By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

The fate of healthcare reform in the U.S. Senate seems to be resting with these four women: Arkansas Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln, Louisiana Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, and Maine Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe.

This new bipartisan gang of four could be key to removing the heavily partisan debate dogging the legislation. Even though I only agree with two of them, I'm thrilled to see women's growing power in national politics. It's something we've all wanted for some time. As the New York Times reported:

When Senate Democratic leaders first went behind closed doors to complete the healthcare legislation, the only women in the room were either committee staff members or officials from the White House. The senators there — Harry Reid of Nevada, Max Baucus of Montana and Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut—reflected the Senate's predominant history as an old-boys' club.

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

I normally let my posts go viral without responding to some of the ridiculous exaggerations of my views that end up out there in cyberspace. But there is one blog entry that was filed in response to my last posting that cries out for rejoinder, so here I go.

As noted in that post, I read in the Wall Street Journal that Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid was handing out goodies to senators wavering on healthcare reform. I do believe the Democratic approach to healthcare is a big mistake, and one that will come back to haunt the party if it's able to push thru the so-called public option. The costs to the taxpayer will be so enormous, Democrats will suffer years of losses after it's a fait accompli, as they did when they were labeled the "party of tax and spend" by former President Ronald Reagan.

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

I know politics is the art of the possible and compromise is key. But I'm sickened by the taxpayer cash being doled out as "walking around money" to lure Democrats into the healthcare fold. Here's what the Wall Street Journal said:

Take Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu. She's now likely to vote with Mr. Reid on Saturday after an amendment was inserted to increase her state's federal Medicaid subsidies by $100 million. The amendment devotes two pages to language making certain that only Louisiana would be entitled to the extra cash.

A Senator's healthcare vote should be based on whether he or she believes in public subsidies, from middle class and wealthy taxpayers, to provide healthcare for low income Americans. It should not be based on the government equivalent of a bribe.

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

There's been a ton of web chatter on the Stupak-Pitts amendment to the House version of healthcare reform. I'm sure you know what it is by now—it's an amendment that would essentially bar private insurers from participating in the so-called public option if they provide coverage for private abortions at all.

Right now federal law bars federal taxpayers' dollars from being spent to cover the cost of abortion for poor women. That's one thing. This would allow government policy to intervene in the most private of medical decisions made by women and their private insurance companies. It's a privacy invasion of massive proportions.

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

Want to hear a really good joke? The Associated Press reports:

President Barack Obama on Sunday vowed to take "serious steps" to cut the huge US budget deficit, which is complicating America's economic recovery hopes and threatening his own political prospects. Obama told Asia-Pacific leaders at a summit here that he intended to curtail US government debt, with the White House forecasting a whopping deficit of 1.502 trillion dollars in fiscal 2010.

The president who wants to be all things to all people (and who ends up standing for nothing as far as most Americans are concerned, as a result) is remaking himself once again. This time, he's morphing from out-of-control spender to fiscal hawk. Hah!

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

I've lost interest in Sarah Palin—a woman who has proven herself time and again to be not ready for prime time. But when she starts to exhibit signs of true lunacy, she gets a bit more interesting. She's done so once more in her upcoming and widely touted interview with Oprah Winfrey. My favorite part of the chat is when Palin talks about having the infamous father of her grandson, Levi Johnston, over for Thanksgiving. According to People (via MSNBC):

If Levi Johnston would like a piece of the Palin family turkey, Sarah Palin will save him a seat at her Thanksgiving table.

"It's lovely to think that he would ever even consider such a thing," the former Alaska governor, 45, tells Oprah Winfrey in an interview to air Nov. 16, the day before the publication of Palin's memoir, "Going Rogue."

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

I'm conflicted about Google's announcement today that it will subsidize free wireless network access in 47 airports from now until January 15—and indefinitely in the airports of Burbank, Calif., and Seattle.

The promotion, in cooperation with Boingo Wireless, Advanced Wireless Group, and Airport Marketing Income, is the latest effort to use free Wi-Fi to boost a brand. Among others: Yahoo is sponsoring Wi-Fi in Times Square in New York, and Google is sponsoring Internet access on Virgin America flights during the holidays.

It's a great holiday gift, don't get me wrong. I'm one of those frequent travelers who hates long layovers with my laptop. I'm stuck killing time between flights only to encounter the deal-breaker of a $5.00 or $10.00 charge when I try to logon at an airport.