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Why rely on common sense policy changes described here by Mr. Ryan, when you can sell unicorns? The liberal media just can bring themselves to admit their infatuation with Obama’s paternalistic ideology of statism was never attainable. Ed Morrissey points out that in Obama’s “math”, we can all expect reductions in health insurance:
“How many people are getting insurance through their jobs right now? Raise your hands. All right, well, a lot of those folks, your employer, it’s estimated, would see premiums fall by as much as 3000%, which means they could give you a raise!”….Barack Obama
While I agree with Mr. Ryan on the direction healthcare reform needs to go, I have to wonder: Where were the Republicans like Ryan during the 6 of 8 years that the Republicans controlled Congress under President Bush? Healthcare has needed reform for many years before Obama, so where were the guys like Ryan? Answer: Serving their corporate masters. They could have been demanding coverage for pre-existing conditions and they didn’t. They could have mandated tort reform and they didn’t. They could have given hospitals immunity from tort for refusal to treat illegal aliens, but they didn’t. They did NOTHING.
They sat on their hands and did NOTHING. Now, the very same Republican leadership expects me to help them win back Congress?
I’ll vote Republican…just not for the Republicans currently in office. Time for them to go, too.
“They sat on their hands and did NOTHING. Now, the very same Republican leadership expects me to help them win back Congress?”
This is not entirely true Scott. Bush attempted to reform Social Security and all he got was this.
Before Obama was elected no Republican envisioned another mulit-trillion dollar entitlement, or the expense. Before Obama was elected, there was no “healthcare crisis”. It was created by Obama and the enabling media. What congress is doing today is subverting the will of the majority of the public, who understand this is NOT healthcare insurance reform, but another power-grab by the same bureaucrats that brought us unfunded Social Security, with even Medicare going broke soon. Should we, (conservatives), provide an avenue for Republicans to return to the status quo? Certainly not. But, I will vote for any Republican that promises to stand firm for a repeal of this new entitlement, (if passed), work towards all entitlement reform, and the kind of REAL healthcare reforms as Mr. Ryan presents, and shrink the size of government.
Scott also seems to have forgotten the prescription drug benefit that President Bush passed through congress with more bipartisan support than ObamaCare is getting.
Interesting to note also that Medicare Part D (the prescription drug benefit for seniors) is also coming in under budget.
So Scott, clearly you were WRONG about no GOP action when Bush was in the White House. Perhaps you would like to modify your Dem talking point and try again.
“Perhaps you would like to modify your Dem talking point and try again”
When you don’t have a strong counter argument, you resort to an insult. Classy…
So, you’re saying that in 6 years of complete Republican control, the prescription benefit was the only thing that needed to be achieved?
Also, you’re saying that we don’t have a problem with underlying healthcare costs? Tort reform, rising hospital costs, rising pharm costs, unisured costs to hospitals…I could go on. These must be addressed as they are driving the cost of insurance to the range of unaffordability. Anyone with knowledge of the healthcare industry recognizes this and it’s reached a breaking point.
So, to clarify my point….if your gas tank is empty, your car is sputtering, and you only add a gallon of gas, guess what? You really haven’t added anything.
Let’s fill the tank, but do it with logical thinking, not Obamacare thinking.
Do I feel our current Republican leaders can do this? No, I’m not convinced. It’s time for new republican leadership that can work independently of the lobbies that support them.
“This is not entirely true Scott. Bush attempted to reform Social Security and all he got was this. ”
You’re correct. My comment was directed at healthcare and really was intended to accent the squandered opportunity to do great things. I appologize for myu quick triggered keyboard.
“Before Obama was elected, there was no “healthcare crisis””
I respectfully disagree. I believe that it was never put at the forefront of the legislative process. There has long been an issue with helath costs spiraling out of control, in what I believe is crisis propotion. My very own policy is quickly becoming unaffordable and I’ve never been sick.
I don’t fault the insurers, but I believe we must, for the benefit of all, reign in the uderlying costs of healthcare or we are in deep trouble. This includes malpractice insurance and uninsured illegals, which are costing us billions.
There’s a parallel here: housing. Most Americans favor homeownership, but uncritical pro-homeownership policies (lax lending standards, puny down payments, hefty housing subsidies) helped cause the financial crisis. The same thing is happening with health care. The appeal of universal insurance — who, by the way, wants to be uninsured? — justifies half-truths and dubious policies. That the process is repeating itself suggests that our political leaders don’t learn even from proximate calamities.
Another parallel .. using consensus.
You’d think after the “consensus” that said Iraq had stockpiles of WMDs was proven untrue, that politicians would be slow to warm to a “consensus” on AGW .. but they didn’t learn from that set of proximate calamities either.
@Scott Factor: You made a claim that the GOP in control of Congress did nothing on health care. That claim is false and it’s also a widely used Dem talking point.
There’s no insult here except yours to the intelligence of readers who know better.
“There’s no insult here except yours to the intelligence of readers who know better”.
I forgot…you are the Great All Knowing One. How silly of me to think that anything you disagree with is a Democrat talking point. How silly of anyone to believe that because the Republicans passed , “…the prescription drug benefit that President Bush passed through congress with more bipartisan support than ObamaCare is getting..” , that they haven’t proven themselves as a major force in healthcare reform.
Even when Clinton was in office, malpractice insurance was soaring, due to frivolous lawsuits.
But, nobody in Congress wanted to upset the trial lawyers so nothing was done…Even when republicans had the power to do it.
When Clinton was in office, illegal aliens began to enter the country at an alarming rate. Hospitals are required to treat them without insurance, and the cost is passed on to us in the form of higher costs to our insurance companies.
Congress doesn’t want to angry the hispanic voters, so they did not address this…. Even when Republicans had the power to do it.
The cost of healthcare new technology soared as treatment improved. Well, Congress wouldn’t want to upset the pharmaceutical lobby, so nothing was done….Even when Republicans had the power to do it.
Private coverage does not operate in a competitive environment, nor does it spread risk as it should, because insurance does not compete across state lines. The insurance companies do not want this level of competition, but would rather continue with state-level regulation as is has shown to be more profitable.
Congress wouldn’t want to upset the healthcare companies, so this has not been addressed…Even when Republicans had the power to do it. In fairness, I’m not sure if the 10th amendment would allow addressing it.
Fraud and abuse of the fee-per-service system is rampant.
Congress won’t challenge this because the AMA would crucify them…Even when Republicans had the power to do it.
All of this existed while Clinton was in office. So, in order to fix these problems, Republicans did what? Nothing more than Democrats. The only reason they even bothered to try and fix Px costs for seniors is because the seniors are the largest voting block. Otherwise, they haven’t addressed it.
Now, all of a sudden, they have a plan. How convienient.
Next elecion, I’ll vote Republican. I’ll also actively seek true conservatives to run against the incumbent republicans, because they had a chance and did…excuse me….very little.
Have the last word. I’m sure it will include some sort of personal insult.
I don’t have the specific research materials in front of me at the moment but to say that the Republicans “did nothing” on health insurance and health care reform under President Bush is misleading.
