Swine flu spreading at 'unbelievable' rate: WHO

And a lot of its deaths are in health young people. Read the rest of this post...

Kennedy would have wanted the public option

The things folks are missing, though Greg makes a good point, is that if Kennedy were in charge of the health care reform debate, we wouldn't be having to discuss whether we had the votes for the public option - Kennedy would have made sure we had the votes. Compare that to the Democrats currently running the health care reform show. They don't express any public for support for anything, then when - surprise - they don't have the votes for something in particular (like the public option), they cave and justify it by saying they didn't have the votes, when they never tried to get the votes in the first place. Somehow putting Ted Kennedy in that category of actor seems rather preposterous. Read the rest of this post...

Ted Kennedy's final drive through Washington

Today, Carlos and I watched the motorcade carry Ted Kennedy's hearse over to Arlington Cemetery. Instead of going to the Capitol, we watched from behind the Lincoln Memorial, where the road became Memorial Bridge leading to Arlington. There was quite a crowd lining the road. As the motorcade approached, the crowd became very quiet and applauded. The Kennedy family, in limos behind the hearse, all had their windows down and were waving to the crowd. It was quite a moment.
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ABC live stream of Kennedy's funeral at Arlington

Interesting, they have a live Facebook feed as well as the video you can watch. I'm watching from Paris, it being 2am here. Read the rest of this post...

Imagine a capital city where you don't have to worry about being violently attacked near your home

You just don't see headlines like this in Paris. Certainly not anywhere near as often as you see them in DC, in good neighborhoods like this one in the story, near Joe and me, no less.

I remember last summer having dinner with an English family living in Paris. The kids, teenagers, asked me if Washington, DC was really as dangerous as everyone says it is. Being the good diplomat, I lied, and told them, no, it's not that bad - I mean, sure, you don't walk home alone at 3am, but I mean, that goes for any big city, right?

Wrong. The kids stared at me in cold silence, jaws dropping. We walk home all the time at 3am, they told me. You seriously can't walk home late at night in the states, they asked, honestly shocked?

And I thought about it, and they're right. One "mistake" I often make in Paris is asking the locals if it's safe to walk somewhere late at night. They inevitably look at me funny and say, you can walk anywhere at any hour.

Sometimes we forget that violence isn't the norm around the world. Read the rest of this post...

Reich: Don't believe the conventional wisdom about the public option being dead

Robert Reich:

In addition, we've come to the point where health-care incrementalism won't work. To be sure, the health-insurance industry is powerful and will fight reforms that threaten their profits. But they won't fight if they know their profits will be restored when everyone is required to have health insurance. (This isn't just conventional authoritative wisdom; it's political fact.) Obviously, in order to require everyone to have health insurance, tens of millions of Americans will need help affording it. The only way the government can possibly pay that tab is to raise taxes on the rich while also getting long-term health-insurance costs under control. And one of the surest ways to get long-term costs under control is to force private insurers -- which in most states and under most employer-provided plans face very little competition -- to compete with a public insurance option that can use its bargaining clout with drug companies and medical providers to negotiate lower prices.

When you go through the logic, it starts to look a lot like comprehensive reform.

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Obama's eulogy of Kennedy

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
EULOGY FOR SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica
Roxbury, Massachusetts

12:35 P.M. EDT

Your Eminence, Vicki, Kara, Edward, Patrick, Curran, Caroline, members of the Kennedy family, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:

Today we say goodbye to the youngest child of Rose and Joseph Kennedy. The world will long remember their son Edward as the heir to a weighty legacy; a champion for those who had none; the soul of the Democratic Party; and the lion of the United States Senate -- a man who graces nearly 1,000 laws, and who penned more than 300 laws himself.

But those of us who loved him, and ache with his passing, know Ted Kennedy by the other titles he held: Father. Brother. Husband. Grandfather. Uncle Teddy, or as he was often known to his younger nieces and nephews, "The Grand Fromage," or "The Big Cheese." I, like so many others in the city where he worked for nearly half a century, knew him as a colleague, a mentor, and above all, as a friend.

Ted Kennedy was the baby of the family who became its patriarch; the restless dreamer who became its rock. He was the sunny, joyful child who bore the brunt of his brothers' teasing, but learned quickly how to brush it off. When they tossed him off a boat because he didn't know what a jib was, six-year-old Teddy got back in and learned to sail. When a photographer asked the newly elected Bobby to step back at a press conference because he was casting a shadow on his younger brother, Teddy quipped, "It'll be the same in Washington."

That spirit of resilience and good humor would see Teddy through more pain and tragedy than most of us will ever know. He lost two siblings by the age of 16. He saw two more taken violently from a country that loved them. He said goodbye to his beloved sister, Eunice, in the final days of his life. He narrowly survived a plane crash, watched two children struggle with cancer, buried three nephews, and experienced personal failings and setbacks in the most public way possible.

