Hate to say it, but Ryan bill will not be a factor in 2012.

[Dawgs]

Unfortunately, too much time between now and then.

[shraby]

1. All Seniors don't have alzheimers..they WILL remember the

Ryan plan and have no intention of letting anyone take away medicare..and they DO vote in large numbers. Whether it's an issue in the news or not, it will remain an issue with the Seniors.

[Dawgs]

14. Okay. n/t

[LynneSin]

16. 18 months is still plenty of time to turn things around

In general the voting population tends to get distracted very easily over the silliest of things. Kerry should have been a SHOO-IN win in 2004 but the Swift-boaters were able to slander Kerry's character enough to make the race close and to steal the election in Ohio.

[Harmony Blue]

2. If Ryan had decided to lay low maybe

but as of today he has doubled down, and appears to not be backing away from it. The longer Ryan's plan is supported, the anger with the older voters WILL linger till 2012.

[Johonny]

9. I agree

[w8liftinglady]

3. I dunno- refer to Allen West's interaction with his constituents

um- we old farts DON'T forget.


http://bloggingblue.com/2011/05/20/republican-rep-allen-west-i-will-take-my-hands-off-medicare-when-there-is-no-medicare/

During a recent town hall meeting with his constituents in Pompano Beach, Florida, “Tea Party” Republican Rep. Allen West drew the ire of elderly constituents in his district who were upset with Rep. West’s vote in favor of the 2012 Paul Ryan budget, a budget that would end Medicare and Medicaid as we know them.

During the town hall meeting, Rep. West was asked by one constituent why he went along with almost all of his Republican counterparts in the House in voting to end Medicare. In response, West asserted he didn’t “think it destroys Medicare.” West’s response drew hoots from the audience, along with a chant of, “hands off Medicare! Hands off Medicare!” Rebutting the chant, West said, “I will take my hands off Medicare and when there is no Medicare, then I will come see you sir.”

Here’s video of the exchange.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Beautiful to read

Especially with all of those snow bird and full time Senior citizen residents in Florida . . .

[southernyankeebelle]

5. I disagree with you. Years ago a dem (can't remember his name) but

he wanted to make some cuts to senior citizen programs. He was greeted outside of congress with senior citizens beating on the hood of his car. He reconsider.

[liberal_mama]

6. Seniors hold grudges! My 89 year old Grandmother is very sharp!

:) She's furious about the Ryan plan.

[DemocracyInaction]

7. It and WI will be there

This isn't some idiotic flash in the pan like yelling about "no new taxes". This is survival. The elderly are going to stew over this until they can run to the polls and get rid of the "threat" AND blue collar workers are in a rage all over because they now know that repukes are hunting them like prey and trying to destroy their ability to live. Even the repukes fucking abortion/gays/guns and garp will not make this go away.

[fredamae]

8. I respectfully disagree.......

To suggest that WE will "forget" is the deciding factor, just as all the koch's money gathered into all the different "candidates baskets" won't help them, either ;)

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. Wrong.

This issue is not going away, until or if the GOP drops it.

[rurallib]

11. I think not only seniors, but all voters will remember this one.

[Blue-Jay]

12. Hate to say it, but you're incorrect.

[Dawgs]

15. You have no idea what will happen between now and then, so we'll see who's incorrect.

Do you really believe there will be no other issue before next November?

[Blue-Jay]

21. I didn't mention any forthcoming issues.

I just doubt that the current issues will be forgotten and never mentioned. Especially the Ryan proposal.

[jwirr]

13. He can hide and drop the plan all he wants but we have the campaign

ads that will include the evidence that it is not the Democrats who want to destroy our safety net.

[treestar]

17. Campaigns always refer to the opponent's votes on prior issues

Far older things that that get dwelt upon in campaigns, too.

[Dawgs]

19. Never said otherwise. I just don't think this will be one of the big issues by next November.

It's too bad it's not closer, because after last night it could be used to sweep out many, if not most, House Republicans.

[LoZoccolo]

18. Even if not, we could use the momentum to push another issue.

We may be able to do that several times before the election.

But I think the Democrats will bring it up, and the Ryan bill can be used against the Republicans.

[Eagle Mall]

20. You're not too bright if you think this issue is going away anytime soon.

It will be brought up again and again until election day.

Each Repig who voted for it will be forced to defend that vote or flip-flop.
Neither option will help them. They are trapped.

[SoDesuKa]

22. Ending the Social Safety Net

Republicans seem to be committed to ending the social safety net that Democratic administrations have built up since Roosevelt. They think it makes America uncompetitive because it's too expensive. But they don't balk at extravagant defense expenditures.

Ryan may or may not be a factor in 2012, because Republicans will find a way to blunt it. However, they'll still be committed to dismantling the social safety net. Our tasks as Democrats is to make sure the voters don't forget that they're cutting their own throats if they vote Republican.