In addition to Tony Abbott resigning, it’s coming out of Canberra that Senators Nick Minchin (leader in the Senate), Eric Abetz (deputy in the Senate) and Stephen Parry have all resigned from their shadow cabinet positions. The three senators have offered to stay on in their roles until the end of the Senate session. In the House, Sophie Mirabella and Tony Smith will resign from the shadow cabinet as well.

News keeps breaking fast. Not even chance to let the dust settle to reflect on it all!

Update: Turnbull will be holding a press address at 7pm.

Thomas.

Dick Morris has some interesting new polls regarding Obamacare. Proponents of the bill will tell you whatever they have to tell you to negate these figures, but you can’t fight facts. They will tell you that the EVIL insurance companies are funding such arguments, they will tell you that every Senator who has an inclination against the bill is being bought off, but they haven’t successfully refuted the facts that the naysayers have brought up about the bill. As the Wall Street Journal has said: “(this) may well be the worst piece of post-New Deal legislation ever introduced.” As the Journal furthers, Speaker Pelosi has said that she doesn’t care: “(She) has reportedly told fellow Democrats that she’s prepared to lose seats in 2010 if that’s what it takes to pass ObamaCare.”

The question every American must ask themselves is: Are Pelosi, Reid, and Obama working in the best interests of the American public, or are they working in the best interests of the Democrat party? I can tell you that if someone could provide me substantial proof that the Republican leadership was working in the best interests of the Republican and against the American public, I would be against it. It is difficult to believe that an American political party would be engaging in anti-American policies, some may say it’s even a little kooky, but there are rare occasions when the kooks are right.

Support/Oppose Obama plan, combined data for Arkansas, North Dakota and Maine

Age Plan

Under 30

30-49

50-64

Over 65
Support/Oppose Obama Plan

25-65

28-60

41-50

32-55

The polling had predicted that the young would swing sharply and dramatically against the Obama program once they got the key information about it, but we are blown away by these results.

These data are from polls the League of American Voters commissioned John Zogby to conduct. Commenting on the results, John said, “These results among 18- to 29-year-olds are striking. It puts in jeopardy the whole theory of the new Democratic majority, because young people are essential to that base.”

Serge Pugeault se vante constamment de la rapidité de la majorité municipale à entamer la réfection de la Halle du Boulingrin, alors que par le passé ce dossier paraissait au ralenti.

C’est clairement de la mauvaise foi car si Adeline Hazan et son équipe ont eu la possibilité de lancer aussi vite ce dossier, c’est grâce aux travaux d’études réalisés par l’équipe précédente. Il serait bon qu’ils ne l’omettent pas!

M. Pugeault met en cause la lenteur du déblocage de l’aide de l’Etat à la réfection qui était bloquée depuis 1996…C’est aussi objectivement l’une des causes du non avancement du dossier par le passé !

Surtout, c’est la preuve que gouvernements de gauche comme de droite n’avaient pas rempli cet engagement, alors même que Serge Pugeault se répand partout en affirmant que l’enveloppe accordée dans le cadre du plan de relance n’est que le rattrappage de cette promesse non tenue.

Enfin et c’est important de le souligner, c’est Jack Lang qui a classé ce bâtiment pour des raisons politiciennes en 1985, alors que sa qualité architecturale est très largement décriée.

M. Pugeault a la mémoire bien courte et une lecture partiale et partielle de ce dossier, il n’a même pas le souci de la cohérence dans les propos qu’il tient, trop occupé à politiser à outrance et à vouloir discréditer l’Etat et l’Exécutif…

Rasmussen – the nation’s most accurate polling organization – says the numbers are crystal clear: America doesn’t want ObamaCare.

Just 38% of voters now favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s the lowest level of support measured for the plan in nearly two dozen tracking polls conducted since June.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% now oppose the plan.

Half the survey was conducted before the Senate voted late Saturday to begin debate on its version of the legislation. Support for the plan was slightly lower in the half of the survey conducted after the Senate vote.

Prior to this, support for the plan had never fallen below 41%. Last week, support for the plan was at 47%. Two weeks ago, the effort was supported by 45% of voters.

Intensity remains stronger among those who oppose the push to change the nation’s health care system: 21% Strongly Favor the plan while 43% are Strongly Opposed.

