Rep. Bachmann Expresses "Caution" About GOP Medicare Scheme: "We Must Keep Our Promises" | Political Correction

Rep. Bachmann Expresses "Caution" About GOP Medicare Scheme: "We Must Keep Our Promises"

7 hours and 28 minutes ago — Matt Finkelstein

All over the country, voters are speaking out against the budget plan authored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), which would turn Medicare into a privatized voucher system and impose a heavier burden on seniors. As a result of the backlash, some Republicans, including Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Newt Gingrich, have attempted to distance themselves from the proposal even though House Republicans already passed it.

Yesterday, another leading conservative took a step back from the controversial GOP plan. In a blog post at RedState.com, potential 2012 candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) explained that she supported Ryan's budget despite concerns about the Medicare scheme. "We must keep our promises to those who receive Medicare benefits," she wrote, "and those who are nearing the age of Medicare eligibility."

The House of Representatives recently signified their support of the Republican's 2012 budget proposal which will reduce the federal budget by $4.4 trillion. It does so by cutting out unnecessary spending. It would defund ObamaCare of its unspent pre-appropriated funds which are an astonishing tens of billions of dollars that were buried in the bill by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Plus, it would make the tax code flatter and simpler, making Tax Day a less dreaded time of the year. I supported that budget blueprint, though I've expressed caution about how we approach the issue of Medicare. We must keep our promises to those who receive Medicare benefits, and those who are nearing the age of Medicare eligibility. Our challenge is to reduce the soaring amounts that government spends on health care, without burdening those who are most vulnerable.

Although other Republicans maintain that the Ryan plan will "save" Medicare, the reality is that it would make life much more expensive for future seniors, while potentially raising costs for current retirees as well. As Bachmann hinted toward, it does not "keep our promises" to those nearing the age of retirement, not to mention their children and grandchildren.

Still, Bachmann supported the troublesome plan when it was introduced in the House. Despite her description of the budget as a "blueprint," Bachmann voted for actual legislation that could, at least in theory, become law.

Bachmann previously has suggested that we need to "wean everybody off" Medicare and Social Security, and she rose to prominence by positioning herself to the right of the Republican leadership. The fact that she would temper her support of the Ryan plan now is further evidence that the backlash is real — and Republicans know it. WHY DOES ANYONE LISTEN TO HER? I JUST DON'T GET IT

Rep. Bachmann Expresses "Caution" About GOP Medicare Scheme: "We Must Keep Our Promises" | Political Correction

Rick Scott Rebuffed By Florida Republicans On Anti-Union Bill

WASHINGTON -- A controversial bill targeting public unions in Florida appears headed for failure, despite a last-minute lobbying effort by Republican Gov. Rick Scott (R).

The legislation, SB 830, would prohibit state and local governments from automatically deducting union dues from employees' paychecks. Union members would also have to give written consent before their dues are used for political purposes.

According to a report in the Miami Herald, Scott made rare personal visits to the offices of four Republican state senators and pleaded with them to support the measure on Wednesday. All of them, however, were unpersuaded.

"I'm a conservative Republican," said Charlie Dean, one of the senators who met with Scott. "I support the governor and I support the president and speaker. But I also reserve the right somehow to make up my own mind."

Dean aide Kevin Sweeny further told The Huffington Post that the senator objected to the fact that the bill only singles out public employee unions for making automatic paycheck deductions. Indeed, in Florida, there are 364 groups or agencies that can take money out of employees' wages for charitable donations, life insurance, taxes and other deductions. Thrasher's bill, however, focuses only on union dues.

"[Sen. Dean's] main objections are that he doesn't believe it's his money to say; it should be left alone," said Sweeny. "What he would really like to see is if we're going to take away the option for the state to take the money out of the checks, we should do it across the board."

After meeting with Scott, one of the other GOP senators, Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, said of the bill, "It creates division and turmoil, and doesn't create jobs." >>>>>> ANTI UNION-I JUST DONT GET IT<<<<<<

Story continues below

Advertisement

Happy Now?

Sure, it might seem like "giving in" to the enemy -- responding to right-wing hysteria and releasing the long-form birth certificate. But here's why the move is a canny one:

1. It keeps the issue in the news. Even more so, it gives it that much more visibility. And let's face it, this is a huge loser for the GOP. What better way to show how out-of-touch and irrational Republicans are, than to rub this in their face.
2. The media has already treated the birthers harshly, equating them with the truthers (and deservedly so). But while the truthers never got buy in from any progressive of note, the birthers have been fully embraced by top conservative leaders. Heck, Donald Trump has based his presidential flirtations entirely on birtherism. So if the media was harsh to the birthers before today, how do you think they'll react when the headlines are: Trump Adviser: Even If Long-Form Birth Certificate Is Genuine, It Doesn’t Prove Anything.
3. The narrative now is how Republicans deal with this outburst of crazy. It's the kind of GOP vs GOP story we rarely get. Enjoy it.
4. The entire birther movement used to revolve around the single question: "Why won't Obama release his long-form birth certificate". While their claims were idiotic, that demand had a smidgeon of reasonableness to it. Now that Obama has verified the obvious, the birthers have lost all semblance of rationality. At this point, those who cling to their Kenyan theories are beyond redemption. (As we all knew they were.)

