ED Show: "McDermott on Republicans' Medicare Plans" (video)

RepJimMcDermott, video (03:30).

(Updated) CNN: "Democrats (including Jim McDermott) clash over tax cuts" (with video)

UPDATE: CBS News-Face the Nation, video (09:10)--Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and former Governor Howard Dean gave Bob Schieffer their stance on President Obama's tax deal.


CNN, video (03:31)

Howie P.S.: brooklynbadboy on Kos:

Plain and simple: technique over substance. The president isn't in favor of discrimination against LGBT members of the military. He just wont disturb the chain of command or legal machinery over it. He favored the public option, but he wont get tied up into a filibuster over it. He wanted a bigger stimulus too, but wasn't about to engage in a political fight for it. On issue after issue, the president more often agrees with Democrats than not. The only difference is that he isn't willing to have a big fight over any of it. When it comes to the actual doing of the things he is for, he becomes an impartial observer mediating negotiations. Otherwise, he believes he won't get things done. It doesn't so much matter what those things are, so long as they are happening. MORE...

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.on "Fox News Sunday":

....despite "some Democrats who will refuse to go along" with anything, the House "will have an opportunity to work its will."

"We're not going to hold this thing up at the end of the day," Van Hollen added, noting that it's "very reasonable for us to ask the wealthiest estates to pay their fair share."

He said he wants to put the question to the test, but repeated that Democrats would not block the whole package over the estate tax.

(SNIP)

"The main sticking point ... is this particular issue with the estate tax," said Van Hollen, who equated the new rate to giving $25 billion to 6,600 families. MORE...

Waterloo, the GOP and #HC Crazies (with video)

MOX News.com, video (05:28).

On the floor of the House, Jim McDermott plays pundit on the GOP's "Waterloo" strategy.

"Has Obama's Health Care Win Driven Conservatives Crazy?" (David Corn):

Not all progressives have been enthusiastic about President Barack Obama's health care overhaul from a policy perspective. It cedes a lot of control to private insurance companies; there is no public option. But they have at least one good reason to love the package: it has driven conservatives crazy.

"Obama's health insurance rule - it was a GOP idea" (AP):

Republicans were for President Barack Obama's requirement that Americans get health insurance before they were against it. The obligation in the new health care law is a Republican idea that's been around at least two decades. It was once trumpeted as an alternative to Bill and Hillary Clinton's failed health care overhaul in the 1990s. These days, Republicans call it government overreach.

Howie P.S: Howie is going 753 miles south today for a family gathering. We'll see if I can stay offline until I return home on Monday afternoon.