TPMDC Morning Roundup
Palin To Media: Honor Our Troops -- Stop Making Things Up About Me
In her farewell address yesterday, former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) gave this memorable statement about the media -- essentially declaring that her critics don't respect our troops. "Democracy depends on you. That is why our troops are willing to die for you," said Palin. "So how about in honor of the American soldier, ya' quit makin' things up?"
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will attend the U.S./China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, at 9:30 a.m. ET. At 2 p.m. ET, he will meet with FIFA President Joseph Blatter. At 2:45 p.m. ET, he will welcome the WNBA Champions Detroit Shock to the White House. At 7 p.m. ET, the President and First Lady will host a reception for ambassadors.
No Biden Events Today
Vice President Biden will be accompanying his wife Jill to a follow-up medical appointment, after she had shoulder surgery last month. He does not have any public events scheduled.
NYT: Reach Of Subsidies Is Critical Issue For Health Plan
The New York Times reports that a major issue in the health car debate is the degree to which subsidies will be offered to people who cannot otherwise afford the coverage they would be required to purchase. "People who are making $50,000 or $60,000 a year and are spending $13,000 on health insurance may not get much of a subsidy," said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). "Those people will ask, 'How am I going to make this work for me and my family?'"
Dems Strategize To Counter CBO Health Care Estimate
The Hill reports that Congressional Democrats are strategizing how to argue around the Congressional Budget Office report on health care, arguing that their proposals contain cost-saving provisions that can't be scored by CBO accountants, such as prevention and wellness measures. "At CBO, they are accountants, but we still have to make our case," said an unnamed leadership aide. "They are doing their thing and we are doing ours."
Hopes Fading For House Vote On Health Care Before Recess
Roll Call reports that House Democrats may end up putting off a vote on the health care bill until after the August recess, as Senate leaders have done already. Said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD): "We're going to keep working until the bill is done; that does not necessarily mean we're going to work in session."
Americans United Ad: Health Care Reform Going At Snail's Pace -- And Republicans Want To Kill It
Americans United For Change has this new ad on D.C. cable -- essentially a test audience that puts an ad before the Washington media, before launching it nationwide -- saying that the health care debate is not going too fast. Indeed, they say it's gone at a snail's pace since 1993:
"Now the Republicans say Congress should slow down?" the announcer said. "That's because when something goes slow enough it's easy to kill it dead in its tracks."


















Yeah, and in honor of a lower federal deficit, remember to spay or neuter your cat. Also.
July 27, 2009 9:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Palin's Farewell Speech: 'You Won't Have Me to SHTICK Around Anymore'
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=8006
July 27, 2009 9:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
The irony of Palin's comments is so thick you can cut it with a knife.
Yes, indeed, maybe if the media had bothered to do their job and not 'make stuff up' or even just didn't go along with the government 'making stuff up', perhaps our history with Iraq would have been written differently. Perhaps then we would have paid our soldiers the ultimate respect - not sending them to die in a senseless war.
Something tells me she wasn't talking about that.
July 27, 2009 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now the incompetent democrats in congress are finally getting off their lazy asses to counter the CBO report? Gee thanks but the republicans as usual beat you to the punch in defining the report and shoving it down the democrat’s throats every time they can. I hear next the democrats are mounting a defense to the Bush tax cuts and the Iraq war. Holy shit are we in trouble. The democrats will NEVER learn how this game is played
July 27, 2009 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
"At CBO, they are accountants, but we still have to make our case," said an unnamed leadership aide. "They are doing their thing and we are doing ours."
Worry
July 27, 2009 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
The pathological lies of Palin continue...
July 27, 2009 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
As much as I'm pissed that Congress is going out on recess before passing healthcare reform, I'm very much looking forward to seeing my Blue Dog Congressman during the break and making sure he understands how I and many other in this district feel about his signature on the letter to Speaker Pelosi.
I suspect that many, many Blue Dogs, and GNOPers, too, will be hearing from their constituents during this break. At least I hope so!
PEACE
July 27, 2009 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
No subsidies for the insurance industry. This is absurd and screwed up if that is the way they go. It shouldn't cost 13k for insurance for a family of four anyway. Just make it medicare for all and be done with it. It would be cheaper and easier in the long run. Everyone is doing back flips to accomodate the criminal insurance and pharmaceutical industries. The us currently subsidizes world drug prices. Stop that and the savings would be astronomical. I am really starting to get pissed about where this thing is going, for what it's worth.
July 27, 2009 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly, the House bill suggests a premium of $10k per year for a 'family' - which would mean a $3k/year savings for the guy in Wyden's example. I don't see how that guy doesn't see that as a benefit.
But personally, I'd like to see premiums on a per person basis, perhaps $4k for the first adult, then $3k for each additional adult (including kids 18 and up). The first covered child would be $2k, then $1k for each additional child. A 'typical' family of four would still be $10k, but you wouldn't have a family of a single parent with one child subsidizing a family with two incomes and 8 kids.
--
My other suggestion is that all the existing public options (Medicaid, Medicare, S-CHIP, and Veterans Health) each have their eligibility expanded by 10% - 50% each year using their current criteria - so for example using the fastest expansion, if S-CHIP is for kids up to 18 in families earning up to 200% of the poverty level, in the first year it would be expanded to 'kids' up to age 27 in households making up to 300% of the poverty level.
Within a few years the plans would all overlap and there would be universal coverage.
July 27, 2009 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
...said the world's most prolific 'makin-things-uper'.
This is like watching someone as they cause a 100 car pile-up on the interstate, hop in to another car, take off and evade police, complain about the cops harassing her, and then say "I'll never drive on that road again, it's too congested."
Sure, Sarah. You're doing this for Alaska. But, it's not in the convoluted way you're trying to paint it. Quite simply, Alaska is better off without you as governor. No qualifiers necessary.
July 27, 2009 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Noam Scheiber sure is cute. Shouldn't a "senior editor" be a senior?
He also makes a very good point - the WORST outcome would have been House vote, no Senate vote before the recess and though he doesn't come out and say it, the Blue Dog rebellion on Friday may well have had this outcome as its objective
Anyway check out TNR's Senior Hottie
http://www.tnr.com/tnrtv/index.html?releasePID=8Qo3r4CebqRSPJkzZNQfpKg8cja76cRZ
July 27, 2009 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Palin to media: "So how about in honor of the American soldier, ya' quit makin' things up?"
Media to Palin: You first!
July 27, 2009 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I may be hallucinating here, but I remember seeing that Americans United For Change ad on TV this weekend. I don't remember what I was watching, but it had to be an Indiana television station.
July 27, 2009 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
from the American troops: stop using us a shield to prevent criticism of you stupid speeches.
July 27, 2009 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
So what things is Palin saying the media made up? That she pals around with terrorists, she is Muslim, she isn't a natural born citizen or a U.S. citizen, she is Marxist Communist Socialist Hitler, she's not patriotic, she's anti-Israel, that her husband is angry and hates America, she wants to destroy America.
The media said Palin wasn't ready for the national stage and she proves it every time she whines.
July 27, 2009 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink