-
SPACE
Should We Be On The Moon?
-
THREATS
Will Iran Attack Israel?
-
SOTU
Highlights From Obama’s SOTU
Posted By Annie Lowrey
Monday, November 9, 2009 - 2:59 PM
Share
Like many in Washington, I spent Saturday night at home watching C-SPAN as the House debated and ultimately passed a major healthcare reform bill. It was about as exciting as the legislative process gets: a special weekend session, with heated debate over a controversial amendment, impassioned statements from virtually every House heavyweight, and a vote that came down to a thin margin, with a single crossover.
This banner moment marks the closest that the United States has ever come to overhauling its woefully expensive, inefficient, and incomplete healthcare system -- and it felt like a victory. But it marks just one step in what promises to be a long and detailed legislative process. Now, the Senate votes on its healthcare bill, then the two bills are merged, and then both chambers vote again. The remaining process will be highly prone to filibusters from Republicans (and, sigh, Joe Lieberman), and will require extensive negotiation. And this comes after months of wrangling in the Senate and House committees.
While healthcare reform takes its time to pass, two other big bills wait on the sidelines, and governments across the globe wait with them. Indeed, the Senate is, in effect, filibustering the world.
The first back-burnered issue is immigration reform. During his campaign, Obama promised that he would enact comprehensive legislation during his first year in office. It was a heady pledge -- President George W. Bush tried to pass reform during his final term in office, and failed. But it won Obama the support of organizations like the National Council of La Raza and plaudits from governments in Central America, Mexico, and Canada. Then, earlier this year, Obama ingloriously shelved it, laying down a big-bill priority rank with immigration reform taking the bronze. Congress hasn't even started to tackle the issue -- no bills, cosigners, or committee votes yet -- spurring disappointment across the United States' borders and further afield.
The second and vastly more important issue is cap and trade. The House bill passed in June, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushing it onto the floor as soon as she had the votes. But leaders in the White House and Congress decided to cool it to preserve votes for healthcare, and Congress won't make law until sometime early next year.
This delay means that the United States will be something of a weak actor at next month's U.N. Copenhagen conference on climate change. Global leaders will hash out the details of a worldwide plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions and to attempt to stave off anthropogenic climate disaster. Obama will not be one of them because of, well, Congress.
The United States has said any climate change agreements it makes must comport with U.S. law, and U.S. law isn't ready yet. So, Obama has said he will not attend. In the meantime, the United States has actually attempted to weaken many of the most important measures. Washington, under Obama as under Bush, remains the most recalcitrant major player on climate change, even more so than big-emitter Beijing.
European governments, as well as many others, are bewildered if not piqued. During her address to both chambers of Congress last week, for instance, German Chancellor Angela Merkel implored lawmakers to tackle climate change "without delay." It was a futile plea, and half of the lawmakers didn't bother to clap.
This isn't to say that Washington should have different legislative priorities, or should have put climate change or immigration reform before healthcare. It isn't to say that Obama should have stepped out on those issues before Congress enacted law. It isn't even to say that Congress should move faster, though I often wish it would.
It is simply to note that the United States is used to waiting for its legislative process to work. The rest of the world isn't. On climate change, especially, the Senate is not just holding up U.S. legislation, but global action. And it remains unclear what that means for foreign policy.
Getty Images
...and I think USA have lost every right to call The European Union slow.
If I hear about yet another intricate detail in American law or some lawmaker (D, Calisota) who is gonna to be filibustering or amending, that will slow things even further, I gonna take a plan from Denmark to Washington and kick some senatorial ass
Or just scream really laud
I´m sorry my frustrations have harmed my punctuation and English
During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way. The prevalence of unemployment is usually measured using the unemployment rate, which is defined as the percentage of those in the labor force who are unemployed. A recession also inspires some people to not mourn a lost job, and start their own businesses, as many people have done in this one and recessions past.
Seriously American inaction on these subjects is really becoming annoying to the rest of the world.I'm beginning to think it will take a disaster of epic proportions before the world's joint biggest polluter takes notice and even then it might not be enough e.g New Orleans 4 years and still a mess
wha I don't see on this list...
is financial reform, which, if it has any chance of effectiveness, has international affect, indeed it needs international agreement.
None of the major powers cares what Europe thinks.
Welcome to the 21st Century.
Europeans can shift public opinion in the US to some extent, but countries like China, Russia, and India really couldn't care less.
