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Obama: Losing Insurance Can Happen To Anybody
In this week's YouTube address, President Obama warned that losing health insurance is something that can happen to anybody -- and according to a new report from the Treasury Department, it will happen to half of all Americans under 65, unless something is done about it:

"If you're under the age of 21 today, chances are more than half that you'll find yourself uninsured at some point in that time. And more than one-third of Americans will go without coverage for longer than one year," said Obama. "I refuse to allow that future to happen. In the United States of America, no one should have to worry that they'll go without health insurance - not for one year, not for one month, not for one day. And once I sign my health reform plan into law - they won't."

Cornyn: Instead of More Speeches, Obama Should Listen To Republicans
In this week's Republican address, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) praised President Obama for taking a bipartisan approach to the Afghanistan War -- and attacked Obama's health care proposals:

"He's paid lip service to bipartisanship while rejecting the ideas that would build bipartisan support," said Cornyn. "As a result, the President has alienated not only independents and divided his own party, but Republicans as well. And, he's ignored the clear wishes of the American people. So the President gave another big speech this week to try to turn his numbers around. But instead of talking, the President and Congressional Democrats should spend a little more time listening."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will speak to a health care rally at 2 p.m. ET, at the Target Center in Minneapolis. He will depart from Minnesota at 3:35 p.m. ET, and arrive back at the White House at 6 p.m. ET.

Tea Party Marches On Washington
The 9/12 Tea Party even marched to the Capitol today, with a crowd of many thousands of people spreading for blocks across Pennsylvania Avenue, though an estimated crowd size does not appear to be available yet. One popular chant at the event was "You lie," in honor of Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-SC) outburst during President Obama's speech to Congress. (Late Update: ABC News reports the turnout to be between 60,000 and 70,000, according to the D.C. Fire Department.)

Census Bureau Severs Ties With ACORN
The Census Bureau has has cut its ties with ACORN -- which was to help recruit census-takers -- in the wake of hidden-camera video by conservative activists receiving tips from the group's Baltimore office on how to falsify tax forms. "It is clear that ACORN's affiliation with the 2010 census promotion has caused sufficient concern in the general public, has indeed become a distraction from our mission, and may even become a discouragement to public cooperation, negatively impacting 2010 census efforts," wrote Census director Robert Groves.

White House Imposes Increased Tariff On Chinese Tires
The Obama administration has announced an increased tariff on Chinese-made tires, intended "to remedy the clear disruption to the U.S. tire industry," by cheap Chinese imports. The Chinese government has denounced the move: "Not only does it violate WTO rules, it contravenes commitments the United States government made at the G20 financial summit, and is an abuse of special safeguard provisions that sends the wrong signal to the world."

Andrew Card Not Running For Ted Kennedy's Senate Seat
Former Bush administration Chief of Staff Andrew Card has announced that he will not run in the Massachusetts special election for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat -- which did seem like an odd idea, considering Bush's unpopularity in the state. Card is instead endorsing GOP state Sen. Scott Brown. "I had done my due diligence and decided it was probably not in my best interest to run," said Card. "I'm disappointed but not unhappy."

Franken: I'm Not Running For President -- "I LIke Tom Harkin And I Like Steak"
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) joked with Radio Iowa about his upcoming keynote appearance at the annual Tom Harkin Steak Fry fundraiser. "I guess that most people who speak at the Steak Fry eventually run for president. I guess that's been the history but I'm not interested in running for president," Franken said -- who wrote an absurdist comedy novel in the late 1990's, about himself running for president. "I'm coming because I like Tom Harkin and I like steak."

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24 comments

Recommend Recommend (1)

September 12, 2009 1:17 PM   

Man, can a Republican open their mouth these days without nothing but lies, spin and bullshit coming out? Sorry your widdle feewings got hurt by the Presidents speech the other night but, since Republicans have proven they want to do nothing but obstruct, he had to come out and spank your little ass. And according to the polls, Indies and Dems applauded the ass whoopin'.

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September 12, 2009 2:45 PM    in reply to plan69

But if he says it enough, that will make it true! In any day now, those alienated independents will spring up with a pile of Saddam's WMDs.

