Nancy Pelosi: Kiss your Medicare goodbye

[kpete]

Source: Politico

By SEUNG MIN KIM | 7/28/11 1:14 PM EDT

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi dialed up the rhetoric before Speaker John Boehner’s plan to raise the debt limit heads to the House floor for a vote, declaring it a “job-killer” and saying seniors could “kiss their Medicare good-bye.”

“If you believe in that the education of our children, the retirement of our seniors, the creation of jobs in a fiscally sound way, you couldn’t possibly vote for the bill that the Republicans are bringing to the floor today,” Pelosi said Thursday.


The speaker’s legislation, which slashes $917 billion over 10 years and increases the nation’s $14.3 trillion debt limit in two increments, is scheduled for a House vote on Thursday night.

House Democrats are expected to stay closely united against the Boehner legislation, with few – if any – defectors expected. If it passes and heads to the upper chamber, it faces opposition from all 53 Democratic-caucusing senators. Pelosi echoed those projections, saying she felt “very confident that if they’re going to have 217 votes … they’re going to have to be Republican votes.”





Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/60149.html#ixzz1TQJohXte

[DJ13]

1. The speaker’s legislation, which slashes $917 billion over 10 years

I agree with Nancy, but if that much damage is caused by $917 billion, imagine the damage that Reid's $2.2T and Obama's $4T in cuts would cause to the economy.

[pnwmom]

4. Much of Obama's savings comes from projected costs of winding down the wars.

That has to happen, whatever the effects are on the economy.

[Fearless]

5. Yeah because that's clearly on track.

:eyes:

End them now and solve the debt issue now.

[No Elephants]

10. Obama overcame his desire to cut things like OASDI, fuel subsidies and Medicare?

[Broderick]

35. Seems all that rhetoric about ending wars

was said before. Seems we get into more.

[hulka38]

44. I can't read that and take it seriously.

[Amonester]

59. Except for when a president romney/bakkkman/palin will launch their

invasion

of Iran

for oil


Guess it's just hyperbole, but, hmmm, methinks I saw how they "opeRate" before...

[DeadEyeDyck]

95. the problem with that theory is that they have never taken

any oil from Iraq. This is the question that I get from my students. If the US was after oil, why did we not take it from Iraq?

[Selatius]

96. I believe the point was to turn Iraq into a military base, a stepping stone to assert power.

With a pliant government, Iraq can be used to project military power into any spot in the region at a moment's notice. Saudi Arabia sort of fulfilled this role already, but Iraq has the advantage of bordering both Syria and Iran, and it can be used to keep in check Shi'ite aspirations in the south of Iraq to more closely align with Iran.

[hootinholler]

103. Except...

For that pipeline that was unmetered. The other thing was to keep Iraqi labeled oil off the world market.

-Hoot

[DallasNE]

86. Much Of Paul Ryan's Savings Comes From Projected Costs Of

Winding down the wars. So what is your point, or do you have one?

[Selatius]

97. And basically privatizing all of Medicare, despite opposition from senior citizens. nt

[Lorien]

110. Yeah, right. You missed his attacks on social programs completely

and no, he'll never "wind down" the wars; he's expanded the wars and replaced some soldiers with expensive mercenaries.

[Bandit]

33. Except more than half of Reids savings come from stopping the wars.

The Republicans is almost entirely on the backs of the vulnerable and actually has no Defense cuts at all.

[SusanaMontana41]

73. I agree. They're both horrible. Punt them both

and get a clean raise.

This is beyond aggravating.

[Swede Atlanta]

87. Agree....

Obama and Reid have bought into the idea that we need to slash, slash, slash.

I agree we need to cut starting with 50% reduction in military spending over 5 years. I suggest that Congress start paying market rates for their health care and retirement (i.e. they get to contribute to a 401K but no defined benefit plan). Congressional and Presidential retirees see their benefits reduced by the same amount as any cut for Medicare and Social Security.

Each Congresscritter and Senator gets $50K traveling on commercial airplanes per year. No more military transports for their sex junkets.

We can start cutting the fat....What do they pay for the Congressional dining halls and gyms? Suggest we triple the cost effective immediately.

They need to start working 60 hours per week and only get 2 weeks of vacation which is the norm for Americans.

Let them begin to appreciate how most Americans live. They will be surprised.

