–important updates below– “I strongly disagree with Bart,” Dingell said during an appearance on MSNBC. “I think he’s wrong.” – The Hill One of the more unconscionable things Mr. Stupak is doing is lying about the current (bad) legislation. He’s telling his colleagues that women using their own money in the exchanges will be able to buy [...] [...more]
There’s mutiny afoot in the House. It seems the Pro-Choice Caucus has awakened to the fact that Speaker Pelosi is selling us out yet again. From The Hill: [...] Leaders of the Pro-Choice Caucus, some 30 minutes after storming into Pelosi’s office… “This concurrent resolution which Congressman Stupak and several others have filed, from the position of the [...] [...more]
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy This was so predictable. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel supported the idea of a government-run program that would compete with private health insurers but wasn’t sure there were enough votes in the Senate to pass it. Senior advisor David Axelrod pointed out that abandoning the [...] [...more]
“How’s it been? Like a living hell.” – Rep. Bart Stupak Poor Bart Supak. Yeah, women whose privacy rights are targeted by a religious zealot tend to take that very personally. However, Mr. Stupak must be positively thrilled that he gets to play the martyr. It’s the starring role of his political lifetime. And just in case you thought [...] [...more]
“The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right.” – Democratic Party Platform of 2008 Congress today thinks its supposed to do the Executive Branch’s bidding [...] [...more]
Take Action: Demand LGBT Employment Rights Today: The Bilerico Project is leading a new media call to action today with Daily Kos, Open Left, Towleroad, Pam’s House Blend, Joe My God, Michelangelo Signorile, David Mixner, Daily Gotham, Culture Kitchen, Taylor Marsh, Page One Q, and Dan Savage, among others. We’re asking our readers to contact [...] [...more]
–updated– She’s chatting right now over at Crooks & Liars, with Digby, Howie Klein and John Amato. I’ve already been over there. Join in. Here’s Connie’s Act Blue Page for those who can contribute. Connie Saltonstall has been endorsed by NOW, with endorsements of EMILY’s List reportedly to be next. I have no idea of her chances, [...] [...more]
cross-posted on Huffington Post The final push for passage of health care legislation has brought out the worst in many Democrats. It’s been a depressing spectacle to watch, with the latest NBC News/WSJ poll a testament; especially for those who want health care reform, but find little reform in the current bill to trumpet mainly because [...] [...more]
Originally posted on Huffington Post Expanded essay of “The Elizabeth Edwards Tragedy” Can there be any doubt that John Edwards isn’t worth all of carnage he’s exacted on Ms. Hunter and the soon-to-be ex Mrs. Edwards? Now we get Rielle Hunter’s side of things, via Lisa DePaulo in GQ. Elizabeth Edwards had her say and then [...] [...more]
House Rules Chairwoman Louise Slaughter is prepping to help usher the healthcare overhaul through the House and potentially avoid a direct vote on the Senate overhaul bill, the chairwoman said Tuesday. Slaughter is weighing preparing a rule that would consider the Senate bill passed once the House approves a corrections bill that would make [...] [...more]
“Isn’t that funny? You know, when I first met him, the first week of our relationship, I said to him, ‘For some reason I cannot call you John, it doesn’t come out. Could I call you Johnny?’ And he said, ‘That’s my name.’ And I didn’t know that, but that’s his actual birth name.” – [...] [...more]
–updated– Speaker Pelosi held what is being called “a small roundtable with bloggers today.” Greg Sargent has a good report on it. One problem. He doesn’t mention that there were no women in attendance. Brian Beutler doesn’t mention it in his reporting either. Matthew Yglesias at least names (some of) the men in attendance. I’ve confirmed [...] [...more]
Let’s play a game, pass the public option buck… on the backs of women. Nancy Pelosi has already allowed Bart Stupak to become the Henry Hyde of health care. As I’ve been writing for months now, Democrats with a majority and the presidency have chosen to make women’s full reproductive health care a bargaining chip, further [...] [...more]
Peter Baker has written a revealing article today about the dismissive way the Obama White House treated a long-time friend, Desirée Rogers. Now, I’m not interested in Ms. Rogers staying or leaving, with the Salahi incident a monumental disaster (especially for the Secret Service), but there’s a way to do things and a way not [...] [...more]
After running a presidential campaign that Lois Romano today called a “notoriously insular and unhappy, managing a group of egos and backstabbers whose dysfunction may have cost her the White House,” many wondered what would be the reviews on Sect. Hillary Clinton as steward of the State Department. The haters now love her, because she’s off [...] [...more]
