11.20.09 -- 5:07PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Missed Opportunity

Dems should have let President Bush create universal health care when he was in office.

--Josh Marshall

11.20.09 -- 4:55PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Quick Turnaround

John McCain just announced that we can succeed in Afghanistan in a mere 12 to 18 months, if only President Obama would get off his butt and send the 40,000 soldiers.

--Josh Marshall

11.20.09 -- 4:11PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (3)

Oy ... Really Dragging It Out

Sen. Landrieu (D-LA) says she's still undecided on voting for cloture but will decide tonight and put out a statement tomorrow morning.

--Josh Marshall

11.20.09 -- 4:08PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (6)

Beware Rubio

Not the first Dem I've heard say this. This from TPM Reader EF ...

What you say about Palin is certainly true in general, but her likely endorsee in FL - Marco Rubio - is one of the only Republicans in the country right now who really worried me as a Democrat. He's young, telegenic, polished, Latino in a too-white party, a father of four married to a former Dolphins cheerleader, and politically talented enough to rise to Speaker of the state House before he was term-limited out. Granted, his conservatism is of the '01-'05 W. Bush vintage, but he worries me as much as any Republican in the country this side of John Thune (which says as much about the Republicans as it does about Rubio, but still). If I had to bet my life savings on who would be the Republican VP nominee in 2016, I'd definitely take Rubio.

--Josh Marshall

11.20.09 -- 3:21PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (3)

Don't Miss a Beat

New developments keep popping through the day in the senate health care bill debate. Check out this page to see all our health care reform debate updates over the course of the day.

--Josh Marshall

11.20.09 -- 3:16PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (11)

Kingfish

I think as long as Sarah Palin remains the King-maker in GOP primary battles across the country, the Dems have something to be happy about.

--Josh Marshall

11.20.09 -- 3:13PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)

Blade Resharpened

Defunct Washington Blade relaunches as D.C. Agenda.

--Josh Marshall

11.20.09 -- 2:12PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (7)

Don't You Dare TOUCH My Leverage!

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) must have really gotten under Sen. Blanche Lincoln's skin when he told reporters this morning that the Arkansas senator has made up her mind on tomorrow's procedural vote on health care reform because he's already issued a statement walking it back.

--David Kurtz

11.20.09 -- 12:25PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (6)

Pack The Pies But Leave Gravy Home

Thanksgiving travel tips from the TSA.

--David Kurtz

11.20.09 -- 12:16PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (12)

Closing in on the Initial 60

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) announces that he will vote with Dems on cloture to bring health care reform to the Senate floor.

--David Kurtz

11.20.09 -- 12:11PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (7)

Almost as Good as Letterman

Encouraging mass-casualty terror attacks because the clean up will create a lot of make-work jobs?

One of the four ways Republicans say Obama is going to get you killed.

--Josh Marshall

11.20.09 -- 12:03PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (4)

Glad We Got That Cleared Up

Senate ethics committee admonishes Sen. Roland Burris over his "inconsistent, incomplete and misleading" testimony about his dealings with Illinois' then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

--David Kurtz

11.20.09 -- 11:52AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (7)

Valuable Context

To provide some helpful context to the news that Obama slipped beneath the symbolically significant 50% mark in today's Gallup poll, this poll, also out today, shows that Obama still beats all potential Republican opponents.

--Josh Marshall

11.20.09 -- 11:44AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (3)

Below The Magic 50

Obama's approval rating has dropped below 50% in the Gallup daily tracking poll for the first time. How does his first foray below 50% approval compare to other post-war presidents?

--David Kurtz

11.20.09 -- 10:58AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (5)

They Know Where The Money Is

The pro-Obama Organizing for America is raising money off Sarah Palin.

--David Kurtz

11.20.09 -- 10:50AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (4)

Who Dat?

Cool stuff you get to do as President: Play catch with Drew Brees.

--David Kurtz

11.20.09 -- 10:16AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (11)

Sausage Factory

A lot of reformers see ending the health care industry's anti-trust exemption as an extremely important part of reform, perhaps more important than a lot of provisions that are getting more attention. But Sen. Reid (D-NV) seems to have jettisoned that provision in a bid to secure Sen. Nelson's (D-NE) support on key procedural votes.

--Josh Marshall

11.20.09 -- 10:05AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (22)

Just Asking

I'm not trying to be ungenerous but at what point do we see Sen. Specter showing up at the next WTO protest with a black t-shirt and a bandana around his head? Maybe he hits Copenhagen.

--Josh Marshall

11.20.09 -- 9:37AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (15)

We've Met the Enemy ... And They're Reps From Texas

Jon Stewart warns about two scary men plotting al Qaeda terrorist attacks on the floor of the House of Reps. Alas, they're GOP reps from Texas and Arizona.

--Josh Marshall