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?

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.

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.

So, there's been a lot said on here in the past about who was the best candidate on the environment.  A lot of people have said Edwards, in fact, there was a diary on the rec list yesterday about how Gore should endorse him.

Well, the League of Conservation Voters thinks he'd choose Obama.  Here's their rankings, based on their votes in congress and their profiles they personally submitted to the group:

> Obama - 96
> Kucinich - 92
> Clinton - 90
> Biden - 84
> Richardson -82
> Dodd - 77
> Edwards - 59
> Paul - 30
> McCain - 26
> Brownback - 14
> Thompson - 12
> Tancredo -11
> Hunter - 9

You can go here: http://presidentialprofiles2008.org/ to see the numbers and read their profiles.  I don't know about you, but I choose substance over rhetoric, and I trust the league of conservation voters quite a bit.

So, it would seem that based on actual votes in congress, Obama is your choice.  If Obama is your choice, and you can spare some change, consider donating.  Your donation can be as small as $5.  Thanks.

Quoted from CNN's advance excerpts from his upcoming speech:

In advanced excerpts of his remarks, Obama, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, says the "bar for success" now in Iraq "is so low that it is almost buried in the sand... We've had enough of a war that should never have been authorized and should never have been waged."

"I opposed this war from the beginning," Obama says, according to the excerpts. "I opposed the war in 2002. I opposed it in 2003. I opposed it in 2004. I opposed it in 2005. I opposed it in 2006. I introduced a plan in January to remove all of our combat brigades by next March. And I am here to say that we have to begin to end this war now."

Follow me below the fold for a brief description of the four point plan he is about to speak about...

In his response to the resignation of AG Alberto Gonzales today, President Bush intends to declare a recess appointment of himself as Attorney General of the United States.  

Asked why he would take such a strange course of action, he explained that even having a wingnut like Ashcroft as AG meant he wouldn't ALWAYS get what he wanted.  He then explained that the problem with nominating someone incompetent like Gonzales to heed his every word at justice is that incompetent people tend to be incompetent, which sometimes gets them into trouble.  

He then went on to explain that he trusted himself best to uphold his laws, and if you don't you're probably a terrorist.  He then cited executive privileged without making it clear what he was claiming executive privilege from.  

More breaking coverage and reactions below the fold.

Cross-Posted from Take A Stand - My Home Blog - Please feel free to comment or bookmark over at my home blog, it's new.

People are drawing comparisons between Obama's run and George W. Bush's run in 2000. So alright, let's compare. George W. Bush ran as a uniter and pulled the wool right over America's eyes. So now lets talk about Obama. One of the most progressive voting records in the Senate. GWB, if you ask me, is taking a lot of positions pursuant with the policies he enacted and pushed as governor. So if you look at what Obama has actually done in Illinois and in the Senate, I would think you'd be happy to have him being able to be called a "uniter". He will unite this country around progressive politics, he will draw strong Republican support for progressive values. What part of that looks like a negative to any of you?

Cross-Posted from Take A Stand - My Home Blog - Please feel free to comment or bookmark over at my home blog, it's new.

There's only one thing better than seeing Barack Obama speak: Seeing him speak twice.  So yesterday I took off work and passed up a day's pay, grabbed my little white button, and headed out to New York city for a decidedly good day.

Barack spoke in NYC at the SEIU local union hall in Manhattan at 2pm, and then later at the Marriot in NYC at 5pm to a standing room only crowd of thousands at $25 a ticket.  I volunteered, and it was a wonderful experience.

More Details beneath the fold...