Only 1 In 4 Americans Want Health Care Repeal; 43% Want Stronger Reform

A new AP-Gfk poll shows strong opposition to health care reform is down to 30%, while 41% overall oppose the law.

The poll finds that 40 percent of those surveyed said they support the law, while 41 percent oppose it. Just after the November congressional elections, opposition stood at 47 percent and support was 38 percent.

As for repeal, only about one in four say they want to do away with the law completely. Among Republicans support for repeal has dropped sharply, from 61 percent after the elections to 49 percent now.

Also, 43 percent say they want the …

Robert DeNiro Uses Golden Globes Platform To Satirize Immigration Debate

Actor Robert DeNiro utilized his moment at the Golden Globes receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement to make a few comments on the immigration issue and full body scanners. (via Mediaite)

DeNiro chose to use his special moment to give his thoughts on immigration, which included a joke about the Hollywood Foreign Press, Spanish actor Javier Bardem and waiters (All of them? Some of them? Just the ones who moonlight as famous actors with work visas?) all being deported.

And Homeland Security may be enjoying full body scans of Megan Fox just a bit too much.…

Gabby Goes From Critical To Serious

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ condition has improved and the hospital has upgraded her condition to serious. A University of Arizona news release says she is breathing on her own and no longer on a ventilator.…

Michael Reagan Calls Brother Ron “An Embarrassment” For Alzheimer’s Claim

Michael Reagan is none too pleased with half-brother Ron’s claim in a new book that their dad, Ronald Reagan, suffered from Alzheimer’s while he was president.

“Ron, my brother was an embarrassment to his father when he was alive and today he became an embarrassment to his mother,” Michael Reagan posted on Twitter.

“My brother seems to want [to] sell out his father to sell books,” he added in another tweet.

Each sibling has a new book, Michael with The New Reagan Revolution: How Ronald Reagan’s Principles Can Restore America’s Greatness and Ron with My Father at 100, …

What Would Happen With Health Care Repeal

The House will be voting on health care repeal this week. If Republicans had their way (they won’t) and the Affordable Health Care Act were to be repealed, here’s what would happen:

Arizona Shooting Victim Arrested After Death Threat To Tea Party Leader

James Eric Fuller, who was shot in the knee and back at the Tucson Safeway, objected to something a tea party leader said at a town hall forum, took a picture of him, and shouted, “You’re dead!” The 63-year-old was arrested on disorderly conduct charges and brought to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.

It was when Tucson Tea Party co-founder Trent Humphries suggested that any conversation about gun control be delayed until after the funerals of all the victims that Fuller became agitated.

When State Rep. Terri Proud (R-Tucson) rose to explain and clarify current and proposed …

EPA Announces Mountaintops Can Stay On Mountains

by Stuart Shapiro

I’ve blogged frequently about how the Obama Administration will now turn to administrative actions that do not require the approval of Congress.  This week the EPA reversed a controversial Bush Administration decision to allow one of the largest mountaintop mining projects to proceed.

The Environmental Protection Agency revoked the permit for one of the nation’s largest mountaintop-removal coal mining projects on Thursday, saying the mine would have done unacceptable damage to rivers, wildlife and communities in West Virginia. It was the first time the agency had rescinded a valid clean water permit for a coal mine.

Most …

Obama Expected To Press Chinese President On Human Rights

When President Hu Jintao of China visits the White House this week, it is expected that President Obama will press him on the issue of human rights. Obama has the ability to use technology unavailable in the past, and has sought advice from human rights advocates and Chinese dissidents.

Already, Obama is set to achieve the distinction of being the first U.S. president to host a head of state who is currently holding a Nobel Peace laureate in prison.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton began to set the tone on China with a speech Friday at the State Department.…

Houston Couple Stopped From Helping Homeless For Lack Of Permit

Bobby and Amanda Herring spent more than a year trying to help the homeless in Houston, but have been ordered to stop because they don’t have a permit.

The city says it’s not trying to be the bad guy, and they understand the good the couple is trying to do, but it says it’s just trying to protect the homeless — the same people the couple has been trying to help.

Houston has close to 10,000 homeless people. One in five lives on the streets.

Many of them are hungry, and that is why Amanda and Bobby Herring and their …

Poor, Poor, Conservative Me

Greg Sargent asks the question of the day:

How much longer will the rest of the world callously turn a blind eye to the epic suffering being endured by America’s persecuted minority of conservative personalities with millions of dollars and worshipful national followings?…

Maine Governor Paul LePage Avoids MLK Birthday Events; Tells NAACP: “Kiss My Butt”

Maine’s tea party governor, Paul LePage, already notorious for telling President Obama to “go to Hell,”  wants to tell the NAACP to “kiss [his] butt” after they questioned his decision to pass on birthday events honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mr. LePage made the remark after The Portland Press Herald reported on Friday that the organization felt slighted by the governor, a Republican who was elected in November.

Leaders of the group’s Maine chapters told the newspaper that Mr. LePage had declined several invitations from them in recent months, and they questioned whether he would look out for their …