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September 12, 2009 3:34 PM    in reply to plan69

Man, can a Republican open their mouth these days without nothing but lies, spin and bullshit coming out?

Exactly my thoughts as I read Cornyn's comments. I wonder (and I'm serious about this) how all those deeply religious people manage to ignore their consciences.

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September 12, 2009 4:04 PM    in reply to CT Voter

You don't know they're deeply religious just because that's what they profess.  Posturing for political optics is not exactly unheard-of.

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September 12, 2009 4:28 PM    in reply to jzap

I know, but doesn't there have to be something that's genuine about them?

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September 12, 2009 11:43 PM    in reply to CT Voter

Hmmm.  If there is, it's probably been unlearned a long time ago.

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September 13, 2009 12:58 AM    in reply to jzap

Oh no. They are very genuine liars, and they have definitely not 'unlearned' it.

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September 12, 2009 7:51 PM    in reply to CT Voter

It is because they aren't supposed to think for themselves; to reflect, or examine their consciences. They are supposed to follow lock-step whatever the guy in front of the church says. How else could someone as pathological as the "minister" who prayed for Obama's death not get called out? These "people" are nothing but sheep; they don't think at all. They, and their cowardly ways, are what is wrong with America -- Oh! And they don't support the troops either, because they just send more as a substitute for their own cowardice to accomplish NOTHING!

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September 14, 2009 9:42 AM    in reply to plan69

So what is or has been the Republican Health Care Plan? One that covers more people, prevents cancellation and capping, eliminates pre-conditions, offers more choice and competition especially in states where one or two large insurance monopolies have a virtual monopoly, prevents out of control price increases for insurance policies, escalating deductibles and co-pays and eliminates government subsidies to the insurers.

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September 12, 2009 2:19 PM   

Note to Cornyn: Why should anyone listen to the same old mantra of cutting taxes for the richest 1%? Read the Census Bureau's latest report that cutting those taxes in 2001 was the primary reason for the economic decline of this country.

Cornyn, you and your greedy Republican flunkies need to come up with REAL solutions before anyone with a brain will listen to you and take you seriously. The cut-tax-mantra is a colossal waste of time and resources that we no longer have.

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September 12, 2009 2:43 PM   

As a result, the President has alienated not only independents and divided his own party, but Republicans as well.

As always, the GOP can't make the case on policy so they concentrate on reassuring the true believers that they're in the mainstream... when, in fact, polls show a significant post-speech bump for Obama across the board.

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September 12, 2009 3:25 PM    in reply to Stroszek

Are Republicans capable of talking without projecting? Karl Rove criticizes Obama for running a permanent campaign from the White House, Cornyn accuses Obama of only paying lip service to bipartisanship without actually meaning it, "family values" politicians criticize others for destroying the sanctity of marriage, fundamentalist Christians accuse other Americans of being intolerant of their beliefs...the list just goes on and on.

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September 12, 2009 3:44 PM    in reply to Xantar

Pathological degree of projection. Whenever they accuse Democrats of something, you can be pretty sure that it's something they're doing.

They're sick.

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September 12, 2009 3:58 PM   

Who Says the GOP Has No Health Plan: 'Orwell Care'
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=8614

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September 12, 2009 4:15 PM   

Republican TAX BREAKS to the top 5% = $2.5 TRILLIONS dollars

Healthcare Reform = Self Paid 1 Trillion Dollars

60,000 Tea Baggers protesting governments' "anti-tax" when 95% don't qualify for Obama's Tax hike = Priceless!

PS. Where the hell where all of you when republican led government gave us the the world's largest deficit? What happen to America????

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September 12, 2009 5:32 PM    in reply to Chico Zen

sorry...more like 30,000 tea baggers - tea bagging the GOP

1.5 million people attended Obama's inaugural ceremony....just saying.

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September 12, 2009 8:04 PM    in reply to Chico Zen

Excellent point! Wish we could bring them all out again for Single Payer / or failing that, Public Option! Every rally I have heard about for health care reform has been on a weekday -- a Tuesday, of all things; or locally there was one on a Thursday from 8 -9 am. Most of the people who show up for these things are on Medicare and don't have anything to lose, but they just hate the thought of anyone benefitting from the general good. What is wrong with them? But they have all kinds of time on their hands.

