Demand Question Time: sign the petition for more open government

Obama's Q&A session with the House GOP was a unique and curiously hopeful political event:



About 50 bloggers, pundits, and media members from across the political spectrum (including Nate Silver of fiverthirtyeight.com) have organized the Demand Question Time petition, in the interest of making this type of event a regular occurrence. If done properly this could be an excellent opportunity to make the Executive and Legislative branches more open and accessible, both to each other and - more importantly - to the People. Silver has a great post on how the details of Question Time might work.

If you support this idea, please consider signing the petition.

The Ghost of Fed Chairmen Past

Via TBP:

When challenging the former Fed Chair about the Volcker Rule, Sen. Mike Johanns (R., Neb.) learned why Tall Paul is not a man to be trifled with.

The Senator accused Volcker and the White House of trying to add onto an already confusing proposal. Volcker’s response was utterly classic:

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“I tell you sure as I am sitting here, that if banking institutions are protected by the taxpayer and they are given free reign to speculate, I may not live long enough to see the crisis, but my soul is going to come back and haunt you.”

Let 'em filibuster

Listening to a segment on On Point about Congress, Partisanship, and Paralysis. One caller suggested that the Dems let the GOP put their money where their mouths are, so to speak, and actually follow through with old-school filibusters. Drag out the legislative process in a very visible way.

This is an intriguing idea, and not just for the theatrics of it all. Would this further rally public opposition to the Dems? Would this visible delay of progress, tied directly to individual senators, create resentment within independents for the stonewalling GOP?

What say ye?

The 111th Congress: maligned yet productive in 2009

Norman Ornstein has a nice piece over at The Washington Post discussing Congress's accomplishments over this past year (yes, accomplishments). It's easy to discredit the quantity and quality of legislation passed in the current awful political climate. However, Ornstein notes:

• The stimulus package
• Expansion of health insurance for children
• TARP funds oversight
• FDA regulation of tobacco
• Land conservation law
• A credit card holder's "bill of rights"
  
• Defense procurement reform
• The relatively speedy House has passed even more bills, including cap-and-trade and financial regulatory reform.
• Both chambers of Congress also passed significant health care reform bills.
  

I would add that Congress has done an effective, if inefficient, job of supporting unemployment programs with federal cash

Now, certainly people can take issue with the quality of this legislation, but the Congress has been active and impressive, especially given its ponderous nature in general and its functioning as the most partisan Congress ever. It's unfortunate that these accomplishments get lost in the hyperbolic discourse of political "debate" in this country, but it doesn't make the accomplishments any less impressive.

The Obama administration and the Dems have failed to sell their successes, both in the general and specific. This is a critical failure with regard to the public - both in its interest and their own.

Pollack on passing health care reform, cont'd

Pollack follows up his open letter to congressional Democrats with this post:

If the House and Senate bills are abandoned, we may (eventually) win Medicaid expansions for people who need help, expanded tax credits for people who cannot afford coverage, and other measures to cover the uninsured. We may even see more stringent regulation of health underwriting and other toxic practices in the insurance industry.

We will not soon see serious delivery reforms or cost-control measures. Whether the issue is high-cost insurance plans, bundled payments, comparative effectiveness research, overpayments to medical device makers, drug companies, specialists, and Medicare Advantage plans, there will be very limited political will to match what is in the current bills.

We will not be able to get these things because we will fracture the political coalition required to enact these painful measures, because the operative lesson of last summer will be that death panel demagoguery trumps real policy argument, and because there are fewer policy levers and fewer political incentives to address these difficulties outside a comprehensive bill.

Last Friday, I and others pled with anxious House members to step up in passing comprehensive reform. Senators: Now I am pleading with you.

President Obama: Now is the time for you to step up, too. Some in your administration are starting to send good signals. Others remain unduly tentative. Fight for this thing as if your legacy is on the line--because it is. I believe you have about 48 hours to fix this up. [emphasis is mine]

In its entirety. Not sure I agree 100% here, but close enough. PTFB.

Breaking down the health care breakdown

Although health care reform is not dead,* there is clear panic in the Democratic ranks, crowing in Republican circles, and annoyance at politics as usual from enlightened independents.

