Winning ugly, but winning  —  On Dec. 24, in an early morning vote, the United States Senate passed health-care reform.  It was the first time the body had been in session on Christmas Eve since 1963.  That's fitting, as it's arguably the most important piece of legislation the body has passed since 1963.

And the Rest Is Just Noise  —  Why the health care bill is the greatest social achievement of our time.  —  American liberals have a habit of withdrawing into cynicism and ennui at the most inopportune moments.  The 2000 presidential election, and subsequent recount, was one such moment.

A health-care victory that stinks  —  The health-care reform bill coming out of the Senate presents a real dilemma for spectators: How do you applaud while holding your nose?  —  There is so much that is wrong with it — and the way it was made — and, at the same time …

Health Care Woo  —  The health care bill passed!  As you know, my view is this: For all its flaws, if signed into law this bill would be the greatest progressive social policy achievement in over forty years.  It's fine not to be satisfied with this legislation, but it's perverse not to be happy about it.

Yemeni air strike kills 30, targets home of cleric linked to Ft. Hood attack  —  SANAA, Yemen — Yemeni forces killed at least 30 suspected militants in an airstrike early Thursday on an alleged al-Qaeda hideout in southeastern Yemen, the second such assault in the past week, according to Yemeni security and government sources.