Don't kill the bill. Kill the mandate. Obama had it right.

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Tuesday December 15, 2009 · 2:32 PM PST

2009/12/15 · 14:32

President Obama's biggest concession to Democratic congressional leaders going into this process was allowing an individual mandate for health insurance to be included in the bill. During the primary campaign, he staked out a position in opposition to individual mandates, warning that it would force Americans to buy insurance that we may not succeed in making affordable.

Given where we are right now, his warning seems quite prescient. At a time when health care is hanging in the balance and many Progressive Democrats are caught between a rock and hard place in deciding what our leaders should now do with this bill, there are two things that are pretty clear:

Letting healthcare reform collapse is not an option. That would pretty much make legislating for the next year impossible and quite possibly hand the keys to congress to the Republicans.

Creating an individual mandate without ensuring that healthcare is affordable is a potential disaster of even greater proportions, both in terms of its negative effect on society and in terms of the political cost it could reap on those who vote for it.

BryanBarash

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Tuesday July 21, 2009 · 3:42 PM PDT

2009/07/21 · 15:42

By now I'm sure many of you have seen this map that the Republicans are shopping around:

Has anyone bothered to read it? Because it actually isn't a very good argument against healthcare at all. While this shows many of the inner agencies that may or may not play some role in healthcare reform / oversight, in terms of the doctor patient relationship, there's only 2 things between you and your doctor: A new health insurance exchange that includes a public option, and your traditional health insurance plan.

So in reality, while confusing, this map is just telling us what we already know: That the plan will add an insurance exchange to better help you decide what plan is right for you, including a public option.

And that's the best defense they have? Look at all these other ancillary agencies we can add to confuse you?

BryanBarash

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Monday May 18, 2009 · 9:12 AM PDT

2009/05/18 · 09:12

The recent controversy over torture and who knew what when has been the most backwards, ridiculous debate I've seen in quite some time.

So, let me get this straight. First, you have Newt Gingrich saying

She is a trivial politician, viciously using partisanship for the narrowist of purposes, and she dishonors the Congress by her behavior.

And now this

Rep. Pete Hoekstra, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said Monday that if Pelosi's accusations are not true, she may need to step down.

Step down? NANCY PELOSI should step down? Where was your faux outrage the past seven years? We could've really used it.

Or is it OK for the POTUS to lie but not the Speaker?

BryanBarash

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Sunday May 17, 2009 · 7:43 PM PDT

2009/05/17 · 19:43

This was the Notre Dame Obama protest:

This was your typical Iraq war protest:

New York

Did you notice a proportionate degree of news coverage?

Once again,

BryanBarash

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Friday May 15, 2009 · 6:47 PM PDT

2009/05/15 · 18:47

Cross-posted at Politics & Technology

Just thought I would point out that you can get a sneak peak at Wolfram|Alpha, the new search engine / knowledge engine / supercomputing not really sure what to call it. A nice treat for those nerds stuck inside on a Friday night.

I know this is going to be a short diary, and I hope you forgive me for that, but thought it would be appropriate to let the community know it's out there, whether you have a physics quiz that you want it to answer or just want to play around with it for a while and see what it can do.

Anyway, you can check it out here. Report back in the comments, please.

Wolfram Alpha: Is Politics Ready for Web 3.0?

BryanBarash

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Sunday May 03, 2009 · 1:40 PM PDT

2009/05/03 · 13:40

Cross-posted at Bryan Barash's blog.

Web 3.0 is a term often thrown around these days, yet I see little evidence that there's been any major leap to warrant its use. That is, until now, considering what I've been hearing about Wolfram Alpha.

The UK's Independent has a nice writeup on Wolfram Alpha, giving us an insight into how this next generation search engine (knowledge engine?) will change the way we think about the internet.

This new tool could provide countless opportunities to open up government and create much easier access to all sorts of political and governmental information. An explanation of the platform and how it relates to politics, below the flip.

