News Roundup for 12/16/09

Congress shown creating healthcare legislation

-Headline of the day-
"Democrats Lash Out At Obama Over Health Care Disappointments."

As the healthcare reform moves away from actual reform, people have begun pointing fingers. Unfortunately for the Obama administration, pretty much every finger is pointing in the direction of a big white mansion on Pennsylvania Ave. The reviews have not been rave:

"The president keeps listening to Rahm Emanuel," says Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). "No public option, no extending Medicare to 55, no nothing, an excise tax, God!... The insurance lobby is taking over."

"It's ridiculous," says Rep. David Obey, "and the Obama administration is sitting on the sidelines. That's nonsense."

"Snowe? Stupak? Lieberman? Who left these people in charge?" Rep. Anthony Weiner says. "It's time for the president to get his hands dirty. Some of us have compromised our compromised compromise. We need the president to stand up for the values our party shares. We must stop letting the tail wag the dog of this debate."

"This bill appears to be legislation that the president wanted in the first place, so I don't think focusing it on Lieberman really hits the truth," says Sen. Russ Feingold. "I think they could have been higher. I certainly think a stronger bill would have been better in every respect."

Whether or not Russ is right and this bill was what the White House wanted all along, it certainly seems like this is a bill they're willing to settle for. On what should've been the signature accomplishment of his first term, Barack Obama has been largely AWOL. He gave congress a vague idea and said, "Come back with something good," which -- in case you haven't been paying attention -- doesn't exactly work very well.

Russ is wrong about one thing, though. We can blame Lieberman. Blaming Lieberman should become America's new pastime. (Huffington Post)


-How to screw yourself-
Hey, want a $150 gift card for Hooters? Yeah, actually you don't. According to the report, "The U.S. Chamber of Commerce — one of the Obama administration’s staunchest opponents — is using 'incentivized' web ads to get people involved in their campaign to fight health care reform. The incentive? A $150 gift card for Hooters."

Seems even the crappy "reform" it looks like we're going to get is too good for the Chamber. See, you click the ad and you start getting wingnut emails informing you of the creeping communism represented by healthcare reform. After prolonged exposure to said horseshit, your mind becomes warped and you start thinking maybe Glenn Beck has a point. So, you have unaffordable health insurance and you're a teabagger frootloop.

But you get a free night at Hooters, which is totally worth not being able to afford the bill for the heart attack all those deep-fried chicken wings gave you. (Think Progress)


-Bonus HotD-
"Gibbs Lashes Back At Dean, Suggests He's Irrational."

Howard Dean is like pretty much everyone -- he doesn't like the Senate healthcare bill much... Mostly because it sucks so much.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs was asked about this today and said that Howard is a loony. Joe Lieberman, on the other hand, is awesome.

Anyone have any idea how much booze it would take to forget the past six months ever happened? I'd really like to know. (Huffington Post, via reddit)