The thing to remember in all of that is that the Republicans never enjoyed a majority large enough to overcome a filibuster.
So, be clear on the fact that an effort was made. That effort, however, was obstructed.
I will post the details of what I am referring to later on today.
Mike, scottfactor is not a Dem (check out his blog). Nor is he saying anything that many of us haven’t already said before… the GOP doesn’t have a stellar record in the past upon which to rest thair laurels either.
Yes, Bush tried to fix SS… now officially in the red, which is why Obama’s collecting money for health care, transferring it to SS “lockbox” BWAHAHAHAHA, and not giving benefits for years. Medicare D is a debatable accomplishment. Yes, under budget, but was there a better way to do this? Again, it was subsidy… not reduction of the costs of acquiring those drugs.
And yes that despite their domestic spending, which made many of us unhappy, it is Scrooge’esque compared to the leaps and bounds in spending since the Dems took both chambers in Jan 2007, compounded by one year of living in the “remade” America of the “da one”.
But honestly, the health care efforts made by the GOP in the past still never faced head on the problem that looms before us now… the overhead costs to doctors, hospitals, labs, clinics, etc. Between both parties, they’ve managed to put varying degrees of welfare bandages on the problem in the past.
But the time for ponzi schemes as a cure is over. You know that I have equal opportunity disdain for Congress… both sides of the aisle. It’s always been a choice of the lesser of two evils. And unfortunately “less evil” isn’t good enough to cut it now.
There needs to be honest cost reform… not insurance premium price fixing… for health care because the baby boomers are set to break the piggy bank. There also needs to be tax cuts in combination with huge slashing of Congressional spending and welfare programs. Allow more cash in the pockets of the citizens, and then let the local and state governments decide what welfare nets are appropriate for their communities. This nanny federal government and out of control expansion simply has to stop.
Do I trust the GOP that have been career politicians more than I do the Dems of the same? Nope. Sorry. There isn’t a “ain’t the GOP great” bone in my body.
The nation’s citizenry needs to give both party elected officials a serious whoopin’ and “time out” for their spoiled brat spending ways. And we need to hold their feet to the fire. They work for us… not the other way around. It’s apparent we may need to be reminding them of this daily for decades to come. If we send an incumbent back, it had better be with strict instructions for fiscal discipline and private enterprise friendly legislation and regulations. Or they need to come home.
I’m wondering if the new rallying cry for the future Congressional members may be “recall!” For I fear…. no make that happy to see…. that consituents of both aisles are losing patience with the arrogance of the elected elite.
We need to return to having the feds handle only the Constitutional duties allowed for Congress, and start undoing this very wide “for the general welfare” crap they’ve been building on since the New Deal days. And that’s going to take some runnin’ em out of the beltway… in both parties.
On Ryan in particular, I have scanned his voting records for his 10 years in the House. And I do agree that he’s worthy of keeping in the forefront as a more responsible lawmaker. I haven’t delved into some specific hot button issues over the past decade. But I’ll settle for redeemed good behavior from here, forward. I think that may be easier with those with less time in the beltway, than those that are the dinosaurs.
Patvann
14 years ago
Think about it this way Mike…
Let’s gather all the great (and very workable) ideas and proposals we here at FA have brought to the fore in the past year…Most of them tested in vociferous counter-prevailing manner by several who did not agree with us. We must agree we learned our weak-points, and made adjustments where needed, from one or two out of thousands of comments….
Well, we might have if they had one..but I can’t remember one. 🙂
Now let’s find a Politician…pick your favorite Republican, and hand him a “Mata-ized” condensed version of our thoughts and musings, and have him present it to the rest of the caucus.
I’ll bet he couldn’t get a majority of them to sign on. Or even 10.
So while we can’t demand perfection, one must admit that we have a long way to go to truly fixing the method of payment for healthcare service, and many Republicans are still not willing to rock the boat enough to make any real difference. Many are still connected to the “wrong” side of things. We must get them to avert their gaze upon the muse known as “lobby”, and get it back onto us.
Thankfully, many have.
But we still have 30 years worth of shit to clean out of the Augean Stables, and it’s past time for the Republicans as a whole, to shovel a bit faster. It’s nice to see them show some motivation now that they’ve been whipped a bit. As they have recently seen, as soon we see them sweating a bit, a bunch of us start pitching in to help them as reward. It’s getting too important now.
We owe it to our kids to keep the Republican’s shoveling, and never turn our backs again.
I would really like to know what the republicans could have done without the filibuster proof CONgress.
The Dems stopped any progress for anything the Republicans put forward.
Remember they even filibustered Court Appointments that only happened once in history before, and that was from both sides of the aisle because the appointee was a crook.
Not to say the Republicans were Angels, but without a majority that is filibuster proof, nothing was going to get done.
I guess they could has used the Slaughter Rule or some variation, which is un-Constitutional. The Republicans play by the rules set out in the Constitution, the Dems do not.
Surely, stix, you are not suggesting that the only way any Congress can be effective for the nation is by a “filibuster proof” majority. That is a very unhealthy situation for us, IMHO… and not a common occurrence. Nor should it be.
@MataHarley: I never said Scott was a Dem, only that he was repeating false Dem talking points.
Despite your pooh-poohing of GOP Congressional and Bush accomplisments the fact that they did pass Medicare Part D cannot be ignored.
Again, I’d like to point out that this is one area of government reform of health care that is actually UNDER BUDGET.
It’s too easy for enablers of the Democrat Party to say “both sides do it” whatever “it” happens to be at the moment. It’s mostly a false claim as it is in this case.
@MataHarley: I never said it was a healthy situation but it was what it was. the Dems blocked anything Bush did,and then blamed him for doing nothing and then took over CONgress under the impression that Bush did nothing.
The Dems had their stratergery to destroy Bush to get back into power to push forward their Far Left Agenda and it worked.
Again I am not saying the Republicans were awesome, hell they spent like drunk sailors in Bangkok.
But to blame Bush for the obstruction from the Left on any meaningful reform is talking point straight from Daily Kos or the MSM
stix, unless it is something that requires a simple majority, it always takes some Dems/GOP to switch over in support or aversion when you are not a supermajority. Therefore the “Dems” blocked nothing without the support of some of the GOP as well on their side.
Simple as that
Do not revere the imagination and fantasy. Please examine the realities.
So since the Republicans did not have a Super Majority, and could not pass something when the Dems would block anything the Republicans tried, it is Bush’s fault or the Republicans fault.
The Democrats had this planned out to blame Bush for everything under the Sun so they would win the elections in 2006 and 2008. They would not allow anything to go thru unless they wanted it to.
Look the Left have tried for ever to get their take over of every day life, and after AlGore lost, the so-called moderates in the Democratic Party lost out to Obama and the far left in their party. They have Reid and Pelosi as the leaders for Christ sakes.
I am not saying this is a good thing or the way it should be, but the Democrats and the Far Left in their party had put a line in the sand to try and take over everything.
