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House passes key hurdle on health-care legislation — Debate expected to last at least four hours, vote on landmark reform scheduled this evening — After receiving a pep talk from President Obama, House Democrats cleared a key procedural hurdle Saturday in the debate over expanding …
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Dems: ‘We have the votes’ — Democratic leaders believe they have the votes to pass their historic, $1 trillion healthcare plan Saturday night, Democratic sources said. — “We have the votes,” said a senior Democratic aide. — Though leaders feel comfortable, the margin is narrow.


Sweeping Health Care Plan Passes House — WASHINGTON — Handing President Obama a hard-fought victory, the House narrowly approved a sweeping overhaul of the nation's health care system on Saturday, advancing legislation that the Democrats said could be their defining social policy achievement.

The House health care debate: What to watch for
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Pundit & Pundette


Fort Hood shooting: Texas army killer linked to September 11 terrorists — Major Nidal Malik Hasan worshipped at a mosque led by a radical imam said to be a “spiritual adviser” to three of the hijackers who attacked America on Sept 11, 2001. — Hasan, the sole suspect in the massacre …
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George W. Bush Visits Fort Hood, Wounded Soldiers — FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) ― Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, visited wounded soldiers and their families near the site of the worst mass shooting on an Army post in the United States.

BBC: Ft Hood mosque member defends shootings: “they were troops …
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Washington Examiner, Stars & Stripes, At War, msnbc.com, Pajamas Media, Weasel Zippers and Jules Crittenden


Stupak Amendment Passes; 64 Dems Ask for Primary Opponents — [Ed. note: At 11:01 p.m. ET we are now watching the final vote for H.R. 3962, the health care bill itself. Stay tuned here for more coverage.] — Do you like that headline? Because that's what I'm feeling right …
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Crooks and Liars
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A very bad deal to pass a very good bill — The final compromises before a bill comes to the floor are never very pretty. This one, however, is worse than I anticipated. Opposition from anti-abortion Democrats, driven in large part by aggressive activism from the Catholic Church …

President Obama Acknowledged Today That He and Bill Owens Pulled a Health Care Fast One on the Voters in NY-23 — The New York Times is reporting that in his pep talk to the Democrats in Congress this morning, President Obama acknowledged that he and newly elected NY-23 Democratic Congressman Bill Owens …
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Liveblogging, Pt. 2: The hurry-up House debate on health care; Update: Bill Passes — There's less than half an hour left of general debate on the House government health care takeover bill. *Update* More time for general debate. Govtrack says another House cmte gets time.
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Left Coast Rebel, Daily Pundit, GayPatriot, The Other McCain, Hot Air, The Powers That Be and Republican Ways and Means

Open thread: PelosiCare vote coming tonight; Update: 35 Dems oppose?
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Daily Pundit


GOP Gone Wild: Unruly Republicans Silence Women Lawmakers With Screams, Shouts, And Delay Tactics — This morning, the House began consideration of the rule for debate of the House health care bill. As the Democratic Women's Caucus took to the microphone on the House floor to offer …
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WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?
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Crooks and Liars, The Hill, The Greenroom, Open Left, MyDD, Mediaite, Daily Kos and jillstanek.com

Cao May Be Sole GOP Vote In Favor of Health Bill — At least one Republican may vote for the Democratic health care bill, several House sources confirmed on Saturday night. — Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao (R-La.), a former Jesuit seminarian, is rumored to be on the fence if the House approves …
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GOP Shadegg to buck pro-lifers, party — Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) said he plans to buck right-to-life groups and his own party and vote “present” on a Democratic amendment that would prevent federal funding for abortions as part of health-care overhaul legislation.


Palin: Dems will apply abortion mind-set to elderly — WEST ALLIS, Wisc. - Sarah Palin rallied thousands of abortion opponents Friday night with a a stark warning that the same philosophy that allows abortion rights could soon be invoked to allow the government to cut off health care for the elderly or children with special needs.

Obama leaning toward 34,000 more troops for Afghanistan — WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is nearing a decision to send more than 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan next year, but he may not announce it until after he consults with key allies and completes a trip to Asia later this month …
Discussion:
New York Times, ATTACKERMAN, DownWithTyranny!, The Political Carnival and Weasel Zippers

Gregg: CBO cost estimate of Pelosi Plan $3 trillion; Update: Heritage says $2.4T — You know, Senator Gregg, talking like this won't get you an appointment to Barack Obama's Cabinet. Oh, wait ...: … I'm not sure where Gregg gets the $3 trillion number.
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