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By Nir Rosen
$17.16
By Barbara Slavin
$16.47
$23
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Unemployment reaches 10.2 percent—do we need a bigger stimulus? What do the GOP victories in Virginia and New Jersey mean for both parties? Will the House’s historic health care bill pass, and, if so, why wait till 2013 to implement it?
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cs.bris.ac.uk
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She admits she hasn’t always been a true believer in our country’s electoral system, but former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is now hoping to become a major player in the U.S. political arena by challenging longtime California Sen. Barbara Boxer for her congressional seat in 2010.
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Consumer spending drives the real economy, and it has taken a plunge. Did we save the banks at the expense of the people? Also this week: The health care reform bill finally appears on the scene, and Hillary Clinton attempts a precarious balancing act in Pakistan—are either of these developments successful?
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Thursday’s mass display of Democratic delight over the newly introduced health care reform mega-measure was countered by the sober declaration, courtesy of House Minority Leader John Boehner, that what we have here is “a bill that really is a government takeover of the health care system.” Sigh.
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AP / Alex Brandon
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After months of squabbling and tussling with each other as well as their Republican opposition, House Democrats finally produced the latest comprehensive result of their efforts in health care reform in the form of a whopping 1,990-page measure—and then proceeded to congratulate themselves in a public rally outside at the Capitol.
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AP / Douglas Healey
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By Robert Scheer — Is there a more hypocritical figure in American politics than Joe Lieberman? The Connecticut senator declared Tuesday that he would support a filibuster of any health care reform bill that has a public option—even the version with the “trigger” compromise accepted by Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe—because it might cost money.
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Well, that public option idea keeps creeping back to the table as Congress debates the health care conundrum, but will it stick around? Does the federal government have the right to limit executive bonuses when taxpayers hold a majority interest in the company? And is President Obama wasting his time by tangling with Fox News? So many questions this week!
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AP / Gerald Herbert
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Certain members of the Republican Party need to stop knocking the current administration’s attempts to clean up the messes caused by the previous one and “grab a mop,” President Barack Obama said during a Democratic National Party fundraiser in New York on Tuesday night.
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AP / Evan Vucci
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By Bill Boyarsky — It’s now clear that health care “reform” is a bonanza for the insurance companies. But these acquisitive businesses want even more. Their efforts to increase their profits are at the center of the clandestine Senate and House negotiations currently shaping the health bill.
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quadcitychamber.com
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Those two little words keep popping up amid all the chatter about health care reform, and here they are again, thanks to Sen. Tom Harkin, chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee: “public option.”
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Wall Street got a boost, as if it needed one, from the Dow’s rise past 10,000 this week—but let’s not confuse that with economic stability. Consider the unemployment rate and the ballooning federal budget deficit, as Arianna Huffington, Bob Scheer, Tony Blankley and Matt Miller do on this week’s “Left, Right and Center.” Just don’t ask Arianna about “Balloon Boy.”
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President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize caused a ruckus round the globe, drawing a wide range of reactions. The big question: Did he deserve it? On this week’s show, “Left, Right & Center” co-hosts Robert Scheer, Tony Blankley, Matt Miller and Arianna Huffington mull this one over, along with the value of the dollar and the ongoing saga that is health care reform.
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Nevada Sen. John Ensign’s recent infidelity scandal lurks in the background of an ad for the public option running in parts of his home state this week, courtesy of the progressive coalition Health Care for America Now! The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder notes that the coalition has paid $100,000 to run the ad for a week to point out Ensign’s financial entanglements with the health care industry.
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AP / Jose Luis Magana
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Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch tried, and ultimately failed, to add an amendment to the health care hydra that Max Baucus’ reform bill has become. This one would have required women to buy separate policies for abortion-related services. Even the formerly reticent Sen. Olympia Snowe cast a “no” vote on this one.
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AP / Susan Walsh
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Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and his merry band of legislators on Tuesday nixed an amendment proposing that a government-backed “public option” be included in Baucus’ contested health care reform plan, using the argument that the public option addition would further diminish the bill’s chances of passing.
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As this commentary from the vigilant videographers over at Robert Greenwald’s Brave New Films outfit points out, Sen. Max Baucus’ health care reform bill definitely would serve the interests of at least some interested parties—namely, the health insurance companies themselves.
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stateofthedivision.blogspot.com
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After receiving a less-than-spectacular reception from his congressional colleagues for his health care reform bill last week, Sen. Max Baucus is going back to the drawing board to work on some big changes in an effort to win more of his aforementioned peers to his side. Meanwhile, Sen. Olympia Snowe remains undeclared about his first draft.
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Russia might be pleased with President Obama’s decision to nix Bush’s missile shield plans, but how about Eastern Europe? Meanwhile, Sen. Max Baucus’ health care reform plan foundered, and Obama made a play to get through to the powers on Wall Street. All this—plus the Glenn Becking of American political discourse—is part of this week’s discussion on “Left, Right & Center.”
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AP / Charles Dharapak
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By Robert Scheer — A president has only so much capital to expend, both in tax dollars and public tolerance, and Barack Obama is dangerously overdrawn. He has tried to have it all on three fronts, and his administration is in serious danger of going bankrupt.
