The Politics of the Drug Bill (Socialized drug bill should outrage every Republican) John Bender

Sierra Times ^ | 6/29/2003 | John Bender

[TLBSHOW]

The Politics of the Drug Bill

By John Bender

The Bush/Kennedy socialized drug bill speeding through Congress should outrage every Republican. I'm not talking about this being a way for sleazy politicians to buy votes from selfish people who want to shift their personal responsibility to others. That fact is obvious. I'm talking about the future politics of this. This has the potential to ruin the Republican Party for decades.

Nobody is talking about the fact that in both the House version of this abomination, and in the Senate version, the coverage doesn't take effect until 2006. This is an important point to Bush. In fact, for him, it is the most important part of the package.

You see, 73% of seniors have drug coverage through corporate retirement packages, union retirement packages, or through plans they buy. These seniors now have better coverage than either bill offers at lower cost.

Like they did after MediCare passed, corporations, insurance companies and unions are going to shift their retirees to the government plan. They will shift hundreds of millions of dollars of expense to the taxpayers. But the seniors will get less coverage at a higher cost.

These seniors will be pissed-off big time!

Bush knows they will be angry and that they will be looking for revenge. Back in the '80s the government hurt the seniors with a drug bill and they went to war to get it repealed. That time they blamed Democrats. Democrats took the credit for passing that bill and they took the hits when seniors found out they got robbed.

This time Bush is taking the credit. The liberal Republicans and the Bush cultists are fawning over him for this, saying he is taking the issue away from the Democrats. They are not looking down the road.

In 2006 Bush will be beyond the reach of the wildly angry seniors. If all goes as planned, he will be in the middle of his second and last possible term of office. There is nothing the voters can do to him at that point.

So, who will take the hit for this? Republicans will, of course.

Republicans will lose both houses of Congress in 2006 and Hillary will be unbeatable in 2008. She will take office with huge majorities in both houses of Congress. Bush will retire on a bloated pension and make millions on the speaking circuit, hailed by the leftist elite media as another FDR.

Bush will have bought his reelection not just with our children's future, but with the careers of Republicans in Congress too. He will trade the future of the party and the nation for his personal political gain.

It is tempting to pass this off by saying that the Republicans who are going along with Bush, and voting for this socialistic abomination, will be getting what they deserve. However, the thought of Hillary in the White House with big majorities in both houses of Congress takes the satisfaction out of taking revenge on the cowards.

Some of the people who are now praising Bush for taking the issue away from the Democrats, will be stunned and wondering what happened when the issue sweeps Democrats into power. The Bush cultists will make excuses for him or say it is a secret plan Bush has to wipe out the Democrat party. All of us will be stuck in a socialist America, with Hillary as president, and Democrats running Congress.

Thanks George. Enjoy your second term.

[TLBSHOW]

FYI ping.....

[Mears]

I'm a senior who is already pissed off.

I have excellent drug coverage through my former employer and when I read some of the details of the new plan I was horrified,it stinks.

My prescription drug usage is minimal at this time but if things change I will be in worse shape with the new plan than the old.

[St.Chuck]

Well, political ramifications aside, now that the pandora's box has been opened, it will be very easy to, quoting Clinton, "fix it," make it better, more agreeable to the recipients of government bought drugs. Americans will become as dependent on this program as they are social security.

[TLBSHOW]

The Bush cultists will make excuses for him or say it is a secret plan Bush has to wipe out the Democrat party.

-John Bender-

so deport any thoughts.........

[AlaskaErik]

The Politics of the Drug Bill (Socialized drug bill should outrage every Republican)

Actually, it should outrage every America. The politicians cave to the old because they vote in large numbers. It is unfortunate that so many old people think the government owes them. Had these people taken better care of themselves physically, they might not need so many drugs. Had they also planned better for their retirement, they wouldn't need this either. Unfortunately, taking responsibility for one's self is a thing of the past for most people.

[BlackbirdSST]

Mostly, it's not a case of "need", it's a case of "want". The greedy geezer's who have condo's in retirement villages in multiple States, just can't get enough of my money. Just look at who want's to give it to them! Blackbird.

[deport]

so deport any thoughts.........

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Yep..... just keep wondering why 'showboy' can't live up to his statement about providing info he said he would? Big talker no action that 'showboy' ........

Now come on and get on board and support FR in reelecting President Bush and other Republicans. Are you gonna stay in opposition to that? If so seems it may be along hot campaign for you.... How's your senator doing in NY? Are you out helping him or trying to get him defeated?

