Analysis: Troubled Medicare Troubles GOP

[kurth]

Analysis: Troubled Medicare Troubles GOP

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Medicare drug program that was supposed to win political points for Republicans has exploded in their faces as this election year has begun. It's a particularly vexing problem for the GOP, since older Americans are such active voters and no one seeking office wants to see them angry. Since the Bush administration's prescription medicine program began on Jan. 1, tens of thousands of elderly people have been unable to get medicines promised by the government. Some 20 states have had to jump in to help them.

And while officials promised anew on Tuesday that a fix was on the way, Democrats pointed to the confusion surrounding the rollout and pounded the administration and its GOP allies in Congress. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts cited a ''systemwide failure'' that he said ''puts the health of our frailest citizens at great risk.'' Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York likened the government's response to a ''man-made disaster'' to its missteps on Hurricane Katrina... ''The political fallout is potentially enormous,'' said Ross Baker, a political science professor at Rutgers University. ''This is a program that touches tens of millions of people. And anytime that a government program is working poorly, and is affecting adversely so many people, it's bound to have huge consequences.''...

Republicans fear that, if the problems aren't fixed quickly, their political woes could mount, especially once enrollment closes May 15. Some Republicans, inside and outside the White House, have discussed moving back the deadline until later in the year...

''It's a very complicated program. I'd like to ask the president to explain it himself,'' said Paul C. Light, a professor of public service at New York University. ''If the president and the Cabinet had to enroll, I think they might soon find out that this is a very tangled web of promises that are difficult to unravel.'' And it isn't only older voters that plan supporters have to fear. ''A lot of parents are getting help from their kids, many of whom are baby boomers. And they also vote,'' Light said.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Medicare-Woes.html

[Oversea Visitor]

1. The only way to make a buck

is to take it from other
IN this case, the elderly

So now you make the buck
Happy now bush you dumb arsehole

Being the President of the US is not about making buck for friends you idiot.
The GOP is pretty brainless how can they commit political sucide with all this move
Bush not only destroy American Prestige
He going to destroy the GOP
The political democratic process in US
And finally bring ruin to the US.

It all there in the future staring right in your face.
And the country is in turmoil so divided.
Sad, what a miserable specimen of a human bring can do if he is the President of a powerful country.
Elect your leader with care and its not about which party but more of the person core values.

[NoFederales]

2. The deadline date will most likely be moved back, say after the Nov

elections, for further review and recommendations. It cannot be fixed and THEY don't care, but probably did not figure on as much outcry in an election year. With all the other negative publicity that has to be swept under the rug, pushing back the deadline with some inane reason seems a good bet.

NoFederales

[MO_Dem]

4. Yeah, they will do a "Nixon"

their campaign will be all about "fixing" the medicare drug bill as soon as they get re-elected and hope that nobody notices that if not for them, we would not have this horrible joke upon our elderly and disabled friends and relatives.

:grr:

[ninkasi]

3. The twit can't explain it...

because he would have to tell the truth...the whole program is designed to funnel billions to the pharmas, and take billions from the elderly and disabled. I agree with this,

"'It's a very complicated program. I'd like to ask the president to explain it himself,'' said Paul C. Light, a professor of public service at New York University. ''If the president and the Cabinet had to enroll, I think they might soon find out that this is a very tangled web of promises that are difficult to unravel.'' And it isn't only older voters that plan supporters have to fear. ''A lot of parents are getting help from their kids, many of whom are baby boomers. And they also vote,'' Light said.

Especially note the last part, about the adult kids who are helping, and who also vote. This is a double whammy, in that they will, if they are caring kids, have to step up to the plate and help their elderly parents, but will also see their own bleak futures ahead of them. I'm glad this is tied to firmly around the necks of Republicans, since Bush made such a big deal about it being HIS signature piece of legislation.