2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumPelosi says NO to GOP and White House. Please back her up!
Last edited Thu Dec 13, 2012, 12:47 PM - Edit history (2)
Let's be frank: Medicare has two big problems.
The first is that we in the US choose to have health care costs that are twice those in other developed nations, for outcomes that are no better. (Seems like a really stupid choice, but here we are.)
The second is that instead of reforming health care costs, many of our elected officials want to take away health care from senior citizens.
A battle has broken out in our own Democratic Party, between those who want to raise the eligibility age for Medicare, and those who don't. Fortunately, Nancy Pelosi has our back:
I urge every DU reader to contact their elected representatives and tell them to back Pelosi in doing the right thing. Tell them you're with Merkley, not Republicans/Third Way. Between Pelosi on Medicare and Reid on Social Security, we just might dodge the salvos being launched at Amerca's seniors.
CTyankee
(63,769 posts)to save it." That's total BS! They don't like big government programs so they want to put it to death by a thousand cuts. We must expose the Republicans for what they are and what their endgame is!
THEY WANT TO KILL MEDICARE FOREVER!
iemitsu
(3,888 posts)Every senator and representative, regardless of party, needs to loudly hear the message that raising the eligibility age is not an option.
We are more productive than any other workers on earth and we are not compensated for that productivity, instead our government (evidently including Obama - surprise, surprise) wants us to work longer before we can retire.
Early retirement and eligibility for Medicare would help reduce unemployment and strengthen our economy while postponing that only hinders it.
I suppose that is the goal of the uber-lords though. They really don't want us to have descent lives.
plethoro
(594 posts)deck here is stacked from the top--not the bottom. The election is over and the chess board has been reset.
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)Hasn't reached the king yet... but the king needs those other pieces to stay in the game. Let's keep the pressure on!
plethoro
(594 posts)hope you will posting about the proposed Medicare co-pays soon, so I can discuss them with you. I just had a jury go against me on a post and I'm hesitant to begin a discussion.
John2
(2,730 posts)the Deck is not stacked. It is just that media pundits are raising their voices louder and trying to influence Obama. I would take any Wall Street Poll and trash it, because it is from Wall Street. If your representative is in a Blue District, just tell them not to go alone period. President Obama might represent the Democratic Party but he doesn't own it. I also think that you can contact him and tell him what the consequences would be if he ties to go there, and be adamant about it. Take for example MS NBC having Blanche Lincoln on. The media pundits, pick and choose, people to come on, that supports their views. And we know what happened to her in her election. She loss by 21 percent, because Democrats abandoned her. She betrayed them. So I don't know why the pundits are giving her a voice? She represents no one except corporate interests.
They also had a Democratic congress woman, that actually has a vote, which called the idea of raising the age stupid, yet the pundits all criticized her, after she left. I can see right through their game. It is just a constant drumbeat, which people have to recognize. They are getting jittery, every time a day goes by, when Obama hasn't caved. It is like Russian Roulette we are playing. If the gun goes off, the Republicans lose. You see how everybody has stayed in town also. The clock is ticking on the Republicans. The first casualty for them will be all taxes go up, without any agreement. Then Congress should come back and the desired Tax cuts waiting to be signed. There will also be spending cuts in effect, that Congress can mend. All they need to do is fix, what they don't want to cut, including some trade off between military and the safety net.
plethoro
(594 posts)positive so the money is so busy positioning that they don't have time to interfere with politics. I'm in California, everything is blue, except the ocean.
macwriter
(169 posts)But I always am a bit suspicious about Bob Woodward's comments at times. Democrats seem to be united as never before. The GOP is undoubtedly splintered. So all of a sudden Woodward plants these little seeds of doubts about Dems saying "And down at the White House, they very much want to do that." (ie: raising the Medicare age). Really? I highly doubt the White House "very much wants to do that." Are they being pressured by the lure of compromise to do it? Sure. Do we have to keep up the pressure? Absolutely. But IMHO Woodward loves to stir the pot.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)It amazes me that many are so distrustful of the media, Woodward included ... until it fits into their (anti-President Obama) narrative; then that previously distrusted media is promoting truth.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)"It's Worse Than You Think," because I remain amazed at how quickly we liberals buy into media narratives that continue to divide the Democratic Party.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)liberal are being into media narratives that fill a greater need ... Be it a distrust of President Obama or just a need to be mad about something!