Look, there's a reason why key Republican strategists are trying to shut this thing down.

Top Republicans who see the “birther” movement as a potential harm to their party are again disavowing the disproven conspiracy theory that Barack Obama was born overseas and is ineligible to be president.

The head of the RNC has been waging a losing battle for his party's sanity:

The chairman of the Republican National Committee said Tuesday President Obama was born in the U.S., with Reince Priebus' comment coming as questions about Obama's birthplace face a revival, fueled lately in part by Donald Trump, who is mulling a 2012 GOP presidential bid.

Karl Rove, among others has minced no words about it:

Former Bush adviser Karl Rove is calling on GOP politicians to avoid falling into the “birther” movement trap and to stop fueling rumors that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. “Within our party, we’ve got to be very careful about allowing these people who are the birthers and the 9/11-deniers to get too high a profile and say too much without setting the record straight,” Rove said Wednesday night on Fox News.

Rove spun his own fantastic conspiracy theory -- that the White House was behind the birther rumors. That was patently ridiculous at the time, but no longer. The White House has smartly thrown kerosene on the fire. Rove is right, the issue is impossible for the media to cover without making Republicans look insane. So the more Team Obama can focus attention on the fact that just a third of Republicans believe Obama is a U.S. citizen, the better for Team Blue.
So today's move was nothing short of brilliant.  WHY SHOULD THIS MATTER? I JUST DON'T GET IT

Bookstores Are Dying

"You've Got Mail" that cute movie with the much anticipated reunion of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. He the son of a man building super bookstores offering food and drink and she the owner of a small family owned bookstore. When her sales dropped dramatically there was no choice but to close the store. I can recall sitting in the darkened theater and hearing people sniffling when the store door closed for the last time. "It's just business," he told her. "Nothing personal, just business."

And now years later independent bookstores are a rare find and chain stores are dropping like flies. Case in point, Borders Bookstores. There was a large one near my home that when my daughter was young we would visit weekly. What fun it was in the Children's Department to sit on the floor, she in my lap, reading.
.
What is the fascination with a Kindle? Ok, if you travel for work and are an avid reader an electronic reader is easier to carry. But to have e readers for kids? Are you kidding me? Visualize this it's bedtime, little Mary or Johnny climbs into bed and instead of picking up a book hands mom an e reader. 

The problem I have with this is kids wont have pictures to look at or pages to turn. Page turning was a way to travel along with the story whether it be down a rabbit hole or flying off on a balloon to a magic land. How does a parent cuddle with their child under a comforter holding a piece of plastic with a lit screen? Do parents really have to encourage this new fad? I just don't get it.

 

Supreme Court refuses to Fast Track Health Care Hearings

Well, health care law opponents, looks like you’re just going to have to be a little more patient. Virginia’s Attorney General, Ken Cuccinelli had made a request that the Supreme Court make a ruling on the oft-debated “Obamacare” sooner rather than later, skipping federal appeals courts. However, the judges have put the kibosh on the idea. Aw, but we wanted to know the high court’s findings on the constitutionality of the sweeping legislation nooooooooow!
Cuccinelli’s argument was that postponing the decision any longer was leading to “crippling and costly uncertainty.” States have already begun enforcing some of the law’s new measures, meanwhile a number of states are working on their appeals.

Who would deny  health care access to everyone? I just don't get it.

Trump Doesn't Vote For 21 Years

A man brags that he has more money than God and if he runs for president of these United States he will win..But if this same man hasn't bothered to vote in more than twenty years why does he want to be POTUS?  I just don't get it.

Moses and ABC

Tonight The Ten Commandments is airing on ABC at 7pm. Why does the network show a movie about the old testament the night before Easter? Ok so it is still passover, but in years past Moses in all his cinerama glory has been shown during the Easter season. Can anyone explain the reason for this? I just don't get it.

The dropbox for water bill payments was locked?

A peak of Spring was in the air today. We took a ride around the lakes, making our way toward the town hall that includes the police department, library, parks and recreation offices and city hall. Water bill in hand I climb stairs to the landing where to the drop box for water bill payments. It was screwed shut. Don't get me wrong, the drive was lovely. But why make paying a bill so difficult? I just don't get it.