The whole healthcare debate drives me nuts - at the moment, it often seems like politicians and pundits are either in the camp that "Obamacare has no problems at all," or "it's so bad that we need to dump it entirely." (admittedly, there are some sane moderates like Susan Collins of Maine, but it seems their voices are mostly drowned out). The polarization on both sides often irritates me. Not just on healthcare, but on many political topics. Occasionally, I'll start reading a conservative opinion piece and think "yeah, you do have a point there," but within a paragraph or two, they've completely lost me by painting
everything on "the other side" as stupid and awful. Ditto for some liberal bloggers.
Speaking of which, here's what seems a new and dangerous twist from some Democrats - calling Russia's hacking "an act of war." Personally, I think it's looking as if there may be substance to the accusation that Trump's team colluded with Russian hackers. But that's a separate issue from Russia trying to influence our elections, and how we should respond - accept it as something governments do? increase cybersecurity? try to educate people to be better critical thinkers? produce a better system to reveal and counteract propaganda? retaliate? declare war?
http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity ... act-of-war
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) most recently accused Russia of engaging in warfare.
“I think this attack that we’ve experienced is a form of war, a form of war on our fundamental democratic principles,” Coleman said during a hearing this week at the House Homeland Security Committee.
...
Michael Schmitt, an international law professor at the University of Exeter in Britain, told The Hill that public officials need to choose their words carefully to “control escalation.”
“I find that sort of talk dangerous,” said Schmitt, who led the team of legal experts that formulated the Tallinn Manual 2.0, a comprehensive analysis of how international law applies to cyberspace.
The Army’s top officer, Mark Milley, also cautioned individuals about using the term “war” to refer to the cyberattacks, saying at a conference on Tuesday, “If it’s an act of war, then you’ve got to start thinking of your response to that sort of thing.”
Sometimes, I also wonder what other countries think about all the moral outrage in the U.S. over the Russian hacks. After all, our hands aren't exactly clean on that front - the U.S. has also tried to influence other countries' elections, not to mention propping up some ugly dictators. And in terms of hacking, it seems a bit hypocritical to be so outraged when, not that long ago, the world found out about the U.S. hacking our allies.
Things to look for in week ahead:
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/s ... are-defeat
With the GOP healthcare plan dead, Republicans are quickly setting their sights on another challenging campaign promise: tax reform.Within hours after GOP leaders pulled the healthcare bill on Friday, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) appeared on Fox News to talk up tax reform. “We’re going to pivot straight to this and just roll forward,” Brady said in an interview with Fox News’s Neil Cavuto.
...
Republicans insist they’re not completely abandoning efforts to reform the healthcare system.
“It just shows that our first attempt didn’t work. This was not our last attempt. There will have to be other actions,” said Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.).
...
The House is expected to vote this week to overturn internet privacy rules approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last year. The rules require internet service providers to obtain customers’ permission before using their personal information for consumer data and online advertisements. They mandated internet service providers needed consent before using and sharing data like location tracking, browsing data and app usage.
The Senate voted to eliminate the rules last week in a party-line vote. The measure will head to President Trump's desk upon approval by the House.
....
Democrats are expected to force more votes this week to demand President Trump’s tax returns.
...
The Senate will take up a treaty allowing Montenegro to join NATO after a vote on the measure was blocked earlier this month. ...
...
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) tried to get unanimous consent to schedule a vote on the treaty earlier this month, but was blocked by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Under Senate rules any one senator is able to object to a unanimous consent request.
The libertarian lawmaker said in a statement that he blocked McCain’s request over concerns about the debt, warning that the United States is already stretched too thin militarily.
... Under NATO's Article 5, member states agree to defend any NATO country that is threatened by force.
Climate change deniers are also promoting their viewpoint in Congress:
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-enviro ... te-science
The House Science Committee has scheduled a provocative hearing next week to challenge the science behind climate change.
Rep. Lamar Smith's (R-Texas) panel will meet on Wednesday to consider "assumptions, policy implications, and the scientific method" related to climate change.
The meeting will give Smith, who doubts the broad scientific consensus that greenhouse gas emissions have caused climate change, a large platform from which to try making his point.