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Romney has right RX for McCain
Seattle Times ^ | August 3rd | Froma Harrop

Posted on 08/03/2008 10:19:48 AM PDT by ConservativeMan55

We who obsess over universal health coverage may soon confront a startling development: The only candidate on a major-party presidential ticket to have proposed and implemented a universal plan could well be a Republican. I speak of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, now high on the list of John McCain's possible running mates.

(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008veep; mccain; rino; romney
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1 posted on 08/03/2008 10:19:48 AM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: Miss Didi; eyedigress; libbylu; Mikey_1962; villagerjoel; Plutarch; GOPyouth; BunnySlippers; ...
McCain should "Pick Mitt" for VP!



Mitt Romney Ping!

Freepmail me if you'd like on or off this list!

2 posted on 08/03/2008 10:22:04 AM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: ConservativeMan55

Picking Romney is a big loser for McCain.


3 posted on 08/03/2008 10:23:05 AM PDT by raptor29
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To: ConservativeMan55

My wife doesn’t follow politics at all. Today she said she hoped Romney was VP?!?. If he can move her, he can move many middle of the roaders.


4 posted on 08/03/2008 10:23:07 AM PDT by Soliton (> 100)
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To: ConservativeMan55
"In the year since Romney helped launch the Massachusetts health plan, the following has happened: The number of uninsured has fallen by 340,000 people, half the total; out-of-pocket costs have dropped significantly; and the benefits are better. With 93 percent of Massachusetts residents now insured, the plan approaches universal nirvana."

5 posted on 08/03/2008 10:23:59 AM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: Soliton

Your wife knows what she’s talking about.

Romney already has the base in place.. ready for an election year fight.


6 posted on 08/03/2008 10:24:44 AM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: ConservativeMan55
CNN Primary Exit Polls from California.

CNN Primary Exit Polls from Florida

CNN Primary Exit Polls from Michigan

CNN Primary Exit Polls from Minnesota

7 posted on 08/03/2008 10:27:06 AM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: Soliton

It's the hair. Does it every time. Sorta like that other liberal shuckster, Bill Clinton.

8 posted on 08/03/2008 10:27:37 AM PDT by big'ol_freeper (A vote for third party is a vote for nObama)
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To: ConservativeMan55

Reality will settle in. A business man is needed in the WH. Our Democrat Gov in Tennessee is kicking ass as far as smart goes.


9 posted on 08/03/2008 10:28:38 AM PDT by eyedigress
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To: big'ol_freeper

Thanks for the constructive criticism. Who do you suggest?


10 posted on 08/03/2008 10:29:03 AM PDT by Soliton (> 100)
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To: ConservativeMan55
Mitt's a flip-flopping liberal...
11 posted on 08/03/2008 10:30:12 AM PDT by theanonymouslurker
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To: raptor29
Picking Romney is a big loser for McCain.

Not according to Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, or anyone in my large happy family or any one of my many friends. But perhaps it would frustrate you and a handful of other people on Free Republic.


12 posted on 08/03/2008 10:31:39 AM PDT by Zevonismymuse
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To: ConservativeMan55
The Cato Institute has a different take: Lessons from the Fall of RomneyCare:

Before RomneyCare was enacted, estimates of the number of uninsured in Massachusetts ranged from 372,000 to 618,000. Under the new program, about 219,000 previously uninsured residents have signed up for insurance. Of these, 133,000 are receiving subsidized coverage, proving once again that people are all too happy to accept something "for free," and let others pay the bill. That is in addition to 56,000 people who have been signed up for Medicaid. The bigger the subsidy, the faster people are signing up. Of the 133,000 people who have signed up for insurance since the plan was implemented, slightly more than half have received totally free coverage. It’s important to note that the subsidies in Massachusetts are extensive and reach well into the middle class-available on a sliding scale to those with incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. That means subsidies would be available for those with incomes ranging from $30,480 for a single individual to as much as $130,389 for a married couple with seven children. A typical married couple with two children would qualify for a subsidy if their income were below $63,000.