I am looking at the realities of how far Left the Democrat Party has become and how they will stop at nothing, Constitution be damned to get their take over of the Health Care Industry.
stix: So since the Republicans did not have a Super Majority, and could not pass something when the Dems would block anything the Republicans tried, it is Bush’s fault or the Republicans fault.
good gawd, stix… get a grip. I said no such thing, and I happen to think quite highly of Bush. So where are you coming up with this BDS crap?
This “friendly fire” sniping will end up being the death of the GOP devotees, ya know. I just happen to see a reality that, apparently, you party faithful don’t. And I assure you, I’m not only not alone, but we mixed conservatives, that can actually criticize the GOP without throwing them under the bus, way outnumber you of the blind followers.
If you think that a supermajority is required (by the GOP or Dems) to get anything done, then we’re in a world of hurt. I don’t want GOP super control any more than I want Dem super control. And it’s even worse when that spread is held in both chambers.
I was explaining why the Left in this country stopped any kind of progress in SS, HC, Housing reform.
Did I ever say the Republicans are white as the wind driven snow. NOOO
I think they screwed the pooch and spent like drunken sailors.
I do not think it is good that a Super Majority is needed to do anything, look the Dems control both Houses and the Presidency with Super Majorities, and they can not get anything done, and thank God for that
The art of politics is to negotiate and gets thing done, but the country and the parties are so divided now that nothing is done, and in some ways I do think that is good, the less legislation the less they screw us.
And when did we start hearing the cry for Health Care Reform, when Obama started talking about it. Not to say that it was hunky dory or anything, but where was the crisis back when Bush was in the Presidency. I do not remember hearing a big outcry from the MSM about it then, but since it was one of Obama’s big campaign pledges, we hear about it all the time.
Do not get me wrong, I think that yes the Republicans should have done something, and tried, But when you have the other side stop anything you try, look at letting someone invest 2% of SS into the market and to the Democrats and the MSM the world would come to an end thru privatization of SS.
The Republicans lost the elections because they became what they campaigned against. Big spending idiots and I blame a lot of that on Bush, since he could not find the veto pen for ever.
Sorry for not coming by more often here. I have been very busy, I still read most of your posts. Just do not have time to come by and leave comments all the time.
@MataHarley called Stix: “you of the blind followers. ”
Tsk, tsk, tsk!
Mata!
You can’t say something like that then bemoan “friendly fire.”
Now, as penance for that comment I’d like to read a long exposition of all the good things you feel the GOP leadership has achieved. No half hearted pats on the back. And if you can’t come up with a dozen good things to say you aren’t trying and your grade for this semester will suffer.
@stix1972: Well if you want to waive Mata’s penance it’s up to you. Frankly, knowing how quick she is with words, the assignment wouldn’t take her long to complete. Perhaps she could find two dozen nice things to say about the GOP leadership without breaking a sweat on her keyboard.
@Scott Factor: Bush did try to tackle healthcare reform in 2006 (Go back to his SotU address), which included expansion of health savings accounts and slowing spending on Medicare and Medicaid. He warned that “By 2030, spending for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security alone will be almost 60 percent of the entire federal budget.”
But he got no support from Democrats. In 2007, he proposed changes to tax deductibility of health insurance and the Affordable Choices Initiative. But he encountered stiff opposition (having lost the Congress in 2006).
There needs to be honest cost reform… not insurance premium price fixing… for health care because the baby boomers are set to break the piggy bank. There also needs to be tax cuts in combination with huge slashing of Congressional spending and welfare programs. Allow more cash in the pockets of the citizens, and then let the local and state governments decide what welfare nets are appropriate for their communities. This nanny federal government and out of control expansion simply has to stop.
Do I trust the GOP that have been career politicians more than I do the Dems of the same? Nope. Sorry. There isn’t a “ain’t the GOP great” bone in my body.
The nation’s citizenry needs to give both party elected officials a serious whoopin’ and “time out” for their spoiled brat spending ways. And we need to hold their feet to the fire. They work for us… not the other way around. It’s apparent we may need to be reminding them of this daily for decades to come. If we send an incumbent back, it had better be with strict instructions for fiscal discipline and private enterprise friendly legislation and regulations. Or they need to come home.
I’m wondering if the new rallying cry for the future Congressional members may be “recall!” For I fear…. no make that happy to see…. that consituents of both aisles are losing patience with the arrogance of the elected elite.
We need to return to having the feds handle only the Constitutional duties allowed for Congress, and start undoing this very wide “for the general welfare” crap they’ve been building on since the New Deal days. And that’s going to take some runnin’ em out of the beltway… in both parties.
Unless a party of conservatives has the presidency and a supermajority in Congress (which you agree is a bad thing in either party, comment #21), how do you suppose we’d ever be able to scale things back by any “radical” degree? In the long haul, over a stretch of time with modest proposals and cultivating a national consensus of support, maybe.
If you think that a supermajority is required (by the GOP or Dems) to get anything done, then we’re in a world of hurt.
I don’t think stix ever was implying the need for a supermajority; but for the kind of massive overhaul Scott Factor seems to think the GOP failed to accomplish, I think stix was pointing out the GOP would face the kind of strong outcry the Obama team is hearing from Americans today.
Certainly when you have idealogues in the WH and leaders in Congress who wish to pursue sweeping ideological changes on the quick, an unhealthy supermajority is what’s needed for traumatic change to occur.
BRob
14 years ago
Great ideas, Ryan! Fine you put your noggin to a problem. My only question:
WHY THE HELL DIDN’T YOU CONS DO ANYTHING ABOUT HEALTH CARE FROM JANUARY 2001 THROUGH JANUARY 2007?
You had the House, the Senate and the White House and you did not see fit to pass a single damn bill putting forth all these swell con ideas! Did you people just realize there was a problem when Obama decided to actually do something about it? Where was Bush from 2001 through 2009 as far as solutions are concerned?
This is why the GOP has no credibility on this issue: when they had the power to solve the problem, they did nothing but MAKE IT WORSE by passing the drug bill that they failed to pay for. But now, a clear nine years after the GOP took total control of the government, they want us to “start over”” and wait some more, or pass their swell bill instead of the one that has been in the works for the past year? Er, no. Cons, you had your chance and blew it. You have no credibility on health care and that is why it is going to pass.
BRob
14 years ago
Wordsmith —
You wrote the following: “Bush did try to tackle healthcare reform in 2006 (Go back to his SotU address), which included expansion of health savings accounts and slowing spending on Medicare and Medicaid. . . . But he got no support from Democrats.”
This is a cop out. The GOP had the House and the Senate in its hands from 2001 through 2006 and did nothing on health care. Bush can say whatever he wants, but it is Congress that writes the bills. Why would he have waited until an election year five years into his administration to address this problem? And why didn’t the GOP Congress do anything to solve the problem? You guys control both houses of Congress and the White House . . . but you blame the MINORITY for you not getting anything done! Priceless!
@stix1972, we agree on the drunken sailors. I think where our communications differ is I do not bring Bush into the equation at all. Congress is in charge of the purse strings, and legislation. All Bush could have done was say yea, nay, veto. It’s got to get to his desk first.
