Ezramesh on health care politics

They discuss Romney 2012, then plow through the grisly details of health care politics.

Quote of the day

The Club for Shrinkage

"My initial reaction on hearing the news was that after generating a bunch of Democratic House seats, the Club for Growth has now produced its first Democratic senator."

—Ramesh Ponnuru

Link blag

Will Wilkinson: Libertarian Ideal Theory as Silent Complicity...

Few say, “There should be no regulation, and so I, as a libertarian, have no opinion about how it should be carried out.” Yet I hear again and again that, since the state should not be in the business of marriage, one should not, as a libertarian, have an opinion about how this business is to be carried out. Increasingly, I find this an obnoxious and shameful form of moral recusal. One cannot use an ideological image of perfect justice to excuse or ignore an obvious injustice within the actual imperfect system. That these injustices could not arise within one’s vision of the best society does not mean that they have not in fact arisen. That a debate would not occur in an ideal world does not mean that it is not occuring or that nothing morally hangs on its conclusion. To decide to sit out the debate, with an eye on utopia, is not a way to keep one’s hands clean.

Christopher Buckley: Showdown at Notre Dame...

The most prominent Catholic politicians are: Vice President Joe Biden; Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; Sen. John Kerry; Gov. Bill Richardson; former mayor Rudy Giuliani; and fresh-from-the baptismal font Newt Gingrich.

What do they all—with the exception of the dripping-wet Newt—have in common: they’re all pro-abortion. Sorry, I meant “pro-choice.” For this, some bishops, who were rather silent whilst their priests were fondling the altar boys, have said they would refuse them the sacrament of communion. In a public debate, the Bishop of Rhode Island actually likened Giuliani to Pontius Pilate.

While researching this posting, I found myself wondering if the thrice-married Newt had weighed in on the controversy. Sure enough: “It is sad,” he said, “to see Notre Dame invite president Obama to give the commencement speech since his policies are so anti-Catholic.” Well, that didn’t take long.

What all this Sturm und Drang has guaranteed, is that this will be one heckuva commencement speech to watch. What do you want to bet that all three networks dispatch their anchors to South Bend on May 17, making it a four-ring circus.

Ezra Klein responds to Ponnuru's op-ed on the misguided case for universal coverage.

Bush advisor and economist Keith Hennessey examines how many people should get taxpayer assistance with their health insurance.

Washington Post: A 'Public' Fix for Health Care Need Not Abandon the Market

Philadelphia Inquirer: A terrible week for Republicans

Brothels in Nevada: please please tax us

Reason: The War on Pies

Tax records reveal Sasha made $136 in allowance money.