Over at The Hill, Jeffrey Young provides an excellent, concise breakdown of the 10 reasons why health care reform is a toxic political asset for the Democrats. He cites poor leadership (Obama), stonewalling (GOP), poor messaging (Dems), extrinsic factors (the economy, stupid), distasteful backroom deals (the so-called Cornhusker Kickback and Louisiana Purchase) and general Democratic soilage on timing, legislation, and politics.

*I would add a big, fat #11: political will (cojones). Growing a pair is the only way for the Dems to salvage HCR.

What year is this?

Smallifying Too Big to Fail

Karl Denninger really likes what POTUS had to say yesterday about financial reform.

You should, too. If properly implemented, President Obama's proposal will go a long way towards mitigating the systemic risk that "too big to fail" financial institutions pose to our economy. No single institution should be TBTF. Shrink the morbidly obese oligarchs. There will still be plenty of profit to keep them all fat and giggly without relying on the taxpayer to fund high-risk speculative soilage the next time around.

Update: A nuanced look at financial reform from Jason Zweig over at the WSJ.

An Open Letter to Pelosi et al. from Pollack et al.

Over at The Treatment, Harold Pollack posts an open letter to House Democratic leaders, signed by 47 health policy experts, entreating them to pass the Senate health care bill:*

The House of Representatives faces a stark choice. It can enact the Senate bill, and realize the century-old dream of health care reform. By doing so, it can achieve a historic milestone while freeing itself to address other national problems such as joblessness and mortgage foreclosure that affect millions of Americans. Differences between the House and Senate bill can be negotiated through the reconciliation process.

Alternatively, Congress can abandon this effort at this critical moment, leaving millions more Americans to become uninsured in the coming years as health care becomes ever less affordable. Abandoning health care reform—the signature political issue of this administration—would send a message that Democrats are incapable of governing and lead to massive losses in the 2010 election, possibly even in 2012. Such a retreat would also abandon the chance to achieve reforms that millions of Americans across the political spectrum desperately need in these difficult times. Now is the moment for calm and resolute leadership, pressing on toward the goal now within sight.

PTFB.

*The best option for the Dems right now, as I argue in this post on Scott Brown's election and health care reform.

What does Brown's victory in MA mean for health care reform?

The reaction from the left to Scott Brown's victory in the Massachusetts special election has been nothing short of pathetic. Immediate retreat by several legislators as well as President Barack Obama . . . more

Gather Weekly: Super Earth, Hellenic hijinks, fix-it bills and more

This week's Gather articles (12/12-12/19):

Finance

• Has Obama sold out to Wall Street? Matt Taibbi thinks so
• Turn-back-the-clock financial reform: McCain-Cantwell Senate bill would reinstate Glass-Steagall Act
• Risky business: Will Moody's downgrade of Greece's credit rating result in EU economic collapse?

Politics

• Corruption in the Commonwealth: Lawrence, MA's Lantigua to be both Mayor and State Rep
• Why stop at mere medical usage? Marijuana legalization referendum to be on 2010 California ballot

Social Media

• Social media in business: Twitter beta testing contributor feature
• Social media shockers: 10 amazing Facebook tales
• Most popular topics on Twitter in 2009

Unemployment

• Xmas comes early: Senate passes bill approving unemployment benefits and COBRA extensions
• Senate passes cloture vote on war funding, unemployment benefits extension bill; final vote tomorrow morning
• House approves two-month unemployment extension in war funding bill
• Season of hope: House to vote on jobs, unemployment benefits extension bills this week
• Clock is ticking on new unemployment extension legislation

Science

• Astronomers discover water-rich Earth-like planet GJ 1214b

Humor

• Holiday humor: SNL's "Schweddy Balls" sketch (video)

Health Care Reform

• Finish line in sight: Reid announces final Senate health care bill

Gather Weekly: pot politics, social media, spending galore

This week's Gather articles (12/5-12/11):


Web

• Google launches real-time search feature (video)

Economy

• Obama on jobs creation, new stimulus: US must "spend our way out of this recession"
• Millions may lose benefits as Congress debates unemployment extension
• Obama may support using TARP funds to pay for jobs bill
• Cash for Caulkers could rebate up to $12,000 per home

