allthingscynthiamckinney.com
2 March 2009

I have played around with this idea for hours now, on whether or not to write this piece. But the events of the last few hours, I believe, mandate that I raise my voice once again.

I have read and re-read President Obama’s Joint Congressional Address. All of the “acceptable punditry” have spoken and given the President glowing reviews. And so, to them and the population that still believes in them, “All is right with the world.” But for the rest of us, who refuse to swallow the pill that puts us into the Matrix, a good dose of reality is strongly called for.

But reality is not what we’re getting, not even from one of the national columnists whom I’ve met, Maureen Dowd.

[Read the article]

Health Care Summit: Single Payer Excluded?
Institute for Public Accuracy
3 March 2009
STEFFIE WOOLHANDLER/DAVID HIMMELSTEIN

“Many people are looking to the Massachusetts plan as a model, but it’s extremely problematic. In fact, there are lots of uninsured people left in Massachusetts despite massive spending.

“A huge part of the problem is that the politicians reflect their funders. Max Baucus, who’s the driving force in the Senate at this point, is one of the biggest recipients of HMO dollars in this country. He got $200,000 in donations. The only people who got more were John McCain and Hillary Clinton.

Sen. Baucus wants CBO to be “creative”
Don McCanne, MD, Physicians for a National Health Program, 2 March 2009

In this closing exchange (2), Sen. Max Baucus seems to be annoyed with Douglas Elmendorf, Director of the Congressional Budget Office. What is the background here?

Sen. Baucus is determined to lead the way to comprehensive health care reform. His model is basically the Hacker/Obama/Kennedy/Daschle/Massachusetts/Commonwealth model which is based on expanding the use of regulated private health plans, while continuing to expand existing public programs.

To help Congress with its efforts on reform, CBO recently released two volumes on 1) issues on analyzing health insurance proposals, and 2) budget options for health care (both available at the CBO website www.cbo.gov). It is quite clear, based on these two reports and on the innumerable analyses in the health policy literature, that Baucus’s model would be scored by the CBO as outrageously expensive while falling far short on many of the important goals for health care reform.

[Read the article]

Related:
Obama to Single Payer Advocates: Drop Dead – March 3, 2009
Corporate Crime Reporter
President Obama’s White House made crystal clear this week: a Canadian-style, Medicare-for-all, single payer health insurance system is off the table.

Not All Invited to Obama’s Health Reform Forum – March 3, 2009
Published by Swing State Blog
One group is being left out of the White House’s health reform forum Thursday: supporters of single payer health care.

Shourideh Molavi, E-Bulletin No. 190, 2 March 2009

This is the fifth consecutive year of Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW). Launched in Toronto, this week-long initiative hosts a string of lectures, film screenings, panels, demonstrations, cultural performances and other events across campuses and community centers around the world to inform the public about the continuing violations of one of the longest and devastating occupations in modern history.

IAW seeks to raise awareness about Israel’s apartheid policies towards Palestinians and to mobilize support for the growing international boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign initiated in July 2005 in a statement by over 170 Palestinian civil society organizations.

But if you didn’t support IAW in the past, now is the time to start.

McCarthyism on Canadian Campuses

In February 2008, the McMaster Student Union (MSU) and McMaster’s Human Rights and Equity Services (HRES) office banned the IAW poster due to allegations that it was “inflammatory.” That decision was made in the shadow of attempts by the McMaster administration, to unequivocally ban the mere usage of the phrase “Israeli Apartheid” by student groups on campus. What was then an explicit and unprecedented attack on the right to academic freedom, the right to organize and freedom of speech has become the norm for Canadian universities during this year’s IAW – all of which was successfully documented by organizers.

[Read the article]

A Palestinian stands up outside a tent.

Homeless in Gaza: Appalling living conditions have led former British prime minister Tony Blair to call on Israel to immediately lift its economic blockade. Photo: AP

Glenn Kessler, theage.com.au, 3 March 2009

Sharm El-sheikh, Egypt: THE US was last night expected to pledge $US300 million ($A470 million) in humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip after the 22-day Israeli offensive but will maintain restrictions to stop any of the money getting to Hamas.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who arrived in Egypt on Sunday to take part in a donors’ conference for the reconstruction of Gaza, was also expected to announce $US600 million in help to the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority is controlled by Hamas’ main rival, Fatah, which is ruling by emergency decree in the occupied West Bank.

The extra money not aimed at Gaza includes $US200 million to pay Palestinian Authority wages — much of which was previously announced — and $US400 million to support development in the West Bank. The full package awaits congressional approval.

[Read the report]

Related:
West Bank settler count to ‘double’

MarketWatch/PR Newswire

PRESS RELEASE

Documents Reveal AIPAC Trade Secrets Leak Leading to $71 Billion Export Loss

Last update: 1:12 p.m. EST Feb. 23, 2009

WASHINGTON, Feb 23, 2009 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ — Newly released Freedom of Information Act documents reveal details of trade secrets leaked during negotiations of America’s first trade agreement.

http://www.irmep.org/ila/fta

[Read the press release]