Look, it’s the adorable newlywed Melody Barnes discussing with a straight(ish) face the REAL TRUTH behind the much-ballyhooed Panel of Experts who will advise you on the best methods for saving the State the cost of supporting your elderly carcass once you no longer serve as an effective food or work source. Apparently the so-called health care “reformers” just want you to be able to access information about getting a living will. Occam’s razor here, folks! What’s more believable: that Obama wants to encourage people to communicate more with their doctors, or that this Barnes character is just some alien android created expressly for eugenics propaganda purposes? [Health Insurance Reform Reality Check]

Alaskan dingbat Sarah Palin proudly quoted Ronald Reagan last night, you betcha. So what was that weird quote about, anyway? It’s from this LP propaganda record, part of a “campaign organized by the American Medical Association to block the passage of Medicare.” MORE »

Here’s John McCain’s latest idiot ad where he claims, get this, that Celebrity Obama’s tax plan will ruin FAMILIES and SENIORS and FLORIST START-UP BUSINESSES. Apparently, these types all fit into the top 10-20% of earners, because everyone else will have more money under the Obama tax plan. Also, since McCain doesn’t like to admit that he’ll have to cut about 80% of Medicare under his plan in order to be anywhere near fiscal stability, maybe he, we dare say, is KILLING SENIORS. Which, come to think of it, would be an objectively good thing. [YouTube]

George W. Bush is so callous. Not only is he having a War and all those other things we don’t like about him (we’ve forgotten because of the election!), but now he is taking oxygen away from old people with his precious “budget cuts.” MORE »

The GAO is releasing a report today showing that some Medicaid providers owe $1 billion in back taxes on money paid to them by the federal government. The Senate is holding a hearing, people! Not that this is surprising, since GAO reported last March that Medicare providers also owe $1 billion in back taxes on money they earned from the federal government. Kicking them off the rolls means fewer services for the poor, which is what they’re counting on to scam the IRS. Naturally, no one has been able to figure out how to just withhold their taxes from the payments like how it works for the rest of us workaday schlubs. Different strokes for different folks, people. [Yahoo News, U.S. Senate, GAO]

* Iraq yesterday saw “the single deadliest assault on Iraqi civilians since the start of the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003.” [WP, NYT, LAT]
* President Bush calls 10 US service members to wish them “Happy Thanksgiving.” [WP]
* Democrats will have a hard time delivering on their promise to lower Medicare costs, as the program is already so efficient and great. [NYT, WSJ]
* In the face of serious risk, government whistle blowers blow on. [USAT]
* The Iraqinamization has begun. [LAT]
* Not that it will give them the slightest pause, but parents who buy designer luxury goods for their “tweens” will face higher taxes this year. [USA Today, LAT]

• President spends Labor day all by his lonesome as Maryland’s two top Republicans refuse to hang out with him. [WP, NYT]

• Legislative agenda for the short session of congress starting today will be “all terror, all the time.” [NYT]
• Congressional Democrats send letter to White House calling for ouster of Pentagon’s “civilian leadership,” as if no one knows who that means. [WP]
• As all elections are ultimately decided by some type of mom, 2006 is the year of the “mortgage mom.” [WP]
• Medicare administrator Mark McClellan to resign at any minute. [WP]
• Americans are pissed and “anti-incumbent,” will be punching ballot cards with ice picks. [CNN]
• The war in Afghanistan is not going as well as you thought. [NYT]
• This week in “things being named after Reagan” finds California reshuffling their statues in the Capitol’s statuary hall, adding the Great Communicator and removing some old guy not worth his weight in bronze. [NYT]

• FBI receives complaints from both sides of the aisle for raid on Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La.) office. [WP]
• Democrats, after pointing fingers at Republicans, face a corruption scandal in their own ranks with Rep. Jefferson. [NYT, LAT]
• AT&T allowed the NSA to view “every individual message” on its internet, lawsuit claims. [WSJ]
• Immigration overhaul is expected to be approved by the Senate this week; Speaker Hastert may override. [WP, WSJ]
• Many Republican candidates are keeping their distance from Bush. [WSJ]
• Bush describes Iraq at a “turning point”: “The terrorists are now fighting a free and constitutional government. They’re at war with the people of Iraq.” [WP]
• Democrats are concerned that voters would be “concerned or distracted” by Bill Clinton if Hillary runs for president; “he has told friends that his No. 1 priority is not to cause her any trouble” and “they appear in the public spotlight methodically and carefully.” [NYT]

MORE »

This edition of Rumors marks the end of Intern Sharon’s tenure with Wonkette. She got a “real” job, and for that we will never forgive her. If you’re interested in being the new Wonkette intern, applications are currently being sorted through. Send yours (sans attachments, please) to us with the subject line “Intern.” MORE »

Hard to decide what’s worse about Bush’s Florida visit. This: MORE »

• Congressional Republicans propose five-year, $70B tax bill; the main component is the extension of tax rates on capital gains and dividends. [WP, WSJ, NYT]
• Bush’s “political strength continues to dissipate,” according to fresh CBS/NYT poll; his “overall job approval rating hit another new low, 31 percent, tying the low point of his father in July 1992, four months before the elder Mr. Bush lost his bid for a second term.” [NYT]
• Centrist Democrats say the party “should concentrate on charting alternative policies for fighting terrorism and succeeding in Iraq” instead of launching investigations of Bush’s mistakes. [WP]
• Rumsfeld, backing selection of Hayden to head the CIA, denies a power play is underway; nomination seen as setting “the stage for new wrangling with the Pentagon.” [WP, NYT]
• Bush stands by Monday deadline for Medicare program; plan is “emerging as a surprise plus for Republicans in a rocky election season.” [WP, NYT, USAT]
• GOP’s ‘06 roster features three African-American candidates running for statewide offices. Ken Mehlman: “We’ve gone from a model of outreach to a model of inclusion. Outreach is a top-down approach. Inclusion says, ‘Let’s find some really good people and encourage them to run for office.’” [WP]
• Ethics issue is “two-edged sword” for Democrats. [USAT]
• House Republicans are still struggling to agree on ‘07 budget. [WSJ]
• Pro-immigration groups aim to register 1M new voters by November. [WP]