Reid Gets 60 Votes for Health Care Debate
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada secured the 60 votes needed to move forward with the historic debate on President Obama’s overhaul of health care today.
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November 21, 2009 5:37 PM
November 19, 2009 5:45 PM
New Editorial Cartoons (11/19/09)
Here is our periodic look at some of the editorial cartoons available on CBSNews.com -- which today are about the scheduled terror trials in New York and the situation in Afghanistan.
And for an animated take on the news, click here for the latest Mark Fiore animated cartoon, which is about the announcement of upcoming terror trials in New York.
For more, click here to visit our Puzzles & Cartoons page.
For more commentary from the left and the right, click here to visit our Opinion section.
For more, click here to visit our Puzzles & Cartoons page.
For more commentary from the left and the right, click here to visit our Opinion section.
November 19, 2009 5:36 PM
Key Provisions of the Senate Health Care Bill
This post was written by CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes and CBS News producer John Nolen
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled his health care proposal "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" on Wednesday night.
The Congressional Budget Office says the bill would cost $848 billion dollars over 10 years, reduce the deficit by $130 billion and would extend coverage to 94 percent of eligible Americans, reducing the number of uninsured individuals by 31 million leaving about 24 million people uninsured.
Here's a look at some of the key provisions of the bill:
• Effective Date 2014
• Requires most individuals to purchase coverage through their employer, privately or through a public plan. Includes exemptions for economic hardships. Fines for individuals not complying would start at $95 in 2014 phased-in over time up to $750.
• Creates a new public federal health insurance plan, the so-called "public option" which would compete with private insurers. States would have the choice of opting out by passing a state law.
• Establishes Health Insurance Exchanges, a marketplace where individuals, small businesses and others could purchase health care coverage.
(AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
The Congressional Budget Office says the bill would cost $848 billion dollars over 10 years, reduce the deficit by $130 billion and would extend coverage to 94 percent of eligible Americans, reducing the number of uninsured individuals by 31 million leaving about 24 million people uninsured.
Here's a look at some of the key provisions of the bill:
• Effective Date 2014
• Requires most individuals to purchase coverage through their employer, privately or through a public plan. Includes exemptions for economic hardships. Fines for individuals not complying would start at $95 in 2014 phased-in over time up to $750.
• Creates a new public federal health insurance plan, the so-called "public option" which would compete with private insurers. States would have the choice of opting out by passing a state law.
• Establishes Health Insurance Exchanges, a marketplace where individuals, small businesses and others could purchase health care coverage.
November 16, 2009 9:00 PM
David Paterson: New York Terrorism Trial a Mistake
This post was written by WCBS' Marcia Kramer.
Gov. David Paterson openly criticized the White House on Monday, saying he thought it was a terrible idea to move alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other suspected terrorists to New York for trial.
"This is not a decision that I would have made. I think terrorism isn't just attack, it's anxiety and I think you feel the anxiety and frustration of New Yorkers who took the bullet for the rest of the country," he said.
Paterson's comments break with Democrats, who generally support the President's decision.
"Our country was attacked on its own soil on September 11, 2001 and New York was very much the epicenter of that attack. Over 2,700 lives were lost," he said. "It's very painful. We're still having trouble getting over it. We still have been unable to rebuild that site and having those terrorists so close to the attack is gonna be an encumbrance on all New Yorkers."
Paterson also said that the White House warned him six months ago this very situation would happen. He said while he disagrees with the decision, he will do everything in his power to make sure that the state's Department of Homeland Security will keep New Yorkers as safe as possible.
Republicans, including former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, have said the group should be tried in a different location under military tribunal because the attacks are considered an act of war.
(AP Photo/Mike Groll)
"This is not a decision that I would have made. I think terrorism isn't just attack, it's anxiety and I think you feel the anxiety and frustration of New Yorkers who took the bullet for the rest of the country," he said.
Paterson's comments break with Democrats, who generally support the President's decision.
"Our country was attacked on its own soil on September 11, 2001 and New York was very much the epicenter of that attack. Over 2,700 lives were lost," he said. "It's very painful. We're still having trouble getting over it. We still have been unable to rebuild that site and having those terrorists so close to the attack is gonna be an encumbrance on all New Yorkers."
