Right-Wing Website Hoped Senator Byrd Would Die To Stop Health Care Reform

They’re lucky there’s a First Amendment.  It was bad enough that Senator Tom Coburn asked for prayers that a Democratic senator would be unable to vote for cloture early Monday morning.  Bob Owens(r), who calls himself and his site “Confederate Yankee” headlined a post “All I Want Is A Byrd Dropping For Christmas”.  Owens, whose site has the motto, “Liberalism is a persistent vegetative state,” continues the sensitivity (h/t Crooks and Liars)

Granted, lucidity and coherence is not a priority among Senate Democrats, but Byrd is an embarrassment even for a party that regular drafts the imaginary or dead …

On Monday’s Radio Show…

• Will Obama get his Christmas wish? Alan has the latest as Democrats fight to get health care reform passed this week.

• Republicans get vocal. As the health care reform bill hits the finish line, Alan examines the comments from those in Senate who want to stop the bill.

• The singer behind the worst Christmas song ever recorded. Linda Bennett will join Alan to explain the story behind An Old Fashioned Christmas.…

Ten Reasons Why This May Be The Worst Decade Ever

Of course, the decade isn’t over until the end of 2010. It seems we always jump the gun on this; but the first year was “1″, not “0″.  Nevertheless for the not to be one of the worst decades ever, the next 12 months would have to be spectacular. Here are some reasons why:

1. The contested election of 2000

2. 9/11

3. The invasion of Afghanistan

4. The invasion of Iraq

5. The Tsunami in Indonesia

6. Hurricane Katrina

7. The market meltdown

8. Bernie Madoff

9. The disintegration of Detroit

10. Guantanamo…

US Soldiers Who Get Pregnant In Iraq Face Court Martial, Even If Married

American soldiers in northern Iraq who get pregnant or who impregnate another soldier face court martial and fines, even if married to each other.

The order effects soldiers in the region that includes Kirkuk, Tikrit, Balad, Mosul and Samarra and applies not only to to U.S. military personnel but also civilians serving with them.

The rule, set by the region’s commander, Maj. General Anthony Cucolo III, means that a husband and wife who are at war together could both be punished, Army spokesman Maj. Lee Peters told Stars & Stripes.

No one has yet been punished …

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: Birthers, Fanatics, Militias, Among Those Who Don’t Want Reform

Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse went after the supporters of those who oppose health care reform, saying their main purpose is to obstruct our new, young president, adding:

“They have ardent supporters who are nearly hysterical at the very election of President Barack Obama.  The birthers, the fanatics, the people running around in right-wing militias and aryan support groups.  It is unbeaerable to them that President Barack Obama should exist.

…

Arnold Grades Barack An “A”

If Arnold Schwarzenegger were your typical politician he’d never make it in the Republican Party; but, then, if he were typical, he never would have risen to become the governator in the first place.  He told John King of CNN that Obama deserves high marks, sayng “When it comes to effort, [Obama] should get a straight A.”

“He’s out there with tremendous energy and he’s selling his ideas. And he has great enthusiasm there. He’s a great speaker, a great communicator.”

The one-time Hollywood action star also had some advice for Obama as the president tries to push his …

Remember That Not One Republican Voted For this

“This isn’t about partisanship or procedure. It’s not about politics, and it’s not about polling. It is about people. I cannot look away. I cannot possibly do nothing.”

– Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), quoted by the Las Vegas Sun, just before the health care vote early this morning.

…

Feingold Blames Obama For Lack Of Public Option; Vows to Keep Fighting For It

Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold says he’ll vote for the Senate health care bill and says the White House made continuing to fight for it more difficult.

I refused to sign onto a deal to drop the public option from the Senate bill. Unfortunately, the lack of support from the administration made keeping the public option in the bill an uphill struggle. Removing the public option from the Senate bill is the wrong move, and eliminates $25 billion in savings. I will be urging members of the House and Senate who draft the final bill to make sure this essential provision …

Senator Tom Coburn: “People Ought To Pray…That Somebody Can’t Make The Vote Tonight”

So desperate is Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma to stop health care reform that he spoke on the floor of the Senate saying “What the American people ought to pray is that somebody can’t make the vote tonight. That’s what they ought to pray.”

Minutes later Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) interrupted the speech of his colleague Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and he called on Coburn to return to the floor and explain his statement that he was praying for a Democratic Senator to suffer harm or misfortune, which would prevent the lawmaker from the roll call for the middle of …

Whatever Became Of GOP Demands For Up-Or-Down Votes?

When it suits them, Republicans demand up-or-down votes, and decry filibusters, but now they are pledging to do everything they can to hold up health care reform.

The White House and its Senate allies defended a frenzied, final push for historic health care legislation Sunday as outflanked Republicans pledged a fight to the end.

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“I think the American people are entitled to a vote,” said David Axelrod, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, as the Senate bill moved toward passage on Christmas Eve.

Republicans balked, saying the massive legislation with ramifications …

Want To Save The Economy? Legalize Pot (And Prostitution, While We’re At It)

California’s economy could be saved by legalizing marijuana. Opponents say the social cost is too high, and legalizing pot, alone, won’t fill the gap.  But if we stopped allowing government to be the morality police on issues like what we put into our bodies (or who, for that matter), we would go a long way toward solving economic problems.

Voters are likely to confront the issue next year. Marijuana advocates say they have collected more than enough signatures, over 680,000, to qualify for November’s ballot with a proposal to make California the first U.S. state to legalize possession and cultivation …