Happy Snow-ish Day

DC’s bracing for (read: behaving ridiculously in anticipation of) what’s supposed to be about 36 hours of snow. We’ve seen nothing yet, but lines at stores have been out of control.

The upside is being given the option to work from home. Yes, I will be exercising said option.

And if it looks like you might have some free time around 3pm EST today, sign up now to join us for a live strategy conference call with HCAN staff and Senator Franken.

In other random, unrelated news, NPR reported this morning the “drunkest” city in the country is Fresno and the least drunk is Boston. Anyone else find that surprising? The Fresno part I think I understand, but Boston? USAToday has the full list here.

Say Ow

I went to the dentist today to have my teeth professionally cleaned for the first time in too long. I’m proud to say I’m still cavity-free, but apparently skipping regular dentist visits leads hygienists to launch into “super strong painful scrape” mode.

I’ve learned my lesson. I’m flossing more. And never eating again.

On The DL

Just because we’re not hearing health care reform play-by-play every second of every day does not mean it’s not moving. AP:

Leading lawmakers hoping to revive President Barack Obama’s stalled health care overhaul have started writing a compromise bill, but it’s unclear when the legislation will be ready for votes, a top House Democrat said Tuesday.

The measure would change the massive Senate-approved health bill to what bargainers from the White House, Senate and House agreed to last month, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., said in a brief interview.

Sargent:

White House aides have privately told Dem Congressional aides that the White House supports the House passing the Senate health reform bill with a reconciliation fix, something that could give a bit more momentum to that approach, according to two Congressional staffers familiar with the discussions.

(…)

Obama and the White House have not publicly stated a preference on how they’d like Congressional Dems to proceed. But White House aides have privately made it clear to the Dem leadership that they support the approach many Dems are coalescing behind: The House passing the Senate bill, with fixes made by the Senate via reconciliation, the sources say.

p.s. Never mind the image. I’m just in a mood.

Quote of the Day

Online dating edition (courtesy of a gf who will remain anonymous):

“It was all a bit too blatant for me. I like my dating the old-fashioned way: a sense of obligation after a drunken bar hook-up goes home and goes too far.”


Linking w/o Comment

From Joe:

Yes, the DNC and Organizing for America (OFA) have been asking supporters to chip in for the fight to pass real health care reform, including a public option. But, who does it look like benefited from those donations, your donations? Ben Nelson, the guy who worked to kill real reform. And he got the money after he killed real reform, almost like it was a pay off.

Read the whole post here.

Audio Post

I did my usual Jeff Santos show segment this morning. You know the drill. Click on the link. Assume the bar represents an hour and scroll to where you’d guess 8:35am to be. Precise? Hardly. Worth the challenge? Absolutely.