Paterson also said that the White House warned him six months ago this very situation would happen. He said while he disagrees with the decision, he will do everything in his power to make sure that the state's Department of Homeland Security will keep New Yorkers as safe as possible.
Republicans, including former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, have said the group should be tried in a different location under military tribunal because the attacks are considered an act of war.
November 16, 2009 6:23 PM 
By special contributor Shushannah Walshe and CBS News' Scott Conroy, co-authors of the book "Sarah From Alaska: The Sudden Rise And Brutal Education Of A New Conservative Superstar"
In a segment of her interview with Oprah Winfrey, which was posted online but did not air on television, Sarah Palin was asked whether her family had voted on her decision to accept John McCain's offer to join him on the Republican ticket in August of 2008.
"This time, there wasn't a family vote," Palin told Winfrey. "Other steps in my political life, I've polled the kids, and I have abided by some of the results of the polls that the kids have partaken in. This time, no."
But in September of 2008, Palin told an entirely different story to Fox News' Sean Hannity.
Fact Check: Palin Contradicts Her Own Version Of Events With Oprah
(AP/Harper)
In a segment of her interview with Oprah Winfrey, which was posted online but did not air on television, Sarah Palin was asked whether her family had voted on her decision to accept John McCain's offer to join him on the Republican ticket in August of 2008.
"This time, there wasn't a family vote," Palin told Winfrey. "Other steps in my political life, I've polled the kids, and I have abided by some of the results of the polls that the kids have partaken in. This time, no."
But in September of 2008, Palin told an entirely different story to Fox News' Sean Hannity.
November 16, 2009 3:36 PM By special contributor Shushannah Walshe and CBS News' Scott Conroy, co-authors of the book "Sarah From Alaska: The Sudden Rise And Brutal Education Of A New Conservative Superstar"
Two of the more enticing excerpts that have been published in advance of the official release of Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue" involve the former vice presidential candidate's recollections of behind-the-scenes conflicts with top McCain aides on the 2008 campaign trail. The first details Palin's version of a conversation she had with top campaign aides about her views on evolution, and the second addresses the fallout from the infamous crank call she received from a comedian pretending to be French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
On the night before John McCain invited Palin to join him on the Republican presidential ticket, Palin stayed in Flagstaff, Arizona, at the home of Bob Delgado, the CEO of Cindy McCain's family company Hensley & Co. After speaking on the phone with McCain campaign attorney A.B. Culvahouse, top McCain aides Mark Salter and Steve Schmidt took turns trying to ensure that Palin was ready for the monumental leap onto the national stage that she was about to take.
The McCain campaign had stressed secrecy over thoroughness in their vetting of Palin, so at this eleventh hour, Salter and Schmidt grilled the Alaska governor on topics ranging from her own political record to more personal matters.
Salter was particularly interested in Palin's views on the subject of evolution vs. creationism, and according to an excerpt from "Going Rogue," Palin maintains that the McCain campaign's chief strategist, Steve Schmidt, was dismissive of her point of view on the subject.
Fact Check: Palin Accounts Disputed by McCain Aides
(AP/Harper)
Two of the more enticing excerpts that have been published in advance of the official release of Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue" involve the former vice presidential candidate's recollections of behind-the-scenes conflicts with top McCain aides on the 2008 campaign trail. The first details Palin's version of a conversation she had with top campaign aides about her views on evolution, and the second addresses the fallout from the infamous crank call she received from a comedian pretending to be French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
On the night before John McCain invited Palin to join him on the Republican presidential ticket, Palin stayed in Flagstaff, Arizona, at the home of Bob Delgado, the CEO of Cindy McCain's family company Hensley & Co. After speaking on the phone with McCain campaign attorney A.B. Culvahouse, top McCain aides Mark Salter and Steve Schmidt took turns trying to ensure that Palin was ready for the monumental leap onto the national stage that she was about to take.
The McCain campaign had stressed secrecy over thoroughness in their vetting of Palin, so at this eleventh hour, Salter and Schmidt grilled the Alaska governor on topics ranging from her own political record to more personal matters.
Salter was particularly interested in Palin's views on the subject of evolution vs. creationism, and according to an excerpt from "Going Rogue," Palin maintains that the McCain campaign's chief strategist, Steve Schmidt, was dismissive of her point of view on the subject.
