It's been 34 days since the House passed its versions of the Health Insurance Premium Assistance Act.

The Senate has spent all year wasting time in their committees to now basically toss out the versions of a health insurance bill they wrote. Harry Reid ended up writing his own bill and now they are negotiating that bill. Who knows what their final bill will look like.

And then there should be a conference between the House and Senate for a final bill. And then that probably won't pass either the House or the Senate. So this year might produce a reconciliation bill that will be inserted into one of the budget bills or no bill may be passed at all.

As a demonstration of governing ability, Democrats have pretty much failed when it comes to the health insurance issue, no matter the end result.

This is an Open Thread.

Progressive taxation is cool again:

Americans want their government to create jobs through spending on public works, investments in alternative energy or skills training for the jobless. They also want the deficit to come down. And most are ready to hand the bill to the wealthy.

A Bloomberg National Poll conducted Dec. 3-7 shows two- thirds of Americans favor taxing the rich to reduce the deficit. [. . .] The appeal of taxes on the wealthy crosses party lines. About half of Republicans back the idea and it is more popular among Democrats and independents.

Tax the rich! Let's do it. Speaking for me only of course.

This is an Open Thread.

Your turn.

This is an Open Thread.

Day got busy.

This is an Open Thread.

Update (TL): Busy day for me too, I'm headed to the jail. First day this week it's not sheer ice on the roads. We're up to 6 degrees outside. If you are lucky enought to be in a warm locale, enjoy.

Considering the source, this is one of the more amusing pieces you will read today. One commenter captures the hilarity:

People might remember a few of us scratching our heads over how so many others drank the kool aid and believed Obama would have mystical powers [. . .] And one of the principal kool aid makers - who was willing to lie in support of Obama over complete bullsh*t nonsense like Clinton rigging the polls in Nevada - is now making a joke about it.

As I said before, I never waste a chance to republish this post:

Here's a fantasy sports ethical question. Hypothetical - You have clinched the top spot in your fantasy football league. The team you want to avoid is fighting for the 2nd,3rd or 4th spot, but is definitely in the playoffs. Your team will play the 4th place team in the playoffs. In the last week of the regular season, you are playing the team you want to avoid in the playoffs. Is it ethical to throw the last game of the season to avoid playing that team in the first round of the playoffs?

Any resemblance to the actual situation in my FFL is purely coincidental. This is an Open Thread.

Your turn.

This is an Open Thread.

You know what? Ezra Klein had a good day today. On his blog and on Olbermann. Frank. On point. And good analysis. Keep it up Ezra. Imo of course.

This is an Open Thread.

It's funny how when your team gets demolished in the conference championship game you lose all interest in this discussion.

This is an Open Thread.

It's evening on the east coast and we just took off from Atlanta. The plane has wi-fi -- free one time until December 31. The company is called GoGo. They need to put some more work into this... pages are slow to load, you tube videos start and stop and Jeffrey Toobin's new article in the New Yorker on Roman Polanski, The Celebrity Defense: Sex, Fame and the Case of Roman Polanski, which arrived in my e-mail box but will be online tomorrow, has been downloading for more than one minute. The right column of TalkLeft also isn't loading.

The TL kid and I had a great time in Key West, no surprise there. Aside from spending time with great friends I only get to see once a year or less, the abundance of fresh fish (and fun raw bars), there were terrific speakers and once I finished my talk on the latest in electronic surveillance techniques being used in drug cases, I was free to relax.

I have not seen the news since we left last Thursday, so I have nothing to write about on that front.

Here's an open thread, all topics. welcome.

Leave me alone.

This is an Open Thread.

No, it's not the evening yet, but I've spilled my bile for the day. Jeralyn is doing the Key West NORML thing and being the brilliant woman she is, I suspect she won't be blogging much this weekend.

For myself, my focus now goes to the Game of the Decade! Tomorrow I 'll do a comprehensive preview of the the game (and some other minor games being played this weekend) as I do the rabid fan thing (face paint, etc..) From 3 - 7 tomorrow, you'll know where I'll be.

This is an Open Thread.