The Hollywood Liberal

Confused By ?Nuclear Option? Spin, Right-Wingers Claim Obama And Biden Called Reconciliation A ?Power Grab?
In 2005, frustrated by Democratic opposition to some of President Bush’s far right judicial nominees, Senate Republicans threatened to change the rules of the Senate in mid-session to prohibit Democrats from using the filibuster to block votes on judicial nominees. Then-Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) dubbed the maneuver the “nuclear option” because it would be so […]

In 2005, frustrated by Democratic opposition to some of President Bush’s far right judicial nominees, Senate Republicans threatened to change the rules of the Senate in mid-session to prohibit Democrats from using the filibuster to block votes on judicial nominees. Then-Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) dubbed the maneuver the “nuclear option” because it would be so divisive.

For months now, conservatives have been trying to similarly label the budget reconciliation process, which has been used 22 times between 1980 and 2008, the “nuclear option.” With Democrats warming to the idea of using reconciliation to complete passage of health care reform, the conservative Naked Emperor News posted a compilation video to Breitbart.tv today of Democrats — including President Obama and Vice President Biden — denouncing the 2005 GOP plan to rewrite the Senate rules as a “naked power grab.” The video was titled “Obama & Dems in ‘05: 51 Vote ‘Nuclear Option’ Is ‘Arrogant’ Power Grab Against the Founders’ Intent.” Watch it:

As Media Matters notes, the video has now been promoted by right-wing luminaries such as Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Ed Morrissey, Matt Drudge, Fox Nation as proof of hypocrisy if Democrats use reconciliation for health care reform. Human Events even claimed that the Democrats were calling reconciliation “unconstitutional“:

The Obama White House has recently announced that they will go forward with a reconciliation process — sometimes called the “nuclear option” — to try and pass their government run healthcare plan in the Senate. This process circumvents a Republican filibuster and only requires a simple majority vote of 51 rather than 60.

What did top Democrats think of this process previously? See below…

Despite the fact that the Democrats weren’t talking about the reconciliation process, Congressional Republicans are falsely claiming on Twitter that they were. For instance, Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) links to the Human Events article and claims Obama and Biden “opposed reconciliation” in 2005:

As Media Matters’ Ben Dimiero notes, “The Democrats in the video are railing against the ‘nuclear option’ as defined by Lott, not the new definition conservatives have decided to bestow upon the phrase.” Additionally, as NPR reported today, the use of reconciliation to change health care would be in line with historical norms. “In fact, the way in which virtually all of health reform, with very, very limited exceptions, has happened over the past 30 years has been the reconciliation process,” Sarah Rosenbaum of the Department of Health Policy at George Washington University told NPR’s Julie Rovner.

The Gang That Can’t Think Straight: 6 GOP Senators Vote For Jobs Bill After Joining Filibuster Two Days Earlier
his morning, the Senate passed a $15 billion jobs bill that includes four provisions: a payroll tax break for hiring unemployed workers, an extension of highway construction funding, Build America bonds to help states fund infrastructure projects, and an extension of tax breaks for equipment purchase. The final vote for passage was 70-28, with 13 […]

Sens. Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN)

This morning, the Senate passed a $15 billion jobs bill that includes four provisions: a payroll tax break for hiring unemployed workers, an extension of highway construction funding, Build America bonds to help states fund infrastructure projects, and an extension of tax breaks for equipment purchase. The final vote for passage was 70-28, with 13 Republicans joining all but one Democrat.

Today’s vote only occurred because, on Monday night, 5 Republicans joined the same group of Democrats in order to invoke cloture and overcome a filibuster by a 62-30 vote. Below are the Republicans who either voted against or did not vote at all on the cloture motion, but flipped and voted for the bill today:

In addition to this flip-flop, all the above senators except Inhofe voted to sustain a Republican objection on a point of order before proceeding to the final vote. Plus, the Wonk Room noted two days ago that both Inhofe and Hatch were planning to vote against cloture despite the fact that the bill included provisions which they had previously supported. Inhofe followed through with his nay vote on cloture, while Hatch skipped the vote entirely, but both came around to support the bill today.