Rasmussen Reports is continuing to track public opinion on the health care plan on a weekly basis. Next week’s Monday morning update will give an indication of whether these numbers reflect a trend of growing opposition or are merely statistical noise.

Only 16% now believe passage of the plan will lead to lower health care costs. Nearly four times as many (60%) believe the plan will increase health care costs. Most (54%) also believe passage of the plan will hurt the quality of care.

As has been the case for months, Democrats favor the plan while Republicans and voters not affiliated with either major party are opposed. The latest numbers show support from 73% of those in the president’s party. The plan is opposed by 83% of Republicans and 70% of unaffiliated voters.

Other recent polling shows that Democrats consider health care reform to be the top priority for the president. Republicans and unaffiliated voters see deficit reduction as most important.

Among the nation’s senior citizens, 34% favor the health care plan and 60% are opposed. A majority of those under 30 favor the plan, but a majority of all other age groups are opposed (Premium Members can see full demographic crosstabs).

Support for health care has declined along with President Obama’s approval ratings. For the first time in the Obama era, the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Approval Index has been in negative double digits for nine straight days.

Despite the decline in support for the health care plan, 50% still say it is at least somewhat likely to become law this year. That figure includes 17% who say passage is Very Likely.

While Senate Democrats this weekend assembled enough votes to begin debate on the plan, many challenges remain. All Republican Senators and several Democrats, for example, have expressed opposition to the so-called “public option.” Sixty-three percent (63%) of voters nationwide say guaranteeing that no one is forced to change their health insurance coverage is a higher priority than giving consumers the choice of a “public option” government-run health insurance company. Most liberal voters say giving people the choice of a “public option” is more important. But most moderates take the opposite view and say guaranteeing that no one is forced to change their health insurance is the top priority.

Overall, 46% favor the creation of a government-sponsored non-profit health insurance option that people could choose instead of a private health insurance plan. However, if the plan encouraged companies to drop private health insurance coverage for their workers, support for the public option falls to 29%, and opposition rises to 58%.

As Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, wrote in the Wall Street Journal: “The most important fundamental is that 68% of American voters have health insurance coverage they rate good or excellent. … Most of these voters approach the health care reform debate fearing that they have more to lose than to gain.”

Other challenging issues in the Senate debate include abortion and illegal immigration. Ever since the House’s passage of the Stupak Amendment which says the “public option” would not cover elective abortions and that recipients of federal insurance subsidies could not use them to buy abortion coverage, the divide among Democrats has been visible.

Earlier polling showed that 48% nationwide favored the abortion ban, but most supporters of health care reform didn’t want to address the issue. Just 13% of all voters wanted abortion coverage mandated in the legislation.

The Democrats are on the wrong side of health care – and every single element within their health care plan.  And yet here they are, determined to ram it through (especially before the public can get a chance to know how truly bad the plan is) and impose it on a country that doesn’t want it.

Obama’s approval is now at minus 15 – his lowest recorded number yet.  Only 45% of the country approves of him, versus 54% that disapprove.

You’d think that would matter.  But Democrats seem on a suicide mission to destroy America and destroy our way of life.  Your key words for understanding why: the Cloward-Piven strategy.  First ruin the country and cause it to implode, then assume total control over a desperate and hungry population by offering government as their only savior.

Elections have consequences.  A foolish America may literally pay for electing Democrats with their country.

Americans need to begin giving Democrats hell, or else Democrats will most assuredly give hell to Americans.

Being a Singaporean isn’t much fun. It makes you paranoid. I remember in Secondary school when I first heard a rumor of our Big Bro watching our every move. A friend said someone from Big Bro asked her about her political inclinations on a public bus. Let me remind you that she was younger than I was. When she daringly said she wasn’t for Big Bro, the guy told her (but not in these exact words), ” I’ll be watching you”.

Everyone knows that being an opposition here is tough. There are not many of them. Let me just say for the record that I’m neutral. I don’t know enough about politics or economics or just about anything to be part of an opposition. There’s no way I’m governing a country based on my ignorance. My picture is a small picture.

But you watch all these movies about conspiracies, lies, murder. You realise that it’s the same just about everywhere. Nobody really likes their Big Bro. Everyone thinks their Big Bro is stalking them, watching their every move. Over there, the opposition has opposition. The opposition’s opposition probably has a tough time deciding if he’s for or against the opposition. That’s just plain sad.

