"The most consistent and smartest thinking and writing about progressive politics isn't happening in Sacramento, but being churned out day after day on sites and by organizations like Calitics, Orange County Progressive, and the California Budget Project." - CalBuzz
If this is really what they're up to, then the Obama Administration will have hell to pay.
The Obama administration sent signals on Sunday that it has backed away from its once-firm vision of a government organization to provide for the nation's 50 million uninsured and is now open to using nonprofit cooperatives instead.
Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, said on Sunday morning that an additional government insurer is "not the essential element" of the administration's plan to overhaul the country's health care system.
"I think there will be a competitor to private insurers," she said on CNN's "State of the Union." "That's really the essential part, is you don't turn over the whole new marketplace to private insurance companies and trust them to do the right thing. We need some choices, we need some competition."
Her less-than-forceful insistence on a government insurance organization was paralleled by Robert Gibbs, the president's press secretary.
If they give up on the public option, then I give up in trying to make sure Obama gets a second term. It's really as simple as that. He already gave up on passing a strong climate and energy bill. He already gave up on putting real effort into repealing DOMA & DADT. He already gave up on passing the Employee Free Choice Act AND the Freedom of Choice Act. And supposedly, we needed to accept that these sacrifices had to be made this year so that we could see a health care bill passed with a strong public option and other pro-consumer reforms.
And now we won't even get that? The Administration now thinks we'll sit back and accept what now looks like a government bailout of the insurance and pharmaceutical companies? HELL, NO!
So are you as angry as I am? If so, then we must take action NOW to stop the "health care compromise" train wreck from getting any worse! First, send a message to President Obama that any health care "deal" with no public option, no prescription drug price negotiation, and no pro-consumer reforms is completely unacceptable and is will not be defended by us. Secondly, tell Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein not to accept this "compromise" as a done deal and work to make sure that the final Senate bill looks more like the HELP Committee (Kennedy-Dodd) bill with real pro-consumer reforms. And if you're lucky enough to be represented by Loretta Sanchez, ask her to support HR 3200 if and ONLY if it has a strong public option and other meaningful pro-consumer reforms. Otherwise, ask her to only support HR 676 and stop the HMO/drug companies bailout.
Get it? Got it? Good! We still have time to get real health care reform passed, so let's not let some weak-kneed politicians pull us down!
Valerie Jarrett occupies the West Wing office that used to belong to Karl Rove, and embodies the stark contrast between the previous administration and the current one.
She begins every day with a sense of overwhelming awe at the opportunity she's been given, and admits to being "scared" by the responsibility. In contrast, Rove concentrated on scaring the American people. Jarrett speaks frankly about the level of fear that is being pushed out now by Republicans, particularly seniors, around health care reform. "Why are they trying to scare my parents?"
Jarrett is a consummate policy wonk who has the poise, eloquence, and access to represent President Obama.
It was very scary at a certain point to be a member of the Electoral College. I received threatening phone calls and letters, was served with legal papers at my home, and had thousands of signatures on a petition from a right wing hate site delivered to me.
Their arguments were out of the deranged conspiracy parallel universe. Our newly elected President had either traveled through time to forge records in Honolulu and to place birth announcements in local papers, or he had somehow, as a child, or through his mother, or father, secretly renounced his citizenship.
Buena Park Pastor Wiley Drake, who calls down blasphemous prayers against the President, is now appealing the case against me and California Electors, after having been laughed out of court.
Through his attorney, Gary Kreep of Ramona California, in conjunction with Alan Keyes. Our attorneys expect the case to go to the Supreme Court.
Congressman John Campbell, has joined other crazy people in signing onto a birther bill in Congress to add legitimacy to these extremists.
Many people have been skeptical about the motives of Campbell, Kreep, Wiley Drake and the Birthers. Their case is preposterous, their evidence easily disproven, and their attorneys incompetent, but they keep spreading their absurd lies and innuendos through hate sites and emails.
It's when you see a "birther" shooting an innocent guard at the Holocaust museum that you start understanding the true results of their virulence.
Domestic terrorism has its roots right here in Orange County, and Congressman John Campbell appears destined to join a long list of Orange County Republicans who make our county a national joke.
In case you haven't been paying attention, there's an uprising going on. LGBT progressives are sick and tired of being taken for granted. We were promised "change" by candidate Obama, but all we've seen so far from President Obama & Congress has been more requests for our change ($). Seriously, this needs to change.
Apparently just two days before the scheduled "LGBT DNC Fundraiser Extravaganza" that's losing donors so fast the DNC & Obama White House are in full panic mode, Fundraiser Co-chair Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) announces that he will introduce a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) as his colleague Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) will soon introduce a repeal of the "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA). And pay attention to what they have to say.
"I'd like to make it a rule: No yelling at the president until you show me a letter you have written" to your House member and two senators, says gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank.
As lawmakers prepare to head home for their July 4 recess, key congressional allies emphasize that every member of Congress needs to hear from constituents passionate about passing legislation to move gay Americans toward equality. [...]
What does gay-friendly Rep. Jerry Nadler, chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee on civil rights, need voters to do to help him pass the anti-DOMA bill he'll soon introduce?
"Call your representatives. Meet with them. Pressure them," Nadler told me.
Nadler hopes to quickly get a Senate companion bill. Already, a House bill to repeal [the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" (DADT) military service ban] has been introduced. A Senate version is likely shortly.
OK, I get it. Frank and Nadler are trying to deflect criticism of President Obama by telling us to contact our members of Congress. Fine, then. Let's call them on their bluff.
An Obama administration official has confirmed to The Advocate that President Barack Obama will be signing a presidential memorandum Wednesday to provide benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
The signing is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. in the Oval Office, and the president is scheduled to make brief remarks.
I guess this is good news. I mean, it is progress and LGBT federal employees have been waiting quite some time for domestic partner benefits. But if President Obama is doing this just to placate the community to get the money flowing out of our wallets again for the June 26 DNC fundraiser, this isn't enough.
We want out full civil rights, and we're tired of small token gestures and nice words followed by inaction. We want full equality, and we want it NOW!
Again, this is good start. LGBT federal employees deserve this kind of respect and protection. And yes, I'll commend the President for doing it. I just hope tomorrow we'll also get word of when the rest of us will get some equality as well.
Bill Maher spoke about his hope for audacity when it comes to President Obama on his Real Time show this Friday, new rules.
Speaking of Republicans, if you can't shove some real reform down their throats now, then when?
He was right, I'm getting tired of hoping and hoping for a lot more audacity. Corporate America, those entities that have thrived on profiting at our expense have to be put on notice.
Remember when Obama said it wasn't going to be easy?
Well, maybe we need to just do what's right rather than worrying about consensus. And are we not tired of hearing the back and forth? The waffling of the White House on the public option that it's coming and going and we can't keep our stories straight, it is making my head hurt. I have insurance, what about those who don't?
I just got an email from our favorite Senator, Barbara Boxer, on President Obama's important decision on who to appoint to fill Justice David Souter's vacancy on the US Supreme Court. It looks like she has an opinion to share... And she's even getting bipartisan support for her idea. Follow me after the flip to read Senator Boxer's proposal.
OK, so today's Mothers' Day. I'm planning to stop by my mom's house shortly and check up on her. But before I do that, I must address this:
President Barack Obama's national security adviser says allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military is in the early discussions.
But retired Marine Gen. James Jones says it's very preliminary in a very busy administration.
Jones said Sunday he's not sure if the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy would be overturned, although Obama has said he wants it eliminated. Jones said the decision to go forward lies with the president.
For now, Jones says, "We have a lot on our plate right now."
Mr. Jones, President Obama, and members of Congress, you just allowed this fine patriotic soldier to be fired. And believe it or not, we've already lost too many thousands of good soldiers simply because they're queer. Now's the time to lift the military service ban. Seriously.
So much for Arnie telling us how cutting home health care workers' wages will save us money. Actually, it turns out it may cost us a net loss of over $6.7 billion! How's that? Remember that thing called the federal stimulus?
The Obama administration is threatening to rescind billions of dollars in federal stimulus money if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers do not restore wage cuts to unionized home healthcare workers approved in February as part of the budget.
Schwarzenegger's office was advised this week by federal health officials that the wage reduction, which will save California $74 million, violates provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Failure to revoke the scheduled wage cut before it takes effect July 1 could cost California $6.8 billion in stimulus money, according to state officials. [...]
The wages at issue involve workers who care for some 440,000 low-income disabled and elderly Californians. The workers, who collectively contribute millions of dollars in dues each month to the influential Service Employees International Union and the United Domestic Workers, will see the state's contribution to their wages cut from a maximum of $12.10 per hour to a maximum of $10.10.
Oops. The Governator really made quite the mistake in pushing for more cuts to hurt working people when he could have avoided this mess by simply working with the Legislature to enact real tax reform. But as we're seeing with the ridiculous May 19 Special Election gimmicks most likely to fail miserably, the Sacto pols totally miscalculated this one. And unless they quickly move to restore the home health care workers' wages, we'll all be paying the price for Sacramento's folly.
Believe it or not, Mike Castle (R-DE) wasn't the only "moderate" Republican in a moderate, pro-Obama district that voted against President Obama's Economic Recovery Act that includes tax breaks for middle class families. So did Ken Calvert (R-Only Supports Self-Stimulus). That's why the DCCC will be airing a radio ad here in the LA/OC/IE market just like this one specifically targeting Ken Calvert.
Hopefully, this won't be the last we see of the DCCC here. The 44th Congressional District really deserves better representation. And hopefully, national Democrats can put some effort this time into helping Bill Hedrick cross the finish line successfully in 2010.
One of my favorite Democrats, Beverly Haut, sent Total Buzz her story, I Kissed Obama. It's not as torrid as that of course but it's a very sweet story from someone I know who put a lot of heart and soul into helping elect President Obama. And not only that, she was so helpful and positive with Gary's campaign.
I looked up into the eyes of the President, and he looked down into mine. I laid my left hand on his bare right arm, thrust my right hand into his, and said, "I've been waiting for you since I was 12 years old. Thank you, Mr. President."
I stood as tall as my 5? could reach (he's 6 feet 90 or something), raised my head and leaned in, and he leaned down towards me. Suddenly, I kissed him on the cheek. I don't know why, I had nothing else to say that wouldn't take 20 minutes, I
kissed him, and he didn't pull away. There was one of those kinda-sorta-almost shoulder hugs, not really touching, almost there, so I kissed him again, and again he didn't pull away. And damn, if I didn't kiss him again! He smiled down at me ~ he looked directly into my eyes
~ and said, simply, "Thank you."
So it really bothers me that some of the OC Republicans can't help but attempt to belittle and ridicule Bev's sincere adoration of our President. It's not only wrong, but just uncalled for, I hope she knows that I support her and know how involved, outspoken and amazing she is. Yes, she's an "activist" for a lot of the things that I hold dear. She's outspoken and sometimes even harsh but I will always come to her defense because she's passionate and dedicated, something we could use more of, not less in Orange County.
I'm changing my mind and posting some of the comments behind the cut. I don't want to give them more traffic than necessary but if you are as appalled as I am, please go defend Bev. The fact that the OC Register is allowing such comments is beyond me. Many of them violate their TOS rules and yet there they are, for all to see.
I can't resist posting this, it's one of my favorite books as it is for many. President Obama has found himself in the wild being asked strange questions from the White House Press Corps... Where the Wild Things Are, indeed. It is his favorite book after all...
"I can't say as a child what book influenced me most. My favorite book - and it continues to be one of my favorite books - was "Where the Wild Things Are." I love that book. My wife still thinks that I'm Max, that I'm getting into mischief all the time. But as I evolved, as I got older, I think that what had the greatest impact on me rather than one single book was my mother's love of books. That's part of the reason why I think I emphasize parents so much in this process because as much trouble as I got into as an adolescent, she would constantly send me books. That's what I got every birthday were books. I was holding out for the basketball or the bike, and I'd get these big stacks of books. I'd be disappointed initially, but she knew that eventually I'd end up picking them up and reading them. And that, I think, really laid the foundation for my subsequent success."
The Republican party has launched their latest set of talking poings that stress that our President has
too many ideas.
President Obama eloquently spoke to this at length in his Costa Mesa Town Hall meeting, to rousing applause, but I expect to see local Republicans pushing the national meme, following orders like good Germans.
Perhaps what struck me most was the spin that the Republicans tried to put on the event as quickly as possible.
Adam Probolsky managed a media interview on one of the all news stations immediately following the town hall, and spun himself into a tizzy. He claimed that a large percentage of the crowd were Republicans, but the party loyalists had gotten up front to dominate the questions. If there were more than a dozen partisan Republicans in the crowd, other than the local media, they weren't apparent at all. Probolsky emphasized the 200,000 vote registration advantage of Republicans, without noting that Obama carried the OC by less than 30,000 votes.
The Register did their false equivalence story, giving equal space to the lame crowd of protesters along Fairview that they said "grew to 35."
Red County had their trademark insolent partisan hackery up immediately.
Meanwhile, Californians heard the event live, without mediation as the event played out.
So, here I am waiting in line to see Obama. Ever try to blog on a Blackberry?
There are a lot of people here and spirits are high. I will up date when were in.
UPDATE _ so sorry I didn't actually update, which I did from inside but for some reason, no post. It's not easy to blog from a Blackberry and to top thigns off, I just wanted to enjoy BEING THERE.
