From Moyers' blog, The Unbearable Lightness of Reform, in which he and Michael Winship point out how little reform there is and how much government protection of private for-profit health insurance companie, hospitals, and PhRMA.

The essay opens with this trademark Moyers' reference:

That wickedly satirical Ambrose Bierce described politics as "the conduct of public affairs for private advantage."

Bierce vanished to Mexico nearly a hundred years ago - to the relief of the American political class of his day, one assumes - but in an eerie way he was forecasting America's political culture today. It seems like most efforts to reform a system that's gone awry - to clean house and make a fresh start - end up benefiting the very people who wrecked it in the first place.

Which is why Bierce, in his classic little book, The DEVIL'S DICTIONARY, defined reform as "a thing that mostly satisfies reformers opposed to reformation."

And health insurance is not the only reform gone squishy under Obama and the Dems: there's also "reform" of the financial sector. Uh huh.

And the Repubs are working very hard to regain the top level of donations from the Big Banksters:

So wouldn't it have been fascinating to have been a fly on the wall earlier this year when Boehner sat down for drinks with Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase? Reportedly, he invited Dimon and the rest of the financial community to pony up the cash and see what good things follow.

According to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, Republicans already were receiving an increasing share of campaign contributions from the Street. In the game of reform, it's the political version of loading the dice.

Always good stuff on Moyers' Journal.

Where will we find anything like this when he's off the air? Word is John Meacham will be brought on to host...something squishy and middle of the center right....

There are only things which would make the government foreclosure program worth talking about.  First among them would be repeal of the 2005 Bankruptcy "Reform" Act and allowing bankruptcy judges to cramdown - something which was moving through Congress last year until the banksters pulled their reins and stopped it cold.  

Second among them would be for there to be real stimulus - putting people to work at real wages doing real things which need doing.  The vast majority of people who are in foreclosure don't relish being there.  They would much rather be working, paying their bills, and raising their families and living their lives.  

Jos Truitt at Feministing
There will be no payback to reproductive rights organizations. . . . You don't get payback in politics for rolling over. Wins come because you have power and exert it strategically. The pro-choice community in Washington has shown that it did not have the power to live up to its commitment.

Bronx Family Doctor on Daily Kos:
Although the Hyde Amendment is repeatedly renewed, it is not a law on the books per se. It must be renewed each year as part of the budget. This means that every year we have the opportunity to get rid of it (although we have as yet been unsuccessful). An executive order, in contrast, would put these provisions on the books until it is rescinded. It is much harder to rescind an executive order than to change language that must be inserted in the budget yearly. Really, what president would stick his neck out for the 1/3 of women who will need abortions? If we are to be guided by history, nobody.

Spring, such as it always is here -- where anything like spring for others arrives here about June 6.

Just fantastic with several segments done outdoors (a huge empty swimming pool), schools, theaters, and a sensuous, sinuous pas de deux performed on the Highline (before it was improved as a park). Breathtaking...and heavy breathing at the same time.

Brought back how great well presented dance can be on TV.

A ">10 minute documentary about Robbins' Opus Jazz is also shown.

In the NYC area Ch 13 is showing it again on Sunday afternoon. I have to watch it, record it. again.