Having lived abroad and travelled a little, I have come to appreciate the goodness that I find in Singapore. I like how it is clean. I like how everything is so systematic. I like it’s predictability. I like how it is safe here. Most of the time I stay out of trouble. I stay out of Big Bro’s way as much as I can. But what if I wake up one day and he’s getting in my way. The system comes knocking at my door. What then?

If I offend the good system, will it gobble me up? Will reading an article from the Asia Sentinel make me an enemy of the state? Can someone like me cause any threat to Big Bro?

Surely I hope not.So please, do not tap my lines, read my E-mail or blog and take satellite photos of me. That would just make me more paranoid.

If anyone asks, tell them it’s all the informant’s fault.

]]> http://histruthinlove.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/god-opposes-the-proud/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:41:36 +0000 markshaw1 http://histruthinlove.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/god-opposes-the-proud/ http://paddytheflea.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/wolves-v-birmingham-stats-on-correct-passing/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:58:40 +0000 paddytheflea http://paddytheflea.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/wolves-v-birmingham-stats-on-correct-passing/ http://travelheadlines.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/nigerian-opposition-worry-over-president-yaraduas-health/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:39:04 +0000 wnewsfeed6061 http://travelheadlines.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/nigerian-opposition-worry-over-president-yaraduas-health/

Nigerian official says President Umaru Yar’Adua, known to have a chronic kidney problem, traveled to Saudi Arabia for a Muslim pilgrimage and a medical checkup… From VOA. Full story

This site may contain information about: bangkok airport. The blog is also related to: india airport.

The Mudra healing has been combined with ‘Living with Awareness’ techniques here, to achieve any goal or objective. To understand how our mind works against our own goals and objectives, please read the following posts:

http://healbyrule.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/i-am-the-hero-and-the-villain-in-the-movie-life-directed-by-me/

http://healbyrule.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/dress-up-as-married/

Three Steps to Fulfilment

If you have a desire that’s not fulfilled (let us say you want to be an actor), then do the following:

1. Do the Acceptance Mudra and affirm, “I accept myself totally. I release my desire to be an actor”.

If you want to reduce your weight then affirm, “I accept myself totally. I release my desire to reduce my weight”.

Or you affirmation could be, “I I accept myself totally. I release my desire to look attractive”. Thus release all your desires to loose your weight.

Why should I release my desires? Even desires are a form of resistance to achieve our goals and objectives.

To see how to do acceptance Mudra:

http://healbymudra.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/acceptance-mudra/

2. Do Jupiter Mudra and affirm, “I release my resistance to become an actor”. If you have a desire that is unfulfilled, it means there is a resistance inside you. To reduce your weight, affirm, “I release my resistance to reduce my weight”.

Sometimes we want something consciously, but unconsciously we will be resisting that. This is called psychological reversal.

To see how to do Jupiter Mudra:

http://healbymudra.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/jupiter-mudra/

3. Do Movement Mudra and affirm, “I have become an actor”, “I have started to act in so and so film” as though the desire has happened already.

To see how to do Movement Mudra:

http://healbymudra.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/movement-mudra/

At least spend 5-15 minutes in each Mudra, in the order mentioned. Do them twice a day.

فديو, فيديو كليب انا بيه ورومانسى من فلم, فيلم البيه الرومانسىافلام لك تحميل من

شاهد فديو, فيديو كليب انا بيه ورومانسى من فلم, فيلم البيه رومانسى – سعد الصغير 2009
تحمل وتنزيل فديو, فيديو كليب سعد الصغير من فلم, فيلم البيه رومانسى انا بيه ورومانسى

لمشاهدة وتحميل الفديو, فيديو كليب …

شاهد فديو, فيديو كليب اغنية سعد الصغير انا بيه ورومانسى من فلم, فيلم البيه رومانسى
يو, فيديو كليب سعد الصغير من فلم, فيلم البية الرومانسى – انا بيه ورومانسى