November 3, 2009 6:09 PM
Exit Polls in Va. and N.J.: The Obama (Non) Factor?
This post was written by CBS News' Jennifer DePinto and Fred Backus. It was updated at 2:20 a.m. ET, Nov. 4, 2009
As voters in Virginia and New Jersey headed to the polls today to elect their governors, Americans across the country were watching these off-year races for implications about the nation's mood heading into 2010.
In Virginia, Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat R. Creigh Deeds are battling to succeed the term-limited sitting governor Tim Kaine in what is widely viewed as a potential swing state in the future. In New Jersey, Democrat Jon Corzine is the only incumbent governor in the country to face a re-election challenge this year against Republican Chris Christie and independent Chris Daggett.
A majority of voters in both states said they are worried about the direction of the nation’s economy over the next year. 85 percent of Virginia voters said they are worried, as are 89 percent of voters in New Jersey. These percentages were similar on Election Day in 2008.
In both states the economy topped the list of issues that mattered most to voters in their choice for governor – in Virginia health care was second, while in New Jersey the second choice was property taxes.
And what about the Obama factor? President Obama campaigned for both the Democratic gubernatorial candidates, even visiting New Jersey as recently as Sunday to stump for Jon Corzine.
(AP )
In Virginia, Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat R. Creigh Deeds are battling to succeed the term-limited sitting governor Tim Kaine in what is widely viewed as a potential swing state in the future. In New Jersey, Democrat Jon Corzine is the only incumbent governor in the country to face a re-election challenge this year against Republican Chris Christie and independent Chris Daggett.
A majority of voters in both states said they are worried about the direction of the nation’s economy over the next year. 85 percent of Virginia voters said they are worried, as are 89 percent of voters in New Jersey. These percentages were similar on Election Day in 2008.
In both states the economy topped the list of issues that mattered most to voters in their choice for governor – in Virginia health care was second, while in New Jersey the second choice was property taxes.
And what about the Obama factor? President Obama campaigned for both the Democratic gubernatorial candidates, even visiting New Jersey as recently as Sunday to stump for Jon Corzine.
November 2, 2009 10:35 AM
The Virginia Governor's Race: A Look at the Electorate
By Anthony Salvanto and Mark Gersh
Public polls show Republican Bob McDonnell (at right in the picture) heads toward Election Day with a lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds (at left), poised to take the Virginia governorship back from Democratic hands. A key question on Election Day will be which electorate shows up – and how much it resembles the one that in 2008 gave Barack Obama the first Democratic presidential win there in a generation.
"Off-year" electorates such as this one typically show lower turnout than midterms or presidential years (only 45 percent of registrants turned out for the last gubernatorial contest in 2005, compared to 75 percent who did in 2008) -- but it is the shape of the electorate that will matter just as much here, as well as what happens in a couple of key regions of the state that have led the state from reliably Republican to toss-up in recent years.
Specifically, watch the percent that is African-American – it was 20 percent in 2008, and reliably Democratic -- benefiting both Barack Obama and Mark Warner. Also watch the percent that is young. Last year, one in five voters was under age 30, and they went overwhelmingly for Mr. Obama as well.
Without Deeds getting strong turnout showings from both these groups, McDonnell could be set to capitalize on a relatively older and more conservative electorate much more favorable to a Republican.
In 2008, moderates dominated the ballot box with 46 percent of voters over conservatives at 33 percent -- if that balance shifts or gets closer, with a higher proportion of conservatives, once again that sets up a winning scenario for McDonnell.
Perhaps the best-known regional component of the Democrats' recent winning "formula" for Virginia is the northern area of suburbs of Washington, where growing ranks of professionals and more moderate-to-liberal upper-income suburban voters have trended Democratic over the last decade or so, similar to a swing that's taken place in the Northeast and other high-growth areas of the country.
Centered around and beyond Fairfax county, this is a region that has given recent successful Democrats (including Mr. Obama, current Gov. Tim Kaine and Senator Sen. Warner) about six in ten of its votes in their wins. And as the region has grown, about one in five of all the state's votes have been cast there.
