Great Quote From Ezra Klein

Found this over at PoliticalWire who got it from Ezra Klein:

"No Republican save Olympia Snowe has actually come forward with a concrete set of proposals that could permit them to sign onto the final legislation. Which is a shame, as there are actually places where conservative ideas and Republican cover could have bettered the bill. Conservatives have long wanted to end the preference for employer-based insurance, which would've been an important step forward. Many Republicans have been big proponents of moving away from fee-for-service medicine, which is a needed change. Republicans have been big proponents of making the insurance market more consumer-focused, which would be important in the context of the insurance exchanges."

"But all those opportunities were lost. Because Democrats had no Republican cover, they could not sacrifice a single member of their party. That's meant that they couldn't be courageous on taxes, and they couldn't tell the unions to stuff it when they demanded that the exchanges remain constricted. Republicans complain that the bill is too liberal (though the Senate Finance Committee's bill is actually not very liberal at all), but that's in part because no Republicans were willing to offer their votes in return for making it more conservative."

Too F-ing right. Instead of governing the repubs chose politics. They could have got a lot done that they wanted to get done had they made an effort but they chose health care (and other things) as a defining moment and totally lost the moment.

This same attitude is what cost them the Presidency, the house and the senate. I hope the forest is treating them well.

Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize?

Very surprising today was the sudden anouncement that Barack Obama won the nobel peace prize. Nine months into his presidency and, from what I found out, he was president 2 weeks in February before the nomination window closed.

I am a huge Obama fan but I find this very odd. Why now and what is the Nobel committee trying to do/say. Do they really feel his diplomacy is that great (even though it has only been 9 months)? Is this a big finger in the eye of the Bush admin? Or is it both?

I have no idea but rest assured, the right will be all over it trying to denounce what is a huge honor. Point of attack from the right. Obama is out to promote himself and his star status. Warning for Obama: don't let this point of attack stick.

Politico Is Really Reaching With This Story

Pointed to by Dailykos, a politco story tries to make hay about people who supported Roman Polanski also gave money to Obama and the DNC. How in the hell is that a story.

"Movie industry types calling for the release of director Roman Polanski last year gave $34,000 to Obama's presidential campaign and the Democratic Party, FEC records show."

What are they doing over at Politico? Do they have any clue what a story is? This ain't a story. This is so bad I am not going to link to it.

Fox's Sheppard Smith Sets Repub Senator Straight

Can I say I love Sheppard Smith. I think I will. I love him.

MSNBC Think Howard Dean and Michael Steele Are The Same

From MSNBC.

"Is Steele to the RNC and the DC GOP establishment what Howard Dean was to the DNC and the DC Dem establishment?"

This has got to be the worst analysis I have seen from MSNBC. Howard Dean was DNC chairman for about 4 years from 2005-2009 that gave us our huge gains in the house and senate. He started the 50 state strategy that got dems active in almost every county in the United States. It was the establishment that wanted him to concentrate only on certain areas of the U.S. and he said no. They want to concentrate on everyone. And it worked!!

We would not have the huge number of Dem house members. We wouldn't have the 60 seat senate if it weren't for Howard Dean

They really screwed up that comparison.