اضغط هنا لمشاهدة الكليب

|اغانى|فديو, فيديو كليب|مقطع|هدف|مسلسل|اعلان|فلم, فيلم|برنامج|حلقة|شاهد|مشاهدة|اون لاين|سرعة عالية |بدون
تحميل|اغانى|عربى|اجنبى|MP3, mp3, ام بي ثري|البوم|
2009|سينجل|نغمات|تنزيل|نزل|شعبي|راب|حمل|موسيقى|MP3, mp3, ام بي ثري

|افراح|فديو, فيديو كليب|راديو||اون لاين|بدون تحميل|مجانا|بدون اشتراك|2010

فديو, فيديو كليب انا بيه ورومانسى من فلم, فيلم البيه الرومانسىافلام لك تحميل من

شاهد فديو, فيديو كليب انا بيه ورومانسى من فلم, فيلم البيه رومانسى – سعد الصغير 2009
تحمل وتنزيل فديو, فيديو كليب سعد الصغير من فلم, فيلم البيه رومانسى انا بيه ورومانسى

لمشاهدة وتحميل الفديو, فيديو كليب …

شاهد فديو, فيديو كليب اغنية سعد الصغير انا بيه ورومانسى من فلم, فيلم البيه رومانسى
يو, فيديو كليب سعد الصغير من فلم, فيلم البية الرومانسى – انا بيه ورومانسى

اضغط هنا لمشاهدة الكليب

|اغانى|فديو, فيديو كليب|مقطع|هدف|مسلسل|اعلان|فلم, فيلم|برنامج|حلقة|شاهد|مشاهدة|اون لاين|سرعة عالية |بدون
تحميل|اغانى|عربى|اجنبى|MP3, mp3, ام بي ثري|البوم|
2009|سينجل|نغمات|تنزيل|نزل|شعبي|راب|حمل|موسيقى|MP3, mp3, ام بي ثري

|افراح|فديو, فيديو كليب|راديو||اون لاين|بدون تحميل|مجانا|بدون اشتراك|2010

The Christmas season has turned into some Christians’ best opportunity to whine that we’re being treated exactly the way Jesus says we would.

It’s as if we’ve been given some license to get in others’ faces just because they don’t agree with us.  Yes, it’s sad the word “Christmas” gets intentionally left off store signs and advertisements.  It’s sad schools have “Holiday” parties and concerts.  Yes, our culture has lost reverence for the real meaning of the season.   But why get mad at the world for acting like the world?

“But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”  1 Corinthians 2:14

How should we respond to all this?  Here are a few verses to think about in the next five weeks:

“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  2 Timothy 3:12

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Matthew 5:10-12

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”  Philippians 1:29

This is probably the most convicting verse on the topic of being wronged.  The attitude is incredible and blows me away every time I read it:

“For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.”  Hebrews 10:34

Each time you and I feel slighted for our faith this season, we need to find a way to shine as lights in this dark world by absorbing the hurt and showing why Christ causes us to think and act differently. 

“so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world“  Philippians 2:15

Use times of disagreement with our world to be a generous, gracious testimony.  Ask the Lord for wisdom when you get into a problem situation.  He’ll give you the right answer at the right time.  Let’s leave the anger and whining to others.

Remember, you can’t spell “Happy Winter Festival” without w-h-i-n-e-y.

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

I photograph a fair bit of politics in the Nation’s Capital and for one reason or another I seem to photograph Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff more often then most. Also see Living in Opposition.

Portrait for Maclean’s Magazine – softbox high in front

Soup kitchen for Reuters

Daycare for Reuters

Farmers market for Macleans Magazine.

Scrum after a speech for Reuters.

He is generally pretty good to work with – although I am pretty sure he dislikes us despite the fact that he was a journalist once upon a time. His wife Zsuzsanna is great for just going about whatever it is she is doing while we are around. She acknowledges that we are there – she gave me an apple once – but understands that we want to be kindly ignored in certain scenarios. It is always nice going to Stornoway (the official residence) as their head of staff Joshua is always offering refreshments and fresh baked goodness.

Bg

Identité Nationale (prononcez “nazionale” (ndlr)), le dernier single de Gouvernement, le groupe préféré des grolandais, ne fait pas l’unanimité. Marteen Aubry, la Patty Smith du collectif PS (Power 2 Society) n’a pas eu, hier, d’invectives assez dures pour descendre en flammes le titre qui passe actuellement en boucle sur les ondes.

