The Dempire Strikes Back – The Public Option Returns

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Over the weekend, Obama administration spokespersons including Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, and President Obama himself, appeared to signal a a retreat on the public option. There was gnashing of teeth and loud wailing from the base of the Democratic Party. The netroots went into action immediately to remind … Read more

Housekeeping

I just installed threaded comments. That means you can now reply directly to a comment, or even to a comment on a comment. Your comments will feel more like a genuine conversation now. The drawback is that you have to sign in and create a free Typepad comment account. This prevents the need to use … Read more

A Simple Question

Sometimes the most basic questions are the most powerful. Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY) appeared on Joe Scarborough's show on MSNBC to talk about his "Medicare for all" alternative to the omnibus healthcare reform bill rumbling through various committees (which now looks in danger of dropping any 'public' option). Weiner asked Scarborough what value the private … Read more

Sen. Jack Harper – dazed and confused

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: State Sen. Jack Harper, R-Surprise, likened the behavior of legislative Democrats during budget talks this year to that of Sunnis who ruled Iraq with an iron fist for more than two decades. Political Insider: Sen. Harper: Capitol Democrats behaving like Sunnis and Saddam Hussein: The minority Sunnis, led by dictator Saddam Hussein, … Read more

Special Session Alert: Trouble Brewering – Accidental Governor Ready to Blink?

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The House Appropriations Committee approved the conformed version of the state equalization property tax repeal bill on Tuesday. Arizona lawmakers miss deadline for property-tax repeal According to several news sources, Senate President Bob Burns says he cannot find support for the Accidental Governor's temporary sales tax increase, and he will transmit the Senate budget … Read more