[jocko12]

Bush veto this drug bill and save the tax payers some money!!!!

[TLBSHOW]

Have you not heard?

The Republicans want a Rat democrat to stay as Senator in New York????

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/937966/posts?page=

[TLBSHOW]

BUSH'S DEMOCRATIC ALLY

With conservative House Republicans rebelling against the administration-backed prescription drug bill, President Bush summoned to a White House photo opportunity a New York Democratic congressman -- Rep. Steve Israel -- who has broken party ranks to support the GOP proposal.

A photo of Bush seated in the Cabinet Room with Israel on his right and liberal Republican Rep. Nancy Johnson of Connecticut on his left was distributed nationwide by the Associated Press and put on the White House Web site. "I'm so honored that members of both political parties from the House of Representatives have come to discuss our mutual desire," said the president.

Israel was elected to Congress in 2000 from the Long Island district represented by Republican Rick Lazio before his Senate run against Hillary Clinton. Republicans contested this district in 2000 and 2002, but Israel's invitation to the White House suggests that the GOP now regards Israel as a safe Democratic incumbent.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20030628.shtml

[deport]

Have you not heard?

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Correct... not heard a word about the info you were going to provide... Guess the 'showboy' is all talk and not action..... 'no action jackson'

[SUSSA]

Bush will not veto this, no matter how bad it is for the nation. He wants to use this to gain more liberal votes. His highest priority is his career. He will do anything he thinks will help him.

[TLBSHOW]

Medicare Bottom Line May Signal Conservatives Hitting Bottom


http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=\Politics\archive\200306\POL20030630c.html

Bush and Republicans must be held to the fire....

[deport]

Bush and Republicans must be held to the fire....

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So why don't you get on board and help FR in its goal to reelect President Bush and other Republicans?

Huh, 'no action jackson' can't provide the info he said he would..... lol.

[TLBSHOW]

Why don't you get on board and help hold Bush to the fire instead of being his helper by helping him slam Big Govt down our throats.

As Michael Reagan says....about republicans and democrats...

"The only reason that the retirees are going to get this entitlement is because they vote and both Democrats and Republicans want to say they care," Reagan told me. "But they don’t care about our children and grandchildren who will ultimately bare the burden. Young people don’t take the time to vote and therefore they pay—big time."


Conservative Activists Rebel Against Drug Plan

http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=1102

[deport]

As Michael Reagan says....

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LOL..... not interested in what Michael Reagan says.....

No action jackson.... can't find the info.... LOL. nor get on board and support FR's objectives....

[tnlibertarian]

So why don't you get on board and help FR in its goal to reelect President Bush and other Republicans?

First of all, when did you get elected to speak for FR and set its goals? If I recall correctly: Free Republic is an online gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the web. We're working to roll back decades of governmental largesse, to root out political fraud and corruption, and to champion causes which further conservatism in America. And we always have fun doing it. Hoo-yah!
It seems to me that this prescription drug benefit is just the sort of government largesse FR was set up to fight. Since this president is the one calling for it, it is only natural that people who truly espouse conservatism take him to task over this program.

Secondly, why don't you get over this little temper-tantrum that you have been having for the last week or so concerning SHOW? It is getting real freaking old. What did he do to you? Steal your lunch money? Please unwad your panties and quit wasting valuable forum space with your petty little tirades.

[grania]

The politicians cave to the old because they vote in large numbers. It is unfortunate that so many old people think the government owes them. Had these people taken better care of themselves physically, they might not need so many drugs. Had they also planned better for their retirement, they wouldn't need this either. Unfortunately, taking responsibility for one's self is a thing of the past for most people.

I don't think the article supports your contention. According to what is written, 74% of Seniors already have health care plans; this will just replace them with something that is more expensive and worse than what they have.

"Had these people taken care of themselves better physically..." Gosh. Who are "these people"? People in their 50s and early 60s seem to be a pretty healthy group on the whole, and one of the concerns of those in charge of their insurance is that they can see decades of longevity. Smoking's down, and contrary to the hype, people dying of lung cancer (an incurable, inoperable disease) actually save the government and private plans lots of money by not living until they are in their 80s and 90s.

Most people I know worry about an ultimate solution, solyent green kind of thing if wrong-minded people end up in office. This government "solution" is really about stopping people from going on their own with natural solutions and common sense. It's really a boondoggle for the big pharmaceutical companies. One of the reasons Hillary is hated is that she tried to cram a "big brother" health program down the country's throat. Where was the clamor for a plan like this? There wasn't one.

[TLBSHOW]

Bush is in trouble with REAL conservatives......