1
POPS Universal Health Care Mecca In the past, I paid attention to the health care debate as a speechwriter who prepared speeches, talking points, op-eds, and debate prep material on the topic at different times for John Edwards, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and others. Now, I'm paying attention because I'm a citizen up the creek without a paddle. Since I care more about my country than my personal pride, here's how I lost my insurance: I moved. That's right, I moved from Washington, D.C., back to Massachusetts, a state with universal health care. In D.C., I had a policy with a national company, an HMO, and surprisingly I was very happy with it. I had a fantastic primary care doctor at Georgetown University Hospital. As a self-employed writer, my premium was $225 a month, plus $10 for a dental discount. In Massachusetts, the cost for a similar plan is around $550, give or take a few dollars. My risk factors haven't changed. I didn't stop writing and become a stunt double. I don't smoke.
2
POPSOlympic Flashback: '02 Salt Lake Games Tainted By Scandal, Bribery and Glenn Beck's Church
Almost as soon as Romney took the job, however, the Mormon Church's role in the Games became a source of contention - a dispute exacerbated by Romney's request for an additional $8 million in loaned property and cash from the church, among other contributions. Utah's wealthiest businessman, Jon Huntsman Sr., the father of Utah's current governor, assailed Romney for exploiting his ties to the church. Huntsman himself is prominent in the Mormon Church, which is officially known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ''We've got a chairman who is active LDS, now we've got a present CEO who is active LDS,'' Huntsman was quoted in the Salt Lake Tribune as saying of Garff and Romney. ''They claim they're going out really scour the world to find the best person, and Mitt brings in one of his cronies to be the COO. Another broken promise. Because we've got three LDS folks who are all cronies. Cronyism at its peak. ..... These are not the Mormon Games.'
1
POPSHey Obama ~ Don’t Forget Deval Patrick!
a state political race by the president, and is a delicate one, given that Mr. Paterson is one of only two African-American governors in the nation. Hey Obama, as long as you’re meddling in state politics to undermine black governors, you might want to consider throwing Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick under the same bus. He’s way down in the polls, too! By the way, Mr. President, congratulations on the state politics-meddling re Ted Kennedy’s deathbed wish to reverse his 2004 request for a Massachusetts law that would have barred then-Gov. Mitt Romney from appointing a replacement to John Kerry in the event he … snort … excuse me … got elected president. With last week’s 95-58 vote in the Massachusetts House, it’s looking good. The President of the United States and others who do not reside in Massachusetts, such Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, have been meddling in local politics because they are worried that despite dominating House, Senate and White House . . .
5
POPSDems In Mourning that they took away from Republican Gov. Mitt Romney when it actually looked like there might be a vacancy in John Kerry’s seat. In his later years, specifically the last couple of months, Kennedy was to come to believe that democracy would be best served by ensuring a placeholder is in office to vote on the Kennedy Memorial health care monstrosity … tragically now on life support though possibly about to benefit from a new infusion of animation due to Kennedy’s demise. A lot out there today on Kennedy’s charm, collegiality. I’ve always been charmed by the knowledge that this paragon of American democracy/champion of the little guy tried to kill the scrappy conservative blue-collar tabloid I work for as part of his feud with Rupert Murdoch, with the 1988 FCC cross-ownership ban. The Boston Herald … still alive and kicking today, and having made considerable efforts at reconciliation … joins the world’s media in honoring the fallen Lion: Legend mourned.
5
POPSPush for Kennedy Successor Stirs Political Storm Now, with Mr. Kennedy dying three years before his term was up, some Massachusetts Democrats are reversing course, calling for Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint an interim replacement to hold office until the special election can be held. They now argue the state shouldn't be without full Senate representation for months, especially with pressing issues such as health care before Congress. The Massachusetts situation is the latest to erupt over filling vacant U.S. Senate seats, following particularly messy appointments in New York and Illinois. Away from the political infighting, mourners lamented Massachusetts's loss of clout in the U.S. Senate. "Whoever goes in will not have remotely close to the influence he had," said Ted Glynn of Boston. "That's a big concern." The question of how to fill Mr. Kennedy's seat is vexing Democrats. In 2004, Mr. Kennedy supported a special election rather than a gubernatorial appointment. Yet more recently, he wrote to Mr. Patrick . .
0
POPSTed Kenendy - Senator or Peer of the Hous of Lord? The left-wing senator wanted to hand its seat to his wife or one of his relatives, by changing a law amended to block Romnay's choice a few years ago. I wouldn't call this "liberalism" . Aristocray and ancien regime look more likely
3
POPS Ted Kennedy The speculation and manuevering will fire up again after a discreet interval. Joe. Patches. Caroline … not good enough for New York, but this is Massachusetts. Any number of Kennedy third-stringers. All of them have feet of clay, not that was ever an obstacle to Kennedys until recently. Hey, don’t be shy, Deval Patrick. The Kennedys never were. Here’s a great chance to appoint yourself out of that mess in Massachusetts … though re-election might be problematic. Grease it with the Legislature right and maybe they’ll let you appoint yourself. Despite his shameful performance re the Iraq war … when he viciously disparaged a wartime president and sought to undercut a vital national security interest with troops fighting and dying in the field … he remained able to work across the aisle and had significantly better political skills than most in his party. When he called, presidents of both parties picked up the phone. The great tragedy today in the Bay State is that John Kerry,
1
POPSNew Rule: No Shame in Being the Sorry Party One of the best articles I've read recently. Not only for approaching this world wide famous American unability to believe that America actually can do wrong but also for the sense of humour.