And yes, I recognize that the Dems did all they could to block reform for SS, immigration and healthcare because… just like the GOP today… they have their own versions of what constitutes “reform”.
Differences are healthy. Supermajorities are not. What needs to be done when the “differences” are a slight majority is effective compromise. And apparently, the public needs to be vocal more often. We, as a nation, are also guilty of complacence. We were not so verbal back in those days, save INRE Iraq, Afghanisan, the global Islamic jihad movement, and our military. Our voices were never raised INRE health care, SS or immigration. So the GOP majority did not have the wind in their sails from the American public, as they do as a minority now.
And, BTW, it’s about time your butt returned to FA. I have noticed your absence for quite some time. But I believe Skye occasionally keeps us up to date on your blogging antics.
Oh yes, I did use the phrase “party faithful” (which is Mike’s A thru and thru… LOL) because you defended what is, in some ways, the undefendable. Yes, the GOP tried INRE health care. They also tried INRE Fannie/Freddie. As a majority, they also lost that battle. Again I come back to rallying the nation for the wind in the sails. Or both parties coming to an acceptable compromise.
Unlike billy bob, who gives a pass to the Dems at every opportunity, they are also culpable for those years. Because it would have only taken a few 8-10 to break party ranks to address something important. They did not. But at this point, I’m not likely to give anyone in Congress a pass. @Patvann and I are on the same page. The GOP are not really willing to rock the boat when it’s crucial, and they need to be herded over. And you can’t count a voting bloc of an inconsequential minority as being risky.
@Mike’s America, I owe you no “penance” for my opinion. Please don’t hold your breath…. I like you too much. LOL So I guess I’ll just accept a failing grade from Mike’s A’s political science class. And considering that @stix1972 can only come up with five or so, I guess he’ll be getting a C, right?
And no… wouldn’t waste my time on the same request from billy bob either. Jus’ so you don’t think I’m playing non-favorites..
You had the House, the Senate and the White House and you did not see fit to pass a single damn bill putting forth all these swell con ideas! Did you people just realize there was a problem when Obama decided to actually do something about it? Where was Bush from 2001 through 2009 as far as solutions are concerned?
I’ll take a half and half on that criticism. I can’t say Bush didn’t have intent and put forth ideas that the GOP didn’t carry thru in legislation. But if you think that this health care, as well as SS, is a “new” problem since Bush, you are delusional. So your criticism is disingenuous with your short term memory of current events. The nation and it’s woes did not begin with Bush. And in fact, the Medicare and SS woes would not exist if not for your nanny welfare party legislation to begin with. Care to take credit for that? I’d guess not.
Plus you might want to consider that every Dem proposal that you cheer on actually exacerabates the situation. So I’d say if you find glory and redemption in making a bad situation worse, it’s not surprising coming from you… mentally ensconced in your billy-bob-in-wonderland rabbit hole.
As a counter, I suggest that both parties are guilty of not addressing the base problem of rising overhead costs to medical providers over the past decades. And, to this date, they still aren’t… save the GOP in these last months.
(there you go, Mike… one kudo for the GOP, and two if you count my praise at the health care “summit”. That ought to bring me up to an F+ from you….)
@BRob: As well as being stupid and totally lacking in any credibility or intellectual integrity you appear to have a reading problem. Perhaps you should spend more time trying to actually read the comments above before you leave another ignorant comment such as that above.
I am sorry I have been away for so long. But I have been doing many things. I am now a webmaster for The Minority Report http://theminorityreportblog.com . I have been trying to figure out how to move from Drupal to a WPMU blog and it has been kicking my A**
And Skye has been saying things behind my back LOL
@MataHarley: I think we can agree on many things that the Republicans and Bush did not do, hell they were more or less Democrats when they controlled the House, Senate, and Presidency.
I do disagree that Bush did nothing to try and help HC and many things, and I wish that the country was not so divided, but if you look at the reality of what is going on in DC, it is inevitable that nothing is going to get done in either direction. I have been there a few times and can see that the Parties are more divided than they have been in a long time.
I will try and come by more and comment. I am done with most of the coding for the Minority report. Do not ever go to WPMU it is a bitch.
Also if you guys want to see me, I will probably be on the Patriot Caucus tour, at least I think I will be http://www.thepatriotcaucus.net/
I am sure I will at least be in the Las Vegas one.
I see there is another troll amongst us BROB LOL I never get the trolls at my blog 🙁
Well, stix… I’m glad you miss us in your life. Because we all miss you.
And that being said, maybe you don’t come thru often, and are out of practice on the comment thing. But I assure you, there was no “blame Bush” in my comments INRE ScottfFactor. It was all Congress. Nowhere did I expand it to Bush. I have my problems with both during their terms. But my disdain for those years is far more elevated for the GOP Congress than it was Bush. I do know how to separate the two branches of power, and their ability to perform.
@MataHarley: Yes Mata I do think that if BROBBLEHEAD had challenged you to make a list you might have complied. I’ll just file away your recalcitrance in this regard for a rainy day.
I don’t understand why you would think it is a pejorative to be considered among the “party faithful.”
Conservatism is the heart of the GOP and it’s only home so to constantly attack the GOP is also to undermine conservatism.
Yes Mata I do think that if BROBBLEHEAD had challenged you to make a list you might have complied. I’ll just file away your recalcitrance in this regard for a rainy day.
Mike, do not think you can answer, predict my actions, on my behalf. I know exactly what I would respond to from billy bob, or any one because I know who I am. You do not. Nor are you me.
File away what you desire, and what makes you comfortable.. However do not rest on your laurels to assume you know how I will respond, and to whom, at any given time. That is way beyond your pay grade.
@stix1972: After one year of Obama/Reid and Pelousy’s ultra leftism I am done making apologies for the GOP. Besides, half the people insisting the GOP is nearly as bad as the Dems are only doing so to validate the Dems extremism not bring the GOP back to it’s conservative roots.
I am proud to be GOP and I do not have to apologize for it.
This is a cop out. The GOP had the House and the Senate in its hands from 2001 through 2006 and did nothing on health care. Bush can say whatever he wants, but it is Congress that writes the bills. Why would he have waited until an election year five years into his administration to address this problem?
Not exactly. Jim Jeffords’ defection in 2001 made it 49 Republicans to 50 Democrats in the Senate. It wasn’t until 2003 that Dems lost Senate majority, following the ’02 Elections.
Yes, healthcare is a “crisis” that has only been getting worse; but it also didn’t become a “crisis” until Obama decided to make it into priority #1 over unemployment. No one wants the status quo; but the sky is not going to fall simply because we don’t pass healthcare reform immediately. If Obama decided to make social security reform his pet project, you would be harping about why didn’t Bush do anything about the growing social security dilemma. Why couldn’t more have been done on immigration? Why couldn’t he have solved the problem with Iran and North Korea in his short 8 years? Why didn’t he do more on Israel-Palestine? Why didn’t he do more on this global warming crisis? Why, why, why?
Give me a break. My comment was directed at Scott Factor’s overexaggerated broad-brushing claim.
