Sen. Baucus Rips Paul Ryan Budget: "Not On My watch

[kpete]

Source: Talking Points Memo

TPMDC
Sen. Baucus Rips Paul Ryan Budget: "Not On My watch."
Benjy Sarlin | April 5, 2011, 1:12PM

Max Baucus (D-MT), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, has seen enough of Rep. Paul Ryan's "Path to Prosperity" to declare it dead on arrival. In a statement to reporters on Tuesday, Baucus ripped into the Republican proposal to privatize Medicare while slashing benefits for seniors over time as a betrayal of the program's core mission.

"Independent experts agree the House Plan would make deep cuts to the Medicare benefits seniors count on," Baucus said in a statement. "It would end Medicare as we know it and funnel Medicare dollars directly into private insurance companies' pockets. Under the House plan, seniors' coverage would be cut drastically, benefits would no longer be guaranteed and seniors' costs would skyrocket. We can't allow the House to balance the budget on the backs of seniors and we won't - not on my watch."

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/senator-max-baucus-d-mt-rips-paul-ryan-budget-not-on-my-watch.php

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. His watch!

:rofl:

That's rich!

[No Elephants]

45. +1

[bluestateguy]

2. This is a good sign, and I'm no Baucus fan

If Baucus is opposed then that likely means there will not be any DLC/Blue Dog support for the Ryan plan to make it law.

[Frisbee]

4. Yeah, if Max is that opposed...

maybe even a few moderate repukes (do they still exist?) will be opposed as well.

[bluestateguy]

5. Obama might even have enough courage to issue a veto threat

Seeing as how he only makes veto threats upon bills that have no chance of passing.

[catgirl]

9. Um, Obama has already shot it down

And most of these bills your referring to, have no chance to pass in the Senate. Nice try.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[freshwest]

13. Too much MSM affecting Americans, but it's all we have. Sigh...

[florida08]

14. I don't think it's necessary to castigate another democrat

so vehemently. We've all been questioning Obama as of late. Especially after he put Immelt over the jobs board.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

16. I'm tired of the knee-jerk reactions that are targeted against Democrats INCLUDING

the president. (Last time I checked he is a Democrat.)

There is so much of that going on here at DU that people are starting to get annoyed at the Obama bashing. It has gotten so out of hand. And it has become worse than what Republicans do.

Shit, it rained today. Obama had something to do with that!

If we refuse to open our eyes to who the real enemy is, we will lose every, single time!

Obama stood up today when the House and Senate Democratic leadership didn't and rejected the House GOP Budget plan.

Rather than castigating him in a knee-jerk reaction, please give him credit for taking the Republicans on!

[roguevalley]

19. it is possible to know 'the real enemy' and point out the shit Obama

does. It is possible to be thoughtful and critical without your insults. I don't care if you are worshipful in your support. A big ass number of us aren't anymore than we were any other dem president we lived through. If you don't like the criticism don't read it. But don't turn your guns on people who have different opinions. TOo bad if you don't like it. and as far as speaking for others ('people are starting to get annoyed) how about speaking about what you can actually know: yourself. Thanks. Now pardon me if I multitask.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

24. I don't worship anyone. I'm trying to get people to be reasonable.

The House failed to take up a budget last year. Who's fault is that? And please be intellectually honest!

[vduhr]

26. I do have a problem with people accusing others who support

Obama of "worshiping" him. It reminds me of all of the Republican comments on other sites who use the words "your messiah" to belittle anyone who voted for or supports Obama. It's a way of putting someone on the defensive to win an argument. I think your response was much more insulting and directed at a specific person, and quite nasty at that, and you most certainly "turned your gun on someone who has a different opinion". Perhaps you should take some of your own advise.

[defendandprotect]

59. That's humorous considering the insults for LIBERALS which came from White House/DLC...

when Rahm Emmanuel was still there --

And, considering the false wall of defense that we've had here from the first

days of Obama picking his Wall Street/Goldman Sachs crew -- and brining the DLC

into the White House --

what was all of that? -- from "pink ponies to magic wands, from the chess game" --

an endless number of them suggesting that liberals wanted MIRACLES?

Time to rethink what you're saying --

[No Elephants]

46. +1

[AlbertCat]

21. It has gotten so out of hand.

How so? Explain.

What! Everyone not agreeing with you is "out of hand"???