After the vote, Alexander said that he voted for the final bill “because it is modest.” “There are plenty of opportunities for bipartisan cooperation,” he said, which of course begs the question regarding why he couldn’t engage in bipartisan cooperation just two days ago if he supported the bill.

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, which last year passed a far more ambitious $154 billion jobs creation package. Earlier today, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) predicted that the House will pass the Senate bill as is.

Cross-posted on The Wonk Room.

Former vice president Cheney released from hospital after fifth heart attack
Richard B. Cheney’s fifth heart attack may add to the lore surrounding the seemingly indomitable former vice president. But his ability to survive repeated coronaries is more a testament to modern medicine’s advances in detecting and treating the leading killer than any supernatural powers.

Obama nominates Berkeley professor Goodwin Liu to federal appeals court
President Obama on Wednesday nominated to the federal bench a California law professor who has criticized conservative legal theories and strongly opposed Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.’s nomination.

Obama may compromise on consumer agency to pass financial regulation
The Obama administration is no longer insisting on the creation of a stand-alone consumer protection agency as a central element of the plan to remake regulation of the financial system.

Al Gore’s Nine Lies

Blame Republicans for Partisanship
Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation

How Dems Can Survive the Flood
Martin Frost, The Hill
     As Democratic House Members in swing districts get ready for tough campaigns this fall, let me offer the following advice based on my own experience in 1994.     As we all know, 1994 was the year that Democrats lost control of the House for the first time in 40 years.  Republicans picked up a net of 54 seats including defeating a number of Democratic incumbents and taking open seats previously held by Democrats.  It was the 100 year flood.     Democrats are now faced with the prospect of a second 100 year flood in 2010 though it is far from certain that Republicans can…

Dealing With the Democrats
President Obama’s health care fight is not with the Republicans, but members of his own party, especially those in the House. By Ruth Marcus

President Obama’s health care fight is not with the Republicans, but members of his own party, especially those in the House.

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Something Rotten in Denmark Edition
Here’s why you should never e-mail your professor after showing up an hour late, give cameras to chimps or put a grouchy Dane in charge of your country’s tourism pitch. On a regular basis, Truthdig brings you the news items and odds and ends that found their way to Larry Gross, director of the USC Annenberg School for Communication. A specialist in media and culture, art and communication, visual communication and media portrayals of minorities, Gross helped found the field of gay and lesbian studies. The links below open in a new window. Newer ones are on top. The New Rules of War The visionary who first saw the age of “netwar” coming warns that the U.S. military is getting it wrong all over again. Here’s his plan to make conflict cheaper, smaller, and smarter. The Democratic Party’s deceitful game They are willing to bravely support any progressive bill as long as there’s no chance it can pass. Denmark’s new tourism campaign: Avatar: The Prequel As he looks forward to the upcoming Oscars, Michael Klare has a suggestion for James Cameron about what planet (and whose resources) that film director should next turn his new 3-D techniques on. A History Lesson for Obama: Eisenhower and Israel 1956 With President Obama’s Middle East peace plans so completely—and humiliatingly—shipwrecked on the rocks of Israeli intransigence, it’s time for him to consider a new approach, at least if he’s serious about his announced objectives. … Text of Ugandan “kill the gays” bill: Jazz age passport photos Passport photos gleaned from passport applications files of writers actors, poets, artists, photographers, etc. The quality is pretty gritty, but I find them interesting, not the least because they are glimpses of these people without their artistic personas showing. Just another traveller submitting to the demands of the state. DIFFERENT WAYS OF UNDERSTANDING THE CONSTITUTION One must always avoid the temptation to view the Constitution as consisting solely of what has gained the attention of the judiciary. … Movie made by chimps shown on TV The world’s first film shot entirely by chimpanzees is to be broadcast by the BBC as part of a natural history documentary. Why is the White House already wavering on Obama’s commitment to repeal DADT this year? [W]e learned from Kerry Eleveld’s question to Robert Gibbs today that the White House would not commit to repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this year. … NYU Business School Professor Has Mastered The Art Of Email Flaming A student at NYU’s Stern School of Business sent a complaint email to a hard-headed professor about his class’s lateness policy. The professor emailed back, eviscerated the student David Mamet-style, and now it’s gone viral. Welcome to internet immorality. The B-School Glass Ceiling Female professors at business schools tend to remain in the mid-faculty ranks after earning tenure, while their male counterparts are more likely to continue onward to full professor, according to a new study.

