1 ) Tax Reform’s Lesson for Health Care Reform

By Bill Bradley, The New York Times

Bill Bradley is brilliant. Democrats want universal health coverage. Republicans want malpractice tort reform. Why not combine them so everyone is happy and the end result is a comprehensive bi-partisan bill? It makes sense. An estimated 10 cents of every health care dollar paid by individuals and companies goes for litigation and defensive medicine. This isn’t even counting the countless costs added by doctors who conduct tests and even surgery that may not be necessary just to be sure that they don’t get sued. Bill Bradley gives an example of how this sort of compromise has worked in the past and outlines how it will work for health care reform.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/opinion/30bradley.html

2) Nuclear September

Blake Hounshell, Foreign Policy

A handful of articles have been written over the past few days indicating the importance Iran and Afghanistan will have for Barack Obama’s legacy. Some have even gone so far as to say that Afghanistan will be his Vietnam. Given all the focus Afghanistan has received over it’s recent election, now is a good time to turn the focus back to Iran. They’re not backing down on their nuclear ambitions according to a new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Israel is not happy about this for obvious reasons. It’s so bad that they’re threatening military action. Obama has already threatened sanctions, but if those don’t work, then what? The five permanent members of the UN Security council are sitting down to try and figure out how to handle such a sticky situation.

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/08/29/nuclear_september

3) Enough is Enough

By James Zogby, The Huffington Post

For any of you that have travelled abroad, you know quite well that your passport is your most prized possession. There’s really nothing that expedites the border control and customs process like an American passport. Yet Israel has decided for one reason or another that not all passports are created equal. If you’re American Jew, you enjoy your “birthright advantages” and won’t have any issues. Most other citizens are respected and protected. As for Arab-Americans, Israel is not recognizing their rights as citizens. This has created some horror stories that Mr. Zogby lists. In this very important article, he details why Israel’s actions are a big deal, especially when the United States is pushing very hard to normalize its relations with Arab countries in the region.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zogby/enough-is-enough_b_271932.html

4) Teddy’s Idealism

by Adam Clymer, The Daily Beast

While Ted Kennedy will mostly be remembered for his work on domestic issues, particularly health care, the self-described cause of his life, his contributions to human rights around the globe are unmatched. Senator Kennedy’s often overlooked work on foreign policy has been mentioned a few times in the past days. Interestingly, three of his past foreign policy advisers have now taken on top jobs in the Obama administration. In what is a true must-read article, Adam Clymer explains in vivid detail Teddy’s impact in fighting for refugees from Vietnam to Ethiopia to Iraq and crusading against political oppression in nations such as Pakistan, Chile, Northern Ireland, and South Africa.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-08-26/ted-kennedy-global-hero/

5) Enough is Enough, Harry

By Sherman Frederick, The Las Vegas Review Journal

Generally I will avoid dabbling in politics at all costs and instead focus on policy. This is an instance in where I will stray from that a little. I’m fed up with the Senate being a black hole and having a reputation of being where “legislation goes to die.” The Democrats currently have 59 seats to the Republicans 40. Yet any bill that gets through is entirely watered down and many others that should have passed were stopped by Republican for no good reason. I blame Harry Reid. He is an extremely weak leader both for his state and for the country. In 2010 he will fight for his political life. He’s up for election but already polling ten points below his projected Republican challenger even though the primary has yet to happen. He stands far to the right of the Democratic party. Mostly he is meek and a coward. Yet when he actually decides to speak up, he sounds like a bully. His statement to a reporter of a locally respected paper is a perfect example of what happens when he feels the heat and why I won’t be sorry when he’s gone.

http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/56171937.html