Marteen Aubry hier en live au MJS

Hier après son live au MJS, à propos d’identité nationale, elle a déclaré en backstage aux journalisses :

” C’est la téhon ce single ! Une énorme purée inaudible de guitares saturées sur ampli Marechal, des paroles barrées dans un trip post-gothique  sur un vieux thème de The Pain : ce morceau craint, c’est un vilain plagiat, on prend les kids pour des abrutis. Y suivront pas ce coup-ci, ce sera un flop !”

Ulrich Von Besson, parolier de plusieurs formations de la nébuleuse Thrash/grind/death/speed Métal réformiste de la mouvance UMP (Underground Massive Posse : prononcez “possy” (ndlr)) n’a pas manqué de rétorquer fermement aux propos de Marteen Aubry. ” Elle fait rien qu’à nous embêter, elle est méchante et pis elle est même pas belle, et en plus elle chante même pas bien “.

موالى كل الجديد فى عالم النت

Ce stade, qui il faut le dire, a été un véritable gouffre financier, avec un coût de 57 millions d’euros, est bien loin de répondre aux attentes que l’on pouvait en avoir.

En effet, ce stade ne peut accueillir d’autre événement sportif car il n’a pas été conçu pour. Ainsi, il a été précisé au dernier Conseil Municipal qu’il manquerait 1 mètre de pelouse pour pouvoir y accueillir des matches de rugby du Top 14! 1 mètre de pelouse, vous rendez-vous compte?!

Ensuite, ce stade vraiment mal situé et très mal ouvert sur la ville. Aucun commerce ne peut se développer autour comme cela peut se faire dans les autres villes disposant d’un équipement digne de ce nom.

Enfin, il est impossible d’y installer une scène pour des spectacles, les poids-lourds ne pouvant avoir accès à l’intérieur du stade!

Que dire de la pelouse dont la piètre qualité empêche, sauf à payer un prix prohibitif de réfection, la présence de publics et de l’insuffisance des loges pour les mécènes et entreprises, l’absence de couverture des coursives…

D’où l’intérêt de réaffirmer l’impérieuse nécessité de construire un Zénith à Reims.

Ce zénith est primordial pour l’attractivité de nos territoires, notamment envers la jeunesse et en terme d’image.

Coté professionnels, la demande est unanime, tous les producteurs locaux sont favorables à ce projet, mais surtout l’exemple le plus flagrant, est la demande de Messieurs les président et directeur de programmation des Flâneries Musicales de Reims qui souhaitent tous deux une vraie salle de spectacle de grande capacité.

Non vraiment, le stade Delaune, même s’il  présente une belle esthétique, est bien loin de correspondre aux attentes des rémois(es) et des champardennais.

Lundi s’est déroulé le débat d’orientations budgétaires de l’exercice 2010 sur fond de projet de réforme territoriale, de réforme de la Taxe Professionnelle et de transfert de responsabilités de l’Etat sur les collectivités locales.

Cette séance de Conseil municipal avait comme un air de déjà-vu ce lundi, chacun restait campé sur ses positions, comme il y a un an. Normal me direz-vous, majorité et opposition dos-à-dos dans un débat stérile, avec des critiques maintes fois entendues et des réponses redondantes contrant ces mêmes reproches, entre petits coups de griffes et phrases pseudo humoristiques. Des échanges verbaux rappelant les discours d’entraîneur de football dans les vestiaires, toujours la même litanie, le même verbiage, les mêmes remontrances, les victoires et les échecs passés… une sorte de bouillie verbale indigeste pour certains et appétant pour d’autres.

Morceaux choisis de ces passes d’armes à fleuret moucheté.

-Jean-Marc Roze (UMP) : « Comment pouvons-nous débattre, nous n’avons pas tous les éléments comptables pour apprécier votre gestion (…),  27 pages de chiffres pour éclairer le débat, mais il n’y a pas la lumière à tous les étages (…). Investir sans nous endetter relève de la science-fiction ».

-Adeline Hazan : « Comme d’habitude pour suivre Monsieur Roze, il faut se munir d’une calculatrice. Depuis plusieurs mois, vous affirmez que les dépenses de personnel vont augmenter de 13%, ce chiffre est purement fantaisiste et peu sérieux. La hausse n’est que de 0,5% ».