Bush prioritized fighting Islamic jihadis as the centerpiece of his agenda after 9/11. And to that end, he kept America safe and handed over the tools created under his leadership for the next administration’s usage in battling Islamic terrorism.
Ok…I’ll list one thing the GOP always seems to get right: The Second Amendment to the Constitution.
Ain’t it funny that all the liberal lefty Brady Bill supporters suddenly stepped away from their attempts to take away our Second Amendment rights as soon as they figgured out it hurt them in the elections?
The first thing I ask any candidate for is to see his NRA card.
No, it’s not the only issue. But you’re either supporting my rights or you’re not.
Why rely on common sense policy changes described here by Mr. Ryan, when you can sell unicorns? The liberal media just can bring themselves to admit their infatuation with Obama’s paternalistic ideology of statism was never attainable. Ed Morrissey points out that in Obama’s “math”, we can all expect reductions in health insurance:
LINK
How can Paul Ryan expect to compete with figures like this, especially when the media refuses to challenge their “appointed One”.
I surely can’t imagine it surviving courts and looming GOP majorities, some of whom may be elected on a “Repeal ObamaCare” pledge-
Good stuff, linked at Reaganite Republican
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2010/03/is-it-dead-yet.html
While I agree with Mr. Ryan on the direction healthcare reform needs to go, I have to wonder: Where were the Republicans like Ryan during the 6 of 8 years that the Republicans controlled Congress under President Bush? Healthcare has needed reform for many years before Obama, so where were the guys like Ryan? Answer: Serving their corporate masters. They could have been demanding coverage for pre-existing conditions and they didn’t. They could have mandated tort reform and they didn’t. They could have given hospitals immunity from tort for refusal to treat illegal aliens, but they didn’t. They did NOTHING.
They sat on their hands and did NOTHING. Now, the very same Republican leadership expects me to help them win back Congress?
I’ll vote Republican…just not for the Republicans currently in office. Time for them to go, too.
http://www.scottfactor.com
This is not entirely true Scott. Bush attempted to reform Social Security and all he got was this.
Before Obama was elected no Republican envisioned another mulit-trillion dollar entitlement, or the expense. Before Obama was elected, there was no “healthcare crisis”. It was created by Obama and the enabling media. What congress is doing today is subverting the will of the majority of the public, who understand this is NOT healthcare insurance reform, but another power-grab by the same bureaucrats that brought us unfunded Social Security, with even Medicare going broke soon. Should we, (conservatives), provide an avenue for Republicans to return to the status quo? Certainly not. But, I will vote for any Republican that promises to stand firm for a repeal of this new entitlement, (if passed), work towards all entitlement reform, and the kind of REAL healthcare reforms as Mr. Ryan presents, and shrink the size of government.
Scott also seems to have forgotten the prescription drug benefit that President Bush passed through congress with more bipartisan support than ObamaCare is getting.
Interesting to note also that Medicare Part D (the prescription drug benefit for seniors) is also coming in under budget.
So Scott, clearly you were WRONG about no GOP action when Bush was in the White House. Perhaps you would like to modify your Dem talking point and try again.
“Perhaps you would like to modify your Dem talking point and try again”
When you don’t have a strong counter argument, you resort to an insult. Classy…
So, you’re saying that in 6 years of complete Republican control, the prescription benefit was the only thing that needed to be achieved?
Also, you’re saying that we don’t have a problem with underlying healthcare costs? Tort reform, rising hospital costs, rising pharm costs, unisured costs to hospitals…I could go on. These must be addressed as they are driving the cost of insurance to the range of unaffordability. Anyone with knowledge of the healthcare industry recognizes this and it’s reached a breaking point.
So, to clarify my point….if your gas tank is empty, your car is sputtering, and you only add a gallon of gas, guess what? You really haven’t added anything.
Let’s fill the tank, but do it with logical thinking, not Obamacare thinking.
Do I feel our current Republican leaders can do this? No, I’m not convinced. It’s time for new republican leadership that can work independently of the lobbies that support them.
“This is not entirely true Scott. Bush attempted to reform Social Security and all he got was this. ”
You’re correct. My comment was directed at healthcare and really was intended to accent the squandered opportunity to do great things. I appologize for myu quick triggered keyboard.
“Before Obama was elected, there was no “healthcare crisis””
I respectfully disagree. I believe that it was never put at the forefront of the legislative process. There has long been an issue with helath costs spiraling out of control, in what I believe is crisis propotion. My very own policy is quickly becoming unaffordable and I’ve never been sick.
I don’t fault the insurers, but I believe we must, for the benefit of all, reign in the uderlying costs of healthcare or we are in deep trouble. This includes malpractice insurance and uninsured illegals, which are costing us billions.
Robert Samuelson writes:
Another parallel .. using consensus.
You’d think after the “consensus” that said Iraq had stockpiles of WMDs was proven untrue, that politicians would be slow to warm to a “consensus” on AGW .. but they didn’t learn from that set of proximate calamities either.
@Scott Factor: You made a claim that the GOP in control of Congress did nothing on health care. That claim is false and it’s also a widely used Dem talking point.
There’s no insult here except yours to the intelligence of readers who know better.
“There’s no insult here except yours to the intelligence of readers who know better”.
I forgot…you are the Great All Knowing One. How silly of me to think that anything you disagree with is a Democrat talking point. How silly of anyone to believe that because the Republicans passed , “…the prescription drug benefit that President Bush passed through congress with more bipartisan support than ObamaCare is getting..” , that they haven’t proven themselves as a major force in healthcare reform.
Even when Clinton was in office, malpractice insurance was soaring, due to frivolous lawsuits.
But, nobody in Congress wanted to upset the trial lawyers so nothing was done…Even when republicans had the power to do it.
When Clinton was in office, illegal aliens began to enter the country at an alarming rate. Hospitals are required to treat them without insurance, and the cost is passed on to us in the form of higher costs to our insurance companies.
Congress doesn’t want to angry the hispanic voters, so they did not address this…. Even when Republicans had the power to do it.
The cost of healthcare new technology soared as treatment improved. Well, Congress wouldn’t want to upset the pharmaceutical lobby, so nothing was done….Even when Republicans had the power to do it.
Private coverage does not operate in a competitive environment, nor does it spread risk as it should, because insurance does not compete across state lines. The insurance companies do not want this level of competition, but would rather continue with state-level regulation as is has shown to be more profitable.
Congress wouldn’t want to upset the healthcare companies, so this has not been addressed…Even when Republicans had the power to do it. In fairness, I’m not sure if the 10th amendment would allow addressing it.
Fraud and abuse of the fee-per-service system is rampant.
Congress won’t challenge this because the AMA would crucify them…Even when Republicans had the power to do it.
All of this existed while Clinton was in office. So, in order to fix these problems, Republicans did what? Nothing more than Democrats. The only reason they even bothered to try and fix Px costs for seniors is because the seniors are the largest voting block. Otherwise, they haven’t addressed it.
Now, all of a sudden, they have a plan. How convienient.
Next elecion, I’ll vote Republican. I’ll also actively seek true conservatives to run against the incumbent republicans, because they had a chance and did…excuse me….very little.