Here’s why you should never e-mail your professor after showing up an hour late, give cameras to chimps or put a grouchy Dane in charge of your country’s tourism pitch.

On a regular basis, Truthdig brings you the news items and odds and ends that found their way to Larry Gross, director of the USC Annenberg School for Communication. A specialist in media and culture, art and communication, visual communication and media portrayals of minorities, Gross helped found the field of gay and lesbian studies.

The links below open in a new window. Newer ones are on top.

The New Rules of War
The visionary who first saw the age of “netwar” coming warns that the U.S. military is getting it wrong all over again. Here’s his plan to make conflict cheaper, smaller, and smarter.

The Democratic Party’s deceitful game
They are willing to bravely support any progressive bill as long as there’s no chance it can pass.

Denmark’s new tourism campaign:

Avatar: The Prequel
As he looks forward to the upcoming Oscars, Michael Klare has a suggestion for James Cameron about what planet (and whose resources) that film director should next turn his new 3-D techniques on.

A History Lesson for Obama: Eisenhower and Israel 1956
With President Obama’s Middle East peace plans so completely—and humiliatingly—shipwrecked on the rocks of Israeli intransigence, it’s time for him to consider a new approach, at least if he’s serious about his announced objectives. …

Text of Ugandan “kill the gays” bill:

Jazz age passport photos
Passport photos gleaned from passport applications files of writers actors, poets, artists, photographers, etc. The quality is pretty gritty, but I find them interesting, not the least because they are glimpses of these people without their artistic personas showing. Just another traveller submitting to the demands of the state.

DIFFERENT WAYS OF UNDERSTANDING THE CONSTITUTION
One must always avoid the temptation to view the Constitution as consisting solely of what has gained the attention of the judiciary. …

Movie made by chimps shown on TV
The world’s first film shot entirely by chimpanzees is to be broadcast by the BBC as part of a natural history documentary.

Why is the White House already wavering on Obama’s commitment to repeal DADT this year?
[W]e learned from Kerry Eleveld’s question to Robert Gibbs today that the White House would not commit to repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this year. …

NYU Business School Professor Has Mastered The Art Of Email Flaming
A student at NYU’s Stern School of Business sent a complaint email to a hard-headed professor about his class’s lateness policy. The professor emailed back, eviscerated the student David Mamet-style, and now it’s gone viral. Welcome to internet immorality.

The B-School Glass Ceiling
Female professors at business schools tend to remain in the mid-faculty ranks after earning tenure, while their male counterparts are more likely to continue onward to full professor, according to a new study.

Related Entries

• February 24, 2010 Something Rotten in Denmark Edition
• February 23, 2010 Blackwater Back in the Spotlight

Senate Jobs Bill Vote: Modest Version Of Bill Up For Vote
WASHINGTON — Companies that hire the unemployed would claim new tax breaks under a jobs-promoting bill that’s expected to pass the Senate on Wednesday. It’s…

Bernanke Economic Report: Fed Chair Faces Congress Today
WASHINGTON — Ben Bernanke goes to Capitol Hill on Wednesday carrying the weight of high expectations. The Federal Reserve chairman helped pull the country out…

Jamie Court: Jerry Brown Gets Ballot Label Right This Time For Mercury Insurance Poison In CA Prop 17
California Attorney General Jerry Brown has issued his final ballot label for California Proposition 17, the Mercury Insurance-financed ballot measure to surcharge those with lapses…

Bradford Kane: The Health Care Reform Summit: Two Areas for Common Ground
President Obama’s health care summit with Republicans and Democrats this week provides a profound opportunity to identify areas of common ground for health care reform….

