Now is the time to rethink your position on the war in Afghanistan.

The real endgame Karzai is working toward is that of a nominal, Pashtun-nationalist government in Kabul overlaying a Taliban-dominated countryside. Together they function not only as a crime family capable of exploiting Afghanistan’s resources but also as a highly effective proxy for Pakistan’s interminable battle against Indian influence.

An interview with David Waldman from Congress Matters about the legislative process and what lessons were learned fighting for health care reform.

So, what will the Dem’s excuse be today for not including an amendment for the public option or expanded Medicare? Time to ring their phones off the hook!

By Lindsay Beyerstein, Media Consortium blogger

Yesterday, President Obama signed health care reform into law. As Mike Lillis explains in the Washington Independent, the bill now proceeds to the Senate for reconciliation. The whole process could be complete by the end of the week. Republicans and their allies have already moved to challenge reform in court.

The President signed the Senate health care bill into law at noon today.

This year, over 4 million small businesses will get tax credits worth up to 35% of their health care costs. This year, seniors will get $250 towards closing their coverage donut hole. This year, young Americans will be able to stay on their parent’s insurance plan until they are 26. This year, lifetime caps on benefits will be a thing of the past. And this year, the people with pre-existing conditions who can’t get health care now at any price will be able to buy into high-risk pools until the exchanges are set up in 2014.

But we are not done. Right after the House passed the health care bill on Sunday, they passed a package of improvements that now head to the Senate for an up-or-down vote.

From the tone and content of the press release out of his office this afternoon, it sounds likely that Sanders is preparing supporters for a retreat from his promise to introduce a public option amendment to the Senate reconciliation bill

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has laid out a strategy to pass health care reform in the next couple of days by allowing the House to vote on the details of the reconciliation package instead of the Senate bill itself. As usual, progressives are fretting that winning will make them look bad. On the other hand, conservatives are baying for blood and calling for revolution.

Last week, Republicans were crying “foul” over the Democrats plan to use Budget Reconciliation to finalize its health care reform bill. As of yesterday, all Republicans want for Christmas is an up or down vote. That’s because of rumors that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is considering a parliamentary procedure known as “Deeming”.

When Democrats pass health care legislation in the next few days, Senator Graham will have a potentially career-defining decision to make. He can take the easy route, the predictable path, by joining Republicans in an orchestrated tantrum and an attempt to completely shut down the government. Or he can do what he knows is right and continue working for clean energy legislation that will create jobs, reduce pollution and improve our national security. We’re going to find out what Senator Graham is made of very soon.