TRY to not act like the Dem brigade of the Teabaggers, if you can. Think. Don't just emote.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

27. You have no answers so you attack me. Then, you have the nerve to accuse me of

being like the Teabaggers? Hmm...

[Blacksheep214]

28. Would that be Albert the Alley Cat?

[kenfrequed]

43. Well...

Senator Bachus was one of a clique of democrats that demolished any hope of a public option. Yes he is not as bad as a republican. And yes I am happy that he is opposing budgetary cannibalism. But that does not elevate him to saint of the party status.

As far as President Obama goes I will wait and see. I may even write a letter to him about this. I can say that his folding on extending the Bush tax cuts was extremely disappointing.

[No Elephants]

48. IMO, hope of any public option was gone welll before Baucus got his hands on anything.

Just like any hope of drug re-importation was gone before Congress had a chance to vote on it.


I have no use for Baucus, but I am a great fan of fairness, even fairness to Baucus.

[kenfrequed]

70. Uhm

The finance committee repeatedly gutted the prospect of it. That was Bacchus' committee and while the White House waited he was pushing it off the table. The media cooperated by weighting this committee's opinion above all others. Far better bills came out of other committees and in the end this was the one that they tried and failed to pass all for the sake of getting Olympia Snowe to sign onto it.

[freshwest]

44. I'm not an Obamabot, as some call those who resist the meme from the GOP media.

It's caused Democrats to self-censor their support for whatever the man has tried to do in climate created by 30 years of reactionary Republican rule.

I've never seen such vitrol directed at a Democratic nominee and then POTUS from his own party as I have with Obama. People for various reasons refuse to admit the man has ever done even one thing right, it's almost as hostile as the birthers.

I appreciate your post and believe we should give credit where credit is due and work to change what we don't want.

:hi:

[No Elephants]

49. 30 years of Republican rule?

[freshwest]

55. 1980-1992 Reagan/Bush; 1992-2000 GOP control of congress; 2000-2008 Bush.

Okay, you can have two years back, except we haven't had a clear, veto proof majority since the Carter administration. How about that?

[No Elephants]

57. Republicans are in control whenever Republicans control EITHER

the Oval Office OR Congress and also whenever Democrats do not have "a clear, veto proof majority?"

You seem to have a very low opinion of the abilities of Democrats and/or a very high opinion of the abilities of Republlcans. Or maybe just a double standard.

[freshwest]

65. You talking legislation, Obama bashing or just having a bad day? Accusing me of what?

I've got no double standard. But I've worked in legislation and it's the numbers that matter.

Do you want to say No Elephants and bash Democrats because they don't agree with whatever your viewpoint is?

What's with you?

I generally agree with all your posts.

I'm not here to bash the Democratic Party, call for people to not vote Democratic or any of that stuff. I'm giving credit to what works, looking for solutions to what will work, not giving the Elephants any quarter for any reason. But I'm not happy with our failure rate.

Have a nice day.

[No Elephants]

68. You're the one who seems to be having a bad day. Hope it improves.

[freshwest]

69. Save the snarks, I'm having a great day. EOD.

[No Elephants]

72. If Reply 65 is you having a good day....

[defendandprotect]

66. Unfortunately, it ignores the reality that the GOP hasn't done this alone ... !!

The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414



and, as Wm. Greider points out in his book "Who will tell the People?" from 1992

Democrats collaborated with the Repugs in 1978 -- repeat 1978 -- pre-Reagan -- to knock

out the Tax Code for the benefit of the wealthy.

Happen to be rereading his book --


It's not that Obama hasn't done anything right -- it's that he has made so many back door

deals with GOP and elites -- and with Big Pharma and with the private health care industry.


You might want to read this from DU 8/12/10 --

Rahm .... crowing about preserving "private health care industry" ... business s/b grateful!

”In a Thursday interview, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuelargued that rather than recoiling against Obama, business leaders should be grateful for his support on at least a half-dozen counts: his advocacy of greater international trade and education reform open markets despite union skepticism; his rejection of calls from some quarters to nationalize banks during the financial meltdown; the rescue of the automobile industry; the fact that the overhaul of health care

preserved the private delivery system;

the fact that billions in the stimulus package benefited business with lucrative new contracts, and that financial regulation reform will take away the uncertainty that existed with a broken, pre-crash regulatory apparatus.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=B2F85DDF-18...