Wow. This is a seriously misguided, left-side only, look at a bill that fundamentally changes a republic founded on less government intrusion. Despite an 81 seat Democrat advantage in the House, this only passed with 5 votes. Even the liberals are not fully on board with this bill. It's obvious Annie Lowrey and the rest of the commentor's are painfully clueless as to the funding and punishments this bill imposes on all Americans. So hooray for filibustering from either side when the other is bullying.
This bill calls for those who don't believe in abortion to fund abortions. Also fines and imprisonment for those who do not, or cannot provide health insurance. Never mind the trillion dollar price tag – and this is progress that Americans should adopt quickly? Absolutely not.
Only a small amount of America's healthcare really needed to change - that being tort reform, insurance pre-conditions and interstate competition. This would have NOT added to the already back-breaking tax burden Americans are facing.
I have to agree with blue13326 above. China, Russia and India (who btw Tom g are the worlds biggest polluters) care little what the EU thinks.
.. about health care, the rest of the world don´t care about your inefficient 3.world health system. What we care about is environment, trade, finance, and international law where America is stalling and provides convenient excuses for BRIC.
And at least China respects EU enough to not export lead painted toys to us
Actually, there were 39 "crossovers."
Mark Seigler has it right:
"...Only a small amount of America's healthcare really needed to change - that being tort reform, insurance pre-conditions and interstate competition. This would have NOT added to the already back-breaking tax burden Americans are facing"
As to immigration reform, the only reform that needs to take place is enforcement of the immigration laws. Why do you whiney bleeding hearts keep seeking to reward law breakers? I am all for allowing legal immigration for those who have-at the minimum-completed high school, can speak and read English and are willing to assimilate into the American culture.
Ridding America of the anchor baby problem would be difficult, as it would require a constitutional amendment, but just because a child is born here should not give his family the right to stay here illegally. Perhaps that American child does not get to live in the United States until he is old enough to live here as an adult. Unfair? Let him cry to his parents while simultaneously thanking them for the gift of American birth.
The sad truth is that too many illegal immigrants, having already broken one law with sneaking into the country, or overstaying a visa, have little regard for the other laws of our country. It's not about xenophobia and it's not about racism; it's about obeying the law. Think broken window theory.
Finally, who cares what the rest of the world thinks about the United States not kowtowing to those who, under the guise of environmental defense, wish to reduce America to the state of a third world country. We have the toughest environmental protection laws on the planet, many of them ridiculous and deliterious to the economic health of our country.
Our automobiles must meet standards tougher than any other country on Earth. Our diesel emissions standards allow only 1/10th the tailpipe output as is allowed in Europe. Yes, we like big autos, but a hemi-powered Dodge Challenger, by law, is not allowed to put out any more emissions than a Ford Focus. The Dodge may use more fuel, but it is not more of a polluter.
Our factories are cleaner than anywhere else in the world, what few there are left. The greed of Wall Street, married to the industry-hating environmentalists, have turned America back towards mercantism, only this time we are facing the pointy end of the stick. America needs to wake up and tell the rest of the world to kiss our butts. It is time to start taking care of those at home. We have already saved the world twice. I'm done.
>>China, Russia and India (who btw Tom g are the worlds biggest polluters) care little what the EU thinks.
Siegler: Which right wing site did you find your statistics?
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/env_pol_car_dio_per_cap-pollution-carbon-dioxide-per-capita
US is by far the largest polluter. It would be hypocritical not to have US be the first one to take a stand on global warming and pollution.
>>And at least China respects EU enough to not export lead painted toys to us
Bookfisher - Why would you think that there is a national basis for the lead issue? Simply put, they were bad manufacturers trying to make cash and worrying about nothing else. Don't make it like we are trying to do a lead attack on US soil
>>America needs to wake up and tell the rest of the world to kiss our butts. It is time to start taking care of those at home. We have already saved the world twice.
CoachEstabrook - Great. A third time maybe be in order - Maybe you need to save the world from yourself. By the way, while anti-immigration has been around for some time, statistics-wise, its only been recently that South American illegals became one of the largest group, even though they have always been the subject of related animosity. The largest by far are illegal immigrant from Europe, you know, like your forefathers.
From Environment News Source. www.ens-newswire.com. They seem to lean neither left or right. I do hear you that the U.S. is by far the biggest CO2 producer. Now, is C02 a pollutant? Depends on which government you talk to.
Here's an example:
"World's 10 Worst Pollution Spots
NEW YORK, New York, October 18, 2006 (ENS) - The world's 10 most polluted places threaten the health of more than 10 million people in eight countries, according to a report released today by a U.S. environmental action group. Three of the most polluted sites are in Russia, the report said, with the remaining seven located in China, Dominican Republic, India, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, Ukraine and Zambia.
