Top Items:
The Hill:
Dems at odds on how to turn tide on health — House Democrats' drive to overhaul the nation's healthcare system sputtered Tuesday, fueling doubts that the complex legislation can be passed before lawmakers leave town for the August recess. — If Democrats in the lower chamber do not pass …
Discussion:
Swampland, Top Stories from CQ, msnbc.com, The Politico, Salon, Washington Post, Wizbang, Gallup and Blog entry
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Bobby Jindal / Wall Street Journal:
How to Make Health-Care Reform Bipartisan — In Washington, it seems history always repeats itself. That's what's happening now with health-care reform. This is an unfortunate turn of events for Americans who are legitimately concerned about the skyrocketing cost of a basic human need.
Patrick O'Connor / The Politico:
Blue Dogs get a deal on health costs — Moderate House Democrats and a key committee chairman emerged from a three-hour meeting at the White House on Tuesday with a tentative agreement to give an outside panel — rather than Congress — the power to make cuts to government-financed health care programs.
Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:
In Health Care Fight, Defining Moment Nears for President — WASHINGTON — Six months into his administration, President Obama is at a pivotal moment. He has pushed through a $787 billion economic stimulus package, bailed out Wall Street and, on Tuesday, managed to beat the defense industry in the Senate …
Political Punch:
Facing Blue Dog Rebellion, House Energy and Commerce Committee Cancels Markup for 2nd Day in a Row — At 5:54 pm ET the news came: “The Energy and Commerce Markup of H.R. 3200 - America's Affordable Health Choices Act for 7-22-09 has been CANCELLED. — Not a good sign for the Democrats trying …
Discussion:
FiveThirtyEight, PoliGazette, Pundit & Pundette, HotAirPundit, The Other McCain, USA Today, The Caucus and ABCNEWS
Wall Street Journal:Obama Ups Ante on Health
Discussion:
Roll Call, The Note, Washington Post, Taegan Goddard's …, McClatchy Washington Bureau and The Page
Andrew Malcolm / Top of the Ticket:
Obama White House breaks another promise to reject Bush secrecy — Well, at least it's bipartisan. — The still sort-of new Barack Obama Democratic administration has again adopted yet another policy straight out of the administration of his much-criticized Republican predecessor George W. Bush.
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Quinnipiac University:
Toomey Ties Specter In Pennsylvania, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; More Say New Democrat Does Not Deserve Another Term — Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter's 2010 reelection lead over Republican challenger Pat Toomey has shrunk to a tie with 45 percent for Specter and 44 percent for Toomey …
Discussion:
The New Republic, Real Clear Politics, Scorecard's Blog, Commentary, Taegan Goddard's …, TPMDC, The Page, AmSpecBlog and Moe_Lane's blog
Marc Ambinder / The Atlantic Politics Channel:
Should The GOP Take The Birther Threat Seriously? Rush Does.... That's the thesis of the First Readers of NBC News, after viewing this astonishing clip from a town hall meeting that Rep. Mike Castle held in Delaware for his constituents. What's most notable, to me, at least …
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The Black Sphere:
DEMOCRAT CARNAHAN DISMISSES BLACK MAN AT TOWNHALL — Yesterday, I attended a townhall meeting on healthcare with Representative Russ Carnahan, where he dissed this black constituent. For those of you unfamiliar with Missouri politics, the new breed of Carnahans are those who are riding …
Discussion:
Sister Toldjah
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CNN:
Senator: Democrats “baffled” by president's health care stance — WASHINGTON (CNN) - As the prospects for passing health reform by the time Congress leaves for its August recess look bleaker, Democratic grumbling about President Obama is growing louder. One Democratic senator tells CNN …
Directorblue / Doug Ross:
Obama's Ominous Implication: Euthanasia of the Elderly May Be Necessary — Gee, socialized medicine sounds great — don't you think so, grandma and grandpa? … In other words, faceless bureaucrats in Washington — not your family — will decide whether your grandparents live or die.
Discussion:
The Strata-Sphere, PoliGazette, Pundit & Pundette, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Newshoggers.com, Balloon Juice and Cold Fury
Dareh Gregorian / New York Post:
RATHER'S SUIT AGAINST CBS COMES BACK TO LIFE — If you believe Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS is close to finished, folks, you'll believe rocks can grow. — The anchor's $70 million lawsuit against his former employers got a new lease on life today when a Manhattan judge restored …
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Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Conrad: A thorn in Obama's side — Sen. Kent Conrad (N.D.) has emerged as one of the most effective Democratic critics of President Obama's agenda, despite their close friendship and the fact that Conrad was one of Obama's earliest supporters for the White House.
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Rachel D'Oro / Associated Press:
AP NewsBreak: Palin implicated in ethics probe — ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An independent investigator has found evidence that Gov. Sarah Palin may have violated ethics laws by accepting private donations to pay her legal debts. — The report obtained by The Associated Press says Palin …
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David Kurtz / Talking Points Memo:
Fox News: Surgeon General Too Fat — In what has to be among Fox News' all-time lowlights, Neil Cavuto had a segment a short while ago on whether the new surgeon general nominee, Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, is “too fat” for the post. Seriously. In support of this argument …
NPR:
Rapper Feud Mirrors World Politics — Listen Now — Some of the greatest minds in national security have turned their attention to a classic problem: When there is one dominant power, the rest of the world tries to challenge it. That's what happened to Britain in the 19th century and to the United States today.
G. Jeffrey MacDonald / USA Today:
Atheists choose ‘de-baptism’ to renounce childhood faith — Up until last summer, Jennifer Gray of Columbus, Ohio, considered herself “a weak Christian” whose baptism at age 11 in a Kentucky church came to mean less and less to her as she gradually lost faith in God.
David S. Hilzenrath / Washington Post:
Health Insurance Lobby Cherry-Picks Data in Fight Against Public Plan — The industry that helped scuttle health reform 15 years ago with its “Harry and Louise” ads is back, voicing support for a central element of the Obama administration's plans: making sure everyone is covered.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
Mark Silva / The Swamp:
Obama's birth: ‘Appeasing the nut-cases’ — Listen to the cheers for the woman holding up her birth certificate and asking why the president won't share his. — Listen to the boos when a Republican congressman asserts rather assuredly that the president of the United States, a Democrat …
David Johnston / New York Times:
For Holder, Inquiry on Interrogation Poses Tough Choice — WASHINGTON — As the attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr., debates whether to appoint a criminal prosecutor to investigate the interrogations of terrorism suspects after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he is at the brink …
Ben Smith / The Politico:
Abortion roils tense health debate — TAGS: - Health Care, - Health Care Reform, - Anti-Abortion Groups, - Christian Conservatives, - James Dobson, - Family Research Council, - Southern Baptist Convention, - Richard Land, - Focus On The Family, - Tony Perkins
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