What we don’t know is how many of those receiving subsidized insurance were truly uninsured and how many had insurance that either they or their employer was paying for. Studies indicate that substitution of taxpayer-financed for privately funded insurance is a common occurrence with other government programs such as Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). Massachusetts has attempted to limit this "crowdout" effect by requiring that individuals be uninsured for at least six months before qualifying for subsidies. Still some substitution is likely to have occurred.

The subsidies may have increased the number of Massachusetts citizens with insurance, but as many as 400,000 Massachusetts residents by some estimates have failed to buy the required insurance. That includes the overwhelming majority of those with incomes too high to qualify for state subsidies. Fewer than 30,000 unsubsidized residents have signed up as a result of the mandate. And that is on top of the 60,000 of the state’s uninsured who were exempted from the mandate because buying insurance would be too much of a financial burden.

\

As does the Wall Street Journal: The Price of RomneyCare.

Mr. Patrick had already bumped up this year's spending to $869 million, $144 million over its original estimate. Liberals duly noted that these tax hikes are necessary because enrollment in Commonwealth Care is much higher than anticipated. But of course more people will have coverage if government gives it to them for free. The problem is that someone has to pay for it.

Thus the extra tab of $129 million, which may need to go higher because it relies on uncertain federal funds from Medicaid. For now, Mr. Patrick wants one-time (yeah, right) charges of $33 million on insurers and $28 million on providers, plus some shuffling of state funds. The balance comes from an estimated $33 million boost in the state's "pay or play" tax: If businesses don't offer "fair and reasonable" insurance to their employees, they get hit.


13 posted on 08/03/2008 10:31:43 AM PDT by maryz
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To: big'ol_freeper

Ron Paul is still running I hear. Nader and some guy with a bag of carbon might be out there also. It’s going to be a long time before RR comes back.


14 posted on 08/03/2008 10:33:47 AM PDT by eyedigress
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To: maryz
And that is on top of the 60,000 of the state’s uninsured who were exempted from the mandate because buying insurance would be too much of a financial burden.

A failure is not a excuse to quit. It is an opportunity to try again, and again, until we get it right. I admire that Mitt had the guts to begin working on something most people have been avoiding. Sooner or later we have to address the problem of health care as an entitlement. Obviously there are problems with this early effort, just as the Wright brothers had some trouble staying a loft in their prototype flying machines.

15 posted on 08/03/2008 10:37:40 AM PDT by Zevonismymuse
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To: Soliton

Yup. Although I think Mitt’s extremely competent and would help out a lot in economic issues, his charisma may actually be a good offset to that of the “Messiah”.

And if McCain does not pick him for VP, I hope he’s appointed treasury sec. or given some other Cabinet position.


16 posted on 08/03/2008 10:39:30 AM PDT by Joann37
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To: Soliton

Sarah Palin...a conservative. Romney’s a liberal. One on the ticket is enough.


17 posted on 08/03/2008 10:43:53 AM PDT by big'ol_freeper (A vote for third party is a vote for nObama)
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To: big'ol_freeper

She’s as good choice a choice as any. I hate them all. All of them. My wife is a better indicator of American popular choice than a conservative FReeper however.


18 posted on 08/03/2008 10:51:11 AM PDT by Soliton (> 100)
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To: maryz

I agree that Romney care would be a failure of epic proportions country wide.
Personally, I can’t stand it.

However, I also think that McCain/Romney wins in November, and that no other ticket comes close to that prospect.

NObama 08


19 posted on 08/03/2008 10:52:49 AM PDT by bill1952 (Obama-the only one who can make me vote McCain McCain-the only one who can make me stay at home)
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To: Soliton

The American people would get behind Romney.

He’s Conservative, Intelligent, a brilliant debater and moral!


20 posted on 08/03/2008 10:54:38 AM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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