A reader writes:
"That last metaphor"? The whole thing is a Churchill ripoff.
Republicans really see themselves this way? And we’re supposed to, like, listen to them?
Another writes:
Ironically, Churchill himself supported and helped create Britain's NHS.
Ezra Klein comments on the recent spate of vandalism and intimidation against Dem officials across the country:
I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the death threats being made against congressmen who voted for health-care reform. Nuts are nuts. But there is a danger to the sort of rhetoric the GOP has used over the past few months. When Rep. Devin Nunes begs his colleagues to say "no to socialism, no to totalitarianism and no to this bill"; when Glenn Beck says the bill "is the end of America as you know it"; when Sarah Palin says the bill has "death panels" — that stuff matters.
And the stuff on talk radio, of course, was worse. So take the universe of people who really respect right-wing politicians and listen to right-wing media. Most of them will hear this stuff and turn against the bill. Some will hear this stuff and really be afraid of the bill. And then a small group will hear this stuff and believe it and wonder whether they need to do something more significant to stop this bill from becoming law. And then a couple will actually follow through. And one will cut the gas lines leading to house of Rep. Tom Perriello's brother after seeing a tea partyer post the address online.
Max Fisher rounds up more reaction to the violence.
(Palin's map was pair with the tweet, "Don't Retreat, Instead – RELOAD!")
A reader writes:
Diehl is unbelievable. He describes the reason for the ejection of Mossad's top officer in Britain as a "flap"? Using British identities in an international assassination?
This was the second time Mossad used British passports, and the last time Britain made it crystal clear that this should never be done again. It is also a direct insult to Britain and the other nations, since it is telling that no US passports were used, as far as we know.
Since these were taken from the identities of dual citizens of Israel by the Israeli government, the biggest opportunity for use was American passports. Yet Israel was worried enough about an American reaction that they avoided using US passports. That may be lonely evidence that Netanyahu doesn't think the U.S. will put up with anything he does. But it is also evidence of complete Israeli disdain towards the governments of Britain, France, and Germany, and a cavalier willingness to endanger the lives of all those who hold those passports.
A "flap"?
Kinsley continues the conversation. Avent replies:
[H]yperinflation is by far the most painful of all of the options. It is the equivalent of holding a gun to the head of the legislature and saying, "balance the budget or I'll shoot". However painful balancing the budget may be, it's better than the alternative.
Nyhan outlines why it will be difficult for Republicans to repeal health care even if they win back control of congress and the presidency. Edward Glaeser calls upon pragmatic libertarians:
From a purely libertarian perspective, the status quo — with its vast and growing public health care expenditures — was no nirvana. Pure libertarians will never succeed in just wishing the government out of health care, but pragmatic libertarians may be able to push more modest reforms that can make the public role in health care less expensive.
Pivoting off the "ten books" meme, Julian Sanchez "got to thinking a bit about just what we mean when we say a book 'influenced' us":
Suppose I say I was influenced by Ernest Hemingway’s books. If I’m an aspiring novelist, I probably mean this in the formal/practical sense: I want to write novels like his, and will probably turn out a lot of painful stuff full of terse declarative sentences. But I might have a more substantive influence in mind: I’ve adopted a particular kind of vision of masculine virtues with a premium on physical courage, “grace under pressure” and so on. Where that falls on the theoretical/practical dimension depends on whether I actually take up bullfighting or enlist in someone else’s civil war.
They may still pay more.
Ezra Klein's hunch:
[W]e're eventually going to have to face up to the elephant in the room: prices. We can't keep paying twice as much as other countries pay for each unit of care and get our costs under control. I think there's virtually no chance that this system evolves toward single-payer. But I think there's some chance that the government eventually begins setting payment rates for private payers, much as happens (successfully!) in Maryland.
(Image: White House's Flickr)
Today on the Dish, the GOP began to back down over healthcare repeal, Benen boasted over a boost in polling, Yglesias gloated over liberal victory, Ruffini wrung his hands over the Republican wilderness, Reihan provided more constructive criticism, and readers revolted over Megan's railing against Dems. Nathan Brown and Russell King offered some advice to the GOP.
In drug coverage, California decided to vote on pot legalization, Sports Illustrated illustrated how prevalent pot is in college football, and Tom Bissell talked about playing video games on coke. In other news, Gates appeared ready to relax DADT and Palin joined the annals of reality TV.
In random commentary, Dreher argued against celibacy, Gideon Rachman and Hillary Clinton reinforced the theory of HCR helping Obama abroad, Wieseltier laid into Israeli settlers, and Greenwald took down Shales over Amanpour. Kinsely led an Inflation round up. Malkins here, here, and here. Von Hoffman here. Hathos here.
— C.B.
The Dish 