I can only assume this 3 part story is part of this fascination that the rest of the country seems to be hooked on. I guess Sarah Palin is old hat so on to the next attention starved political celebrity for stories. Hell Time has him on the cover, when in Rome Salon?

I am becoming...no I am tired of this idolatry of stupidity we have in this country. We need to be more honest with the political theater that seems to pass as "news" on Fox, CNN, MSNBC and the rest of the crap on the internet that passes as "news". With very rare exceptions, this is all just theater for ratings. Honesty takes a back seat to wild accusations and "Special Comments" where these hosts just stick to the script then verbally masturbate on the air about their ratings for the week. Next week they do it all again. Beck is part of that theater and it seems Salon is too.

What happened to honest journalism and calling people out on their bullshit? I don't care about Beck's life story - I only care about why he continues to perpetuate this charade that he actually knows what he's talking about and others in the "news media," like Salon, keep playing the same game. By continuing to talk about how "crazy" he and people like Palin and "Birthers" are only serves their purpose of gaining attention and more ratings. When are people like Joan Walsh and Salon going to actually ignore commenting on Glen Beck and his rants? Why is it every night Keith Olberman can't go without slamming someone on Fox news? I'm convinced the reason is because they are all part of the same political theater. Ratings are key and whether you are harping about Birthers, Tea Parties or Sarah Palin, it doesn't matter as long as people read it.

So nice work Salon. Seems you are just like all the others now. Give yourself a round of applause.

Do you do anything anymore Alex? This blog is become just a cut and paste of Politico. I saw this this morning and you are posting it now? It's not like writing a rant about Limbaugh is difficult. Gotta justify that pay check huh?

Salon has become garbage. Hence my lack of renewing my subscription. This place used to be great.

From NYTimes blogging

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/live-blogging-senate-finance-committee-debate-on-public-option/?hp

"The final tally was 8 in favor, 15 against. The amendment drew no Republican support. Democrats voting against the amendment were Mr. Conrad, Ms. Lincoln, Bill Nelson of Florida and Thomas Carper of Delaware.

Supporting the public option were the Democratic Senators Rockefeller, Bingaman, Kerry, Wyden, Schumer, Stabenow, Cantwell and Menendez."

Here is the full list of members to get the GOP names.

http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/committee.htm

when John and Cindy McCain had one on the campaign bus every day.

Although, I think the criticism primarily came from the Hillary Clinton camp about northwesterners who supported Obama. So I still don't get why lefties keep playing it up as if it means anything.

Seems to just be something people picked up and ran with...but doesn't seem to fit on either side.

I dunno. Probably because I think of "elitist" coffee drinkers as people that think Starbucks isn't all that great anyway. The quality is better than grocery store(although you can buy starbucks in the grocery now) but it's not amazing. People who want great coffee know where to go to get it. The whole coffee shop scene and such isn't in Starbucks...but John McCain and Sarah Palin were frequently video taped with a venti from starbucks in their hand. So you make fun of 'elitist people' at starbucks...which includes John McCain?

I just think it's a bad connection by whatever side is making it.

I saw this too and thought...how are you any different than the GOP who makes the same wild claims?

Yes - it's going to cost more. That's because we never had to pay for it before. You can't pollute the atmosphere and think that everything will just go away if you build the smoke stack higher. There is a cost to air pollution and we haven't paid for it. This is why the right in this country keeps clinging to the idea that global warming is a scam because they know that when you put it down in terms of economics, it makes perfect sense.

Time to suck it up and face the facts. We need to pay for pollution as another cost that goes into the goods we purchase because it *is* having an effect on our planet. Cap and trade is the best solution to ensuring polluting industries internalize the costs of production that they have not paid for so long.

I'm VERY happy we are moving in the right direction on this in the Senate.