Comments on: Senate Using Reconciliation On Major Piece Of Obama Agenda – Not Health Care, But Education

By: upstateNYerMdwst

upstateNYerMdwst — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:37:55 +0000

Well it’s about damned time. What I don’t understand is why ANYONE would rather give taxpayer dollars to banks instead of help out already struggling students buried under a pile of debt (not counting the interest). I don’t understand why this didn’t get 100 votes in the Senate, because this is an issue of common decency and putting people first. The Senators have NOTHING to gain by voting *against* giving college kids a break! I just don’t get it.

By: letsgetitdone

letsgetitdone — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:35:47 +0000

I don’t doubt Obama’s capacity to get bills passed; only his capacity to get good bills passed. He seems to be a master at negotiating with himself.

By: letsgetitdone

letsgetitdone — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:29:49 +0000

CNN needs its “mouth” washed out with soap.

By: peterboy

peterboy — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:43:56 +0000

here is how regressive that so-called high-end tax is.
I am on COBRA. I pay $324 a month to stay on the group plan.
When it ends after COBRA, I can get guarantee issue of the plan for $750 a month…or 9k a year. That would qualify as a Cadillac plan. Except it aint. It is only a CADILLAC COST plan because I have pre-existing conditions, that is to say I use it and have several prescriptions typical of a 55+ male.

Nice work with this tax scheme.
OB had a better idea. Lower the top bracket charity deduction to match the middle-class deduction–28%.
It raises hundreds of billions and is far more fair.

By: douglas

douglas — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:43:52 +0000

I like the strategy. Obama can now point to the precedent of having passed another important bill through the conference committee method. This leaves an opening to do the same with the health care bill. People have been underestimating this man since the campaign began.

By: dakine01

dakine01 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:15:13 +0000

When you are on a comment thread that originates from the “FDL News Desk” (such as this one is) the “Home” button takes you to the News Desk front page. If you are on a thread from the FDL Mothership or partners, then News Desk is a link off the banner, just as Seminal, emptywheel. tbogg, etc.

By: eCAHNomics

eCAHNomics — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:05:23 +0000

Thanks. Am not facile with your new addition to the site, which has now exceeded my capacity for complexity. There doesn’t seem to be a button for it up top.

By: Knoxville

Knoxville — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:04:05 +0000

Dammit, CNN is again reporting the nonsense that leaders are worried that there isn’t enough support to get 60 votes for a public option.

F&*cking pathetic.

Now they’re showing the latest PCCC ad to pressure Reid.

CNN anchor: “You’ve got to get to 60. Some how or another, you gotta get to 60.”

CNN needs an enema.

By: Knoxville

Knoxville — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:02:10 +0000

All I can say is that I was lucky to have finished just as the problem was getting worse, and that I was in grad school when the big problems were starting and so had much of it paid for through salary as a teaching assistant and fellowship grants.

But I did learn a few lessons that are worth communicating to current students: DON’T TOUCH THE UNSUBSIDIZED PORTIONS THEY OFFER YOU, for one.

Otherwise, this issue is definitely up there with others that require a lot of pushing against the “deciders” currently running the govt.

By: David Dayen

David Dayen — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:57:19 +0000

Had it a few hours ago: FDL News Desk link.