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After an extended vacation, Jon Stewart returned to his “Daily Show” anchor’s desk Monday—and not a moment too soon, as the national epidemic of crazitude hasn’t calmed down since he left, especially when it comes to the subject of health care reform.
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It was a big week in political news, what with the kerfuffle about Obama’s education speech and then the hubbub over ... Obama’s health care speech. Anyone see a pattern? “Left, Right & Center” regulars Robert Scheer, Arianna Huffington and Tony Blankley just might.
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AP / Charles Dharapak
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By Robert Scheer — The light has gone out, and with it that infectious warm laugh and intensely progressive commitment of the best of the Kennedys. Not, at this point, to take anything away from the memory of his siblings—Bobby, whom I also got to know, was pretty terrific in his last years—but Sen. Ted Kennedy was the real deal.
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AP / Lynne Sladky
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By The Rev. Madison Shockley — The demise of the recent “death panels” debate was quick and painless—unlike so many of the deaths that will occur among those who will now be without the benefit of their doctor’s knowledge of the dying process.
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Ever wonder whether it gets a touch exasperating for politicians to face angry throngs of American citizens at those unruly gatherings everyone quaintly insists on calling “town hall meetings”? Well, witness Barney Frank, here, on the brink of a town hall snap (or two) in this bit from Wednesday’s “Daily Show.”
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President Obama is gambling on America’s readiness to embrace a larger, more comprehensive form of government, but will it take? “Recovering Republican” Arianna Huffington argues that the system Obama favors is currently working best for oligarchs, not those losing their homes or worried about their health care, while Tony Blankley thinks Big Pharma is pitching camp in the White House.
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What exactly do those dastardly Democrats mean when they talk about “community standards” vis-à-vis health care reform? Only one thing, of course—death panels! But hold on, Mr. Gingrich and Mme. Palin, where are either of those terms written anywhere in the reform proposals?
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Jon Stewart interviews Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on health care reform. She’s pushing for a public health care option and looking to change this “unsustainable, unconscionable, unacceptable ” system. Check out this clip from last night’s “Daily Show.”
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Flick/jeffandmandyg
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According to The Washington Post, the U.S. health care industry has hired over 350 ex-government officials and ex-members of Congress to influence their former colleagues in the debate over health care reform. The newspaper’s report says three out of every four major health care companies employ at least one government insider and an estimated $1.4 million is spent daily on lobbying efforts by the health care industry.
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cnbc.com
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SEIU President Andrew Stern and Wal-Mart have joined forces, breaking with most other companies to support President Obama’s plan requiring employers to provide health insurance to workers. The thing often forgotten is Wal-Mart’s horrible record on health care and its current move to make about 40 percent of its employees part-time and thus ineligible for benefits.
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U.S. Air Force / S. Sgt. Maria L. Taylor
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Al Franken won’t officially be a U.S. senator until next week, but he’s set to make a big impact, and not just because he gives his party that 60th seat. Senate Democrats have reserved four committee spots for Franken, two of which will make him a key participant in health care reform and the confirmation of President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee.
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This week’s episode of “Left, Right & Center” takes a look at the doings in Iran and U.S. involvement there, with Truthdig Editor Robert Scheer recalling his interview of a CIA agent who said he organized the 1953 coup in that country. Other topics include two hot issues on the domestic side—U.S. regulatory proposals and health care.
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As if he didn’t have enough on his plate, President Obama is tackling health care reform. That’s right, America. It’s high time we put down our pancake-wrapped sausage on a stick dipped in baconnaise and start getting healthy. Check out this clip from last night’s “Daily Show.”
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President Obama spoke to the American Medical Association on Monday, trying to win doctors over to his cause for health care reform. His speech came after the AMA declared that it would reject a government-sponsored insurance plan.
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This week on “Left, Right and Center” the gang tackles three big questions: What do today’s Iranian elections mean in the polarized theocracy? What’s going on in the banking world and with the alleged TARP paybacks? And finally, given the partisan divide, will public health care ever become a viable option in the U.S.? Tune in to find out.
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Flickr.com / HSeverson
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By David Sirota — The most stunning and least reported news about President Obama’s press conference with health industry executives this week wasn’t those executives’ willingness to negotiate with a Democrat. It was that Democrat’s eagerness to involve those executives in a discussion about health care reform even as they revealed their previous plans to pilfer $2 trillion from Americans.
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Flickr.com / ProgressOhio
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By Joe Conason — Uplifting as it was to see insurance executives, pharmaceutical manufacturers, hospital officials and doctors gather at the White House on May 11, pledging cooperation toward health care reform, nothing they said or did was inconsistent with precisely the opposite objective.
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latimes.com
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Memo to anyone still angling for a top position in the Obama administration: Pay your taxes. Tom Daschle is the latest political player to find himself out of the running—in his case, to head the Department of Health and Human Services—after tax issues came to light.
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Will tax problems sink former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle’s chances of becoming the next U.S. health secretary? President Obama apparently hopes that this won’t be the case.
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New Iranian President Wants to Heal ‘Old Wound’ With U.S.
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