Jane’s responds to Andrea Mitchell’s flaccid beltway CW with the facts that Mitchell herself should be presenting.

Shorter Obama DoJ: It’s a law we’d like to see repealed, but we still have to defend it in court. It’s how we roll.

Jay Cost argues that Obama “misread his mandate” and overreached by endorsing the public plan. Not only does Cost fail to note that the public plan is extremely popular, he offers this absurd analysis.

When I wrote that 64 Democrats in the House had pledged to vote against a health care bill with no public plan, I limited the list to those who have made that known, publicly and officially, by putting their names to that commitment (no anonymous whip counts, no “leaked” lists that the members won’t acknowledge). It’s been a long hard slog to get people to go on the record.

But we’ve heard many times that the universe of Members who feel this way is probably larger, and this morning, Anthony Weiner confirms it on CNBC

It’s time to start blaming Rahm for our lack of accountability on torture.

There are 435 seats on the House. Of those, 257 are filled by Democrats and 178 by Republicans. Which means a majority is 218. The Republicans have vowed to vote against health care, period. The Democrats can pass health care on their own, but if they lose 40 of their own, they only have 217 votes.

There are 57 Democrats who signed the July 30 letter saying that they “simply cannot vote” for a bill that “at minimum” does not have a public plan (PDF). There are 7 more not listed on the letter who have pledged to vote against any bill that does not have a robust public plan. That makes 64 Democrats who won’t vote for the “co-ops” that both Kathleen Sibelius and Robert Gibbs say the White House is “open” to.

Do the math: 257 – 64 = 193. They need 218 to pass the bill.

Several days ago, counsel for five Uighur detainees filed a motion to stay a recent Circuit Court decision which upheld broad governmental powers in transferring detainees without third party review by the courts.

The stay is requested pending their appeal of that order to the SCOTUS. SCOTUSblog has helpfully posted the full brief in PDF form.

• Sorry, Mr. President — it’s not “just one sliver.“
• No public option, no health care reform.
• Nate counts the Senate.
• Not much, I’d say.
• Makes sense to me.
• Someone make him stop.

Champagne wishes and Bulk Rate Caviar Dreams. The tragic plight of those far wealthier than you.

Rowan and Martin – Laugh In.

What’s on your mind?