Drudge, CNS News falsely suggest Obama health care proposal would go beyond Hyde to fund abortions

A February 22 CNS News article, to which the Drudge Report linked, claimed that “Obama’s ‘new’ health care plan would use tax dollars to pay for abortions,” falsely suggesting that President Obama’s plan, which adopts the Senate bill’s abortion language, exceeded the Hyde Amendment, which forbids the use of federal funds for abortions except in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest.

Drudge, CNS claim Obama’s proposal “funds abortion”

From the Drudge Report:

From a February 22 CNS News article, titled, “Obama’s ‘New’ Health Care Plan Would Use Tax Dollars to Pay for Abortions“:

President Barack Obama unveiled his plan for health care reform on whitehouse.gov on Monday, but pro-life legislators and advocates said the “new” proposal mostly mirrors the Senate bill and, in particular, would allow for tax dollars to be used to fund health plans that cover abortion.

[…]

Johnson said Obama’s bill will not include the same prohibitions set forth in the Stupak amendment — named after Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) — which was part of the health care legislation passed earlier by the House of Representatives. Instead, Obama’s bill allows federal funds to subsidize abortions through the structuring of programs and insurance plans.

“If all of the President’s changes were made, the resulting legislation would allow direct federal funding of abortion-on-demand through community health centers, would institute federal subsidies for private health plans that cover abortion-on-demand, including some federally administered plans, and would authorize federal mandates that would require even non-subsidized private plans to cover elective abortion,” Douglas said.

FACT: Senate bill prohibits health insurers from using federal subsidies “for the purposes of paying for” abortion services restricted by Hyde

The Senate health care reform bill as passed states that if a “qualified health plan” offered under the health insurance exchange provides coverage of abortion services for which public funding is banned, “the issuer of the plan shall not use any amount attributable” to the subsidies created under the bill “for purposes of paying for such services.” From Section 1303(b)(2)A):

”(2) PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS.-

”(A) IN GENERAL.-If a qualified health plan provides coverage of services described in paragraph (1)(B)(i), the issuer of the plan shall not use any amount attributable to any of the following for purposes of paying for such services:

”(i) The credit under section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (and the amount (if any) of the advance payment of the credit under section 1412 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act).

”(ii) Any cost-sharing reduction under section 1402 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (and the amount (if any) of the advance payment of the reduction under section 1412 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act).

FACT: Senate bill establishes a separate premium to segregate funds used to pay for abortions from federal funds

The Senate bill as passed further requires issuers to “collect from each enrollee” in plans that cover abortions “separate payment” for “an amount equal to the actuarial value of the coverage of” abortion services. This value must be at least $1 per enrollee, per month. All such funds are deposited into a separate account used by the issuer to pay for abortion services; federal funds and the remaining premium payments are used to pay for all other services.

FACT: Current law allows coverage for abortions restricted by Hyde under Medicaid through similar fund segregation

Seventeen states use state funds to cover abortions for Medicaid recipients in circumstances beyond Hyde. According to a November 1, 2009, study by the Guttmacher Institute, 17 states provide coverage under Medicaid for “all or most medically necessary abortions,” not just abortions in cases of life endangerment, rape, and incest. Those states “us[e] their own funds” — not federal funds — “to pay” for the procedures. Therefore, in 17 states, Medicaid, a federally subsidized health care program, covers abortions in circumstances in which federal money is prohibited from being spent on abortion.

