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December 29, 2005
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Tuesday's Links
Activism
Research on Harriet Miers. Here's a chance to do some real grunt work from the comfort of your own home. Republicans are up in arms about Miers, because she doesn't see to be some Scalia clone. Democrats are frustrated because of her apparent lack of qualifications, and her seeming lack of any record. Clearly, this appointment is pure cronyism, but the fact is that we still have to deal with it. So, before deciding on Miers, let's learn a little about her. Unfortunately, we have no reason to believe the White House is going to be forthcoming with any useful information, but maybe a network of progressives around the country can help out. That's where you come in: MoveOnPAC is developing a database with user-submitted facts about Harriet Miers. So, dig in and hunt down some info. Maybe your second-cousin-once-removed overheard her off-the-cuff comments on Plessy v. Ferguson?
News
State Fines Big Insurer $8 Million. This is exactly the reason why the health care system in this country just doesn't work. The state of California has fined UnumProvident $8 million for misinterpreting job classifications, improperly overruling doctors' opinions and knowingly using incorrect insurance definitions to avoid paying disability benefits. You may recall that last year, 48 states agreed to a settlement with Unum, fining the company $15 million and demanding that some 215,000 cases that were in doubt be reopened. The two states that didn't agree to that settlement were Montana, who has yet to take action, and California. California's logic was simple and correct; although Unum would be required to reopen the cases, the settlement did not require any third-party review of those cases. And since the odds of Unum paying out all 215,000 cases are slim to none, California took matters into its own hands. The idea of Universal Health Care in America may come with a large start-up fee, but over the long run, it'll be far better for the country, avoiding self-serving companies like Unum, who are only in it to make a buck, and it doesn't matter who they have to screw to do it.
Senators Renew Push For Social Security Reform. Remember that whole Social Security/Privatized Accounts debacle earlier this year? Remember how Congressional Republicans doubted that they would be able to get anything passed before 2006? Yeah, about that...although there is no proposal that is close to being approved, Senators Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) have quietly introduced legislation that would keep guaranteed benefits for those currently 55 and over. Republicans think that this will give them the edge that they'll need with the older generation, to get private accounts passed. Bush wants a bill done by December, but if it doesn't happen by then, chances are it won't happen with the 109th Congress. Too many seats are up for re-election next year, and many Republicans won't want to deal with such a hot-button issue during an election year. Of course, the fact that the majority of Americans are against private accounts doesn't seem to sway anyone's opinion.
Cash flows in coal fight. The headline of this story may make you cringe, but the real story is how the citizens of Tallahassee is fighting back. "Commissioners voted in July to make an initial investment of $6.4 million toward the $1.6 billion plant." So what's the argument? "Opponents say the plant would increase air pollution and hurt the quality of life. Proponents say it would reduce the city's reliance on natural gas to generate electricity, lead to lower utility bills and create jobs wherever it's built." Hmmmm...the proponents sound suspiciously like conservatives. So how to fight back? Well, that's the interesting part of the story: Good old-fashioned grassroots campaigning. People are going door-to-door, planting yard signs, and raising money for ads. Coal supporters claim that the plant will be environmentally friendly, but we've all heard that one before. The only way for citizens to wrest control of their community from the power elite is to get involved and make their voices heard. We all could learn a lot from the citizens of Tallahassee.
Editorials
In the Beginning, There Was Abramoff. Frank Rich on the "Abramoff ethos." The Culture of Corruption goes far beyond Tom "Terri Schiavo is not brain-dead" DeLay and Bill "Terry Schiavo is not in a PVS" Frist. Consider the arrest of the administration's top procurement officer, David Safavian, on charges of lying and obstructing the investigation of Jack Abramoff. Consider Roy Blunt, DeLay's replacement who was found trying to alter a homeland security bill with a last-minute provision that would have benefited Philip Morris-brand cigarettes, a company with documented ties to Blunt's family. "It's a government that has spent more of the taxpayers' money than any since L.B.J.'s, even as it rewards its benefactors with tax breaks and corporate pork." A government that has turned lying into a commonplace occurrence, to the point where we, as citizens, no longer believe our government, but immediately look for the lie. How, exactly, is that "small government?"
Remember The Memo. And speaking of corruption, let's not forget Karl Rove. Special investigator Patrick Fitzgerald has hinted that he may be bringing conspiracy charges against Rove and "Scooter" Libby. George Stephanopolous told George Will on Sunday that he has a source that will confirm that Bush and Cheney were a part of the Plame discussions. As Michael Tomasky writes, though, we shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves. Still, what does it say about Republicans that all the lies are finally starting to catch up with them? All that being said, there's still the memo. You remember the memo, don't you? The memo from the State Department that doubted the existence of Nigerian uranium? The one that referenced Plame? That memo is the key for Fitzgerald and this whole case; whether Bush saw it, and what discussions followed from it. Hey, no one said unravelling Republican deceit was easy, but we have to have faith that Fitzgerald will get to the bottom of the situation. The legal system seems to be our last line of defense against these criminals.