[defendandprotect]

56. That is nonsense -- only if we are all nuts will a LABEL protect anyone anymore AFTER Obama --!!

And least of all should it protect Baucus who helped destroy the effort for

single-payer health care --

What we are suffering is one party with two wings -- we've known that for

decades -- but many are still suffering delusions that there are two parties!!

And that fact is becoming steadily more and more astonishing!





The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bluestateguy]

22. I love the president and will work for his reelection

But it's not exactly a secret that he is no pit bull in a fight.

[Joe Bacon]

39. This is all kabuki theater.

I'm sure Max wants his beloved Simpson-Bowles proposal passed. Ryan has just given Mad Max the cover needed to make Simpson-Bowles a "respectable compromise".

In other words, kiss Social Security and Medicare as we know it goodbye!

[defendandprotect]

61. +1000% -- BINGO!! -- K/R

[Larkspur]

6. Baucus is up for re-election in 2012 and he's polling around 40%

He may try to use Ryan's plan to see if he can prop up his poll numbers.

[bluestateguy]

7. He's up in '14

And that's eons away.

See his 2008 election right here:

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/state/#MT

[russspeakeasy]

11. I'm no Baucus fan either. It makes me wonder who bought him this time?

[pscot]

18. Well, as Tricky Dick used to say

watch what he does, not what he says.

[daa]

3. Max are you kidding me?? Maybe this gives us hope nt

[mazzarro]

8. Baucus has laid out the bait...

Now I am waiting for the switch which is sure to come sometime soon.

[BobbyBoring]

30. That was my first thought

A little fishin to see what bites!

[harun]

52. Nothing good comes from Baucus, this will be no exception.

[freshwest]

12. Remember to abstain from voting so people like him will be shut up.

[florida08]

15. perhaps Baucus has come to the light

and gotten a belly full of the GOP plan to defund the middleclass and leave them in the street. Regardless it's good to hear from a blue dog for a change.

K&R :dem:

[Snotcicles]

17. My death panel has a first name, it's P-a-u-l, my death panel

second name it's R-y-a-n.
And if you ask me why I'll say, Congressman Ryan has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A.

[craigmatic]

23. Well look who finally found a progressive/democratic side to himself. Good for him.

[Swede Atlanta]

25. Hope more Democrats join in..........

I am 54 having survived cancer last year. I can just imagine what my prospects will be at age 65 to purchase private insurance at an affordable rate and with decent coverage.

My premiums will probably be 1/2 of my total income with lots of exclusions and their right to decide not to cover any procedure or treatment at any time.

Ryan's rich buddies will just get richer.

[and-justice-for-all]

29. Pukes are all foaming at the mouth to cut Social Services

but where do they really need to cut spending? THE PENTAGON and the WAR MACHINE budgets!!!!!

[No Elephants]

50. Only Pukes?

[defendandprotect]

62. +1000% --

[and-justice-for-all]

74. FAIL.nt

[defendandprotect]

75. Are you saying they're not getting any assistance from Democrats?

The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414


Aside from that -- have just been re-reading Wm. Greider's 1992 book --

"Who Will Tell The People?" and he makes quite clear that back all the way to 1978 --

PRE REAGAN -- Demcorats were collaborating with Repugs to overturn the Tax Code for the

benefit of the wealthy.

[and-justice-for-all]

73. Is the majority not republican....

which are cheer-leading this atrocity of a budget plan??

[defendandprotect]

76. From what I hear, Obama continues to trade away just about everything re budget ....

HOWEVER --

At least that's what David Sirota said today -- he was filling in for Hartmann --


As Wm. Greider makes clear in his 1992 book -- "Who will tell the People?" --

which I'm rereading -- all the way back to 1978 -- pre-REAGAN -- the Democrats

were collaborating with the GOP on busting the Tax Code for the benefit of the wealthy.



The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414


If you knew this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know -- pass it along!

:)

[defendandprotect]

77. And, btw ....

usually doesn't matter because even when Democrats are in control,

the Repugs rule --

We saw that this last two years --

And I quite well remember when Sen. George Mitchell was majority leader

in Senate that he simply turned it all over to Sen. Bob Dole!!

Quite astonishing to watch!!

[TatonkaJames]

31. Krugman certainly agrees

Yet seniors will vote Republican out of habit.

[whathehell]

37. You would be very off the mark to think

that even "nearly" all seniors vote Repuke, especially when their benefits, like medicare, are on the line.

