Hillary Clinton's DLC Problem

Hillary Clinton's DLC Problem

by Matt Stoller, Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 11:49:21 PM EST
From the New York Times, on the escalation in Iraq:

“We know this policy is going forward,” said Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democrat of New York. “We know the troops are moving. We know that we’re not likely to stop this escalation. But we are going to do everything we can to send a message to our government and the Iraqi government that they had better change, because the enemy we are confronting is adaptable.”

may prevent possible 'fascist' takeover of US media

01/21/2007 @ 1:09 pm
Filed by Miriam Raftery

Rep. Hinchey: New bill would break up media monopolies and restore fairness doctrine
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Warns media reform critical to prevent 'end of democratic republic'

Concerns about monopolies and fears of a possible "fascist" takeover of the US media have prompted a Democratic congressman to push to restore the Fairness Doctrine, RAW STORY has learned.

"Media reform is the most important issue confronting our democratic republic and the people of our country," Representative Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) said at the Free Press National Media Reform Conference held in Memphis, Tennessee last weekend. "This is a critical moment in history that may determine the future of our country…maybe forever."

Progress is Possible Again

"Bully for the Democrats...They did what we didn't have the guts to do when it matters."

- Republican Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), January 5, 2007

That is what one of my Republican colleagues had to say about the first act of the Democratic majority, clamping down on corruption, lobbying, and earmarks.
His sentiment was echoed in editorial pages across the country, along with many Republicans and millions of Americans, who are fully awakening to the optimism and possibility of a new direction in our government.

Medicare for All: The Only Sound Solution to Our Healthcare Crisis

We all know that America's healthcare system is collapsing. Andy Stern has written that America's employer-based health insurance system is "dead." Auto executives troop to the White House complaining that they are not competitive with foreign automakers because they pay $1,500 per car for health insurance. Some of the biggest laughs in movies come when America's healthcare system is ridiculed. Politicians, even Republicans, are offering solutions.

In the Greenberg Quinlin poll of November 2006 voters, 22 percent ranked healthcare as the most important issue; likewise, MoveOn.org recently polled its members, received over 100,000 responses, and healthcare ranked as the No. 1 concern.

To add substance to these observations, consider the following: Not only are 47 million Americans uninsured (approximately 18.5 percent of the insurable market), 41 percent of Americans with incomes of $20,000 to $40,000 did not have health insurance for at least part of 2005, up from 28 percent in 2001; 53 percent with incomes under $20,000 lack health insurance.

What is it
TABOR stands for “Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights.” First enacted in Colorado in 1992, TABOR represents the most restrictive tax and expenditure limitation in the country.

TABOR is a constitutional measure, which makes it very difficult to repeal if policy makers in Kansas decide that it is not accomplishing the intended goal.

TABOR limits revenue growth for state and local governments to the percentage of growth in population plus the inflation rate. If the current tax structure generates revenues in excess of the limit, the excess revenues are placed into a “budget stabilization” or rainy day fund, up to a constitutionally prescribed amount. Any excess after that is refunded to the taxpayers. If there is a need for the excess revenues to fund current services, voters must approve of this action in a statewide election. Likewise, if there is a need for additional revenues, voters must approve tax increases in a statewide election.....