"This was the voice of moderation until 13 Sept, 2025"
By Lindsay Beyerstein In this week’s Pulse we look at the implications Sen. Evan Bayh’s (D-IN) decision not to seek reelection. As an incumbent, he could have easily won another term. But Bayh says he’s fed up with partisanship in Washington. So, he’s quitting and handing his job to a Republican. Blue Dog bipartisanship in … Read more
By Lindsay Beyerstein People are getting way too worked up about Nancy Pelosi's announcement that she doesn't have the votes to pass the Senate's health reform bill right now. "In every meeting that we have had, there would be nothing to give me any thought that that bill could pass right now the way that … Read more
By Lindsay Beyerstein Martha Coakley's loss in Massachusetts will end the Democrats' 60-vote majority in the Senate. This is a major setback for health care reform, but let's not hang crepe yet. Remember, the Senate already passed its bill. If the House were to "ping pong" the bill by passing the identical legislation, the bill … Read more
By Lindsay Beyerstein Yesterday, two Democratic senators unexpectedly announced that they would not seek reelection in 2010: Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Chris Dodd of Connecticut. As I wrote in the Weekly Pulse this morning, the two announcements probably cancel each other out in terms of Democratic senate seats. Dorgan's seat is probably an … Read more
My first Newsweek story, on the Stupak Amendment, the senate bill, and what’s next in the fight over abortion access under health reform.
By Lindsay Beyerstein Yesterday the Senate Finance Committee voted down two amendments that would have added a public option to its health reform bill. The committee also tacked on millions for discredited abstinence-only-until-opposite-marriage teaching. On the bright side, maybe kids will start ditching church now that they get their religious hokum free from the government, … Read more
By Lindsay Beyerstein Last night, I quite unexpectedly scored an exclusive video interview with Howard Dean at the 92nd St YMCA where he was promoting his new book on health reform. I asked him about the chances that Democrats will try to use budget reconciliation to pass a health care bill and thwart a filibuster. … Read more