Even in college, I liked going to get my books (even though I hated paying for them).

Just hope when that day comes Uncle Sam doesn't deem their lattes "too tall to fail".

Not the ideal situation to be in, but still time to mount a comeback.  I'm just not sure, however, how smart our head coach is, nor his assistants, nor how skilled our QB and key players are.  Sometimes I get the impression that Reid, being the non-confrontational, eager to make nice non-partisan type, is out there happily telling the other team what play he intends to run.

Meanwhile, speaking of Medicare, it was 44 years ago about this time of year -- July 28, 1965 -- that it passed Congress and was then signed into law at the famous ceremony with Johnson and Truman (July 30).

Overall, however, the conditions for major reform are less favorable today than back then.  Still, it's doable, and expectations among many in the public remain high for reform.  

I missed this little gem from one of Digby's attacks on single payer; approvingly, she quotes Jonathon Chait:

"But no serious politician is talking about recreating either the British or the Canadian system here."

See, that's your problem right there. Remember, oh, back when the blogosphere was all fresh and new, when all the "serious" people were for Iraq?*

I was for Obama's escalation in Afghanistan, for free trade, and for a preventive detention regime that is Constitutional and complies with the Geneva Conventions.

That said, I was also for a much bigger stimulus, much tighter actions against insolvent banks, for a new HOLC and for restoring and enforcing the rule of law. And Obama has been a failure on those issues.

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) confirmed that the three Republicans and three Democrats negotiating the Senate Finance bill are moving away from a broad-based mandate that would force employers to offer insurance. The senators instead are leaning toward a "free rider" provision that requires employers to pay for employees who receive coverage through Medicaid or who receive new government subsidies to purchase insurance through an exchange.

Zesus.

This isn't rocket science.  It's child abuse.  Neglect.  In the extreme.  So...does mommy STILL have faith now that her child is dead?

The Neumanns' highly anticipated trial has sparked new debate in a long-running battle over faith healing in the United States. Under current Wisconsin law, a parent cannot be convicted of child abuse or negligent homicide if they can prove they genuinely believed that calling God, instead of a doctor, was the best option available for their child. The law is part of the legacy of the 1996 Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which included a landmark exemption for parents who do not seek medical care for their children for religious purposes. While all states give social service authorities the right to intervene in cases of child neglect, criminal codes in 29 other states also provide additional protection for parents who forgo mainstream medical treatment. (Read TIME's cover story on God vs. Science.)

In light of Kara's high-profile case, faith-healing communities around the country are worried about losing their right to treat their children according to their religious beliefs. "The way the law is worded right now is confusing and makes it seem like we have a shield to recklessly endanger children," says Joe Farkas, legislative affairs representative for the Church of Christ, Scientist, in Wisconsin. The Church has teamed up with Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Lena Taylor to write new legislation that could repeal a provision in the state's child abuse and neglect statute that exempts parents from prosecution in some faith-healing cases, while creating a new "affirmative defense" for parents who made a "reasonable attempt" to provide medical care for their child. "We want to have an affirmative defense where parents relying on Christian Science treatment are given a fair opportunity to explain why they believed their action was in the best interest of their child," says Farkas. "Our church loves children and we want to protect children."

Stimulus - Banking and Finance lobby

Cap and Trade - Energy lobby

Health Reform - Insurance, Medical, Pharm lobby

Many people recognize Reichert for his role in capturing the serial Green River Killer in 2001. But few know that during his 32 years on the King County police force he was hit head-on in his police cruiser, caught a butcher knife mid-air before a crook could stab him in the throat, and talked a man pointing a gun at his stomach out of shooting him.

said in his resignation letter that he has "decided to focus my full attention on my family."