memeorandum: CBO and IMAC — This morning, the Congressional Budget Office … (The White House)

8:45 AM ET, July 26, 2009

Top Items:

Chris Frates / The Politico:

CBO deals new blow to health plan — For the second time this month, congressional budget analysts have dealt a blow to the Democrat's health reform efforts, this time by saying a plan touted by the White House as crucial to paying for the bill would actually save almost no money over 10 years.

The White House:

CBO and IMAC — This morning, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analyzed proposals to shift more decision-making out of politics and toward a body like the Independent Medicare Advisory Council (IMAC) put forward by the Administration. CBO noted that this type of approach could lead …

Discussion: Washington Post, Political Punch, Ezra Klein, RedState and Economix

William A. Jacobson / Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion:

Thank God The CBO Works On Saturdays — The Congressional Budget Office once again has poked a massive hole in the Democratic health care “reform” bubble, in a report issued today. — One of the key elements of the Democratic proposals is to hand over the power to make cost cuts to an unelected …

Discussion: Fortune and Wizbang

Washington Post:

The Health-Care Sacrifice — What President Obama needs to tell the public about the cost of reform — PRESIDENT OBAMA sometimes presents health-care reform as a pain-free proposition, as simple as choosing the red pill over the blue — one that's no more effective but costs twice as much.

Jeffrey Young / The Hill:

Baucus in health driver's seat, destination unknown — Liberals malign him, the White House and his Senate leaders prod him and House Democrats blame him for their troubles. But Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) just keeps on keeping on. — President Obama wanted him to be done by now.

Discussion: The Politico, Liberal Values and Matthew Yglesias

Weekly Standard:
Obamacare: It's Even Worse Than You Think

Discussion: Pajamas Media and Gateway Pundit

Michael O'Brien / The Hill's Blog Briefing Room:

House to consider resolution demanding Obama apologize to Crowley — Congress would demand that President Obama apologize to the officer the president said had “acted stupidly” in the arrest of a prominent Harvard professor under a resolution set to be introduced by one Michigan lawmaker.

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, The Moderate Voice, The Gun Toting Liberal, NY Daily News, Daily Kos, Zandar Versus The Stupid, The Impolitic, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS and Gateway Pundit

Orange County Register:
Mark Steyn: Obama knows ‘stupidly’ when he doesn't see it

Discussion: Power Line, PrairiePundit and Pundit & Pundette

David Lawder / Reuters:
Black scholar agrees to beer with Obama, policeman

Discussion: Townhall.com

Roxana Tiron / The Hill:
It's Miller time for parties in racially charged incident

Discussion: Sister Toldjah, Hot Air, Mediaite and Washington Wire

Nycoordinator / Gathering of Eagles: NY:

Acorn Meets Their Waterloo in Commack! They are NOT Happy Campers! — Another Outstanding Day for Tea Party Patriots! — ACORN and their new front group Act Now were pwned by Tea Party Patriots again on Long Island! — When they couldn't win their arguments with facts …

Discussion: Moe Lane, Political Byline, Gateway Pundit and Michelle Malkin

CBS News:

Palin: “Bigger” Than Obama, or Quitter? — GOP Operatives in Heated Exchange, on “The Early Show Saturday Edition” — (CBS) Is Sarah Palin still a star, or a fading quitter? What does the future hold for her? — If a three-way discussion among Republican pundits on …

Discussion: Conservatives4Palin.com

Washington Post:
As She Steps Down, Palin Promises She'll Reclaim Ethics Crusade

Discussion: Conservatives4Palin.com and Wall Street Journal

Paul Krugman:

Why markets can't cure healthcare — Judging both from comments on this blog and from some of my mail, a significant number of Americans believe that the answer to our health care problems — indeed, the only answer — is to rely on the free market. Quite a few seem to believe that this view reflects the lessons of economic theory.

Discussion: Marginal Revolution, Greg Mankiw's Blog and The Mahablog

Planet Gore:

Sasquatchian — Is the only word to describe the carbon footprint of the Thomas Friedman estate:

Discussion: The Corner, AMERICAN DIGEST and Pajamas Media

Yochi J. Dreazen / Wall Street Journal:

A Class of Generals — The cadets of 1976 graduated from West Point at a low moment for the Army and its storied training ground. But that year produced the generals running the nation's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as their key deputies. What happened? — Printer — Friendly

Discussion: Newshoggers.com, OxBlog and The Caucus

BBC:

Colombia ‘bombs Farc jungle camp’ — Colombian forces have bombed a rebel camp in the jungle, killing at least 16 suspected guerrillas, officials say. — The aerial bombing, south of the capital Bogota, was part of a hunt for the military chief of the Farc rebels, Jorge Briceno - known as “Mono Jojoy”.

Discussion: PrairiePundit