BryanBarash

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Wednesday March 11, 2009 · 3:15 PM PDT

2009/03/11 · 15:15

Cross-posted at BryanBarash.com, where I gather my thoughts on politics and technology

I've been thinking a lot lately about the EFCA, as Congress prepares to debate and news stories fly that labor may be willing to make a concession on the highest profile of the issues contained in EFCA, which is Card Check.

For those who don't know, Card Check means that if 50% of employees check a card saying they want a union, the business must recognize that and negotiate with them in good faith. Right now they can organize a union that way, but often companies refuse to recognize the union, which is currently legal.

Continue below the break for my explanation of a possible way forward that protects both workers rights AND the secret ballot.

BryanBarash

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Wednesday August 27, 2008 · 4:02 PM PDT

2008/08/27 · 16:02

The prepared remarks of Congressman Tom Udall, candidate for US Senate, to the Democratic National Convention:

BryanBarash

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Tuesday July 15, 2008 · 1:01 PM PDT

2008/07/15 · 13:01

I just returned from the Democratic Party's protest near the Hotel Albuquerque where John McCain was speaking this afternoon and let me say, it was a great success!

BryanBarash

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Tuesday July 01, 2008 · 2:30 PM PDT

2008/07/01 · 14:30

I decided the followup to VirginiaDem's diary was an appropriate time to launch my new blog on the intersection of politics and new media, Political Tubes. Please stop on by if you're interested.

I've been a bit conflicted in the battle that has raged of late in the netroots as to whether and how much we should criticize the Obama campaign for it's perceived lurch towards the center the past few weeks. I came across this post by VirginiaDem today reminding us that despite any perceived slight to the progressive community from the Obama campaign, he will be a very progressive President nonetheless.

However, I noticed that he left out any mention of the transformational potential of Barack Obama's technology proposals and what they mean for progressives in his otherwise excellent overview of the progressive potential of an Obama Presidency.

BryanBarash

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Tuesday June 03, 2008 · 7:33 PM PDT

2008/06/03 · 19:33

While we realize there's a contentious presidential primary going on at the moment, the Tom Udall for Senate campaign [Disclaimer: I work for the Tom Udall for Senate campaign] would like to bring you live coverage of the Democratic primary watching party in New Mexico tonight. As many of you know, the Senate and House primaries for New Mexico took place today.

Tom Udall is running uncontested for the Democratic nomination for the Senate. The Republicans running for nomination are Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce. We'll be doing our best to keep you updated on the results of that race as well as the congressional primaries as they become available.

[6:09 AM] We're here early at the New Mexico Democratic Party's primary election watching party in Albuquerque, where people are slowly beginning to stream in. Tom will be speaking later on, and we'll have live video up as soon as the festivities and speeches begin. Stay tuned for updates from the floor, including primary results that will (possibly) be faster than can be found at the Secretary of State's website.

BryanBarash

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Tuesday May 20, 2008 · 10:20 AM PDT

2008/05/20 · 10:20

Cross-posted at TomUdall.com/udogs. Let us know in the TomUdall.com blog comments if you have a video of your Udall supporting pooch you'd like to share.

The Tom Udall for Senate campaign headquarters is a dog friendly zone, to say the least. We've put together a video for your viewing pleasure, the first of many in a series of 'UDogs' posts. We hope you'll get acquainted with our pooches, and share videos of your Udall supporting pooches as well.

For your time to kill before receiving primary results viewing pleasure, without further ado...

RSS

Don't kill the bill. Kill the mandate. Obama had it right.

This Healthcare Map is the Best You Can Do, Republicans?

Wherein I Defend Nancy Pelosi

That is no Protest

It's Friday & You're at the Computer - Have Fun the Geek Way

Wolfram Alpha: Is Politics Ready for Web 3.0?

A Way Forward On EFCA -- Protecting Workers & Secret Ballots?

Tom Udall: John McCain supported every one of George Bush's special interest economic policies

McCain in Albuquerque: A Protest PhotoBlog

VirginiaDem's Diary, Obama, and Tech Policy

NMDP Primary Party LiveBlog / WebCast w/ NM Primary Updates!

Tom Udall's Primary Distraction -- Meet Our UDogs