Alomst There...

After meeting with Senate democrats president Obama announced that Congress was "on the precipice" of passing the health care refrom bill. However, even Obama admitted that there needs to be a few changes before the bill will pass. These changes include dropping a government-run health insurance option along with a provision that would allow 55-64 year-olds to buy Medicare. I hope that these changes will take place quickly so that the health-care bill will be able to pass and become law quickly.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/15/health.care.lieberman/index.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34446325/ns/politics-health_care_reform/

Setting a Precedent?

The District of Columbia city council overwhelmingly voted to legalize gay marriage. This means that gay couples could get married in D.C. as early as March 2010. However, the gay marriage opponents are saying they will try very hard to get this bill overturned in the polls or in Congress. Although I do believe people should be able to do as they wish in America, I am in strong opposition to gay marriage. Marriage between two partners of the same sex is not how it is meant to be. I hope that this doesn't cause states to assume that they must legalize this as well.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34434743/ns/politics/

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/15/dc.gay.marriage/index.html

Democratic Split!

The Democratic Party is beginning to fissure due to the health care plan that has split liberals against centrists. Differences in public ideology regarding public option and abortion are the main roots of this division. This scasm is very threatening to the Democrats because of the 2010 mid-term elections coming up in less than 11 months. I believe it may cause the Democrats to loose their majority in the House but probably not the Senate because senator's jobs are more secure than members of the House, and not every senator will even be running for reelection. I believe incumbants may not win the House like they normally do. This is because a country-wide swing may be coming about.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/11/democrats.divided/index.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34382653/ns/health-health_care/

Success Finally?

A compromise was made today in the Senate regarding the healthcare bill. The main component of this compromise replaced the controversial public option part of the bill. I believe that this compromise will result in the passage of the bill and will make a significant mark on history. In addition, I believe it will help Obama's public image. Those who are adamently against the bill will dislike him even more and those in the support of the bill will come to support him at a greater level. However, many people who are nuetral will be more likely to support Obama because they see he is standing up for what he believes in and is actually getting something done.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/09/health.care/index.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34326187/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

More Fairness?!?!?

The Democrats are propsoing a new process regarding the nomination of their presidential candidate. This will create a more fair process by establishing a new primary calendar and giving political insiders/lawmakers less of an influence in choosing the candidate. I am in complete support of this proposal because the "common man" will gets his poinion heard more clearly and there will be less unfair deals in this sector of politics.

Image: A main supporter of the proposal

www.politicalticker.cnn.com/2009/12/05/democrats-consider-new

http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/11/23/reform-of-the-democrat

How long will this last?

As president Obama added 30,000 troops to Afghanastan, many are wondering when and if we will ever get out of the country. These fears are very accounted for considering that now, the pullout date is on hold. In addition, the exit strategy is not absolute. I believe the date will contince to be delayed, and I think that we will not be out of the country by 2011 or even in the next 10 years.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34260027/ns/politics-white_house/

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/03/afghanistan.troop.issues/index.html

A Nearly Impossible Task

As we all know, Obama will be addressing the country tonight about the war in Afghanistan. I believe he has a difficult task in front of him. In order to convince the public to approve of his plan to add 30,ooo more troops will take some serious skill. Not only will he need to utilize his best techinques but he will also have to make note of a few other things. He will need to play down the cost of the war especially because of his new health care reform bill. This will be very difficult because of the amount of money that has already been spent. Also, he will need to place and end to this war and persuade Americans that more troops will lead to a quicker end to the war as opposed to a longer war that is far from complete.

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2009/12/01

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/11/30/