Category: National

Provisions of health care law go into effect today

Today marks the six-month anniversary of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Among the provisions taking effect: No pre-existing condition exclusions for children under age 19. No arbitrary rescissions of insurance coverage. No lifetime limits on coverage. Restricted annual dollar limits on coverage. Children under 26 will be allowed to stay … Continue reading Provisions of health care law go into effect today →

DADT repeal blocked

The dysfunctional Senate voted 56-43, thus failing to advance legislation that would have repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." That it takes 60 votes to get anything done in this age of the Republican filibuster is why I consider the Senate dysfunctional. In 2006, Democrats theoretically gained control of the Senate, with 51 of them. Outside … Continue reading DADT repeal blocked →

Jimmy Carter on Daily Show

In case you missed it, former president Jimmy Carter was on the Daily Show a few nights ago. Here's the video. Carter was the first president that I cast a vote for - in his failed re-election bid in 1980. I have to wonder how different things might have been had Teddy Kennedy supported his … Continue reading Jimmy Carter on Daily Show →

AP-NCC poll: 54% have little or no confidence in blogs

So says a poll by the Associated Press and National Constitution Center that was released Thursday (toplines pdf here). Of course, they didn't ask them if they knew what a blog was! But then again, it seems there is not much confidence in anything. Out of 18 fixtures on the American scene, none won the … Continue reading AP-NCC poll: 54% have little or no confidence in blogs →

Opinion, please: what makes you…

... call yourself a Democrat or a Republican? I've been thinking about this party label thing and wondering how others get to the point of choosing sides when it comes to party identification. (Here is a recent Gallup survey on party ID for the country.) It's a question I'd love to pose to elected D's … Continue reading Opinion, please: what makes you… →

Judge rules DADT unconstitutional

Ruling on a lawsuit brought by the Log Cabin Republicans, a judge has ruled the military's policy of "don't ask, don't tell" unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips granted a request for an injunction halting the government's "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays in the military. Phillips said the policy doesn't help military readiness … Continue reading Judge rules DADT unconstitutional →

Warner as chief of staff?

Yesterday's announcement that Chicago Mayor Richard Daley will not run for re-election has created a buzz in political circles as speculation on whether White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will pursue his ambition to run for that seat.  Already, pundits are discussing who might replace Emanuel and an interesting name popped up: A wild … Continue reading Warner as chief of staff? →

Scott’s 34th Annual Labor Day Picnic

It was a beautiful day in Hampton Roads and a number of folks gathered at the waterfront home of the family of Congressman Bobby Scott.  People from all over came together for a little food and a lot of politics. Among those in attendance was James Quigley, one of Scott's opponents. Three of the four … Continue reading Scott’s 34th Annual Labor Day Picnic →

Thoughts on 2nd CD second forum

For the second time in as many weeks, the three candidates in the 2nd Congressional District participated in a candidates' forum. My thanks to the fine people at Second Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk who not only hosted the debate, but had wireless access which allowed me to broadcast it in its entirety. The forum … Continue reading Thoughts on 2nd CD second forum →