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MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts)
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 09:48 AM Dec 2012

Pelosi 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:

"You had Nancy Pelosi on, saying, ‘Oh, we’re not going to change the eligibility age for Medicare.’ And down at the White House, they very much want to do that.” - Bob Woodward


“Don’t go there because it doesn’t produce money,” the top Democrat in the House said Wednesday on “CBS This Morning.” “Raising the retirement age does not get you that much money… so you’re doing a bad thing when it comes to seniors and you’re not achieving your goal” of reducing the deficit and growing the economy, Pelosi added. - http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/12/12/pelosi-on-raising-medicare-age-dont-go-there/


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.
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Pelosi says NO to GOP and White House. Please back her up! (Original Post) MannyGoldstein Dec 2012 OP
Let's call them on it! Tell them we don't believe them when they say they want to "cut Medicare CTyankee Dec 2012 #1
Its important to follow through with these calls. iemitsu Dec 2012 #2
I'll contact her, Manny, but the plethoro Dec 2012 #3
The revolution seems to be moving from the pawns on up MannyGoldstein Dec 2012 #4
Yes, luckily the enemy is too preoccupied to recognize an En passant. I plethoro Dec 2012 #11
No the deck John2 Dec 2012 #12
Your point has to be considered. I hope this year's January effect is plethoro Dec 2012 #17
I am making my calls today macwriter Dec 2012 #5
Thank you ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2012 #8
It's amazing, isn't it? I think everyone needs to read Norm Ornstein and Tom Mann's book... Liberal_Stalwart71 Dec 2012 #14
I think ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2012 #23
I think it's a little bit of both, though I see a pattern when it comes to the treatment of Obama: Liberal_Stalwart71 Dec 2012 #40
Yep; but ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2012 #44
Not this liberal. juajen Dec 2012 #48
Will you please change ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2012 #6
Well... MannyGoldstein Dec 2012 #10
No ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2012 #21
I think it's better characterized as your wanting MannyGoldstein Dec 2012 #30
No ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2012 #35
So You Take Bush Stenographer Woodward's Word? Skraxx Dec 2012 #24
Others will agree, however. Obama knows how to say "We're not going to change the eligibility age" AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #25
He did a pretty shitty job probing the Bush Administration on WMD Hippo_Tron Dec 2012 #49
Actually, I did go ahead and change the title MannyGoldstein Dec 2012 #32
Raising Medicare eligibility will KILL MORE Americans than Osama killed. bvar22 Dec 2012 #7
HUGE K & R !!! WillyT Dec 2012 #9
I wonder if Mr President would ask his Mother n Law to go get a job bonniebgood Dec 2012 #13
Mrs. Speaker may also want to ask "Who's going to pay to cover the gap?" DCKit Dec 2012 #15
I don't trust Woodward he like to play his own fiddle... Historic NY Dec 2012 #16
In a media overrun with over-rated hacks, Woodward is the MOST over-rated "journalist." TahitiNut Dec 2012 #19
I agree. I don't trust Woodward either. politicaljunkie41910 Dec 2012 #29
Thank you for posting this. AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #18
Woodward Is Being A Paritsan Jerk Here DallasNE Dec 2012 #20
I asked Sen. Blumenthal, Rep. Joe Courtney and Rep & Senator-elect Chris Murphy Larkspur Dec 2012 #22
This Post Is Full Of Shit, You Should Be Ashamed Skraxx Dec 2012 #26
I think he's more like the National Enquirer MannyGoldstein Dec 2012 #31
Manufactured outrage doesn't just make itself!!! JoePhilly Dec 2012 #41
The Democrats should introduce a bill right now to lower the Medicare age to 55. rhett o rick Dec 2012 #27
Now THAT is how to win the debate! bvar22 Dec 2012 #46
Pelosiis a tough woman. riverbendviewgal Dec 2012 #28
She caved on the Public Option so i expect she will change her mind here too. boingboinh Dec 2012 #34
+1 forestpath Dec 2012 #36
and you too riverbendviewgal Dec 2012 #38
New here, not new to seeing Nancy "impeachment is off the table" Pelosi cave. forestpath Dec 2012 #39
I don't believe you riverbendviewgal Dec 2012 #37
K&R! blackspade Dec 2012 #33
Pelosi: “The President knows our views shares our values, we respect his leadership” ProSense Dec 2012 #42
Also see: ProSense Dec 2012 #43
How's that not-too-big-to-fail-anymore thing going? MannyGoldstein Dec 2012 #45
Thanks Nancy.... midnight Dec 2012 #47

