That purity list keeps getting shorter and shorter

And we're all the better for it. Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) changed his stance on the health care bill today to announce that he will be voting for passage.

Here's a quote from the congressman:

"I know I have to make a decision, not on the bill as I would like to see it, but as it is."

Now, here's a clip:

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"Death Panels" meets "Death Sentence"?

How is Moore's claim of a "Death Sentence" any more constructive than rightwing shouts of "Death Panels"?

There's a reason why I've stopped watching cable news as of late. Hyperbole has long been a habit of the networks and last night was no different. The problem is when such hyperbole leads to misinformation or, even worse, disinformation. And though the hyperbole from the Right has been increasingly destructive and, at times, violent, there is also a good amount of hyperbole from the Left as well.

I give you Mr. Michael Moore and his introduction of two talking-points: "4 years" and "Death Sentence."

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President Obama's Weekly Address (1/9/10)

President Obama responds to unemployment numbers, lists immediate protections/benefits anticipated under health reform

In this week’s address, the President reacted to jobs numbers that saw the country's unemployment rate remain at 10% with a loss of 85,000 jobs in December (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Citing mixed reports over the past couple of months, the President said,

"We learned that, in November, our economy saw it's first month of job gains in nearly two years. But, last month we lost more than we gained. Now, we know that no single month makes a trend, and job losses for the final quarter of 2009 were one-tenth of what they were in the first quarter. But, until we see a trend of good, sustainable job creation, we will be relentless in our efforts to put America back to work."

The President also focused on health care protections that will immediately kick in upon being signed into law in 2010. Claiming dozens of immediate protections and benefits, President Obama highlighted the following list:

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