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In a sharp switch from their historic reproach of government-backed health care, Republicans on Capitol Hill this year are embracing Medicare in their bid to kill the Democrats’ health reform plans.
Last year, when the Bush administration rolled out its annual budget proposing more than $500 billion in Medicare cuts, many Republican leaders cheered the legislation as a necessary move in the direction of fiscal responsibility.
Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), then-minority whip, called the cuts “the needed first-step” to lend Medicare “a solid economic footing.” House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said the proposal marked “an important starting point” for reining in Medicare spending. And Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.), senior Republican on the House Budget Committee, cheered the plan for taking “a significant, critical step toward addressing the greatest threat to our nation’s future strength and prosperity — the unsustainable growth of our largest entitlement programs.”
What a difference a year can make.
Yale political scientist Jacob Hacker echoed that message, pointing out that conservatives have proposed cuts to Medicare long before last year’s Bush administration budget, including a fierce push in the mid-1990s originated by then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), who promoted the idea of allowing Medicare to “wither on the vine.” The current opposition from Republicans the the Democrats’ proposals, Hacker said, is “nakedly hypocritical.”
Do you not understand how they have done an about face and why? What would be good about their original intent before they flip flopped?
It was an intelligent political move.
And the why is very clear - they are going after Democratic seats in the Congress in 12 months. And, if the Democrats continue to shoot themselves in the foot and a ss as they have been, and if Obama keeps breaking his promises, the Republicans WILL regain control of both Houses next year.
[quoted from article]
"For example, the House bill cuts more than $156 billion from the Medicare Advantage program, a controversial, Republican-created initiative under which the government buys private health insurance for seniors. Billed as a program capable of trimming Medicare spending, Medicare Advantage instead costs 14 percent more per patient than traditional Medicare — a discrepancy the Democrats have long-attempted to eliminate. The fight over the program has always been as much about ideology as it’s been about policy."
Costing 14% more than traditional Medicare hardly seems intelligent. Like Palin, they were for it before they were against it...they're flip-flopping like pancakes on a hot griddle. This year another million American families will be bankrupted due to medical expenses, which are expected to rise if left
as is. How many millions of families will be economically ruined before the GOP realizes that the time to govern has arrived? They continue the dirty tricks (shades of Donald Segretti!) as if the campaign was still ongoing. Speaking of Segretti, here's a link reminding folks what a time-honored tradition such juvenile (and unethical) behavior is for the Republicans.
And the why is very clear - they are going after Democratic seats in the Congress in 12 months. And, if the Democrats continue to shoot themselves in the foot and a ss as they have been, and if Obama keeps breaking his promises, the Republicans WILL regain control of both Houses next year.
The liberal left forced them into this position. Had they not incessantly kept proclaiming that the GOP has no leader and has no platform to stand on, the GOP wouldn't have to resort to giving liberals a dose of their own medicine. So, not only has the GOP gained the upper hand in the healthcare debate, they and their Army of Grandmas are effectively illustrating why the real "change" will come in 2010.
Thanks libs! If you insist on dishing it out, you better be prepared to spoon it up!
[quoted from article]
"For example, the House bill cuts more than $156 billion from the Medicare Advantage program, a controversial, Republican-created initiative under which the government buys private health insurance for seniors. Billed as a program capable of trimming Medicare spending, Medicare Advantage instead costs 14 percent more per patient than traditional Medicare — a discrepancy the Democrats have long-attempted to eliminate. The fight over the program has always been as much about ideology as it’s been about policy."
Costing 14% more than traditional Medicare hardly seems intelligent. Like Palin, they were for it before they were against it...they're flip-flopping like pancakes on a hot griddle. This year another million American families will be bankrupted due to medical expenses, which are expected to rise if left
as is. How many millions of families will be economically ruined before the GOP realizes that the time to govern has arrived? They continue the dirty tricks (shades of Donald Segretti!) as if the campaign was still ongoing. Speaking of Segretti, here's a link reminding folks what a time-honored tradition such juvenile (and unethical) behavior is for the Republicans.
Great link, but will not tbe read by the ones that need to read it the most. Here's a good link and again, facts do not penetrate and they will continue to support and argue for the greed. Bizarre!
GOP Health Reform Tactic: Rich Against Poor
New data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that 17 percent of Americans under age 65 now go without health insurance. It’s a basic truth of political analysis that low-income residents — that is, those most likely to be uninsured — are less likely than middle-class people to attend town meetings and less likely to vote. To state the obvious, the poor are also less likely to make campaign contributions. Meanwhile, health care corporations and professional organizations have actively engaged the Blue Dogs. So far this year, the Blue Dogs’ political action committee has received $301,500 from health care and health insurance PACs.
The liberal left forced them into this position. Had they not incessantly kept proclaiming that the GOP has no leader and has no platform to stand on, the GOP wouldn't have to resort to giving liberals a dose of their own medicine. So, not only has the GOP gained the upper hand in the healthcare debate, they and their Army of Grandmas are effectively illustrating why the real "change" will come in 2010.
Thanks libs! If you insist on dishing it out, you better be prepared to spoon it up!
Are those the same Grandmas that are waiting to be called before the bogus death panels? You need to stop treating the democracy of this country like a football game. We are all losers when our representatives are on the take from Corporate America. Don't you understand that? The larger and scarier issue that has emerged throughout this health insurance debate is that people that we have placed in government and given power, are taking what amounts to nothing less than bribes. We are becomiong inconsequential save for the vote that they can extract from us by manipulation and lies.
Are those the same Grandmas that are waiting to be called before the bogus death panels? You need to stop treating the democracy of this country like a football game. We are all losers when our representatives are on the take from Corporate America. Don't you understand that? The larger and scarier issue that has emerged throughout this health insurance debate is that people that we have placed in government and given power, are taking what amounts to nothing less than bribes. We are becomiong inconsequential save for the vote that they can extract from us by manipulation and lies.
I concur 100%. You may be surprised to find that I am a fiscal conservative that actually leans toward a public option. My biggest concerns are cost and the ulterior motive of the government to ultimately takeover healthcare completely. Those two things edge out the public option in my book. But in theory, I believe that the public option would be a good thing for some people. Unfortunately, you are correct. All of our politicians are bought and sold to the highest bidder.
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