CTyankee

(63,769 posts)
1. Let's call them on it! Tell them we don't believe them when they say they want to "cut Medicare
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 09:58 AM
Dec 2012

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)
2. Its important to follow through with these calls.
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 10:04 AM
Dec 2012

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)
3. I'll contact her, Manny, but the
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 11:11 AM
Dec 2012

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)
4. The revolution seems to be moving from the pawns on up
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 11:17 AM
Dec 2012

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)
11. Yes, luckily the enemy is too preoccupied to recognize an En passant. I
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 11:30 AM
Dec 2012

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)
12. No the deck
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 11:33 AM
Dec 2012

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)
17. Your point has to be considered. I hope this year's January effect is
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 11:55 AM
Dec 2012

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)
5. I am making my calls today
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 11:18 AM
Dec 2012

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)
8. Thank you ...
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 11:24 AM
Dec 2012
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).


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)
14. It's amazing, isn't it? I think everyone needs to read Norm Ornstein and Tom Mann's book...
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 11:38 AM
Dec 2012

"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)
23. I think ...
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 12:11 PM
Dec 2012

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)
40. I think it's a little bit of both, though I see a pattern when it comes to the treatment of Obama:
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 02:27 PM
Dec 2012

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)
44. Yep; but ...
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 03:40 PM
Dec 2012

uhhh, you're gonna get itttt. How dare you imply that some liberals may harbor ... well ... you know.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
6. Will you please change ...
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 11:19 AM
Dec 2012

the title of your OP to reflect reality?

Might I suggest:

Pelosi says NO to White House THE GOP. Please back her up!
 

MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts)
30. I think it's better characterized as your wanting
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 12:43 PM
Dec 2012

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)
35. No ...
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 01:13 PM
Dec 2012

what you call "circumstial evidence, most would call "Speculation" and what you call a "partial confession", most would call nonsense."

 

AnotherMcIntosh

(11,064 posts)
25. Others will agree, however. Obama knows how to say "We're not going to change the eligibility age"
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 12:15 PM
Dec 2012

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.

 

MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts)
32. Actually, I did go ahead and change the title
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 12:48 PM
Dec 2012

It makes sense to point out that the GOP also favors the age increase.

bonniebgood

(937 posts)
13. I wonder if Mr President would ask his Mother n Law to go get a job
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 11:34 AM
Dec 2012

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)
15. Mrs. Speaker may also want to ask "Who's going to pay to cover the gap?"
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 11:42 AM
Dec 2012

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.

TahitiNut

(71,611 posts)
19. In a media overrun with over-rated hacks, Woodward is the MOST over-rated "journalist."
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 11:58 AM
Dec 2012

The despicable right-winger has gotten FAR too much "mileage" on Watergate... which was driven by Bernstein.

DallasNE

(7,392 posts)
20. Woodward Is Being A Paritsan Jerk Here
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 12:02 PM
Dec 2012

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)
22. I asked Sen. Blumenthal, Rep. Joe Courtney and Rep & Senator-elect Chris Murphy
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 12:10 PM
Dec 2012

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)
26. This Post Is Full Of Shit, You Should Be Ashamed
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 12:15 PM
Dec 2012

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)
31. I think he's more like the National Enquirer
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 12:45 PM
Dec 2012

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?

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
27. The Democrats should introduce a bill right now to lower the Medicare age to 55.
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 12:26 PM
Dec 2012

Seems we are always bargaining from behind. Time to be aggressive.

bvar22

(39,909 posts)
46. Now THAT is how to win the debate!
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 10:02 PM
Dec 2012

...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]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
42. Pelosi: “The President knows our views shares our values, we respect his leadership”
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 03:08 PM
Dec 2012
“The President knows our views shares our values, we respect his leadership,” she said. “And the Speaker may need our votes to go forward.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021971920
 

MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts)
45. How's that not-too-big-to-fail-anymore thing going?
Thu Dec 13, 2012, 05:36 PM
Dec 2012

This stuff's pretty important. Democrats need to make sure that our leaders know we support Democratic ideals.

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