Today Should Be National Talk To Your Friends And Family About Health Care Reform Day!

I think one of the reasons people are down on the Affordable Care Act other than the actual demonization that took place, is that they don't think anything happens for them until 2014 and in that case there's a chance that by then it will have been repealed or defunded if the GOP has its way and takes back over Congress. But there ARE ways that the ACA helps people starting today (well actually starting back in July) that you can work into a conversation.

If you have a skeptical family member who has kids remind them that now as of today their children can not be denied coverage for preexisting conditions. If you know of a friend with a child close to graduating college remind them that now their son or daughter can stay on their health care until the age of 26.

If you have an adult friend who has been looking for health insurance for more than six months but nobody will offer them a policy tell them about the high risk pools that have been set up since July. If you don't want to be so direct then just post this video to your facebook page or link it on your twitter and send it out. And maybe just maybe the more people hear about it the more they will understand what is in there for them.

If you know any older people on Medicare ask them about the donut hole and if they have gotten their $250 check this year to help cover up for the flaw that the Republicans instituted when THEY had the Congress and the presidency.

And as that word spreads around its very likely people will start to actually change their perceptions of health care reform. And once that happens the national mood could turn quick on those (Republicans) who would repeal so many good to great provisions.

It doesn't make any sense for Democrats to not be able to run on such a historic accomplishment as the ACA and we the rank and file have to be the ones to help carry the message out to the masses! This legislation is already LITERALLY saving lives. But it doesn't matter if people don't realize that!

We Aren't Playing For Second Place!

President Obama on Education

Handing Over Control Of Iraq To The Iraqis

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraqi commandos showed off skills they learned from U.S. military forces, who Saturday formally handed over control of combat operations to Iraqi security forces.


The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. Raymond Odierno, was on hand to watch the final American combat team, the 4th Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division, tender responsibilities to the 6th Iraqi Army Division.


President Barack Obama has ordered the current 64,000-strong U.S. presence to be down to 50,000 by September 1.


Six U.S. brigades will remain to provide support to Iraqi soldiers and police.

CNN

I know some folks, including some assholes on the left, don't want to give President Obama any credit for this milestone. But let me tell you what I remember. I remember in 2008 then Senator Barack Obama coming out for a withdrawal timeline for Iraq. I remember President Bush and then Senator John McCain blasting him for it and saying he wanted to "cut and run". Then suddenly when the argument was getting very heated the Iraqis themselves, after Obama visited Iraq, called for our troops to withdraw and had it written into our new SOFA with them. And even then President Bush resisted and McCain opposed it. But once the Iraqis demanded it they were pushed into a corner. But lets not forget what started the dominoes falling. And the Iraqi people had confidence that if Obama won the Presidency he would in fact withdraw our troops according to the deadlines.

I'll also point out that some of the same assholes now trying to minimize this with respect to President Obama, predicted over and over that he would back off the withdrawal date and try to keep a great amount of troops in Iraq indefinitely.

Well screw you guys, Obama got it done. And there is nothing you can do or say to change that history.

The Problem With Larry Summers

Ezra Klein lays out the case against Larry Summers and why he shouldn't be heading President Obama's economic team. Its really compelling stuff.

The critique of Summers is very consistent, and it's really not about him or his vaunted arrogance. It's his position. Summers runs the National Economic Council, which is the body charged with coordinating the president's economic process. But Summers, for all his brilliance and charm, is not the guy you want running meetings and smoothing disagreements and making people feel included. Summers doesn't facilitate debates. He wins them. He wants to be the guy Obama listens to, not the guy who listens to everyone else, and to a large degree, he is.


Over time, this has led to problems in the White House's economic process: People get left out, the lines of authority aren't always clear, and the guy who's supposed to be worrying about all that stuff is instead trying to get the president over to his side of the argument. This has made the White House economic process an unpleasant place to be, particularly if you're not one of the few who have a truly direct connection to the president.

One things for damn sure, with the economy still teetering back and forth and the bad jobs numbers that came out today, President Obama should be hearing from EVERYBODY on his team. Not just the people Summers thinks he should hear from.

Hey Look, That Guy Everybody Complains About Just Did Something Else

I wonder when the President Obama will get recognition for this from our community. Probably the day after never...

President Obama signed a law today designed to ensure that crimes involving crack and powder cocaine are handled the same way.


The Fair Sentencing Act is "a bipartisan bill to help right a longstanding wrong by narrowing sentencing disparities between those convicted of crack cocaine and powder cocaine," Obama said last week in a speech to the National Urban League. "It's the right thing to do."

The law ends what the Drug Policy Alliance calls the problem of the 100-to-1 ratio.

President Obama On Fin Reg And Unemployment Benefits

President Obama got too more victories this week but it was largely overshadowed by the Shirley Sherrod debacle.  Getting financial regulation passed even though its not as strong as most of us would have liked is a legitimate reason to beat his chest.  So is extending unemployment.  But I hope he realizes that this has to only be a start.  If that small jobs bill doesn't get passed and there isn't more economic stimulus on the way the mid terms will be a blood bath no matter what kinds of speeches he gives.