Blogger Commentary
The Supreme Court Ain't FEMA. Look beyond the jocularity of the title, and you'll see what Kos is referring to. With Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the SCOTUS, no one seems happy. Except, of course, Harriet Miers. And Bush - don't forget about Bush. The problem is not Miers's lack of experience (the SC was never designed to be staffed with only judges), and it's not her leanings (yet, anyway, since nobody knows what they are). No, conservatives are mad because she's not an obvious Scalia or Thomas, and she's 60. 60! Conservatives want the court in their hands for as long as possible, and Miers's age is seen as a problem. Meanwhile, Democrats are doing everything from a wait-and-see approach (Senator Chuck Schumer) to heaping praise on her (Senator Harry Reid). The conservative thought right now is that Bush didn't think he could beat Senate Democrats with a hard-line right-winger. Still, we'll hold our breath until the confirmation hearings, and we'll see what she has to say then.
The Gathering Storm. Beware the gathering storm, for it will be rough. Yet, as 'Da Moose writes, it's entirely within the realm of possibility that the Dems could take control of the House in 2006. The Senate is also a possibility, but less likely. More and more, Republicans are showing the signs of the very thing that Democrats didn't get re-elected for 10 years ago; "an entrenched crony establishment out of touch with the country and even their own principles." Democrats won't win this thing without speaking out, though; something they have been eerily silent about. What are they waiting for?
|
December 29, 2005
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Tuesday's Links
Activism
Research on Harriet Miers. Here's a chance to do some real grunt work from the comfort of your own home. Republicans are up in arms about Miers, because she doesn't see to be some Scalia clone. Democrats are frustrated because of her apparent lack of qualifications, and her seeming lack of any record. Clearly, this appointment is pure cronyism, but the fact is that we still have to deal with it. So, before deciding on Miers, let's learn a little about her. Unfortunately, we have no reason to believe the White House is going to be forthcoming with any useful information, but maybe a network of progressives around the country can help out. That's where you come in: MoveOnPAC is developing a database with user-submitted facts about Harriet Miers. So, dig in and hunt down some info. Maybe your second-cousin-once-removed overheard her off-the-cuff comments on Plessy v. Ferguson?
News
State Fines Big Insurer $8 Million. This is exactly the reason why the health care system in this country just doesn't work. The state of California has fined UnumProvident $8 million for misinterpreting job classifications, improperly overruling doctors' opinions and knowingly using incorrect insurance definitions to avoid paying disability benefits. You may recall that last year, 48 states agreed to a settlement with Unum, fining the company $15 million and demanding that some 215,000 cases that were in doubt be reopened. The two states that didn't agree to that settlement were Montana, who has yet to take action, and California. California's logic was simple and correct; although Unum would be required to reopen the cases, the settlement did not require any third-party review of those cases. And since the odds of Unum paying out all 215,000 cases are slim to none, California took matters into its own hands. The idea of Universal Health Care in America may come with a large start-up fee, but over the long run, it'll be far better for the country, avoiding self-serving companies like Unum, who are only in it to make a buck, and it doesn't matter who they have to screw to do it.
Senators Renew Push For Social Security Reform. Remember that whole Social Security/Privatized Accounts debacle earlier this year? Remember how Congressional Republicans doubted that they would be able to get anything passed before 2006? Yeah, about that...although there is no proposal that is close to being approved, Senators Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) have quietly introduced legislation that would keep guaranteed benefits for those currently 55 and over. Republicans think that this will give them the edge that they'll need with the older generation, to get private accounts passed. Bush wants a bill done by December, but if it doesn't happen by then, chances are it won't happen with the 109th Congress. Too many seats are up for re-election next year, and many Republicans won't want to deal with such a hot-button issue during an election year. Of course, the fact that the majority of Americans are against private accounts doesn't seem to sway anyone's opinion.
Cash flows in coal fight. The headline of this story may make you cringe, but the real story is how the citizens of Tallahassee is fighting back. "Commissioners voted in July to make an initial investment of $6.4 million toward the $1.6 billion plant." So what's the argument? "Opponents say the plant would increase air pollution and hurt the quality of life. Proponents say it would reduce the city's reliance on natural gas to generate electricity, lead to lower utility bills and create jobs wherever it's built." Hmmmm...the proponents sound suspiciously like conservatives. So how to fight back? Well, that's the interesting part of the story: Good old-fashioned grassroots campaigning. People are going door-to-door, planting yard signs, and raising money for ads. Coal supporters claim that the plant will be environmentally friendly, but we've all heard that one before. The only way for citizens to wrest control of their community from the power elite is to get involved and make their voices heard. We all could learn a lot from the citizens of Tallahassee.