Have the last word. I’m sure it will include some sort of personal insult.
@Scott Factor: The matter you reference IS a Democrat talking point and it is also FALSE.
I don’t understand why you persist in pointing attention to your error but that’s your problem.
I don’t have the specific research materials in front of me at the moment but to say that the Republicans “did nothing” on health insurance and health care reform under President Bush is misleading.
The thing to remember in all of that is that the Republicans never enjoyed a majority large enough to overcome a filibuster.
So, be clear on the fact that an effort was made. That effort, however, was obstructed.
I will post the details of what I am referring to later on today.
Mike, scottfactor is not a Dem (check out his blog). Nor is he saying anything that many of us haven’t already said before… the GOP doesn’t have a stellar record in the past upon which to rest thair laurels either.
Yes, Bush tried to fix SS… now officially in the red, which is why Obama’s collecting money for health care, transferring it to SS “lockbox” BWAHAHAHAHA, and not giving benefits for years. Medicare D is a debatable accomplishment. Yes, under budget, but was there a better way to do this? Again, it was subsidy… not reduction of the costs of acquiring those drugs.
And yes that despite their domestic spending, which made many of us unhappy, it is Scrooge’esque compared to the leaps and bounds in spending since the Dems took both chambers in Jan 2007, compounded by one year of living in the “remade” America of the “da one”.
But honestly, the health care efforts made by the GOP in the past still never faced head on the problem that looms before us now… the overhead costs to doctors, hospitals, labs, clinics, etc. Between both parties, they’ve managed to put varying degrees of welfare bandages on the problem in the past.
But the time for ponzi schemes as a cure is over. You know that I have equal opportunity disdain for Congress… both sides of the aisle. It’s always been a choice of the lesser of two evils. And unfortunately “less evil” isn’t good enough to cut it now.
There needs to be honest cost reform… not insurance premium price fixing… for health care because the baby boomers are set to break the piggy bank. There also needs to be tax cuts in combination with huge slashing of Congressional spending and welfare programs. Allow more cash in the pockets of the citizens, and then let the local and state governments decide what welfare nets are appropriate for their communities. This nanny federal government and out of control expansion simply has to stop.
Do I trust the GOP that have been career politicians more than I do the Dems of the same? Nope. Sorry. There isn’t a “ain’t the GOP great” bone in my body.
The nation’s citizenry needs to give both party elected officials a serious whoopin’ and “time out” for their spoiled brat spending ways. And we need to hold their feet to the fire. They work for us… not the other way around. It’s apparent we may need to be reminding them of this daily for decades to come. If we send an incumbent back, it had better be with strict instructions for fiscal discipline and private enterprise friendly legislation and regulations. Or they need to come home.
I’m wondering if the new rallying cry for the future Congressional members may be “recall!” For I
fear…. no make that happy to see…. that consituents of both aisles are losing patience with the arrogance of the elected elite.We need to return to having the feds handle only the Constitutional duties allowed for Congress, and start undoing this very wide “for the general welfare” crap they’ve been building on since the New Deal days. And that’s going to take some runnin’ em out of the beltway… in both parties.
On Ryan in particular, I have scanned his voting records for his 10 years in the House. And I do agree that he’s worthy of keeping in the forefront as a more responsible lawmaker. I haven’t delved into some specific hot button issues over the past decade. But I’ll settle for redeemed good behavior from here, forward. I think that may be easier with those with less time in the beltway, than those that are the dinosaurs.
Think about it this way Mike…
Let’s gather all the great (and very workable) ideas and proposals we here at FA have brought to the fore in the past year…Most of them tested in vociferous counter-prevailing manner by several who did not agree with us. We must agree we learned our weak-points, and made adjustments where needed, from one or two out of thousands of comments….
Well, we might have if they had one..but I can’t remember one. 🙂
Now let’s find a Politician…pick your favorite Republican, and hand him a “Mata-ized” condensed version of our thoughts and musings, and have him present it to the rest of the caucus.
I’ll bet he couldn’t get a majority of them to sign on. Or even 10.
So while we can’t demand perfection, one must admit that we have a long way to go to truly fixing the method of payment for healthcare service, and many Republicans are still not willing to rock the boat enough to make any real difference. Many are still connected to the “wrong” side of things. We must get them to avert their gaze upon the muse known as “lobby”, and get it back onto us.
Thankfully, many have.
But we still have 30 years worth of shit to clean out of the Augean Stables, and it’s past time for the Republicans as a whole, to shovel a bit faster. It’s nice to see them show some motivation now that they’ve been whipped a bit. As they have recently seen, as soon we see them sweating a bit, a bunch of us start pitching in to help them as reward. It’s getting too important now.
We owe it to our kids to keep the Republican’s shoveling, and never turn our backs again.
I would really like to know what the republicans could have done without the filibuster proof CONgress.
The Dems stopped any progress for anything the Republicans put forward.
Remember they even filibustered Court Appointments that only happened once in history before, and that was from both sides of the aisle because the appointee was a crook.
Not to say the Republicans were Angels, but without a majority that is filibuster proof, nothing was going to get done.
I guess they could has used the Slaughter Rule or some variation, which is un-Constitutional. The Republicans play by the rules set out in the Constitution, the Dems do not.
Surely, stix, you are not suggesting that the only way any Congress can be effective for the nation is by a “filibuster proof” majority. That is a very unhealthy situation for us, IMHO… and not a common occurrence. Nor should it be.
@MataHarley: I never said Scott was a Dem, only that he was repeating false Dem talking points.
Despite your pooh-poohing of GOP Congressional and Bush accomplisments the fact that they did pass Medicare Part D cannot be ignored.
Again, I’d like to point out that this is one area of government reform of health care that is actually UNDER BUDGET.
It’s too easy for enablers of the Democrat Party to say “both sides do it” whatever “it” happens to be at the moment. It’s mostly a false claim as it is in this case.
@MataHarley: I never said it was a healthy situation but it was what it was. the Dems blocked anything Bush did,and then blamed him for doing nothing and then took over CONgress under the impression that Bush did nothing.
The Dems had their stratergery to destroy Bush to get back into power to push forward their Far Left Agenda and it worked.
Again I am not saying the Republicans were awesome, hell they spent like drunk sailors in Bangkok.
But to blame Bush for the obstruction from the Left on any meaningful reform is talking point straight from Daily Kos or the MSM
stix, unless it is something that requires a simple majority, it always takes some Dems/GOP to switch over in support or aversion when you are not a supermajority. Therefore the “Dems” blocked nothing without the support of some of the GOP as well on their side.
Simple as that
Do not revere the imagination and fantasy. Please examine the realities.
@MataHarley:
So since the Republicans did not have a Super Majority, and could not pass something when the Dems would block anything the Republicans tried, it is Bush’s fault or the Republicans fault.
The Democrats had this planned out to blame Bush for everything under the Sun so they would win the elections in 2006 and 2008. They would not allow anything to go thru unless they wanted it to.