ACORN: We’re Still Around … But Maybe Not For Long
ACORN is pushing back against reports that it’s on the verge of collapse as a national organization, in the wake of last year’s hidden camera scandal. But it’s not making any long-term predictions about its future.

Top DOJer Overruled Finding Of Misconduct For Torture Memo Authors
The Justice Department has released to lawmakers the long-awaited report on the torture memos and the conduct of Bush Administration lawyers including John Yoo.

Austin Attack Suspect’s Daughter Retracts ‘Hero’ Comments
Joe Stack’s daughter called ABC today to retract her earlier statement  that her father was a hero for standing up to the government.

Belated Happy Birthday to the Good George

Obama Aides Already Planning Re-Election Campaign
President Obama’s top advisers are “quietly laying the groundwork for the 2012 reelection campaign,” Politico reports, “which is likely to be run out of Chicago and managed by White House deputy chief of staff Jim Messina.”

“The planning for now consists entirely of private conversations, with Obama aides at all levels indulging occasionally in closed-door 2012 discussions while focusing ferociously on the midterm elections and health-care reform… But the sources said Obama has given every sign of planning to run again, and wants the next campaign to resemble the highly successful 2008 effort.”

Many Still Undecided in Ohio Senate Race
A new Quinnipiac poll in Ohio finds Lee Fisher (D) now leading Jennifer Brunner (D) in the Democratic race for Senate, 29% to 20%. However, 48% of Democrats are still undecided.

In general election matchups, Rob Portman (R) leads Fisher, 40% to 37%, and beats Brunner, 40% to 35%.

Chafee Leads for Rhode Island Governor
A new Brown University poll in Rhode Island finds Lincoln Chafee (I) would beat the Democrats and Republicans in the race.

Chafee leads with 33.8% of the vote, followed by Frank Caprio (D) at 28% and John Robitaille (R) at 12%.

The results are similar with Patrick Lynch (D) as the Democratic candidate: Chafee leads with 32%, followed by Lynch at 17% and Robitaille at 13%.

The Unemployed Now Have Their Own Union, and It’s Catching on Quickly
It’s been only a month that a union for the unemployed has come into existence through an ingenious grass-roots organizing campaign, but its numbers are growining quickly.

It's been only a month that a union for the unemployed has come into existence through an ingenious grass-roots organizing campaign, but its numbers are growining quickly.

Are Priobiotics Really the Secret to Good Health (Or Just the Latest Crackpot Supplement Fad?)
Proponents claim probiotics can prevent asthma and cure irritable bowel syndrome, colic, yeast infections, acne — even autism. Have the claims of benefit gone too far?

Proponents claim probiotics can prevent asthma and cure irritable bowel syndrome, colic, yeast infections, acne — even autism. Have the claims of benefit gone too far?

Exposing the Great American Bubble Barons: Join Us in the Investigation
Join AlterNet’s collective investigative project into the bubble barons who got obscenely rich as they destroyed our economy. Help hold them accountable with Citizen Journalism.

Join AlterNet's collective investigative project into the bubble barons who got obscenely rich as they destroyed our economy. Help hold them accountable with Citizen Journalism.

Heather Graham and MoveOn Team Up for Huge Push on Congress to Pass the Public Option
Progressive Change’s Adam Green accuses the White House of having a ‘loser mentality’ on the public option despite public support, and MoveOn unleashes Heather Graham.

Progressive Change's Adam Green accuses the White House of having a 'loser mentality' on the public option despite public support, and MoveOn unleashes Heather Graham.

Enough of the Tiger Sex Obsession: When Will We Care About Things That Truly Matter?
It is tragic that we, as a nation are reduced to holding our leaders to sexual standards while giving up on holding them to their promises for social justice.

It is tragic that we, as a nation are reduced to holding our leaders to sexual standards while giving up on holding them to their promises for social justice.