(AP )
"Off-year" electorates such as this one typically show lower turnout than midterms or presidential years (only 45 percent of registrants turned out for the last gubernatorial contest in 2005, compared to 75 percent who did in 2008) -- but it is the shape of the electorate that will matter just as much here, as well as what happens in a couple of key regions of the state that have led the state from reliably Republican to toss-up in recent years.
Specifically, watch the percent that is African-American – it was 20 percent in 2008, and reliably Democratic -- benefiting both Barack Obama and Mark Warner. Also watch the percent that is young. Last year, one in five voters was under age 30, and they went overwhelmingly for Mr. Obama as well.
Without Deeds getting strong turnout showings from both these groups, McDonnell could be set to capitalize on a relatively older and more conservative electorate much more favorable to a Republican.
(AP )
Perhaps the best-known regional component of the Democrats' recent winning "formula" for Virginia is the northern area of suburbs of Washington, where growing ranks of professionals and more moderate-to-liberal upper-income suburban voters have trended Democratic over the last decade or so, similar to a swing that's taken place in the Northeast and other high-growth areas of the country.
Centered around and beyond Fairfax county, this is a region that has given recent successful Democrats (including Mr. Obama, current Gov. Tim Kaine and Senator Sen. Warner) about six in ten of its votes in their wins. And as the region has grown, about one in five of all the state's votes have been cast there.
October 30, 2009 5:36 PM
New Editorial Cartoons (10/30/09)
Here is our weekly look at some of the editorial cartoons available on CBSNews.com -- which this week are about health care, Afghanistan and climate change.
And for an animated take on the news, click here for the latest Mark Fiore animated cartoon, which is about credit card fees and practices.
For more, click here to visit our Puzzles & Cartoons page.
For more commentary from the left and the right, click here to visit our Opinion section.
For more, click here to visit our Puzzles & Cartoons page.
For more commentary from the left and the right, click here to visit our Opinion section.
October 29, 2009 11:41 AM
An Inside Look at Next Week's N.Y. Special Election
By Anthony Salvanto and Mark Gersh
It is not surprising many Republicans see a chance to reverse their recent Northeast losing streak with a win in New York's 23rd congressional district this year, as it has been long-held by Republicans and they enjoy a registration edge over Democrats.
Its most recent occupant John McHugh held it since 1993 before leaving to become secretary of the Army, a move which brought on this special election November 3rd. But the news of late has been that many Republicans see this as something even more: a test for which kind of candidate the party ought to run - one more moderate or one traditionally conservative - and which is better prepared to beat a Democrat in an election.
Here's a look at the electorate in NY-23rd, and what to watch for as this unfolds:
The NY-23rd is New York's geographically largest district, a sprawling and mostly rural area running along the upper portion of New York state, the Adirondack mountains, and along the Great Lakes and border with Canada. As such, it is not typical of many other urban and suburban districts throughout much of the densely-populated Northeast – a region where Republicans have had a tough time of late. Republicans have lost six congressional seats in New York alone over the last two cycles. If they lose this one, there will be only one House Republican left in upstate New York. And there are none at all left in neighboring New England.
Facing off against the Democratic nominee Bill Owens (left), the Republican party nominee is State Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava (above) -- and they're joined on the ballot and challenged by third-party Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, who has gained traction in public polls and gotten some high-profile endorsements from Sarah Palin and others, and appears to be drawing support from more traditionally conservative voters that may be turned off by some of Scozzafava's more moderate views.
(AP)
Its most recent occupant John McHugh held it since 1993 before leaving to become secretary of the Army, a move which brought on this special election November 3rd. But the news of late has been that many Republicans see this as something even more: a test for which kind of candidate the party ought to run - one more moderate or one traditionally conservative - and which is better prepared to beat a Democrat in an election.
Here's a look at the electorate in NY-23rd, and what to watch for as this unfolds:
The NY-23rd is New York's geographically largest district, a sprawling and mostly rural area running along the upper portion of New York state, the Adirondack mountains, and along the Great Lakes and border with Canada. As such, it is not typical of many other urban and suburban districts throughout much of the densely-populated Northeast – a region where Republicans have had a tough time of late. Republicans have lost six congressional seats in New York alone over the last two cycles. If they lose this one, there will be only one House Republican left in upstate New York. And there are none at all left in neighboring New England.
(AP)
