself and is now the real power at the DCCC, has decreed that all serious resources are going to protect Front Line incumbents, primarily a bunch of conservative aisle crossers who are barely Democrats.
Although they have promised to stop the anti-grassroots practice of taking sides in contested primaries, the Wasserman Schultz has forced the reluctant professional staff to keep doing it. She was behind the decision to endorse a lobbyist-backed ultra-conservative, Lori Edwards. with not a glimmer of a chance to win in November, for the seat being vacated by Adam Putnam (FL-12). Edwards is being sponsored by the Blue Dog caucus and Patrick Murphy, the Blue Dog who heads the Red to Blue program this year, jumped into the race early at the behest of Wasserman Schultz and Lori Edwards' main backer, Allen Boyd, the right-wing Democrat who was the only member of his party to back Bush's legislation to kill Social Security and who is facing likely defeat in his own primary this year.
Today the DCCC announced their first round of Red to Blue candidates. These are the challengers who Democratic members are encouraged-- some would say strong-armed-- to donate to. As we saw last month, Blue Dogs always give to conservatives likely to vote with the Blue Dog caucus (and the GOP) against progressive legislation. Progressives, inexplicably, seem to go along for the ride!
When I complained to the DCCC that they had endorsed a Blue Dog with no local backing from Democratic activists over a grassroots progressive who did well against Putnam when he ran in 2008, I was told, ingenuously, that Edwards had raised lots of money and that Tudor hadn't. Turns out all that Edwards money-raising prowess was actual contributions from the Blue Dog caucus and by individual Blue Dog shitheads with a vested interest in electing new anti-progressive members of the caucus. Oh, and then there was the lobbyist funder that Wasserman Schultz and Boyd put on for Lori Edwards in DC. But Wasserman Schultz has always hated straight-talking ordinary Americans who didn't play the Inside the Beltway game that is so despised throughout the country.

Read the whole thing.
Passing Health Care Reform gives us a chance - a small one, but there - to do what the 2008 elections failed to do: Create More Liberals. But the DCCC and DNC are so terrified by the idea of a Congress full of Alan Graysons and a nation full of voters who love their Graysons that national Democrats would rather turn the country back to the repugs.

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Pull Up A Chair

post from Firedoglake on 20 March 2010 08:00:55 AM. © Firedoglake

Changes?Good Morning Pups!How has everyone been enjoying this weather? It may have rained all weekend, last weekend, but it has been gorgeous all week. This is my type of weather?I absolutely love it! I?ve been working a lot this week, so I haven?t[...]

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Healthcare Bill Vote Round-up

Very interesting and useful chart from the NY Times, showing current vote projections, as well as tracking the 24 votes currently still in play. Nicely organized, showing their last vote, their vote on the abortion amendment, their districts leanings, etc. check it out.

Update from Matt: Negotiations between pro-lifer Stupak and Speaker Pelosi have broken down. Now waiting for the fall-out from that.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.Demconwatchblog.com/diary/3291/healthcare-bill-vote-roundup

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Poorest not getting HPV vaccine

Unfortunately, as with many things, the poorest aren’t getting what they need. It is the[...]

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HCR: Whos still in play

We need to call, e-mail or fax these guys:From TPM:As the Democrats’ push for health care[...]

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http://www.whereistheoutrage.net/wordpress/2010/03/20/hcr-whos-still-in-play/

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