"The president has a powerful bullhorn in his hands, but it only works when he speaks into it."

[DrToast]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/14/cramdown-versus-credit-ca_n_203767.html">Congress Passes Landmark Credit Card Reform

The House of Representatives passed sweeping credit card reform legislation Wednesday aimed at limiting abusive and deceptive credit card practices. The measure passed with a resounding 361-64 vote and now heads to the president's desk.

A Republican amendment to allow guns in National Parks also passed, 279-147. House Democratic leaders had decided to split the bill into two parts so as not to force liberal members to vote in favor of the gun rule.

The overwhelming vote is a signal of how far the country's politics have shifted as a result of the financial crisis. Despite popularity in the 90-percent range, the bill never had a chance of passing in previous years.

"I've been in Washington twenty years. For the first nineteen we couldn't even get a committee vote on credit card reform despite these practices," remarked PIRG's Ed Mierzwinski.

Despite the shifting political terrain, Congress was unable earlier to win a similar victory over the banking lobby, which blocked a measure aimed at reducing foreclosures by allowing homeowners to renegotiate mortgages in bankruptcy.

What a difference a president can make.

On Wednesday night, Dodd, the credit card bill's champion, took to the Senate floor to announce that it was Obama's push for the bill that opened the possibility for its passage.


Obama brought the heads of the credit card companies to the White House. He publicly called for tough reforms. On Thursday, he gave it one of the heftiest pushes he could, holding one of his patented town hall meetings on credit cards.

The president has a powerful bullhorn in his hands, but it only works when he speaks into it.

So...how about some words on health care, Mr. President?

[DURHAM D]

1. This is a joke - right?

i.e - no limit on interest rates.

[joeybee12]

2. It is a joke...just wait til the first park ranger is murdered by some gun nut...

...oh, sorry, consitution lover, and when they find animals slaughtered for the fun of it...this makes me sick...I'd gladly have NO credit card bill than this injustice.

[Occam Bandage]

6. If someone is planning on murdering a ranger or poaching animals,

they aren't going to respect the law as regards where they may carry their gun anyway.

[joeybee12]

8. I worked in Yellowstone for 3 years...lots of yahoos come through...this

seriously binds the park service's ability to stop problems before they start...the park service is adamant against it, and why this disgrace was allowed to get in is beyond me...just shows how spineless the Dem leadership truly is in being unable to keep a TOTALLY UNRELATED AMENDMENT from making it in.

[Occam Bandage]

9. I seriously doubt that

a yahoo who would pull a gun on a ranger would also respect the non-application of conceal-carry laws to federal parks.

[Thrill]

10. I'm baffled by how much power Weakass Harry Reid allows the Republicans to have

They barely have 40 votes and they manage to get that in Credit Card reform. Unreal.

[benEzra]

15. Reid supports gun-owner rights. It's one reason we have a Democratic Congress. (n/t)

[benEzra]

14. Hasn't happened on National Forest or BLM lands, and didn't happen in parks prior to the Reagan rule

CHL holders are statistically even less likely to commit violent crimes than the police are, so overturning the Reagan/Watt gun ban isn't a threat to law enforcement or anyone else. I hold a NC CHL; would you like to know the vetting process I had to go through to obtain this authorization?

Park rangers do have to worry about bad guys with guns, but those guys already have guns, since the Reagan "ban" is strictly an honor-system thing.

FWIW, my father had a "save" with a lawfully carried firearm on Croatan National Forest land when I was a child. No shots fired; his would-be attackers saw he was armed, backed off, and left.

[DrToast]

3. Thankfully congress isn't stupid enough to do that.*

*

[polichick]

4. I'm so glad we worked to take both houses of Congress and the WH...

It's really paying off.

[Occam Bandage]

7. It is. nt

[polichick]

11. Sure, you bet!

[Occam Bandage]

12. Glad we agree. nt

[madmax]

5. We NEED Health Care NOW!!

I only want what Congress and the Senate have! November 4th I was diagnosed with Adeenocarcinoma. I have a small tumor my pelvis that is malignant but, not THE primary source of the cancer. Therefore, I'm Stage IV. Eighty five tests later.... they still can't find it. They have stuck probes into every orifice in my body except my ears and every Scan know to man except an MRI because I have a metal device implanted in my skull (for hearing loss). The Dr. told me that I have about 3 years to live. F*&^%&^$^# him!!! They can't find it - I'm not dieing on their time line. WTF am I a carton of milk?

OK here's the point. No cancer can be found, I was only diagnosed with cancer a little over six months ago. Have gone through chemo and radiation and the Dr. says I'm in remission. Now it's time for a PET Scan and my insurance company sends me a letter that they won't pay for it because they see no benefit for someone with Stage IV Cancer!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF WTF WTF AND AGAIN I SAY WTF!

They've written me off - she's a walking dead woman. I AM NOT! I'm a fighter. If the S.O.B can't walk on water he can't put an expiration date on me and neither can Aetna!

Funny thing is I feel GREAT. I have NO pain and I do everything I've always done. The chemo wrecked my blood system but, my hair is growing back and I'm taking tons of vitamins and eating well to get my blood back to normal.

Sorry this isn't exactly on point with the post but, just an example of how crappy our health care system is. I get a kick out of Repugs who make these commercials that say 'do you want some bureaucrat dictating your health care?. No I want some asshole bean counter writing me off as dead!

[avaistheone1]

13. NOW is the time for single payer health insurance.

There never will be a better time or opportunity for single payer health insurance.