Orrin Hatch spills the beans: Grassley and Enzi won't sign onto reform bill

So, this won't come as a big surprise to most of us. But, it will probably shock Max Baucus:

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who has a long history of teaming up with Democrats on healthcare legislation, says Democratic healthcare reform plans now under consideration are “out of this world.”

Hatch also told The Hill in a Friday interview he would be “shocked” if Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) sign onto a healthcare deal with Democrats given the current trajectory of the legislation.

Max Baucus has been working with Grassley and Enzi to find a deal -- but, Grassley and Enzi are never, ever going to agree to a deal.

Baucus is a sap. He's been played by the GOP. Can someone in the Democratic caucus please get control of this situation?

And, can someone at the White House show this article from "The Hill" to Jim Messina, (the Deputy Chief of Staff who used to be the Chief of Staff to Baucus)? Next time those two have dinner, and word is they have dinner often, maybe Messina can explain to Baucus that Grassley and Enzi are never going to agree to a deal. Never, ever. Messina should help stop the futile quest for bipartisanship. It's not going to happen. And, it's making Messina's current boss, the President, look bad. Read the rest of this post...

"Americans for Tax Reform are lying sacks of scum" says Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS)

Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist's qroup, apparently claimed Mississippi Rep. Gene Taylor (a Democrat in the loosest sense of the term) supports health insurance reform. That wouldn't be so bad, if it were true. But, Taylor doesn't. This has led to an intra-right wing squabble:

"Americans for Tax Reform are lying sacks of scum, and anyone who knowingly repeats this false information is also a liar," said Taylor, a conservative Democrat who has been critical of health care plans, even the one agreed to by his fellow Blue Dogs.

"I am opposed to the current health care reform bills being debated in Congress," said Taylor, a founding member of the conservative Democratic Blue Dogs, who forced a steep price cut in a Democratic health care proposal this week.

So, is Rep. Taylor right when he calls the Norquist group "lying sacks of scum"? Probably. Is Rep. Taylor wrong for opposing health insurance reform? Definitely. Read the rest of this post...

McCain undecided on Sotomayor

Today, Senator John McCain said he hasn't made up his mind on the Sotomayor confirmation vote. He's "really kind of undecided." His BFF, Lindsey Graham, is supporting Sotomayor. McCain thinks Sotomayor is "a great American success story." But there is that other wing of the GOP, led by Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III, who are all voting no.

Via Think Progress:
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"One of the loudest birther enablers is not at Fox but CNN: Lou Dobbs"

Frank Rich:

One of the loudest birther enablers is not at Fox but CNN: Lou Dobbs, who was heretofore best known for trying to link immigrants, especially Hispanics, to civic havoc. Dobbs is one-stop shopping for the excesses of this seismic period of racial transition. And he is following a traditional, if toxic, American playbook. The escalating white fear of newly empowered ethnic groups and blacks is a naked replay of more than a century ago, when large waves of immigration and the northern migration of emancipated blacks, coupled with a tumultuous modernization of the American work force, unleashed a similar storm of racial and nativist panic.

That's so good for the CNN brand, tying it to nativists and racists courtesy of Dobbs. How does that work for the rest of the "talent" at CNN, one wonders. Read the rest of this post...

On Health Care: Obama adopts "more modest approach" and single-payer will get a House vote

There's an interesting juxtaposition here.

First, according to the Washington Post, Team Obama is rethinking its strategy for selling health insurance reform (and they should):

Now, as lawmakers begin to flee Washington for a month-long recess, the White House team is retooling its message and strategy, hoping a more modest approach will reinvigorate Obama's signature domestic policy initiative and give him a first-year victory for Democrats to carry into the 2010 midterm elections.

Legislative wrangling, a well-coordinated Republican opposition and the sheer complexity of an issue that consumes nearly one-fifth of the nation's economy have taken a toll on the president and his bold ambitions. Polls show that support for Obama's handling of health reform has declined as anxiety deepens about its effect on middle-class, insured Americans.

Meanwhile, Rep. Anthony Weiner has secured a commitment for a floor vote in the House on single-payer:

The Brooklyn-Queens Rep. looked a little surprised when Chairman Henry Waxman said Pelosi would allow that vote, and made Waxman repeat the deal to be sure it was clear and on the record.

It’s an especially big deal for advocates of a single health care system — who see it as cheaper and simpler than the complicated measure being drawn up — because they have been complaining that they have not even been able to get an airing of their position.

And having the vote of the floor of the House will force members to declare a position, and bring much more attention to the idea.

Complex vs. simple.

However this all plays out, let's hope this quote from Speaker Pelosi proves true. And, soon:

"The glory days are coming to an end for the health insurance industry," she said Friday.

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Sunday Talk Shows Open Thread

The economy is the topic. The White House is sending out Geithner, Larry Summers (twice) and Christine Romer. For some reason, Stephanopoulos is also hosting Alan Greenspan, who, along with the Bush crew, got us into this economic crisis. I'm sure we'll get some real pearls of wisdom from him.

I still think Geithner and Summers are too close to Wall Street (and Summers isn't blame free from some of the Clinton-era policies that paved the was for the crisis either.) I wish they'd both listen more to Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Krugman. Seriously. Obama should, too. And, either of them would be better guests about the economy than Greenspan.

McCain is on Face the Nation. Seems like we haven't seen him for awhile. Wonder what Mr. Cranky will come up.

The full slate of guests is after the break.

Here's the lineup"

ABC's "This Week" — Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner; former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.

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CBS' "Face the Nation" — Lawrence Summers, director of the National Economic Council.

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NBC's "Meet the Press" — Summers; former Reps. Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn., and J.C. Watts, R-Okla.

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CNN's "State of the Union" — Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz; Christina Romer, head of the Council of Economic Advisers.

"Fox News Sunday" _ Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y.; Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.; Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind.

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Three dead from shooting during teen meeting at gay club in Tel Aviv. Seen as hate crime

Background on the horrific story here and here. Israeli authorities are viewing this as a hate crime. Pam also found video:
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