The report was released by the Blacksmith Institute and compiled by a team of international environment and health experts, including researchers from Johns Hopkins University, Mt. Sinai Medical Center and City University of New York.
"A key criterion in the selection process was the nature of the pollutant," said Richard Fuller, director of Blacksmith Institute. "The biggest culprits are heavy metals - such as lead, chromium and mercury - and long-lasting chemicals - such as the `persistent organic pollutants.'"
Chipotle Mexican Grill links of london jewellery . The fast food at these casual links of london eateries feels slow, links london jewelry thanks to organic ingredients cheap links of london , custom combos, link of london and an emphasis on freshness. links of london sale Traffic is down at many locations, links of london jewelry but the company has been able to compensate by raising prices, links london Olive Garden. links of london Charms More food for less money hits the sweet spot these days, links of london Charm which makes the family-style portions at this casual Italian chain a hit with diners. links of london Necklaces Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants, links london Necklace which also operates Red Lobster, links of london Bracelets Longhorn Steakhouse, links london Bracelet and a few smaller chains. links of london Sweetie Bracelets Olive Garden has been the best performer of the bunch, links london Sweetie Bracelet with same-store sales down slightly but overall sales up, links of london Friendship Bracelets thanks to about 35 new outlets links of london Sweetie Watches that have opened over the past year links london Friendship Bracelet
Chipotle Mexican Grill links of london jewellery . The fast food at these casual links of london eateries feels slow, links london jewelry thanks to organic ingredients cheap links of london , custom combos, link of london and an emphasis on freshness. links of london sale Traffic is down at many locations, links of london jewelry but the company has been able to compensate by raising prices, links london Olive Garden. links of london Charms More food for less money hits the sweet spot these days, links of london Charm which makes the family-style portions at this casual Italian chain a hit with diners. links of london Necklaces Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants, links london Necklace which also operates Red Lobster, links of london Bracelets Longhorn Steakhouse, links london Bracelet and a few smaller chains. links of london Sweetie Bracelets Olive Garden has been the best performer of the bunch, links london Sweetie Bracelet with same-store sales down slightly but overall sales up, links of london Friendship Bracelets thanks to about 35 new outlets links of london Sweetie Watches that have opened over the past year links london Friendship Bracelet
He has an uncanny ability to tell stories that are
saç ekimi
both accessible and progressively avant-garde,” explained indie director
saç ekimi
Patrick Meaney, whose untitled Grant Morrison documentary, previewed in the exclusive clips above and below, will analyze the writer’s storied run for Marvel and DC Comics on standout titles like The Invisibles, X-Men and Final Crisis as well as more esoteric series like The Filth and Flex Mentallo.
The relative obscurity of the latter two may not last long, as Hollywood roots
saç ekimi
around for comic books to follow those from Alan Moore and Frank Miller into cinematic
saç ekimi
life.“Most ‘civilians’ that I talk to about the project still don’t know who
saç ekimi
Grant Morrison is,” Meaney told Wired.com, “
saç ekimi
but Moore is definitely a name they recognize, as is Frank Miller. I feel like we could soon be seeing a bunch of Morrison film projects in the not-too-distant future.”
Morrison is working on it, but he’s in no hurry.
saç ekimi
He understands that this type of capitalization
saç ekimi
has its own internal logic. A film version of his
saç ekimi
bizarro comic We3, about three saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
saç ekimi
weaponized animal cyborgs turning on their programming, has been tossed around development hell for years, recently landing in the unlikely lap of Kung Fu Panda director John Stevenson.
“The We3 movie is still churning its way through the Hollywood machine,” Morrison told Wired.com this March. “John Stevenson is still attached as director, the animal effects have been costed and apparently some concept and poster drawings are being done. I try not to think about it, in the hope it’ll all just finally happen one day.”
That hope will no doubt be rewarded. Morrison’s comics are among the most challenging, and rewarding, in circulation today. Whether he’s rebooting Batman or Superman, or mashing the perhaps unfilmable Invisibles into a historical, psychedelic and sci-fi mind grinder, the Scotland-born and sometimes Los Angeles-based writer is a minefield of approachable yet envelope-pushing possibilities.
Passport, FP’s flagship blog, brings you news and hidden angles on the biggest stories of the day, as well as insights and under-the-radar gems from around the world.
Read More
Jan/Feb 2012
-
Cover Story
-
Feature
-
Inbox
(14)
HIDE COMMENTS LOGIN OR REGISTER REPORT ABUSE