Editorials
In the Beginning, There Was Abramoff. Frank Rich on the "Abramoff ethos." The Culture of Corruption goes far beyond Tom "Terri Schiavo is not brain-dead" DeLay and Bill "Terry Schiavo is not in a PVS" Frist. Consider the arrest of the administration's top procurement officer, David Safavian, on charges of lying and obstructing the investigation of Jack Abramoff. Consider Roy Blunt, DeLay's replacement who was found trying to alter a homeland security bill with a last-minute provision that would have benefited Philip Morris-brand cigarettes, a company with documented ties to Blunt's family. "It's a government that has spent more of the taxpayers' money than any since L.B.J.'s, even as it rewards its benefactors with tax breaks and corporate pork." A government that has turned lying into a commonplace occurrence, to the point where we, as citizens, no longer believe our government, but immediately look for the lie. How, exactly, is that "small government?"
Remember The Memo. And speaking of corruption, let's not forget Karl Rove. Special investigator Patrick Fitzgerald has hinted that he may be bringing conspiracy charges against Rove and "Scooter" Libby. George Stephanopolous told George Will on Sunday that he has a source that will confirm that Bush and Cheney were a part of the Plame discussions. As Michael Tomasky writes, though, we shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves. Still, what does it say about Republicans that all the lies are finally starting to catch up with them? All that being said, there's still the memo. You remember the memo, don't you? The memo from the State Department that doubted the existence of Nigerian uranium? The one that referenced Plame? That memo is the key for Fitzgerald and this whole case; whether Bush saw it, and what discussions followed from it. Hey, no one said unravelling Republican deceit was easy, but we have to have faith that Fitzgerald will get to the bottom of the situation. The legal system seems to be our last line of defense against these criminals.
Blogger Commentary
The Supreme Court Ain't FEMA. Look beyond the jocularity of the title, and you'll see what Kos is referring to. With Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the SCOTUS, no one seems happy. Except, of course, Harriet Miers. And Bush - don't forget about Bush. The problem is not Miers's lack of experience (the SC was never designed to be staffed with only judges), and it's not her leanings (yet, anyway, since nobody knows what they are). No, conservatives are mad because she's not an obvious Scalia or Thomas, and she's 60. 60! Conservatives want the court in their hands for as long as possible, and Miers's age is seen as a problem. Meanwhile, Democrats are doing everything from a wait-and-see approach (Senator Chuck Schumer) to heaping praise on her (Senator Harry Reid). The conservative thought right now is that Bush didn't think he could beat Senate Democrats with a hard-line right-winger. Still, we'll hold our breath until the confirmation hearings, and we'll see what she has to say then.
The Gathering Storm. Beware the gathering storm, for it will be rough. Yet, as 'Da Moose writes, it's entirely within the realm of possibility that the Dems could take control of the House in 2006. The Senate is also a possibility, but less likely. More and more, Republicans are showing the signs of the very thing that Democrats didn't get re-elected for 10 years ago; "an entrenched crony establishment out of touch with the country and even their own principles." Democrats won't win this thing without speaking out, though; something they have been eerily silent about. What are they waiting for?
|
December 29, 2005
Research on Harriet Miers. Here's a chance to do some real grunt work from the comfort of your own home. Republicans are up in arms about Miers, because she doesn't see to be some Scalia clone. Democrats are frustrated because of her apparent lack of qualifications, and her seeming lack of any record. Clearly, this appointment is pure cronyism, but the fact is that we still have to deal with it. So, before deciding on Miers, let's learn a little about her. Unfortunately, we have no reason to believe the White House is going to be forthcoming with any useful information, but maybe a network of progressives around the country can help out. That's where you come in: MoveOnPAC is developing a database with user-submitted facts about Harriet Miers. So, dig in and hunt down some info. Maybe your second-cousin-once-removed overheard her off-the-cuff comments on Plessy v. Ferguson?
News
State Fines Big Insurer $8 Million. This is exactly the reason why the health care system in this country just doesn't work. The state of California has fined UnumProvident $8 million for misinterpreting job classifications, improperly overruling doctors' opinions and knowingly using incorrect insurance definitions to avoid paying disability benefits. You may recall that last year, 48 states agreed to a settlement with Unum, fining the company $15 million and demanding that some 215,000 cases that were in doubt be reopened. The two states that didn't agree to that settlement were Montana, who has yet to take action, and California. California's logic was simple and correct; although Unum would be required to reopen the cases, the settlement did not require any third-party review of those cases. And since the odds of Unum paying out all 215,000 cases are slim to none, California took matters into its own hands. The idea of Universal Health Care in America may come with a large start-up fee, but over the long run, it'll be far better for the country, avoiding self-serving companies like Unum, who are only in it to make a buck, and it doesn't matter who they have to screw to do it.
