Healthcare Reform in a Depressed Economy, Al Franken and Norm Coleman May Have to Flip a Coin, Chris Matthews

Our daily look at stories and topics that are lighting up the Internets:

Healthcare for Everyone!

In today's New York Times, MIT economist Jonathan Gruber explains why reforming the healthcare system is a good way to stimulate the economy and why we shouldn't push aside plans for universal healthcare because of the economic crisis. Liberal bloggers think the idea is "pretty neat" and give it a thumbs up, while Andrew Sullivan is a bit more skeptical. A Huffington Post blogger answers the question, "Is healthcare a right?"

Minnesota Recount: Flip a Coin, Already

The Senate recount in Minnesota chaos continues to annoy conservative bloggers, who complain about the "useless ballot challenges" that Al Franken's campaign has issued. A blogger at AOL News is optimistic that Franken will win but says that if he loses, he might be able to get the Senate to intervene on his behalf. (A National Review Online blogger says that prospect is "really unfunny.") An op-ed in the New York Times says the solution is for Franken and Norm Coleman to flip a coin, but conservatives don't like the sound of that either.

Matthews for Senate, 2010

Bloggers debate the likelihood—and potential success—of a bid for a U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania in 2010 by MSNBC's Chris Matthews. Matthews is reportedly "shopping for a house in the state and privately discussing quitting MSNBC as proof of his intense interest." Few are excited about Matthew's congressional ambitions, to say the least. "The sense of entitlement that this blowhard personifies is truly stunning," says David Sirota at the Huffington Post. Anyone but Matthews, write some liberals. Others worry MSNBC would look partisan; they hope Matthews leaves the network immediately if he's seriously contemplating a Senate run. Not to worry, writes conservative Kim Preistap: "Everyone already knows that MSNBC is in the tank for the Democrats . . . [Matthews] is as in the tank as in the tank can be."