Emergency Action Alert--Stop biggest expansion of govt. (Medicare drug plan) since LBJ

Wall Street Journal/Stephen Moore | November 20, 2003 | Wall Street Journal/Stephen Moore

[sruleoflaw]

A bump for stopping this boondoggle.

[luckydevi]

I hope the democrats kill this bill, even if for all the wrong reasons

[sruleoflaw]

Right On -- We can only hope the Dems kill this bill. They would be doing America and our seniors a favor twice over (killing a lousy measure and maybe even getting blamed for killing it). The GOP should be ashamed of this measure. Look at Dick Armey's comments. Wow, do they spell it out.

[carlson]

Agreed, I too hope that the Dems kill this bill.(I think I heard that there may be a fillabuster (sp) ). I dont care if Dems or Repubs. get blamed, this thing must die a quick death.

[sruleoflaw]

You're right. I care less about blame for killing this debacle than getting it dead. I've heard John Kerry and John Edwards are coming off the campaign trail to join Teddy Kennedy in trying to filibuster this measure. This may be the only time in my life when I've agreed with these three liberals -- though our motivations are VASTLY different.

[mansion]

The Democrats - America's last, best hope!

I should be smiling and laughing at making such a ridiculous comment, but I'm not. Thank you, GOP, for disappointing me yet again.

[Huck]

Unless the GOP were going to take the position that Medicare should be scrapped--political suicide--they SHOULD modernize medicare to include RX drugs. Like it or not, Medicare is medical insurance, and it's ridiculous to offer medical insurance and not cover RX drugs.

My understanding of this issue is that the GOP takes the position that Medicare cannot be scrapped--it is not politically possible. Therefore, they have accepted the responsibility of modernizing it and have tried to inject competition and market forces into it. These are the reasons the Dems oppose it.

I can't say I can argue with the GOP position. It's easy to sit here and complain, but the fact is that America wants to keep medicare. Given that, I am not so sure this is a bad bill. But hey, what do I know?

[sruleoflaw]

I don't have a problem with including drugs -- for the truly needy. Why should I or any other Freeper pay for Warren Buffet or Bill Gates' drug bills?

This bill is ridiculous. Please read some of the lengthy post. 81 percent of seniors are satisfied with THEIR CURRENT DRUG PLANS. The Republicans' so-called market reforms are highly speculative...and the liberals think those reforms can be killed -- SO WHAT ARE WE LEFT WITH?

ALSO, only $1 of every $16 spent will go toward providing drugs that seniors wouldn't have otherwise received. Wow, does this sound like typical government efficiency.

[texastoo]

"But hey, what do I know?"

Did you know that in this medicare bill $1 billion is to pay hospitals for illegal aliens? Can you believe that the Republican congress would put aid for illegals in Medicare? This will only encourage more illegal immigration.

My understanding is that Medicare is for seniors. Now it is also for illegal aliens. Mexico will be sending all their patients across the border via ambulance. Americans will be waiting in line behind them in the ERs. The illegals get everything for free.

[Huck]

Did you know that in this medicare bill $1 billion is to pay hospitals for illegal aliens?

Sigh. No, I didn't know that.

[avenuesalan]

When you say that you do not have a problem with providing free drugs for the truly needy,

. . . you mean Viagra I assume?

[cpst12]

>>Adjusting for inflation, this amounts to the largest four-year expansion of government in more than 50 years

Brought to us by the republicans...how many apologists for this administration and republican in congress will defend this unprecedented expansion of the federal government by saying, "yea but if the democrats were in power, it would be even worse"...somehow I doubt it. The republicans operate better as a minority party blocking what the democrats want to do...once republicans get into power the spend money faster than the democrats ever could.

Borrow and spend republicans, versus tax and spend democrats...what a sorry choice this country has. God help us.

[RJCogburn]

As I have commented on this topic in other threads, this bill is soooooo bad that even the loyal Bushbots are absent in its defense

[snopercod]

Yup. If clinton had proposed this, FR would be in an uproar. But since it "our guys"...silence.

This thread got 24 replies.

This one got 16 replies.

And The one you posted when President Bush announced that he would sign the bill only got six.

Frankly, it's an embarassment.

[snopercod]

Add "was" after "it".

[RightRules]

a *bump* for this thread.

We need to be VERY attentive to this issue. Most of us have parents or other loved ones who are seniors (and we all will be seniors eventually, G*d willing).

My wife is a health care financial consultant and has been raging about this subject all year. Sadly, if GWB signs this, we won't see her at the polls next year.

I understand the politicking... GWB being able to, a) take the issue of rx plan for seniors off the table for the next election; or, b) being able to blame the rat-controlled Senate for blocking it.

I'm willing to concede the possiblity that the plan is to get the bill signed, then clean up the mess later. But, this bill has the stench of special interest and big gubmit all over it. I'm becoming very disappointed in the President I've supported tenaciously.

[snopercod]

This bill has a built-in automatic tax-increase clause. Whenever costs go up, so do payroll deductions.

[nonliberal]

That is because of all the Bushbots on this site. Anything he supports is sacrosanct and his words are akin to holy writ.

[mansion]

If clinton had proposed this, FR would be in an uproar. But since it "our guys"...silence.

That is very astute. But if you are smart enough to notice it, you are also smart enough to know it will fall on deaf ears in this forum...