Welcome, Kurt

Today, we welcome Notes From the Far-Center to our blogroll, and highlight Kurt’s entry from August 9th as a particularly excellent reason to check in.
This is the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, another massive human tragedy Republicans ignored.   One year ago, with the economy collapsing all around us, McCain and the media were screaming about [...]

There Is No Truth To the Rumor . . .

Every Friday, we take a look around and debunk gossip, bust urban legends, and, we hope, give you a little smile to start your weekend.
There Is No Truth To the Rumor that Senator John McCain was awkwardly trying to praise his late “friend” Senator Ted Kennedy’s bipartisan style when he said there had been [...]

Goodbye, Ted: The Dream Lives On

Senator Ted Kennedy died this morning in Hyannis Port, Mass.  Our nation’s leaders reacted this morning with brief statements:
“Even though we knew this day was coming, we awaited it with no small amout of dread,” [President] Obama said.”For his family, he was a guardian. For America, he was a defender of a dream.”
. . . [...]

What If All Insurance “Worked” Like Health Insurance?

If all our insurance premiums were treated with equal disdain as those we pay for our private or employer-supplied health insurance, health care insurance reform, including the public option, would be a slam dunk this summer.
Imagine receiving these letters . . . .
To:  Mr. John Q. Public
From:  NoState Insurance
RE:  Fatal Auto Accident
Dear Mr. Public:
We have [...]

Dick Armey’s Soldier Indicted on Abramoff Public Corruption Charges

Horace Cooper, former top aide to former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey, was indicted yesterday on charges of public corruption in the Jack Abramoff bribery scandal.
The federal criminal charges against Cooper, a former professor at George Mason University School of Law, Federalist Society member, and CNN pundit, include one count of conspiracy, one count of [...]

No One in America Should Go Broke Because They Get Sick

President Barack Obama eloquently explains the urgent need for health insurance reform and the task before us.

There Is No Truth To the Rumor . . .

Every Friday, we take a look around and debunk gossip, bust urban legends, and, we hope, give you a little smile to start your weekend.
There Is No Truth To the Rumor that progressive Democrats have responded to the apparent waffling of “blue dog” Democratic legislators on health care reform by introducing the “pubic option.”  This [...]

Time To Say “Bye” to Bipartisan Health Reform?

When any health care reform is denounced as a “government takeover” . . .
When Chuck Grassley, the lead Republican negotiator on a Senate bipartisan panel admits he won’t vote for any proposal he negotiates, and claims Congressional reformers advocate “pulling the plug on Grandma” . . .
When any “public option” is denounced as socialism and [...]

Oh, Barf

The Virginian-Pilot waxes rhapsodic about a peaceful, civil, bipartisan meeting on health care.  There were “no rants, no rowdiness” at a “forum” on health care with Congressman Glenn Nye.
The participants emphasized common ground and avoided sniping. The crowd of nearly 100 submitted “sober, substantive questions.” There were “no outbursts, no tirades.”
‘It was not [...]

A Great Blue Heron Anniversary Poem

We envisioned a no-nonsense, wry liberal blog
A fearless swamp bird might cut through the fog.
So we started Great Blue Heron a year ago today,
And entered the not-so-gentle blogosphere fray.
We were mere rookies, babies, rubes, for gosh sake.
But we vetted and beat back Thelma the Drake.
We gave you 80+ reasons John McCain shouldn’t rule.
We’ve [...]