Senators Renew Push For Social Security Reform. Remember that whole Social Security/Privatized Accounts debacle earlier this year? Remember how Congressional Republicans doubted that they would be able to get anything passed before 2006? Yeah, about that...although there is no proposal that is close to being approved, Senators Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) have quietly introduced legislation that would keep guaranteed benefits for those currently 55 and over. Republicans think that this will give them the edge that they'll need with the older generation, to get private accounts passed. Bush wants a bill done by December, but if it doesn't happen by then, chances are it won't happen with the 109th Congress. Too many seats are up for re-election next year, and many Republicans won't want to deal with such a hot-button issue during an election year. Of course, the fact that the majority of Americans are against private accounts doesn't seem to sway anyone's opinion.
Cash flows in coal fight. The headline of this story may make you cringe, but the real story is how the citizens of Tallahassee is fighting back. "Commissioners voted in July to make an initial investment of $6.4 million toward the $1.6 billion plant." So what's the argument? "Opponents say the plant would increase air pollution and hurt the quality of life. Proponents say it would reduce the city's reliance on natural gas to generate electricity, lead to lower utility bills and create jobs wherever it's built." Hmmmm...the proponents sound suspiciously like conservatives. So how to fight back? Well, that's the interesting part of the story: Good old-fashioned grassroots campaigning. People are going door-to-door, planting yard signs, and raising money for ads. Coal supporters claim that the plant will be environmentally friendly, but we've all heard that one before. The only way for citizens to wrest control of their community from the power elite is to get involved and make their voices heard. We all could learn a lot from the citizens of Tallahassee.
Editorials
In the Beginning, There Was Abramoff. Frank Rich on the "Abramoff ethos." The Culture of Corruption goes far beyond Tom "Terri Schiavo is not brain-dead" DeLay and Bill "Terry Schiavo is not in a PVS" Frist. Consider the arrest of the administration's top procurement officer, David Safavian, on charges of lying and obstructing the investigation of Jack Abramoff. Consider Roy Blunt, DeLay's replacement who was found trying to alter a homeland security bill with a last-minute provision that would have benefited Philip Morris-brand cigarettes, a company with documented ties to Blunt's family. "It's a government that has spent more of the taxpayers' money than any since L.B.J.'s, even as it rewards its benefactors with tax breaks and corporate pork." A government that has turned lying into a commonplace occurrence, to the point where we, as citizens, no longer believe our government, but immediately look for the lie. How, exactly, is that "small government?"
Remember The Memo. And speaking of corruption, let's not forget Karl Rove. Special investigator Patrick Fitzgerald has hinted that he may be bringing conspiracy charges against Rove and "Scooter" Libby. George Stephanopolous told George Will on Sunday that he has a source that will confirm that Bush and Cheney were a part of the Plame discussions. As Michael Tomasky writes, though, we shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves. Still, what does it say about Republicans that all the lies are finally starting to catch up with them? All that being said, there's still the memo. You remember the memo, don't you? The memo from the State Department that doubted the existence of Nigerian uranium? The one that referenced Plame? That memo is the key for Fitzgerald and this whole case; whether Bush saw it, and what discussions followed from it. Hey, no one said unravelling Republican deceit was easy, but we have to have faith that Fitzgerald will get to the bottom of the situation. The legal system seems to be our last line of defense against these criminals.
Blogger Commentary
The Supreme Court Ain't FEMA. Look beyond the jocularity of the title, and you'll see what Kos is referring to. With Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the SCOTUS, no one seems happy. Except, of course, Harriet Miers. And Bush - don't forget about Bush. The problem is not Miers's lack of experience (the SC was never designed to be staffed with only judges), and it's not her leanings (yet, anyway, since nobody knows what they are). No, conservatives are mad because she's not an obvious Scalia or Thomas, and she's 60. 60! Conservatives want the court in their hands for as long as possible, and Miers's age is seen as a problem. Meanwhile, Democrats are doing everything from a wait-and-see approach (Senator Chuck Schumer) to heaping praise on her (Senator Harry Reid). The conservative thought right now is that Bush didn't think he could beat Senate Democrats with a hard-line right-winger. Still, we'll hold our breath until the confirmation hearings, and we'll see what she has to say then.
The Gathering Storm. Beware the gathering storm, for it will be rough. Yet, as 'Da Moose writes, it's entirely within the realm of possibility that the Dems could take control of the House in 2006. The Senate is also a possibility, but less likely. More and more, Republicans are showing the signs of the very thing that Democrats didn't get re-elected for 10 years ago; "an entrenched crony establishment out of touch with the country and even their own principles." Democrats won't win this thing without speaking out, though; something they have been eerily silent about. What are they waiting for?
