GOP Fails in Bid to Filibuster Military Spending Bill in Senate

Staff / Truthdig Dec 19, 2009 If it wasn't crystal clear before that Senate Republicans will stop at nothing to make sure their Democratic rivals don't pass a health care reform bill by Christmas, or anytime, it should be now On Friday, GOP senators attempted, unsuccessfully, to filibuster a huge military spending bill that needed to be passed before midnight (continued) . Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Lieberman Looms Large in Senate Health Debate

Staff / Truthdig Dec 14, 2009 If it didn't look like Senate Democrats were going to face some serious obstacles in passing health care reform legislation, Sen. Joe Lieberman is poised and ready to remind them, as he proved this past weekend with his ongoing rumblings to the press about joining the apparently inevitable Republican filibuster. Sen. Harry Reid and his cohort have their work cut out for them. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Time for Our Second Bill of Rights

Bill Boyarsky / Truthdig Dec 2, 2009 In his powerful new book, “The Healing of America,” T.R. Reid asks, “Which inequalities will society tolerate? Is it acceptable that some people are left to die because they can’t see a doctor when they get sick? That question encompasses a more basic question: Is health care a human right?” It will be a historic moment when the federal government begins to accept responsibility for all Americans’ health. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Lieberman Won’t Budge on Health Care

Staff / Truthdig Nov 24, 2009 Sen Joseph Lieberman says he will never let any form of public option -- opt-out, trigger or otherwise -- through the Senate, citing budget concerns This -- despite CBO estimates showing the health reform bill reducing the deficit over 10 years -- from a senator who has thrown billions at boondoggles (continued). Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Reid Readies for Health Care Rumble

Staff / Truthdig Nov 19, 2009 With the threat of a Republican-led filibuster looming large, Majority Leader Harry Reid is faced with the unenviable task of ushering the Senate's version of the health care reform bill through his congressional chamber. On Wednesday, Reid started his woo-a-thon with an only slightly easier audience: moderate Democrats. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Daily Show’: The Men Who Stare at Votes

Staff / Truthdig Nov 11, 2009 We all saw the shenanigans that transpired outside the Capitol during last Thursday's wingnut clusterf "House Call" health care rally organized by the certifiable Rep Michele Bachmann, but the freak show from the inner chambers of Congress was even better in the final lead-up to Saturday's House vote on health care reform legislation. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Lieberman Twists the Knife

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Oct 28, 2009 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. Is there a more hypocritical figure in American politics than Joe Lieberman? Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Health Care Reform: ‘A Fait Accompli’?

Staff / Truthdig Oct 8, 2009 For a long while it seemed as if health care reform was progressing, if at all, at the speed of molasses. Now here comes The New Republic's Jonathan Chait with his startling pronouncement that "it’s just quietly turned into a fait accompli." Wait, what? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Mass. Governor Looking to Tap Interim Successor for Kennedy

Staff / Truthdig Aug 31, 2009 According to Massachusetts law, the state will have to wait until a special election -- set for Jan. 19 -- to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, but Gov. Deval Patrick is hoping to appoint a placeholder to fill Kennedy's seat before then. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Top GOP Senator Threatens High Court Filibuster

Staff / Truthdig May 25, 2009 President Obama has said he wants to nominate someone to the Supreme Court capable of "understanding and identifying with people's hopes and struggles." That's just too much for Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl, who has threatened to filibuster if Obama appoints anyone more empathetic than your garden variety liberal. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

With Their Magic Bullet, Dems Have No More Excuses

David Sirota / Truthdig May 2, 2009 As counsel for the Warren Commission, Arlen Specter described a "magic bullet" that changed America. Four decades later as a U.S. senator, Specter is providing another history-altering magic bullet -- one Democrats will either fire off in a starting gun, or use in their suicide. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Pro-Union Bill in Trouble

Staff / Truthdig Mar 25, 2009 Sen. Arlen Specter gave the proposed Employee Free Choice Act the shaft Tuesday, severely wounding legislation that would make forming unions significantly easier. Labor leaders were depending on support from moderates such as Specter, but, facing a primary challenge, the Pennsylvania Republican chickened out. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )