Can Health Care Reform survive the fact that Arkansas voters have basically lost their minds?
That’s a poetic way to put it. But I’m not sure anyone should be betting on Blanche Lincoln’s vote on health care.
Hint: Most Arkansans trust Limbaugh more than Obama and a majority in the state is either ‘birther’ or ‘birther-curious’.
Assistant US Attorney in Chris Christie unreported loan scandal resigns; Christie campaign says it means Corzine is a sleazy sleazoid.
San Diego prosecutor declines to press charges against anyone involved in sheriff’s helicopter raid on Democratic fund-raising event. (Our complete coverage here.)
As over the top as death panels and gun-wielding tea partiers have been, the biggest bamboozlement of the summer in terms of sheer audacity is the GOP’s sudden concern for Medicare. Since everyone seems to have forgotten, we hit the video highlights of the GOP’s 40-year effort to pull the plug on Medicare.
I hear WaPo’s Steven Pearlstein has had just about enough of Michael Steele’s crazy. I’ll be watching for his column.
By the way, why did WaPo publish that egregiously dishonest column on its oped page?
Late Update: And here it is.
From a longtime reader …
I participated in a Doctors for America phone call tonight with the White House. Me and 2600 of my brethren listened to pretty low-level pablum from the speakers. The questions asked by those lucky enough to be chosen were also standard practitioner issues including reimbursement by the SGR and malpractice. At the end of the call, I was incredibly disappointed. Many have mentioned that doctors seem silent in this debate. I have been trying to figure out why and think I have an inkling. I think doctors, like everyone else, don’t really know how their lives/practices will change with reform.
Truly the end of an era.
There were a lot of signs that this was imminent — Kennedy’s non-attendance at his sister’s funeral, the letter to Massachusetts political leaders about his successor and just the telling silence about any developments in his condition over recent weeks.
Much to talk about tomorrow. For now, we’ll just let the somber news speak for itself.
[ed.note: TPM’s obituary of Sen. Kennedy]
Late Update: Reich on Kennedy.
Latter Update: Statement from President Obama.
Watch President Obama’s live remarks on Sen. Kennedy’s passing, scheduled for 9:45 AM. Watch live.
TPMDC Morning Roundup devotes itself today to Ted Kennedy remembrances.