It's a string of events that would have broken a lesser man. And it would have been easy for Ted to let himself become bitter and hardened; to surrender to self-pity and regret; to retreat from public life and live out his years in peaceful quiet. No one would have blamed him for that.

But that was not Ted Kennedy. As he told us, "…[I]ndividual faults and frailties are no excuse to give in -- and no exemption from the common obligation to give of ourselves." Indeed, Ted was the "Happy Warrior" that the poet Wordsworth spoke of when he wrote:

As tempted more; more able to endure,
As more exposed to suffering and distress;
Thence, also, more alive to tenderness.

Through his own suffering, Ted Kennedy became more alive to the plight and the suffering of others -- the sick child who could not see a doctor; the young soldier denied her rights because of what she looks like or who she loves or where she comes from. The landmark laws that he championed -- the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, immigration reform, children's health insurance, the Family and Medical Leave Act -- all have a running thread. Ted Kennedy's life work was not to champion the causes of those with wealth or power or special connections. It was to give a voice to those who were not heard; to add a rung to the ladder of opportunity; to make real the dream of our founding. He was given the gift of time that his brothers were not, and he used that gift to touch as many lives and right as many wrongs as the years would allow.

We can still hear his voice bellowing through the Senate chamber, face reddened, fist pounding the podium, a veritable force of nature, in support of health care or workers' rights or civil rights. And yet, as has been noted, while his causes became deeply personal, his disagreements never did. While he was seen by his fiercest critics as a partisan lightning rod, that's not the prism through which Ted Kennedy saw the world, nor was it the prism through which his colleagues saw Ted Kennedy. He was a product of an age when the joy and nobility of politics prevented differences of party and platform and philosophy from becoming barriers to cooperation and mutual respect -- a time when adversaries still saw each other as patriots.

And that's how Ted Kennedy became the greatest legislator of our time. He did it by hewing to principle, yes, but also by seeking compromise and common cause -- not through deal-making and horse-trading alone, but through friendship, and kindness, and humor. There was the time he courted Orrin Hatch for support of the Children's Health Insurance Program by having his chief of staff serenade the senator with a song Orrin had written himself; the time he delivered shamrock cookies on a china plate to sweeten up a crusty Republican colleague; the famous story of how he won the support of a Texas committee chairman on an immigration bill. Teddy walked into a meeting with a plain manila envelope, and showed only the chairman that it was filled with the Texan's favorite cigars. When the negotiations were going well, he would inch the envelope closer to the chairman. (Laughter.) When they weren't, he'd pull it back. (Laughter.) Before long, the deal was done. (Laughter.)

It was only a few years ago, on St. Patrick's Day, when Teddy buttonholed me on the floor of the Senate for my support of a certain piece of legislation that was coming up for vote. I gave my pledge, but I expressed skepticism that it would pass. But when the roll call was over, the bill garnered the votes that it needed, and then some. I looked at Teddy with astonishment and asked how had he done it. He just patted me on the back and said, "Luck of the Irish." (Laughter.)

Of course, luck had little to do with Ted Kennedy's legislative success; he knew that. A few years ago, his father-in-law told him that he and Daniel Webster just might be the two greatest senators of all time. Without missing a beat, Teddy replied, "What did Webster do?" (Laughter.)

But though it is Teddy's historic body of achievements that we will remember, it is his giving heart that we will miss. It was the friend and the colleague who was always the first to pick up the phone and say, "I'm sorry for your loss," or "I hope you feel better," or "What can I do to help?" It was the boss so adored by his staff that over 500, spanning five decades, showed up for his 75th birthday party. It was the man who sent birthday wishes and thank-you notes and even his own paintings to so many who never imagined that a U.S. senator of such stature would take the time to think about somebody like them. I have one of those paintings in my private study off the Oval Office -- a Cape Cod seascape that was a gift to a freshman legislator who had just arrived in Washington and happened to admire it when Ted Kennedy welcomed him into his office. That, by the way, is my second gift from Teddy and Vicki after our dog Bo. And it seems like everyone has one of those stories -- the ones that often start with "You wouldn't believe who called me today."

Ted Kennedy was the father who looked not only after his own three children, but John's and Bobby's as well. He took them camping and taught them to sail. He laughed and danced with them at birthdays and weddings; cried and mourned with them through hardship and tragedy; and passed on that same sense of service and selflessness that his parents had instilled in him. Shortly after Ted walked Caroline down the aisle and gave her away at the altar, he received a note from Jackie that read, "On you the carefree youngest brother fell a burden a hero would have begged to been spared. We are all going to make it because you were always there with your love."