Look the Left have tried for ever to get their take over of every day life, and after AlGore lost, the so-called moderates in the Democratic Party lost out to Obama and the far left in their party. They have Reid and Pelosi as the leaders for Christ sakes.
I am not saying this is a good thing or the way it should be, but the Democrats and the Far Left in their party had put a line in the sand to try and take over everything.
I am looking at the realities of how far Left the Democrat Party has become and how they will stop at nothing, Constitution be damned to get their take over of the Health Care Industry.
good gawd, stix… get a grip. I said no such thing, and I happen to think quite highly of Bush. So where are you coming up with this BDS crap?
This “friendly fire” sniping will end up being the death of the GOP devotees, ya know. I just happen to see a reality that, apparently, you party faithful don’t. And I assure you, I’m not only not alone, but we mixed conservatives, that can actually criticize the GOP without throwing them under the bus, way outnumber you of the blind followers.
If you think that a supermajority is required (by the GOP or Dems) to get anything done, then we’re in a world of hurt. I don’t want GOP super control any more than I want Dem super control. And it’s even worse when that spread is held in both chambers.
@MataHarley:
Party faithful. Who said I was
I was explaining why the Left in this country stopped any kind of progress in SS, HC, Housing reform.
Did I ever say the Republicans are white as the wind driven snow. NOOO
I think they screwed the pooch and spent like drunken sailors.
I do not think it is good that a Super Majority is needed to do anything, look the Dems control both Houses and the Presidency with Super Majorities, and they can not get anything done, and thank God for that
The art of politics is to negotiate and gets thing done, but the country and the parties are so divided now that nothing is done, and in some ways I do think that is good, the less legislation the less they screw us.
And when did we start hearing the cry for Health Care Reform, when Obama started talking about it. Not to say that it was hunky dory or anything, but where was the crisis back when Bush was in the Presidency. I do not remember hearing a big outcry from the MSM about it then, but since it was one of Obama’s big campaign pledges, we hear about it all the time.
Do not get me wrong, I think that yes the Republicans should have done something, and tried, But when you have the other side stop anything you try, look at letting someone invest 2% of SS into the market and to the Democrats and the MSM the world would come to an end thru privatization of SS.
The Republicans lost the elections because they became what they campaigned against. Big spending idiots and I blame a lot of that on Bush, since he could not find the veto pen for ever.
Also
Sorry for not coming by more often here. I have been very busy, I still read most of your posts. Just do not have time to come by and leave comments all the time.
@MataHarley called Stix: “you of the blind followers. ”
Tsk, tsk, tsk!
Mata!
You can’t say something like that then bemoan “friendly fire.”
Now, as penance for that comment I’d like to read a long exposition of all the good things you feel the GOP leadership has achieved. No half hearted pats on the back. And if you can’t come up with a dozen good things to say you aren’t trying and your grade for this semester will suffer.
@Mike’s America:
LOL
I do not know if I could find 12 much less 5 good things the GOP leadership has achieved.
The only one I can think of is that they actually hearded the cats against the monstrosity of Obamacare. Even Snowe is in line
I wonder what kind of dirt they have on her. LOL
@stix1972: Well if you want to waive Mata’s penance it’s up to you. Frankly, knowing how quick she is with words, the assignment wouldn’t take her long to complete. Perhaps she could find two dozen nice things to say about the GOP leadership without breaking a sweat on her keyboard.
@Mike’s America: that would be easier
yes she has a way with words and is very good at research
much better than I
@stix1972: Something tells me she won’t take the bait. I bet if BROB challenged her she’d do it.
@Scott Factor: Bush did try to tackle healthcare reform in 2006 (Go back to his SotU address), which included expansion of health savings accounts and slowing spending on Medicare and Medicaid. He warned that “By 2030, spending for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security alone will be almost 60 percent of the entire federal budget.”
But he got no support from Democrats. In 2007, he proposed changes to tax deductibility of health insurance and the Affordable Choices Initiative. But he encountered stiff opposition (having lost the Congress in 2006).
@MataHarley #13:
Unless a party of conservatives has the presidency and a supermajority in Congress (which you agree is a bad thing in either party, comment #21), how do you suppose we’d ever be able to scale things back by any “radical” degree? In the long haul, over a stretch of time with modest proposals and cultivating a national consensus of support, maybe.
I don’t think stix ever was implying the need for a supermajority; but for the kind of massive overhaul Scott Factor seems to think the GOP failed to accomplish, I think stix was pointing out the GOP would face the kind of strong outcry the Obama team is hearing from Americans today.
Certainly when you have idealogues in the WH and leaders in Congress who wish to pursue sweeping ideological changes on the quick, an unhealthy supermajority is what’s needed for traumatic change to occur.
Great ideas, Ryan! Fine you put your noggin to a problem. My only question:
WHY THE HELL DIDN’T YOU CONS DO ANYTHING ABOUT HEALTH CARE FROM JANUARY 2001 THROUGH JANUARY 2007?
You had the House, the Senate and the White House and you did not see fit to pass a single damn bill putting forth all these swell con ideas! Did you people just realize there was a problem when Obama decided to actually do something about it? Where was Bush from 2001 through 2009 as far as solutions are concerned?
This is why the GOP has no credibility on this issue: when they had the power to solve the problem, they did nothing but MAKE IT WORSE by passing the drug bill that they failed to pay for. But now, a clear nine years after the GOP took total control of the government, they want us to “start over”” and wait some more, or pass their swell bill instead of the one that has been in the works for the past year? Er, no. Cons, you had your chance and blew it. You have no credibility on health care and that is why it is going to pass.
Wordsmith —
You wrote the following: “Bush did try to tackle healthcare reform in 2006 (Go back to his SotU address), which included expansion of health savings accounts and slowing spending on Medicare and Medicaid. . . . But he got no support from Democrats.”
This is a cop out. The GOP had the House and the Senate in its hands from 2001 through 2006 and did nothing on health care. Bush can say whatever he wants, but it is Congress that writes the bills. Why would he have waited until an election year five years into his administration to address this problem? And why didn’t the GOP Congress do anything to solve the problem? You guys control both houses of Congress and the White House . . . but you blame the MINORITY for you not getting anything done! Priceless!
@stix1972, we agree on the drunken sailors. I think where our communications differ is I do not bring Bush into the equation at all. Congress is in charge of the purse strings, and legislation. All Bush could have done was say yea, nay, veto. It’s got to get to his desk first.
And yes, I recognize that the Dems did all they could to block reform for SS, immigration and healthcare because… just like the GOP today… they have their own versions of what constitutes “reform”.
Differences are healthy. Supermajorities are not. What needs to be done when the “differences” are a slight majority is effective compromise. And apparently, the public needs to be vocal more often. We, as a nation, are also guilty of complacence. We were not so verbal back in those days, save INRE Iraq, Afghanisan, the global Islamic jihad movement, and our military. Our voices were never raised INRE health care, SS or immigration. So the GOP majority did not have the wind in their sails from the American public, as they do as a minority now.
And, BTW, it’s about time your butt returned to FA. I have noticed your absence for quite some time. But I believe Skye occasionally keeps us up to date on your blogging antics.