Politics

• Coakley, Brown win primaries for MA Senate seat
• Senate Dems agree to drop public option from health care bill
• Senate vote on abortion amendment to health care bill expected today
• New Jersey is next gay marriage battleground
• House passes huge $447 billion omnibus spending bill

Social Media

• Hate Facebook? Sick of social media? Check out Seppukoo
• Social media wish list: 5 Twitter feature requests for 2010
• Facebook for business: 5 tips to increase fan engagement

Money

• 9 top international retirement destinations from Mint.com
• Twitter stock investing app StockTwits closes $3 million series B round of funding
• Is a falling dollar good or bad for you?

Marijuana legalization (yes this deserves its own category this week)

• Cannabis in the capital? Omnibus bill allows for medical marijuana legalization in D.C.
• Denver's Ganja Gourmet to provide culinary cannabis

Science

• Hot air in climate change debate: 2000s warmest decade ever

Gather Weekly: unemployment, piracy stocks, health care

This week's Gather articles (12/1-12/5):

Health care reform

• Senate Dems seek to limit tax deduction on compensation for health insurance executives
• Politics, Lumbergh style: Senate will vote on health care bill amendments this weekend
• Glimmer of bipartisanship: several Dems join GOP in health care bill amendment
• But what about the death panels? AARP backs Dems' health care bill

Web

• Mashable's Pete Cashmore on 10 Web trends to watch in 2010
• Explosive growth of social networks: infographic

Sports

• The Importance of the World Cup 2010 Draw: Preview and Breakdown

Economy

• Is the tide turning for unemployment? Initial jobless claims fell to one-year low last week
• The new green economy: marijuana market booming in Humboldt County, CA
• The 10.2% solution: Obama hosts jobs summit today at White House to address unemployment

Politics & legislation

• Duct tape legislation: House bill will fix deadline glitch in unemployment benefits extension bill
  
• Gay marriage bill defeated in New York state Senate
• Capitol Hill's taxing agenda: Congress ponders tax legislation to end 2009
• Democratic leaders advocate additional unemployment benefits extension
• House to extend unemployment benefits, estate tax break before Xmas; jobs bill delayed until 2010

International

• Somali pirate "stock exchange" lets investors fund, profit from piracy

Books

• Christmas gift ideas: NYT Book Review's 10 Best Books of 2009

Cash for Clunkers a clunker?

	Cool infographic over at The Detroit News about the Cash for Clunkers program by state . Michigan is a clear outlier with a high ratio of buying American instead of foreign cars. Other states are spread . . . more

Who pays taxes in the US?

Who pays taxes in the US? Mint.com has an excellent infographic showing the breakdown of tax burden in the United States by income level. It's pretty amazing to see this data. Consider that the median . . . more

Hoffman "unconcedes" in NY-23 congressional race

	Third-party New York Conservative Doug Hoffman "unconceded" yesterday on Glenn Beck's radio show - if such a thing is possible - due to news that the margin of winning votes between him and elected . . . more

Sarah Palin calls Newsweek cover "sexist"

	Everyone's favorite Wasilla, Alaska rogue ex-governor, ex-vice presidential candidate, author and media darling/punching bag Sarah Palin weighed in on a recent Newsweek magazine cover showing her . . . more

Senate may begin debate on health care bill as early as Tuesday

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has filed a motion for a cloture vote to proceed to debate on the Senate health care bill. Discussion of the bill could come as early as Tuesday of next week . . . more

GOP senators propose term limits

A group of Republican senators have introduced a bill that would amend the Constitution to set term limits for congressmen in both houses. There are currently no term limits for legislators on the . . . more

Flawed unemployment extension legislation means potential "fix-it" bill, additional support

	HR 3548, the unemployment extension bill that was signed into law by President Obama this past Friday, is meant to provide 14 weeks of federal extended unemployment benefits to all 50 states, with an . . . more

House health care bill HR 3962 may face stiff opposition in Senate

Yesterday's passage by the House of bill HR 3962 is considered a victory for many, especially liberal Democrats, despite widespread criticism from both conservatives and moderates. It was a historic . . . more