I am employed and have health insurance, and so this is not selfish -- I want every person in our country to be able to have health care, reasonably priced and guaranteed. If everyone is covered and we (miraculously get rid of insurance company profits) share the risk, it WILL be affordable, and will not be on the taxpayer.

Oh, my god, I am an effing broken record!

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September 12, 2009 8:22 PM    in reply to Chico Zen

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September 13, 2009 12:50 AM    in reply to Michael A

I watched Fox News to see how they covered the march... The reporters were a joke, I felt like I was watching Bozo and Cookie. Anyways, I had to turned it off when the reporter for Glen Beck said, "You have men, women, children, young, old, black, white." He said that with a straight face; I did not see one single black person nor any ethic minority.

Why would the GOP embrace KKK-like people as the poster child of government responsibility? They know that these are the people that vote in non-presidential elections and they are COUNTING the the people who voted for Obama stay home in 2010. IF they are wrong and they do not win in 2010 and they see the Wilsons', Gramsleys', and Bachemans' of the republican party lose re-election, THEN you will see then change their tune.

Look, Karl Rove is behind the Republican stradegy; Oppose Obama at all cost and hope his supporters don't vote in 2010. This guerilla like politiking only works when the majority doesn't vote.

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September 12, 2009 4:35 PM   

The dumbing down of America writ large.

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September 12, 2009 6:03 PM   

About f-ing time:

Obama: Public option helps health care competition

(AP) – 3 hours ago

MINNEAPOLIS — President Barack Obama says he wants to see a government-run option in the health care overhaul and remains open on "how to set this up."

Speaking at a rally Saturday in Minneapolis, Obama was responding to growing concerns that the government could squeeze out private insurers and lead to a federal takeover of health care.Obama stressed that a government-run plan would be one of many options for people seeking affordable care. He said it will promote more competition and "no one would be forced to choose it."He also pledged that with a public option "no government bureaucrat or insurance company bureaucrat gets between you and the coverage that you need."

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September 12, 2009 6:51 PM   

I've worked for the 2010 Census since this spring and my understanding is that the 2010 Census partnered with Acorn, among others, to do community outreach, encouraging people to respond to the census and not avoid it. Acorn was never involved in selecting employees (other than encouraging people to take the test). The Census held multiple open testings and applicants were called solely on their test scores. Acorn had no, I repeat, no influence in this process. It's disappointing to see a fine site like TPM repeat this persistent right wing falsehood.

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September 13, 2009 10:35 AM   

On the "business actually wants HCR front" (via sleazy rightwing Politico):

IT’S NOT 1993 AGAIN -- Business Forward release: “New poll shows business support for action on healthcare: Rising health care costs are the single biggest economic concern facing American businesses, according to a survey of business leaders released by Business Forward: Nearly 90% of those polled cite health care costs as a major concern, more than cite taxes, government regulation, labor costs or energy costs. … Business Forward Executive Director Jim Doyle: ‘This poll reminds us why it is so important for business leaders, trade groups, regulators, Congress and the President to stay at the negotiating table.’ The poll, conducted by Anzalone Liszt Research in advance of President Obama's address to Congress, showed that … business leaders … support key elements of a reform plan, including insurance exchange (78% favorable), efficiency reforms and an oversight commission (71%), requiring insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions (79%) and a public health option (51%).” RELEASE ERIN BURNETT VIDEO

Don't expect the cowards in the MSM to trumpet the remarkable fact that majority of businesses are actually in support of a public option.

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September 13, 2009 11:35 AM   

The defenders of the Status Quo are out in full force...After a survey of the Sunday Shows, the conventional wisdom is that the public option is "dead" and can never pass the Senate, so it shouldn't even be discussed.

Oh, and the Republicans describe Medicare as a "disaster", though they also promise not to ever touch it...That's a delicate dance that doesn't hold up under scrutiny...Too bad there's no scrutiny to be found on any of these supposed "news" shows.

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