No Medicare buy-in?

Lieberman and Snowe may save us.

At this point my > 50% odds scenario is that we get something like the present Senate bill with its subsidies, excise tax, no denials for preexisting conditions nor recissions, the FEHBP-like national nonprofit on exchanges, no public option, no Medicare buy-ins, and it passes with Snowe's vote. That could be 61 for cloture, but I would bet on 60 without Ben Nelson.

Not a happy day for those of us on the right, but a small enough pill that I won't be gagging.

And it'll sure be a relief to finally have this health reform hoopla behind us.

Quote of the day

"I also want to pause for a moment, if I can, Mr. President, to recognize a colleague who is here tonight only in spirit, Ted Kennedy... tonight we and in the days to come will pay him the highest compliment as our colleague by fulfilling that quest of achieving the goal that all americans aspire for, and that is a national health care plan that serves every one of our citizens."

—Sen. Dodd (D-Conn.), just before the Senate's vote on considering health-care reform.

Link blag

One American interrogator killed herself...

"Peterson objected to the interrogation techniques used on prisoners. She refused to participate after only two nights working in the unit known as the cage. Army spokespersons for her unit have refused to describe the interrogation techniques Alyssa objected to. They say all records of those techniques have now been destroyed."

NYT editorial explains the silliness of the Right's preoccupation with shaking Chavez' hand.

naked capitalism: Enjoy dollar hegemony while it lasts.

Connecticut legislates gay marriage, meaning all the misplaced cries of judicial fiat hold even less water.

Sen. Jim Webb says marijuana legalization should be on the table. Any year now, sanity threatens to break out.

Nate Silver divides Texas.

Mt. Everest gets cell phone service.

Human lungs breathing outside the body (video)