BuzzFlash Discussion

BUZZFLASH DISCUSSION

There are some passionate discussions popping up around the BuzzFlash Network, and since debate is more fun with more people, we thought it'd be fun to share what's up so we can all join in.

On the BuzzFlash Blog:

There are some fiery points in the comments section of one article this week titled "Michael Moore Stands Up for Single Payer, Tells Blue Dogs 'We Will Remove You From Office,'" which examined what the public option means for the next election cycle. Take, for example, this excerpt from Kevin Schmidr Sterling:

If the Blue Dogs vote for the public option, they will not have Democratic primaries to contend with. If they don't vote for the public option, they will lose their Democratic primaries, and the real Democrats will go on to win in the General Election.

P.M. Carpenter's most recent health care piece has flared some tempers and piqued interest. There are some great comments about the involvement of corporations and the media, like this one from Jonathan Inskeep:

What many people forget is that the politicians don't get to pocket the millions they are required to raise.  The money goes straight into the pockets of the large media corporations, which charge their highest rates to politicians during campaigns.  The main stream media demands money up front.  If you want to run for Senate and cannot show that you have raised millions, they will not cover your campaign.

Twitter has also seen snarky imput for our Turn Off Fox campaign:

rage96 : @buzzflash Say that! I no longer patronize businesses that air Faux Noise, CNN, or any other cable broadcast MSM 'news.' Show sports or vids

So please, lend your voice to the progressive cause, and let the gloves come off.

BUZZFLASH DISCUSSION

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Okay, just answer this question below: Is the Corporate Mainstream Media Responsible for Reviving the "Birther Movement"? Share Your Thoughts with BuzzFlash Community.

Because, we're mad as Hell.  While GE is reining in progressive programming on MSNBC, the corporate media, which is all of mainstream television, is ginning up -- in fact, reviving -- the lunatic "Birther Movement."

Technorati Tags: BuzzFlash Discussion Corporate Media Birther Movement Credibility

BUZZFLASH DISCUSSION

Okay, BuzzFlash can't help weighing in on this one. You get your chance in the comments section below.

Hands down, Nancy Pelosi runs a tighter ship and is much more able to enforce party discipline on votes than Harry Reid.

Technorati Tags: BuzzFlash Discussion Pelosi Reid Leadership

BUZZFLASH DISCUSSION

Today, July 20, marks six months since President Obama was sworn in.  A most recent poll from the Washington Post and ABC (for whatever it is worth) shows "Obama Slipping on Key Issues." 

Polls are polls, but the BuzzFlash community wants to hear from you.

How would you grade President Obama during his first six months in office?  Give a letter grade and explain why.

Technorati Tags: BuzzFlash Discussion Obama Grade for First Six Months

BUZZFLASH DISCUSSION

By all accounts -- including his own -- President Obama doesn't want to "dwell" on the transgressions -- illegal and otherwise -- of the Bush/Cheney administration.

Yes, Newsweek set up some expectations that Eric Holder may pursue a very narrow investigation of "possible" torture legal violations, but as BuzzFlash's P.M. Carpenter points out, it looks like any potential probe would be extremely limited and on a short leash.

Technorati Tags: BuzzFlash Discussion Bush/Cheney Admin Prosecution President Obama

BUZZFLASH READER DISCUSSION

It's a simple question: Do You Think that the wealthy should be taxed at a higher rate to help fund health care as a right for all Americans?

Much to BuzzFlash's surprise -- in a New York Times article on Capitol Hill ideas to fund the healthcare initiative -- we were pleased to read this paragraph: "Instead, the House Ways and Means Committee was said to be nearing agreement on an income tax surcharge of 2 percent or more on Americans with the highest income brackets — those earning more than $250,000. The surtax would rise for those earning $500,000 and rise again for those earning more than $1 million."

Technorati Tags: BuzzFlash Discussion Healthcare Taxes the Rich

A BUZZFLASH DISCUSSION
by Chad Rubel

Jon Stewart says people don't get the news from "The Daily Show," but he proved once again late last week that the show is keeping an eye on the issues the MSM ignores. No, it wasn't Mark Sanford or Iran or Mark Sanford (how about that Mark Sanford?).

Stewart devoted a whole segment on Thursday to some guy named Barack Obama, and how his promises of transparency haven't been, well, transparent.

Some of the video highlights were scattered among the several months Obama has been in office. Not releasing CIA interrogation tapes. Not having Web sites to track the stimulus up and running. Not wanting to release record about missing Bush Administration e-mails. And the favorite, not releasing logs of who visits the White House.

Technorati Tags: BuzzFlash Discussion Chad Rubel Barack Obama Jon Stewart transparency White House

A BUZZFLASH DISCUSSION

In the past few weeks, BuzzFlash's mailbag has been flooded with arguments over the same basic premise: Has the Obama Administration sold out the progressive cause, or is it too early to judge?

We feel your pain, readers. Here at BuzzFlash HQ that same discussion rages from day to day and issue to issue. We understand the need to have public backing in order for the president to advance progressive causes, especially during these extremely trying times. However, we don't want to wake up four years from now feeling that we've been had, either.

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A BUZZFLASH DISCUSSION
by Chad Rubel

President Obama says we will get health care legislation by the end of the year. He keeps saying it. The president said it again this morning to Diane Sawyer on "Good Morning America."

"We're gonna get it done. So, I won't engage in hypotheticals in which we don't. And the reason it's gonna get done is because the American people understand it has to get done. ... Every town I visit, every city I go, people ask me, ... ‘Why is it that my premiums have gone up-- two, three times in the last nine, 10 years?' ... I'm confident that if everybody puts their minds to it, we can get it done."

Obama was talking with Sawyer as part of the daylong ABC visit to the White House. The trip commences tonight with a special on health care from the White House at 10 p.m. EDT with more coverage on "Nightline."

Normally, progressives would be enthused over the prospect of health care legislation/reform. But the idea of legislation that is crummy might indeed be a worse prospect than the status quo, as horrible as that is to imagine.

And a health care legislation bill without a government option is not something to seriously consider, no matter how much of a "compromise" it might be to some.

Would you protest such a bill if it didn't require at least a government public option? Hopefully, the process won't come to that point. But naivete can't rule the day. Those who want true health care reform have to prepare for that possibility.

Technorati Tags: BuzzFlash Discussion Chad Rubel Barack Obama health care ABC Diane Sawyer public option single payer Charles Gibson