Health Care Reform: What Up With That?

Well, all signs point to a health care reform bill being passed, possibly/probably as soon as this weekend. Up until about twenty minutes or so ago, I had no idea who is gonna be voting on what, which bill was being passed in which house and how, what will be reconciled with who, or when the doctor is going to insert his what in my where. I'm sure many of you are with me in my confusion.

So I did the old reliable cursory internet research. And now I think I have quite the handle on things. I thought I'd share.

Here are some helpful links to help get you up to speed... Reading these won't take you more than the twenty minutes it took me to read and compile, I promise. It's all awfully informative and will surely allow you to partake in some delightfully pretentious conversation at your upcoming cocktail parties:

Health care news from today

The "self-executing rule." WTF?

"Reconciliation." WTF?

A summary of how everything will likely play out

(Thank the Good Lord for About.com!)

Boy, if those Dems don't get this thing passed right now, they damn sure deserve one of these:

VIDEO OF ASHLEY BIDEN SNORTING COKE UP FOR BID???

According to Radaronline.com and NY Post, a video tape of a woman resembling Ashley Biden, the daughter of Vice President Joe Biden, snorting cocaine is on sale to the highest bidder. Both the Post and Radar say the have seen the vdieo.

Ashley, 27, is a social worker and works for the Delaware Dept. of Children.

On the tape a man cuts up five lines of what is said to be cocaine. The woman who the seller says is Ashley then jokes with the man that the lines aren’t big enough.

The man hands her a rolled-up dollar bill and she proceeds to walk a few steps to a table where the cocaine is cut. She pulls her hair back, bends down and snorts a line.

Four lines of white powdery substance are clearly visible on the table, which is in front of a computer.

After she snorts the first line, the woman said to be Ashley lifts her head and wipes her nose. She then snorts a second and third line before the tape cuts off.

The tape was made without her knowledge. It is being shopped for $250,000.

The events on the tape are represented as taking place at a party in Wilmington, Delaware and the woman said to be Ashley is with a boyfriend.

The cocaine is done amid a party scene with loud music playing and several people talking at the same time.

The tape is approximately two minutes in length.

News clips show that Ashley Biden was once arrested for marijuana possession while she was a college student in New Orleans in 1999. The charges were later dismissed.

In 2002, The Los Angeles Times reported that Ashley, then 21, was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a police officer outside a Chicago bar.

Georgian City Councilman Resign after Playing Racist Game

The above game is called Border Patrol. You basically have to shoot down Mexicans, drug dealers, and "breeder" taht cross the border. John Dowdy, a Georgian City Councilman, enjoyed the game so much, he decided to pass it along to everyone in his office with this message:
THIS IS WAY TOO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!!!! Makes you feel better anyway, I did my part today, I kept a few from coming over!!! GET READY —- THEY ARE FAAAST! ! !

He was rightfully sued for this which led to his resignation. [Game Politics]

Shoe-Thrower a Hero?

The New York Times is reporting that the journalist who threw his shoes at Bush is being herald as a hero in Arab countries. The TV network that he works for hasn't apologized for the incident. Although, I thought the whole situation was pretty hilarious, Bush is still a world leader and deserves basic respect. There should be punishment. He is a journalist and he compromised his integrity and the standards of journalism. There are better ways to voice disapproval. He should be ashamed of his actions and people should not support or condone his disrespectful behavior. [story via NYTIMES]