memeorandum: The Cost of Doing Nothing on Health Care (Reed Abelson/New York Times)

12:55 PM ET, February 28, 2010

Top Items:

The Axis of the Obsessed and Deranged — No one knows what history will make of the present — least of all journalists, who can at best write history's sloppy first draft. But if I were to place an incautious bet on which political event will prove the most significant of February 2010 …

Discussion: Democratic Strategist, Osborne Ink, Prairie Weather and AMERICAblog News

The Note:

Pelosi and the Tea Party ‘Share Views’ — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she has much in common with the Tea Party. The speaker now says she shares views with movement she dismissed last summer as being “Astroturf” — her suggestion that the grassroots of the Tea Party were a creation of the Republican Party.

Discussion: The Hill, Hot Air, Think Progress, NewsBusters.org, Washington Monthly, CentristNet, JammieWearingFool, The Politico, The Lonely Conservative, Left Coast Rebel, CNN and The Swamp

ABCNEWS:

‘This Week’ Transcript: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) — Transcript: “This Week” with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and George Will, Sam Donaldson, Paul Krugman and Cokie Roberts. — ABC News/THIS WEEK Elizabeth Vargas Interview with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Discussion: Washington Monthly, The Swamp, D.C. Now, The Daily Caller and Liberal Values

The Note:

Alexander: Health Care Reform a ‘Political Kamikaze Mission’ for Democrats — Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander says pushing health care reform through Congress by a simple majority using the reconciliation process would be political suicide for Democrats and vowed to campaign for the repeal the bill if it passes.

Discussion: CNN and Hot Air

Fox News:

Pelosi: Lawmakers Should Sacrifice Jobs for Health Care — House Speaker Pelosi says lawmakers aren't in Washington for job security but ‘to do the job for the American people.’

New York Times:
Wary Centrists Posing Challenge in Health Care Vote

Discussion: CNN, The Note, Washington Monthly, Hot Air, The Caucus, Crooks and Liars, The Greenroom, Betsy's Page, The Strata-Sphere, The Impolitic, The Daily Dish, Swampland, The Page, New York Times, Riehl World View and The Hill

Al Gore / New York Times:

We Can't Wish Away Climate Change — It would be an enormous relief if the recent attacks on the science of global warming actually indicated that we do not face an unimaginable calamity requiring large-scale, preventive measures to protect human civilization as we know it.

Gene J. Koprowski / Fox News:
You Can Call Him Al ... But Al Won't Call You Back

Discussion: Fausta's Blog, NewsBusters.org and protein wisdom

Michael Calderone / The Politico:

Edwards epilogue: Does the press really vet presidential candidates? — Over the past few weeks, the world has learned quite enough about John Edwards - from the lies he told in trying to cover up an adulterous affair to the compulsive vanity that left some people close to him questioning his judgment and even his grip on reality.

Discussion: TigerHawk

Reed Abelson / New York Times:

The Cost of Doing Nothing on Health Care — “Hands off my health care,” goes one strain of populist sentiment. — But what if? — Suppose Congress and President Obama fail to overhaul the system now, or just tinker around the edges, or start over, as the Republicans propose …

Discussion: Washington Monthly and Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog!

Times of London:

Gordon Brown on course to win election — GORDON BROWN is on course to remain prime minister after the general election as a new Sunday Times poll reveals that Labour is now just two points behind the Tories. — The YouGov survey places David Cameron's Conservatives on 37% …

Discussion: thetorydiary, Guardian, UK Polling Report, Harry's Place, MyDD and Marbury

Andrew Gilligan / Telegraph:

Islamic radicals ‘infiltrate’ the Labour Party — A Labour minister says his party has been infiltrated by a fundamentalist Muslim group that wants to create an “Islamic social and political order” in Britain. — The Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE) — which believes in jihad and sharia law …

Discussion: THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS and Harry's Place

Noel Sheppard / NewsBusters.org:

Rick Sanchez Asks Scientist ‘Nine Meters In English Is?’ — CNN's Rick Sanchez Saturday actually needed someone to explain to him what nine meters measures in feet. — As tsunamis approached Hawaii following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile, CNN rushed in a scientist to discuss …

Discussion: Breitbart.tv, Left Coast Rebel, Gawker and Pajamas Media

Ashley Southall / The Caucus:

Van Jones to Glenn Beck: ‘I Love You, Brother’ — Van Jones is back on the scene for a second act, and he's got a peculiar affection for the Fox TV host whose persistent attacks helped bring down the curtains on his post with the Obama administration. — On Friday night, Mr. Jones, once a …

Discussion: Another Black Conservative, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Left Coast Rebel, Fausta's Blog, Think Progress, American Conservative …, The American Conservative, HotAirPundit, Raw Story and New York Magazine

Jim Galloway / Political Insider:

John Linder announces retirement from Congress — U.S. Rep. John Linder was first elected to Congress in 1992/AJC file. — U.S. Rep. John Linder, the Republican from Gwinnett County, this morning announced that he would retire from Congress after 18 years.

Discussion: CNN