SUB-ROSA NEWS

Some of the News
That may be True

ENSIGN PARENTS DONATE TO SANFORD PARAMOUR

Michael Ensign, father of embattled Senator John Ensign, disclosed today that he and his wife had made gifts to the mistress of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. The gifts, in the form of travelers checks in $12,000 increments, had been mailed to Argentine reporter Maria Bellen Chapur and her family.

Mr. Ensign explained that the gifts were just part of the pattern of generosity that had earlier led them to offer gifts to videographer Rielle Hunter, whose affair with Senator John Edwards had engendered so much sympathy on their part.

While well known for its philanthropy, the Ensign family has apparently turned down the request from the city of Los Angeles to help pay for the extra security needed for the Michael Jackson memorial.

PALIN IN 2012

For presidential aspirations in 2012, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford is toast. The man Maureen Dowd refers to as the tango dancing alter ego, Marco, cheated on his wife, left his state untended and lied about his whereabouts and then followed all this with sappy, almost lovelorn, statements and interviews. It would take a long time, if ever, to forget and forgive this behavior.

Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin is no stranger to sappy statements and odd behavior. In a rambling announcement containing strange references to such things as basketball point guards, she tried to explain her decision to resign as governor later this month. Among the reasons, if they can be called that, she gave was that, as a lame duck, she would be just spinning her wheels. If that were true, maybe all lame duck officials should resign.

Her resignation may well not be a wise decision. However, she does not leave Alaska untended and she is right that her national prominence and media attention does serve as a distraction to Alaskan governance. Better she should have then just said that she wanted to devote her time and attention to the pressing issues facing our nation. Then she could give the speeches, do her much needed policy homework, and raise the money she needs for herself and any future campaign.

And I hope that she does campaign in 2012. Much as I disagree with her views on women's reproductive rights, gay marriage, sex education, and fiscal policy, I think that she brings excitement and fun to a campaign. I do think she will run if for no other reason than RNC Chairman's statement that she can't.

I would so much look forward to the debates. "Governor, may I call you Sarah?"

So we have one governor, Sarah Palin, who resigns without giving us a logical reason, and another, Mark Sanford, who refuses to resign while giving us, endlessly, a compelling reason for his resignation. Maybe Mr. Sanford should have gone to Alaska instead of Argentina.

NEWS AND COMMENT

French President Sarkozy is threatening to ban the burka. What's next - required bikinis or bustles?

HEALTH CARE AND THE PUBLIC OPTION

Let's hope that President Obama is just delaying action on gay rights and that he is just holding back on strong statements on behalf of the public option as an essential part of health care reform. Will he say "I will veto any bill ....?" Will he realize that getting a couple of Republican votes is not bipartisanship and that 51% can pass the needed legislation?

As the President does say, the public option will tend to keep the insurance companies "honest" and more competitive. But the real value of the public option is for many to choose it. That will lower the cost of health care, just as Medicare does. As we know, Medicare has only a 3% administrative burden as opposed to over 20% for private insurers. And the power of a large public option pool, combined with Medicare, means the ability to negotiate lower charges by providers and medical equipment and pharmaceutical corporations.

Republicans and other opponents of reform charge that it is foolish to want a government option when Medicare is going broke. Well, it is going broke largely because of the funding method, not because of mismanagement or inefficiency. If you compared the Medicare cost and outcomes for any set of health conditions with the same set for private insurers, I would bet that Medicare does better.

Some Republicans also claim that a bureaucrat would come between the patient and the doctor. Untrue of course, but wouldn't it be better to have a government official who wants to help you than an insurance clerk who wants to deny the benefit?

If decent health care is a right for any citizen, isn't it most logical to have the government, or non-profit organizations, provide the access? Although the arrangement started innocently, having access to health care depend on where you work is indefensible.

NEWS AND COMMENT

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced that he would have an investigation of the controversial (fixed) election. He made no mention of the UN or Jimmy Carter being part of this process.

SUB-ROSA NEWS

Some of the News
That may be True

OBAMA NAMES ENVOY TO NY LEGISLATURE

Continuing his practice of designating envoys to the world's hot spots. President Obama has dispatched an envoy to deal with the crisis in Albany. The control of the NY legislature is in dangerous contention, with the parties sharply divided and no resolution in sight.

With Holbrook and Mitchell otherwise engaged, the President has turned to another conciliatory mediator, former ambassador John Bolton. The president expressed full confidence in Mr. Bolton's ability to bring the parties together, citing his success in dealing with difficult countries and representatives in his years at the United Nations.