Not only did the Kennedy family make it because of Ted's love -- he made it because of theirs, especially because the love and the life he found in Vicki. After so much loss and so much sorrow, it could not have been easy for Ted to risk his heart again. And that he did is a testament to how deeply he loved this remarkable woman from Louisiana. And she didn't just love him back. As Ted would often acknowledge, Vicki saved him. She gave him strength and purpose; joy and friendship; and stood by him always, especially in those last, hardest days.

We cannot know for certain how long we have here. We cannot foresee the trials or misfortunes that will test us along the way. We cannot know what God's plan is for us.

What we can do is to live out our lives as best we can with purpose, and with love, and with joy. We can use each day to show those who are closest to us how much we care about them, and treat others with the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves. We can learn from our mistakes and grow from our failures. And we can strive at all costs to make a better world, so that someday, if we are blessed with the chance to look back on our time here, we know that we spent it well; that we made a difference; that our fleeting presence had a lasting impact on the lives of others.

This is how Ted Kennedy lived. This is his legacy. He once said, as has already been mentioned, of his brother Bobby that he need not be idealized or enlarged in death because what he was in life -- and I imagine he would say the same about himself. The greatest expectations were placed upon Ted Kennedy's shoulders because of who he was, but he surpassed them all because of who he became. We do not weep for him today because of the prestige attached to his name or his office. We weep because we loved this kind and tender hero who persevered through pain and tragedy -- not for the sake of ambition or vanity; not for wealth or power; but only for the people and the country that he loved.

In the days after September 11th, Teddy made it a point to personally call each one of the 177 families of this state who lost a loved one in the attack. But he didn't stop there. He kept calling and checking up on them. He fought through red tape to get them assistance and grief counseling. He invited them sailing, played with their children, and would write each family a letter whenever the anniversary of that terrible day came along. To one widow, he wrote the following:

"As you know so well, the passage of time never really heals the tragic memory of such a great loss, but we carry on, because we have to, because our loved ones would want us to, and because there is still light to guide us in the world from the love they gave us."

We carry on.

Ted Kennedy has gone home now, guided by his faith and by the light of those that he has loved and lost. At last he is with them once more, leaving those of us who grieve his passing with the memories he gave, the good that he did, the dream he kept alive, and a single, enduring image -- the image of a man on a boat, white mane tousled, smiling broadly as he sails into the wind, ready for whatever storms may come, carrying on toward some new and wondrous place just beyond the horizon. May God bless Ted Kennedy, and may he rest in eternal peace. (Applause.) Read the rest of this post...

The hate is everywhere

What's increasingly interesting, and disturbing, is how it's looking more and more like the hate the right-wing is whipping up surrounding health care reform is quite real. Meaning, these nutjobs aren't faking it. The Republicans, FOX News, and conservative talk radio have actually convinced a vocal minority of the country that Hitler and Stalin have been reincarnated as a black fellow from Chicago. I'm not sure what this all means, but I do think it's on a path towards some serious violence. You don't wind people up to this degree against the government, and against specific political leaders - tell them that their worst nightmare has come true, that we are literally losing our nation to the equivalent of Adolf Hitler - and not have some nutjob act out violently a la Oklahoma City, or worse. I'm still rather amazed that the Democrats aren't discussing the potential for violence among the Republican masses. Read the rest of this post...

Huckabee: Kennedy would have been urged to die under ObamaCare

At some point, someone senior in the Democratic party needs to tell these guys to STFU.

The reason health care reform is currently mired down is because outrageous attacks like this go unchallenged, which only inspire greater, nastier, attacks in the future. The Republicans are now trying to destroy Ted Kennedy's memory and legacy, only days after his death. And they're doing it for a very specific strategic purpose. Kennedy let it be known in his final days that he wanted Democrats to pass health care reform. That's why he urged Massachusetts state leaders to figure out a way to appoint someone as Senator on an interim basis in his absence - so Dems could pass the bill. Republicans are now preemptively destroying that dying wish.

Joe and I talk a lot about how negative we've gotten lately on the blog. But it's very difficult not to be negative when you see Republicans repeatedly doing this kind of thing, and Democrats repeatedly doing nothing to stop them. And then, as a result, we lose - over and over again, on issue after issue. It's the same thing every time - Democrats are too afraid to fight back, or just as bad, don't believe in fighting back, the Republicans roll us, and then we all ask ourselves "gosh, how did that happen?", after telling ourselves "boy we never saw that coming."

At what point do things change? Do we have to purge the entire party leadership to finally get some Democrats in office who know how to fight back, who believe in fighting back? Do we have to lose health care reform for another generation before Congress and the White House finally wake up and start defending themselves? Read the rest of this post...