-Jean-Marie Beaupuy (MoDem) : « Vous jouez avec les variations de compétence entre la ville et la CAR, il est difficile de comparer d’une année sur l’autre (…)  Il manque un plan de relance(…)  Il faut aller plus vite, plus fort, plus loin (…) Madame la Maire, vous parlez des errements du passé et en même temps de la richesse culturelle et sportive de Reims, mais il faut mettre en exergue le grand écart entre les errements et ce dont vous vous rendez fiere (…) c’est sans doute un pêché de jeunesse ».

-Adeline Hazan : « Vous avez utilisé le terme de schizophrène, restons courtois (…)Vous parler de pêché de jeunesse Monsieur Beaupuy, tout le monde ne peut pas se le permettre (…) Je n’ai aucun état d’âme d’avoir soutenu certains projets sous la précédente municipalité, mais je dénonce certaines gestions financières antérieures (…) Le projet de tramway était dans mon programme en 2001, contrairement à la liste concurrente. En 2008, j’ai soutenu ce projet dès le début, ce n’est pas le cas de certains membres de l’opposition actuelle ».

-Stéphane Joly (Verts) : « Avec ce débat d’orientations budgétaires, en sortant de la salle, nous serons moins inquiets et rassurés ».

-Catherine Vautrin (UMP) reprochant le manque d’un véritable plan de relance et l’instauration d’une taxe sur les enseignes des commerçants…

-Serge Pugeault : « Concernant les enseignes Madame Vautrin, nous appliquons la loi que vous avez votée (…). Puisque l’on parle de plan de relance, l’Etat avait alloué 8 M € en 1996 pour la rénovation des Halles, cette même somme plusieurs années après est allouée à l’édifice au titre de plan de relance de l’Etat ! ».
Finalement, pourquoi créer un festival culturel « Reims Scènes d’Europe », quand une séance de Conseil municipal peut parfois se muer en vaudeville.

O.M-L

Source: http://www.lhebdoduvendredi.com/Conseil-Municipal-un-air-de-deja

European experts say Belarus stands out for its active part in the implementation of the Eastern Partnership program among other member nations.

During a wrap-up news conference, Reiner Lindner who chairs the traditional forum in Minsk, assured reporters that the cost of Schengen visas for Belarusians should be reduced:

“Definitely, an agreement on easing visa procedures will have to be signed. 60 euros for a visa… Clearly, this figure should be changed. Naturally, it will not be brought down to zero, but it will be reduced anyway”.

Read more…

To start with, here is how this morning’s article on HuffPo kicks off the upcoming procedure:

A crucial first Senate vote on President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul in a rare Saturday night session looms as a test of Democratic unity and the president’s prestige.

Democratic leaders are optimistic of success, but they need every Democrat and both independents to vote “yes,” and two moderates remained uncommitted ahead of the roll call, which is expected around 8 p.m. The vote will determine whether debate can go forward on Majority Leader Harry Reid’s 2,074-page bill to dramatically remake the U.S. health care system over the next decade.

A lot of this rests on Senators Lincoln and Landrieu, both of whom have not yet committed to just bring the discussion to the floor. Landrieu is not up for reelection in 2010, but Lincoln is and that is why she is taking longer to decide. Just getting the bill to the floor for discussion does NOT pass it, but merely puts it up for debate and amendment. Once on the floor, it would still have to pick up 60 votes to pass.

According to an interview with Senator John Kyl:

Appearing on Fox News Friday morning, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) insisted that “every single Republican will oppose” even debating health care reform because “they know it will only get worse.”

“None of the things that they like about the bill will get better; and the things they object to would take 60 votes to change, and they know they’re not going to get 60 votes to amend the bill to their liking,” said Kyl, the minority whip in the Senate.

At the same time, The Repiglicans are demanding six weeks of discussion… even though they have already decided to vote against it. A stall? Certainly looks that way.

Let’s wait for tonight’s vote and see what happens.

Je näher die GR-Wahlen rücken, desto mehr lichten sich die Nebel in den Kandidatenreihen. Gestern sagte Elda Letrari der Tageszeitung, angesprochen auf einen mögliche Kandidatur als Bürgermeisterkandidatin: „Ich will mich nicht vordrängen. Wenn das meine Gruppe aber so wünscht, dann ziehe ich mich nicht aus meiner Verantwortung sondern stelle meine Frau”. Na dann werden die Kollegen nur mehr schwer nein sagen können …

foto (c) ingo dejaco