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)Quick to judge him without any evidence. Quick to raise the bar to impossible levels, then shoot him down when he can't possibly reach those expectations. My favorite: the obvious double standards set for Obama that has never been set for any political figure a la Bill Clinton. I won't go into why these double standards exist. I will just go as far as to suggest that Melissa Harris Perry's thesis was not far off the mark.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)uhhh, you're gonna get itttt. How dare you imply that some liberals may harbor ... well ... you know.
juajen
(8,515 posts)1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)the title of your OP to reflect reality?
Might I suggest:
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)How often has Woodward been incorrect?
And:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/11/obama-medicare-eligibility-age_n_894833.html
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/11/president-obama-s-foolish-willingness-to-screw-liberals-over-medicare.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1970883
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/07/22/remarks-president
I think we're not going to agree on this.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)we probably won't. I prefer fact to speculation; even if it doesn't fit my narrative.
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)a full confession before the crime takes place, before taking action. I believe that a ton of circumstantial evidence along with partial confessions is enough to warrant grave concern, given the magnitude of what's at stake here.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)what you call "circumstial evidence, most would call "Speculation" and what you call a "partial confession", most would call nonsense."
Skraxx
(2,965 posts)Anything to attack the WH, eh? Pathetic.
AnotherMcIntosh
(11,064 posts)if he wants to do so. He knows that his position on this contentious issue is an important one.
Woodward's public writings are undoubtedly known to the White House. Obama also knows how to say "Woodward is mistaken" (or similar words) if he wants to do so.
Certainly, there are some who are more publicly opposed to raising the eligibility age than Obama.
And some will be more publicly opposed until the eligibility age is raised. Then, if they follow the usual pattern, they will lecture us on how we just don't understand politics, on how Obama is a five-dimensional chess player who takes a practical approach while others are "purists," and how "It's all the Republicans' fault." Some of us have seen this game played before. One of the advantages of having experience is knowing when you're being experienced again.
Hippo_Tron
(25,453 posts)MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)It makes sense to point out that the GOP also favors the age increase.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)!
WillyT
(72,631 posts)bonniebgood
(937 posts)at her age. I will say it and believe it til the day I die. Mr. 3rd way/Republican lite, blue dog Obama was the reason we (democrats) lost the 2010 midterm elections.
DCKit
(18,541 posts)A lot of people aren't healthy enough to work until they're 65, let alone 67.
I met a guy a couple of years ago who I assumed to be a senior on Medicare. He had mesothieleoma (sp?). When I read his obit, turns out he was my age - just short of 50 at the time of his death.
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)TahitiNut
(71,611 posts)The despicable right-winger has gotten FAR too much "mileage" on Watergate... which was driven by Bernstein.
politicaljunkie41910
(3,335 posts)AnotherMcIntosh
(11,064 posts)DallasNE
(7,392 posts)When he claims the Whitehouse "very much" wants to raise the eligibility age of Medicare. Besides, the "cliff" bill calls for equal cuts between the military and other spending and that is part of the "balance" Obama will accept. Once again MSM coverage gets everything wrong. Woodward may wish that a battle has broken out in the Democratic Party but the battle is in the Republican Party where some want to avoid being blamed for taking the country over the cliff and others that insist on it unless Democrats completely caving in. Also, Woodard hasn't done anything worthwhile since Watergate.
Larkspur
(12,804 posts)not to raise the Medicare eligibility age at Chris Murphy's Thank You party this past Saturday.
Chris Murphy said he didn't know anyone who was talking about it. I informed him that it's all over the media. He did tell me that he wouldn't vote to raise it.
Sen. Blumenthal was emphatic that he thought raising the Medicare age was a non-starter with him and would not get his support.
Ditto for Rep. Joe Courtney.
Skraxx
(2,965 posts)Bob Woodward, Bush stenographer extraordinaire floats some bullshit spin and you lap it up like the good spreader of propoganda you are.
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)Not always my favorite, but usually right. In his favor, he eviscerated Bush II although it was somewhat later in Bush's term.
Can you point to an instance where he was wrong?
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Seems we are always bargaining from behind. Time to be aggressive.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)...AND move this country forward!
I'm very tired of starting In-the-Middle and moving to The Conservative Right.
[font color=firebrick][center]"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone [/font][/center]
[center][/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]
You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their rhetoric, promises, or excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
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riverbendviewgal
(4,251 posts)K & R
boingboinh
(290 posts)Just watch.
riverbendviewgal
(4,251 posts)are not having positive thoughts...you are very new here...
forestpath
(3,102 posts)riverbendviewgal
(4,251 posts)and I think you are not having faith like the rest of us have in DU.....
blackspade
(10,056 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021971920
ProSense
(116,464 posts)http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021971966
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1971993
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021971966#post10
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)This stuff's pretty important. Democrats need to make sure that our leaders know we support Democratic ideals.