Daily Archives: June 22, 2009

Public more supportive of health care reform than lawmakers

June 22, 200912:53 p.m.

healthit1Some lawmakers are questioning whether there is enough legislative support to overhaul health care, but the public appears to strongly support it. Seventy-two percent of Americans surveyed support a government-administered insurance plan that would compete with private insurers, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll. Americans also believe that the government would be much better than private insurance at providing medical coverage and holding down health care costs, and 57 percent of those surveyed said that they would be willing to pay higher taxes so that all Americans could have health care.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Congress, Health and safety | Comments (140)

The ‘Daily Show’ defense against open records?

June 22, 20096:03 a.m.

shhhh4The Obama administration is supporting a goofy legal claim previously put forward by the Bush administration that it shouldn’t have to release statements that Dick Cheney made to a special prosecutor about outed spy Valerie Plame because it could become fodder for “The Daily Show.” Even the judge hearing the open records lawsuit couldn’t believe it.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under President Bush, President Obama | Comments (32)

Open thread 6/22

June 22, 20096:02 a.m.

thescream8

By The Editors | Filed under Open thread | Comments (418)

Roberts’ rhetorical lightsaber

June 22, 20096:01 a.m.

robertsmug11Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., was in the thick of the congressional debate on health care reform last week as a member of the committee considering hundreds of amendments, most offered by Republicans. He also played a role in Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank’s description of how senators engaged in “collegial flourishes” even as they split along party lines:
“On so many issues, you and I share a real passion for not creating bloated bureaucracies,” Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., told Roberts, before disagreeing with him.
“You were Princess Leia and I was Luke Skywalker,” Roberts replied.
“Right, but we don’t want to be ‘Harry and Louise,’” Mikulski said, recalling the TV ads that helped kill the 1994 reform.
The Post went on:
“But within seconds, Luke and Leia were pointing their lightsabers at each other. ‘I’m just asking you to read the bill!’ Mikulski told him. Roberts demanded the floor. ‘I have the time,’ he said.”

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Congress, Health and safety, Kansas delegation | Comments (12)

Dubious, bogus and utterly phony headlines

June 22, 20096:00 a.m.

spoofslogo18The following satirical headlines come from borowitzreport.com and theonion.com:
AHMADINEJAD WINS STANLEY CUP
AYATOLLAH WARNS IRANIANS: ‘I AM FOLLOWING YOU ALL ON TWITTER’
ENSIGN: HOURS SPENT ON TANNING BED ‘FRIED MY JUDGMENT’
GINGRICH ACCUSES SOTOMAYOR OF FAKING BROKEN ANKLE; Bid to Get ‘Sympathy Votes,’ Says Newt
OBAMA REVISES CAMPAIGN PROMISE OF ‘CHANGE’ TO ‘RELATIVELY MINOR READJUSTMENTS IN CERTAIN FAVORABLE POLICY AREAS’
NATION READY TO BE LIED TO ABOUT ECONOMY AGAIN

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Spoof headlines | Comments (3)