Ted Kennedy's funeral

The funeral mass for Senator Kennedy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Roxbury is live on the networks and cable channels and live on the web at CNN.com and MSNBC.com.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The detailed schedule for the mass is here. Obama will be delivering a eulogy. It's a very Catholic ceremony and the Cardinal from Boston, Sean O'Malley, will give the final commendation at the end of the mass. According to Time Magazine, this was being closely watched by "Church observers":

During Benedict's 2008 trip to the U.S., there was some heated debate — with conflicting photographs and eyewitness accounts — about whether Kennedy took Holy Communion at the papal Mass at Nationals Stadium in Washington, with conservatives insisting that the Pope says the rite should be denied to prochoice politicians. With this in mind, Church observers are keen to see if Boston's Archbishop Cardinal Sean O'Malley will preside over Kennedy's funeral.

I actually think Kennedy's commitment to social justice made him a better "Catholic" than most of the sniveling church observers and right-wingers who obsess about choice and gays.

Later today, the Senator's body will drive by the Capitol before he's buried at Arlington. I'll be heading over to the Capitol for that part of the procession. Read the rest of this post...

Saturday Morning Open Thread

Good morning.

I know we usually do something low key on Saturday morning. But, four years ago, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans was a disaster and the situation was out of control. Anderson Cooper stepped into the fray and obliterated Senator Mary Landrieu who was singing the praises of her fellow politicians, including President Bush:



Okay. Let's get started...http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3798595# Read the rest of this post...

Karzai's running mate may be refused US visa

Somehow the state department doesn't approve of drug dealing connections. The situation with Karzai never really improves and only gets worse. If the US is going to ask for more troops and get serious about Afghanistan, Karzai is going to be an obstacle to long term stability.

The United States may refuse a visa to Hamid Karzai's running mate in the election because of his alleged links with the drug trade.

Muhammed Fahim, due to become vice-president if Mr Karzai wins, has been accused by the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of being involved in opium trafficking. American officials say this could make it legally impossible to let him enter the US.

The controversy over Mr Fahim, defence minister in Mr Karzai's last government, is yet another sign of rising tension between Washington and the incumbent president.

The Independent revealed this week how Richard Holbrooke, the American envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, clashed with Mr Karzai over his choice of electoral allies, such as Mr Fahim and the warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum. He also claimed the president's team had engaged in ballot fraud.

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Critic of Thai royal family receives 18 year prison sentence

By many accounts, Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej is a respectable person. He's been on both sides of various political movements including promoting democratic reforms a decade ago. In recent years, much less so, unfortunately. The family itself has its own divides including a wife who doesn't come off as the most pleasant person and a son who has been the subject of many stories related to drugs and guns (including a bizarre "gun cleaning" incident that involved his father) though he is the heir apparent. (The third daughter, on the other hand, is highly respected, though Thailand has only allowed men, and not women, to reign.)

That the people of Thailand are ready to move forward and openly discuss the royal family sounds reasonable. The royal family is part of the political process and even the king has admitted that he is not above criticism. When we met with friends in Bangkok we had to come up with fake names for each member of the royal family in order to have a public discussion and even then, our friends were constantly looking over their shoulder in case anyone might connect the dots. Eighteen years in a Thai prison for criticizing the royal family is ridiculous in this day and age. Once the current heir apparent ascends to the throne, this is going to become a much larger problem. Then again, Thailand will be facing an even larger problem. Financial Times:

A court in Thailand has sentenced an opposition activist to 18 years in jail after convicting her of insulting the country’s royal family.

Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul, 46, was sentenced to three six-year sentences to run consecutively for three different speeches she gave last year criticising the 2006 military coup that removed Thaksin Shinawatra, the then prime minister, from power.

Prommas Phoo-sang, the judge, closed the court to the public and the media last month, citing reasons of “national security”. Under Thai law, she could have received up to 45 years in prison.

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Japan to change political party - first time since 1955

It's hard to imagine the same political party in power for so many years. In general voters hate change but this has to be the one of the most patient group of voters in the world. If the polling holds, the center-left will crush the long-ruling LDP. The Independent:

Japan is bracing itself for the most dramatic shift in its political scene of the post-war era when voters go to the polls tomorrow.

Figures released yesterday show unemployment hitting 5.7 per cent in July, the highest since records began, and, with a new deflationary spiral threatening severe damage to living standards, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has dominated Japanese politics since 1955, is expected to be swept from power by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).

Opinion polls predict that the centre-left DPJ is expected to win as many as 320 seats in the 480-seat House of Representatives, the more powerful of the two chambers in the parliament. Japan may no longer be in recession technically but it has suffered two decades of anaemic growth and a ballooning fiscal deficit, with public debt set to hit a staggering 190 per cent of gross domestic product this year, according to the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development.

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