"War Is Bigger Than Any One Man"

President Obama just fired General McChrystal and replaced him with General Petraeus. It was the right decision and the speech announcing the decision was everything you would hope it would be. I don't think another General will be granting any interviews any time soon.

I Can See The Future

So now President Obama has come out and said he wants to "kick some ass", seemingly giving the chattering class the emotion they have been looking for.

BUT....

I predict that the same folks who said he wasn't "angry" enough will now try to portray him as a thug, as being over the top, as being out of control.

Hell I wouldn't be surprised if they said he was going to take all the white women.

Just watch how quick they pivot. The shit will give you whip lash.

Elena Kagan Is President Obama's SCOTUS Nominee

Most of the people following the nomination process to replace the retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens had pegged Solicitor General Elena Kagan as the top choice almost from the start. Now some on the left, mostly the truly far left at this point, have raised objections about Kagan but I tried to be open minded about the situation and checked into every allegation and just doesn't seem to be any there, there. Obviously the Republicans will oppose her cuz at this point that's just what they do. But I can't see a serious reason to oppose her from the left. Yes, maybe there were more liberal/progressive choices that President Obama could have made but that doesn't diminish who Kagan is and what she can bring to the highest court in the land. So as for me I will be supporting the nomination wholeheartedly and I hope most of the people on the left decide to do the same.

Sorry, I Couldn't Resist

I know I said no posts about Sarah Palin and up till now I have held to that, but I just had to post this clip of President Obama treating any criticism from her exactly like it should be treated. Oh and George Stephanopolous is turning into one of the worst political hacks of our generation. Move over David Gregory!

Justice Stevens And Citizens United

With the announcement today that Jusice John Paul Stevens will be retiring this summer there is rampant speculation about who President Obama will select to replace him. Of course the other speculation is about how, not if but how, Senate Republicans will oppose whomever he nominates. But I will say this much and I hope Senate Democrats get this, they have the upper hand now. Last year all throughout Justice Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation process the Republicans kept trying to paint her as an "activist" judge who would rewrite law to fit her world view. It didn't stop her nomination, but I think it did do some damage to her in terms of public perception and also to President Obama as well for nominating her.

Well now the tides have turned in my opinion with the Citizens United decision handed down by the conservative, read Republican, majority on the Supreme Court. By over turning basically 100 years of case law not only did these judges serve as "activists", but they also pissed off the majority of the American people who don't want Congressional and Presidential races to turn into a situation where the corporations by all or most of the elections. Democrats should have a "wish a muthafucka would" mentality right now, hoping and praying that the Republicans are stupid enough to try to use that talking point again. Every time it comes up they should hammer them mercilessly about the Citizens United decision which not only will serve to protect whomever President Obama nominates, but will also serve to permanently connect the GOP to that decision. Basically they could kill two birds with one stone by helping the nominee and by making it a campaign issue.

Now there is a small chance that Republicans won't actually use that tact this go around, but I highly doubt it. These are not smart people for the most part and so their playbook isn't very large. You take away the "activist judges" talking point and what do they have left? Not much.

It will be interesting to see if Democrats finally take the opportunity to go on the offense instead of sitting on the sidelines or strictly playing defense.

"Go For It"

President Obama selling health care reform in Iowa.

Making History

Yes We Can!!!




And yes, this is, A BIG FUCKING DEAL!!!

The Magnificent

I have seen most of President Obama's speeches if not live then on youtube, but I have to say that his speech today to the House Democratic caucus was the best I have ever seen from him. That's not hyperbole, its a fact and he made all the arguments that I would have made if given the chance to speak to the caucus. For me, that's huge because it means he was truly speaking for all of us today. No matter where you are on the political spectrum, no matter how many of Pres Obama's speeches you have seen before, no matter what you think about health care reform, please do yourself a favor and watch this video. You'll be glad you did.

Can't Call It An Ambush

I might be the only blogger on the left not upset in the least about Bret Baier's assholery this evening in his interview with President Obama. My thing is this, its fucking FoxNews, what the fuck exactly did he expect? Its the classic scorpion-toad situation. Bret Baier is no different from Bill O'Reilly or any other right wing asshat on that network so if you are going to go there and allow them to twist you up like a pretzel I say shame on you, not shame on them.

Wonder when President Obama will get around to allowing Rachel Maddow to interview him again.

I won't hold my breath.

The Time For Talk Is Over!

Somewhere Michael Eric Dyson's Head Just Exploded

Jay Z went by the White House yesterday and had a short meeting with President Obama.

I can't imagine the hell thats about to break loose with the "Soul Patrol" behind this! LOL

Pass The Damn Bill!!!

President Obama calls for an up or down vote on health care reform.

What's The Over/Under...

...on wingnut websites picking up this video and reporting it as fact? LOL

Race In The South In The Age Of Obama

This is the most powerful piece I have read in a long time. I recommend it to everyone no matter what color, political stripe or religious creed. We have come a long way as a country but we still have a long way to go. And that means ALL of us.