We have seniors and near-seniors on this board, lots of them.

[TatonkaJames]

40. My bad, the wording was incorrect

I should have made it more clear - "republican seniors".

[whathehell]

71. No problem!

Back at ya!:hi:

[No Elephants]

51. Hippies are seniors now. I doubt they are voting Rethug. I know more 40 yr old Rethugs than 65

year old Rethugs.

[Patchuli]

54. I don't know if I agree if they are aware

of the screwing they will take for their medical care/social security. It's up to the those that see the truth to try to keep them from from doing a lemming leap!

[No Elephants]

58. Mostly, it's up to professional Dems and the media to get out the truth. Let's see how well they do

[colsohlibgal]

32. When Herr Baucus Call You Out ......

Ryan is a rightwing super crispy nutcake but I will never forget the cold sneer on Max's face as he was having single payer advocates, including doctors and nurses, hauled off from his hearing in chains. That's the kind of overall DINO that is turning off we real democrats.

The big problem now is that in so many areas Obama is acting like a DINO.

[jaysunb]

33. Baucus, is actually a "Rockefeller/Eisenhower Republican

as are many of the people currently referred to as "blue dogs." They are no more than, fiscally conservative,socially moderate, business friendly Republicans.
Think Nixon and EPA, OSHA, etc. Eisenhower and the intrastate highway system. There is no way in hell the current gang would even consider any thing like that.

Baucus is no Democrat, but he sure as hell isn't one of the loony hardcore right that's infected and taken over the Republican Party. He is a poster boy for how far right the electorate has gone.

But, I''m very grateful for him on this one. :evilgrin:

[No Elephants]

53. Eisenhower was a warmongering racist and corporatist. Interstate highways were

to benefit his idols, General Motors and oil companies and were "sold" as part of our national defense system. And, he expanded Executive Privilege unconscionably rather than say or do anything honorable about McCarthy.

Nixon the Disgraced and Eisenhower the School Segregationist Golfer are two turds Joe Scarborough and other Rethugs have been doing their best to polish for some years now. Why DUers pitch in with "wax on," I'll never understand.

ETA Thank a Democratic Congress for passing the National Environmental Policy Act and the Occupational Safety Act.

[unkachuck]

34. "...funnel Medicare dollars directly into private insurance companies' pockets."

....that says it all...."Path to Poverty" is just another Republican scheme to loot the treasury and punish the American people....why do Republicans hate America?

[99th_Monkey]

35. Him and Bernie Sanders. We'll see.

down the road how many fellow human-politicos with an ounce of balls give it up, fall on their swords as it were, for SS and medicare.

I'm fucking right there with you, with all my fellow socialists worldwide and forever.

[BlueMTexpat]

36. Good for Max!

At long, long last!

[sweetapogee]

38. another way

of looking at it is that Ryan has placed Baucus into a position of now having to offer up an alternative to the puke plan. He would have been better off keeping his mouth shut and getting a real progressive to do the talking for him. So before we start praising blue dog Max, see what he brings forth in the coming debate, that will tell who has the upper hand.

[Citizen Worker]

41. Listen to Baucus. What a pathetic puke. He must be down in the polls over his torpedoing of the

public option. I hope Montanans can recruit a progressive to run against this bastard.

[defendandprotect]

63. K/R -- How quickly some Democrats forget what's been going on -- !!

[nalnn]

42. I'm not so sure.

Maybe not Ryan's plan, maybe not the Senate plan (is there one?), but something drastic must be done.

[progressoid]

47. And yet...

HCR (big fucking deal) requires the uninsured to purchase from private insurance companies.

But in that case Democrats support it and Republicans oppose it.

:crazy:

[No Elephants]

60. Can you say KABUKI?

[bahrbearian]

64. Baccus doesn't like it because he didn't get to propose it 1st.

He never had a problem with giving everything to the Insurance Co.s before.

[ProudDad]

67. The amount of time that's wasted on this republican bullshit

the smoke-screen that the Taliban, tea-bagger, republican right-wing puts out...

Is an essential element of the Kabuki Theater that is USAmerican "politics"...

And acts as designed to mask the actual (mostly evil) actions of the Plutocrats and their Empire while providing cover for the Empire's enablers from both right-wings of the Corporate War Party...

Very Clever...

And the collective "we" seems to buy it...

And spin our wheels opposing smoke...