http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32869276/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

Perhaps I'm alone in this, but in my opinion the former president "acted stupidly." If it's about racism and race it's not about health care, as we clearly saw with the media-staged Henry Louis Gates/Cambridge Police derailment early on in the "debate" on health care.

Remember, we're thinking of a family of four--two adults and two children--with a pre-tax household income of $66,000 that is currently uninsured, keeping in mind that most households with this income level already have insurance:

Monthly savings required to cover average net cost of 4-year private university expenses, starting from birth: $475/month
Fully-loaded Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, 7% interest over 5 years: $575-600/month
Average tuition at a Catholic school: $675/month
Baucuscare for a family of four: $700/month
USDA/DOL estimate per-child spending for middle-income households: $800-1100/month

SANTA FE, N.M. -- Santa Fe police said an autopsy shows a 44-year-old man who died after he was found lying on a median downtown during a fiesta was not "beaten."

City police spokesman Sgt. Jason Wagner said someone punched or struck Gilbert Roybal, which caused him to sustain a head injury, leading to his death. Santa Fe Police Chief Aric Wheeler said an autopsy conducted Monday also led police to believe that Roybal didn't sustain a number of blows before he died.

Roybal was a hair stylist and salon owner who was Gov. Bill Richardson's barber.

Investigators said they have no information that Roybal - who was gay - was attacked because of his sexuality.

It was a promise neither man would have wanted to keep. Yesterday the funeral of a Black Watch soldier killed in Afghanistan took a bizarre turn when his best friend arrived in a bright green dress and pink leg warmers to honour a pact that the two of them had made.

Private Kevin Elliott and his friend, Barry Delaney, had agreed that whoever survived the other should wear a dress to the dead man's funeral. Mr Delaney duly fulfilled the pledge as a tribute to Private Elliott, who was killed aged 24 while on foot patrol in the southern province of Helmand on August 31.

Any suggestions?  

Number 1:

In his address to Congress last week, President Obama created some new difficulties by failing "to come down clearly on either side of the public insurance option debate." "Generally with regard to the public option and everything else, they haven't provided a great deal of guidance or follow-up about what these things mean," said a top House Democratic aide.

Number 2:

The Wall Street Journal reports that proposed health insurance mandates could "squeeze" the middle class. Robert Blendon, who teaches health policy and political analysis at Harvard University, told the paper, "Unless subsidies are substantial, you're going to have middle-class resistance to this."

More statements of the obvious, but maybe there's something refreshing about the WSJ having a "Duh!" moment now and again.

Number 3:

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) writes, "The Senate Finance Committee proposal builds on what already works and fixes what threatens to break the bank for future generations." But Baucus' proposal has thus far failed to receive the support of Republicans -- and even some Democrats -- in his committee.

The White House is collecting and storing comments and videos placed on its social-networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube without notifying or asking the consent of the site users, a failure that appears to run counter to President Obama's promise of a transparent government and his pledge to protect privacy on the Internet.

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