Public support for a public health insurance option is increasing, according to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll. 57 percent of all Americans now favor a public option, up from 52 percent in mid-August. Greg Sargent notes that the poll also suggests that a majority favors a public option over a bipartisan health care bill.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has agreed to a run-off election on Nov. 7 against his main rival Abdullah Abdullah. The new election will allow the Obama administration to move forward with its Afghan strategy review, “a process that has been hamstrung by the delay in determining who its Afghan government partner will be.”
“A slight majority of Americans think that the war in Afghanistan is turning into another Vietnam,” according to a new CNN/Opinion Research poll. Fifty-nine percent of people questioned “opposed sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan with 39 percent in favor. Of the 59 percent opposed, 28 percent want Washington to withdraw all U.S troops, 21 percent are calling for a partial American pullout,” and 8 percent want no change in troop levels.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent a “jaw-dropping” $34.7 million lobbying the federal government in the third quarter of 2009. Politico reports that “[t]he figure is greater than the sum of the next 18 highest filers so far…who combined to spend $30.9 million.”
President Obama will be in NYC tonight for a lavish Democratic Party fund-raising dinner with about 200 big donors. Though about a third of the attendees are expected to be from the financial industry, “only a half-dozen or fewer are expected to attend” that work for bailed out financial giants like Goldman Sachs, partially to avoid public rage “over the perception that Wall Street titans” are using bailout profits to influence Washington.
While large financial firms were receiving hundreds of billions in government help last year, perks and fringe benefits were up in the form of country club memberships, private jet rides, and chauffeurs services. CEO benefits at bailed-out firms saw their fringe compensation rise 4 percent over the last year. Administration officials have vowed to crack down on the practice.
Political turmoil and a turbulent economy “roiling the nation are expected to diminish initial participation by households in next year’s Census.” According to the Census Bureau, “[m]ounting mistrust of government, rising identify theft and record numbers of foreclosures could discourage people from mailing back Census forms next year.”
At least four people were killed and an additional 18 were wounded as suicide bombers struck International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan yesterday. The targets included the Islamic Law department and the women’s cafeteria.
Yesterday, the Justice Department told federal prosecutors that they should not pursue medical marijuana users who comply with state laws. This move comes on the heels of a new Gallup poll that finds nearly half of Americans favor legalizing and taxing recreational marijuana use.
And finally: In one of his recent “Beck Talks” videos, Fox News host Glenn Beck addresses his viewers while sitting at his desk, surrounded by his book, awards, and other mementos. Behind Beck, viewers can also see his computer (which has two screens) and his screensaver — a floating image of his own Time magazine cover:
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