5
POPSGOP balk at Kennedy proposal to change sucession law So Sen. Kennedy wants a re-do on the Mass. law now that it *might* affect the political dynamics in the Senate. I know he carries a lot of weight and influence but what was good in 2004 should be good enough for 2009. I'm sorry for the Senator's terminal illness. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. However, trying to change the Mass. laws to allow for unfair manipulation of the process (NOW) and supply a link for his health care legacy is pretty low. It's good to see the Dem. Governor balking. I hope he allows the process to take it's course and the outcome be lawful.
0
POPSObamaCare Patterned After RomneyCare Mitt Romney showed the democrats how to sneak this healthcare package past their constituents by hiding the true costs. (This is also just one good reason for republicans to not put up Romney as a future presidential candidate).
2
POPSBarack Obama Finds Real Birth Certificate Upon finding out that he had both Mormon and Mexican heritage, Obama answered by saying that "I'll bet Utah is sorry now that they didn't vote for me. Maybe I'd better appoint Mitt Romney to my cabinet or something." The President Elect also used his executive powers to overturn BYU's loss in the Pioneer Bowl to Arizona, declared Pace Thick and Chunky Salsa as the official condiment of the White House, and ordered a plate of Huevos Rancheros for breakfast. Next on his agenda was inviting all of the contestants in the Miss USA and Miss America pageants to his offices. "If I get to be a Mormon and have more than one wife, I'd better get me a lot of good looking ones!"
0
POPSRomney’s Law, 2012, and another $45 million Former Massachussetts Governor Mitt Romney is strongly leaning towards another run for President in 2012. Fresh off of winning 4.5 million votes in the 2008 Republican Primaries, and his third straight CPAC Straw Poll win, Mitt Romney is weighing whether he wants to spend another $45 million on another presidential campaign in 2012.
0
POPSMitt Romney helps Bobby Jindal fundraise Rumors abound as to who will run for the Republican nomination for President in 2012, with Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, and Sarah Palin being the names that come up the most often.
0
POPSRomney’s unemployment I recently read an article which started with an innocuous enough sentence, which upon further examination made me leap out of my chair with irrational anger–so naturally I thought I would share it with you guys.
0
POPSMitt Romney helps Bobby Jindal fundraise Rumors abound as to who will run for the Republican nomination for President in 2012, with Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, and Sarah Palin being the names that come up the most often.
3
POPSRachel Maddow Responds to Bobby Jindal Hilarious! 1. I'm just like Obama. 2. Tax cuts cure everything. 3. Tax cuts and prayers are far more effective than monitoring possible natural disasters. 4. Sarah Palin and I are running for President in 2012 along with Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. Republicans rock!
0
POPSDawn of a Newt Age So who is the real Newt—the Web-savvy wonk toiling to revitalize government, or the canny political strategist gathering ammo and identifying wedge issues for the gop? The answer, of course, is both—and neither Democrats nor Republicans ought to forget that Gingrich pulled off a political revolution once before.
10
POPSThe Palestinian Electric Car Recently I listened to Mitt Romney justify Israels aggression against Gaza because during the cease fire Gaza decided to make rockets instead of building businesses or schools. Lies like that happen when a people are turned into the the other . Interestingly, they also talked with Ziva Patir of Project Better Place about the possibility of the Palestinians working with that company. She told them that although she couldn't speak for PBP on the issue, "I believe that business creates peace, and any peace project is good for everybody." Indeed it is.
0
POPSThe Top 10 Weirdest Moments Of 2008 According To Politico Blago eyes 2016 presidential run The 79-page criminal complaint against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is filled with vulgar remarks and jaw-dropping revelations related to his alleged attempt to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat. But overlooked amid the spectacle is this bizarre gem, buried deep within the document: Blagojevich toyed with the idea of appointing himself to fill Obama’s seat to “remake his image in consideration of a possible run for president in 2016.” He’d viewed himself as a presidential contender after winning the governorship in 2002, but much had transpired since then. He had an undistinguished first term, limped to reelection in a solidly Democratic state against a weak field, alienated much of the Legislature and was well-aware the feds were closing in on his administration on corruption issues unrelated to the Senate seat.
2
POPSPalin in '12 OK, I'm up for it, you betcha! I'm wondering though how 64% of Republicans want her to run for president. Perhaps it's due to election shock?
2
POPS You Did Not Lose This Election MEMORIES OF THAT FEBRUARY day at CPAC come back to me now as I contemplate the November debacle of the Republican Party. Many conservatives will inevitably feel rejected and dejected. Try not to take it personally. You did not lose this election. Perhaps the most important statistic for conservatives to keep in mind today -- as pundits pore over and pour out exit-poll data to tell us What It Means -- is this: 53 percent of Republican primary voters did not vote for John McCain. While the Democratic struggle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton captured all the headlines during the primary season, few pundits noticed the massive Republican resistance to McCain's nomination. Super Tuesday, Feb. 5, McCain got 33 percent of the primary vote in Missouri, 32 percent in Tennessee and Georgia; in caucuses that day, he got 22 percent in the Minnesota and 19 percent in Colorado. McCain's share of the total Republican primary vote through Super Tuesday was only 39 percent.
9
POPSExplanations for the Palin spending spree "I saw the RNC statement on Gov. Palin’s $150,000 clothing bender on the RNC's tab. This caper is gonna make for a long day at the office for the good folks at the RNC/McCain press operation. Thought I’d offer a little help in a humorous vein; some other possible spin lines for the RNC."
13
Pops
Newest Clips
Latest Comments
Most Pops
Print
Save
Turn on live update