Oh yes, I did use the phrase “party faithful” (which is Mike’s A thru and thru… LOL) because you defended what is, in some ways, the undefendable. Yes, the GOP tried INRE health care. They also tried INRE Fannie/Freddie. As a majority, they also lost that battle. Again I come back to rallying the nation for the wind in the sails. Or both parties coming to an acceptable compromise.
Unlike billy bob, who gives a pass to the Dems at every opportunity, they are also culpable for those years. Because it would have only taken a few 8-10 to break party ranks to address something important. They did not. But at this point, I’m not likely to give anyone in Congress a pass. @Patvann and I are on the same page. The GOP are not really willing to rock the boat when it’s crucial, and they need to be herded over. And you can’t count a voting bloc of an inconsequential minority as being risky.
@Mike’s America, I owe you no “penance” for my opinion. Please don’t hold your breath…. I like you too much. LOL So I guess I’ll just accept a failing grade from Mike’s A’s political science class. And considering that @stix1972 can only come up with five or so, I guess he’ll be getting a C, right?
And no… wouldn’t waste my time on the same request from billy bob either. Jus’ so you don’t think I’m playing non-favorites..
As for you, @billy bob:
I’ll take a half and half on that criticism. I can’t say Bush didn’t have intent and put forth ideas that the GOP didn’t carry thru in legislation. But if you think that this health care, as well as SS, is a “new” problem since Bush, you are delusional. So your criticism is disingenuous with your short term memory of current events. The nation and it’s woes did not begin with Bush. And in fact, the Medicare and SS woes would not exist if not for your nanny welfare party legislation to begin with. Care to take credit for that? I’d guess not.
Plus you might want to consider that every Dem proposal that you cheer on actually exacerabates the situation. So I’d say if you find glory and redemption in making a bad situation worse, it’s not surprising coming from you… mentally ensconced in your billy-bob-in-wonderland rabbit hole.
As a counter, I suggest that both parties are guilty of not addressing the base problem of rising overhead costs to medical providers over the past decades. And, to this date, they still aren’t… save the GOP in these last months.
(there you go, Mike… one kudo for the GOP, and two if you count my praise at the health care “summit”. That ought to bring me up to an F+ from you….)
@BRob: As well as being stupid and totally lacking in any credibility or intellectual integrity you appear to have a reading problem. Perhaps you should spend more time trying to actually read the comments above before you leave another ignorant comment such as that above.
Damn I miss this place \
I am sorry I have been away for so long. But I have been doing many things. I am now a webmaster for The Minority Report http://theminorityreportblog.com . I have been trying to figure out how to move from Drupal to a WPMU blog and it has been kicking my A**
I have also been the editor for 73 Wire’s tech blog http://73wore.com.business
I do miss all the banter and fun here.
And Skye has been saying things behind my back LOL
@MataHarley: I think we can agree on many things that the Republicans and Bush did not do, hell they were more or less Democrats when they controlled the House, Senate, and Presidency.
I do disagree that Bush did nothing to try and help HC and many things, and I wish that the country was not so divided, but if you look at the reality of what is going on in DC, it is inevitable that nothing is going to get done in either direction. I have been there a few times and can see that the Parties are more divided than they have been in a long time.
I will try and come by more and comment. I am done with most of the coding for the Minority report. Do not ever go to WPMU it is a bitch.
Also if you guys want to see me, I will probably be on the Patriot Caucus tour, at least I think I will be http://www.thepatriotcaucus.net/
I am sure I will at least be in the Las Vegas one.
I see there is another troll amongst us BROB LOL I never get the trolls at my blog 🙁
Well, stix… I’m glad you miss us in your life. Because we all miss you.
And that being said, maybe you don’t come thru often, and are out of practice on the comment thing. But I assure you, there was no “blame Bush” in my comments INRE ScottfFactor. It was all Congress. Nowhere did I expand it to Bush. I have my problems with both during their terms. But my disdain for those years is far more elevated for the GOP Congress than it was Bush. I do know how to separate the two branches of power, and their ability to perform.
@MataHarley:
I will definitely give you that.
CONgress at the time was not what any of us voted for
@MataHarley: Yes Mata I do think that if BROBBLEHEAD had challenged you to make a list you might have complied. I’ll just file away your recalcitrance in this regard for a rainy day.
I don’t understand why you would think it is a pejorative to be considered among the “party faithful.”
Conservatism is the heart of the GOP and it’s only home so to constantly attack the GOP is also to undermine conservatism.
Mike, do not think you can answer, predict my actions, on my behalf. I know exactly what I would respond to from billy bob, or any one because I know who I am. You do not. Nor are you me.
File away what you desire, and what makes you comfortable.. However do not rest on your laurels to assume you know how I will respond, and to whom, at any given time. That is way beyond your pay grade.
@Mike’s America: I agree with you on that. Even though think the GOP has gone far away from their home (conservatism) but we need to bring the back.
@stix1972: After one year of Obama/Reid and Pelousy’s ultra leftism I am done making apologies for the GOP. Besides, half the people insisting the GOP is nearly as bad as the Dems are only doing so to validate the Dems extremism not bring the GOP back to it’s conservative roots.
I am proud to be GOP and I do not have to apologize for it.
@stix1972: On another topic: Where is Skye hiding? Have you seen her?
@BRob #31:
Not exactly. Jim Jeffords’ defection in 2001 made it 49 Republicans to 50 Democrats in the Senate. It wasn’t until 2003 that Dems lost Senate majority, following the ’02 Elections.
Yes, healthcare is a “crisis” that has only been getting worse; but it also didn’t become a “crisis” until Obama decided to make it into priority #1 over unemployment. No one wants the status quo; but the sky is not going to fall simply because we don’t pass healthcare reform immediately. If Obama decided to make social security reform his pet project, you would be harping about why didn’t Bush do anything about the growing social security dilemma. Why couldn’t more have been done on immigration? Why couldn’t he have solved the problem with Iran and North Korea in his short 8 years? Why didn’t he do more on Israel-Palestine? Why didn’t he do more on this global warming crisis? Why, why, why?
Give me a break. My comment was directed at Scott Factor’s overexaggerated broad-brushing claim.
Bush prioritized fighting Islamic jihadis as the centerpiece of his agenda after 9/11. And to that end, he kept America safe and handed over the tools created under his leadership for the next administration’s usage in battling Islamic terrorism.
@Mike’s America:
i saw Skye in DC at CPAC
But I know she liked to lat low at times
But do not know really
I wish I knew more but I do not know
really I would like to know more
Ok…I’ll list one thing the GOP always seems to get right: The Second Amendment to the Constitution.
Ain’t it funny that all the liberal lefty Brady Bill supporters suddenly stepped away from their attempts to take away our Second Amendment rights as soon as they figgured out it hurt them in the elections?
The first thing I ask any candidate for is to see his NRA card.
No, it’s not the only issue. But you’re either supporting my rights or you’re not.
http://www.scottfactor.com
@stix1972:
OK. need to remind myself do not comment after drinking