[pleah]

2. K&R

[Liberalynn]

3. There's very little left to say

except this sucks.

[Imagevision]

6. In 2012 if we only have Obama to choose from? we're screwed plain and simple...

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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

[Solomon]

9. Well for fuck sakes. Teach him a lesson and vote for the other

guy. Quit whining sbout it and take your vote and go home with it. When he loses ccme bsck and crow about it.

[No Elephants]

11. What other guy?

[Mumblefratz]

14. I'm hoping for Bernie Sanders to run

n/t

[trud]

71. me, too. Bernie Sanders. n/t

[defendandprotect]

93. +1 ---

[AndyTiedye]

13. That Worked So Well For Us in 2000, Didn't It?

[paparush]

16. Well, that and the stolen Florida election.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

22. And Gore laid down without a fight. n/t

[TfG]

41. Gore did not lay down without a fight

He took it all the way to the Supreme Court. Gore did everything he could, short of violence, to fight the outcome. It was the SCOTUS who robbed us.

[Rageneau]

47. Gore did NOT take the fight to the Supreme Court. They jumped in on their own.

And, no, Gore did NOT fight. His people did none of the things the Bush people did, and he did what he DID do in that disinterested, half-ass, passionless manner that allowed Bush to look vital next to him.

Had Bartcop been running Gore's campaign, he'd have been President easily.

[TfG]

104. Yes, he DID fight.

Don't you remember him taking back his concession and pushing for the recount? Did he NOT have the Florida Supreme Court on his side, but once it was taken to the Supreme Court, they sided with Bush???

Okay, maybe Bush had some dynamic people - or maybe I should say people in high places on his side. That doesn't mean Gore didn't fight. But the powerful were against him. What else could he have done, short of violence? People were already accusing him of being a sore loser and putting himself before the people by delaying the election results.

Personally, I blame the SCOTUS because they did not allow the recounting to continue. Heck, even during the election when you have people saying they'd rather have a beer with Bush than Gore, and making fun of Gore over the lockbox comment, etc., what do you expect. Some people are shallow. But I bet people wish they had someone in there protecting their SS now, like Gore wanted to do.

[paparush]

89. He lost his home state, which didn't help. nt

[midnight]

91. Actually Gore and his attorney's fought to the death... Literally... Saturday

papers to fight were filed by his first attorney who was then found dead sunday morning... They did say he had a heart condition or something like that..

[A Simple Game]

36. Apples and Oranges.

We had a choice in 2000, will we have one in 2012?

It's starting to look like we didn't have much of one in 2008.

[TfG]

42. I doubt it, unless Bernie or someone good gets in the race

Not holding my breath though.

[elocs]

69. On no, the meme in 2000 was that both Gore & Bush were the same.

That's why all those people in Florida, even though it was a battleground state, felt free to vote for Nader. After all, we could all be sure that Gore would have handled 9/11 like Bush, if it happened at all under him; he obviously would have started the same wars and he would have nominated the same Supreme Court justices.

So yeah, there was no difference between Gore and Bush just like there will be no difference between Obama and the unknown Republican candidate.

[seeker4ever]

64. We Should Just Be Quiet and Support Him No Matter What!

[indy legend]

29. If he had put all his efforts into doing the will of the people who

put his ass in office in the first place he would have nothing to worry about now!! Chess my ass !!!

[AndyTiedye]

39. We Still Didn't Have Enough Votes to Break the Repiglickin Filibuster

[chervilant]

55. +about a gazillion... n/t

[elocs]

17. No, there will be 2 choices who will be the next president: either Obama or the Republican.

That's it. So there is not only Obama from which to choose.

Now if you have a choice between 2 foods, one which will make you sick and one which will flat out poison you near to death, and you are going to get one or the other, the only smart thing is to choose the one that will only make you ill and not kill you.

Reality sucks.

[demwing]

25. What I I go all Ghandi on your scenario

and choose to eat nothing at all?

In any instance, I'm fucked. But at at least I'll chose my own end.

I reject your false dillema. Force me to chose A or B? Bad ideas go to hell. I'll take C.

[seeker4ever]

66. Why That's Just Awful! Think About it...

If every time we have a Presidential election and we vote for a slightly different candidate than the Republican we would enjoy slightly different destruction of the slightly different policies that these slightly different Democrats offer! It will take longer to become unrecognizable from the Democrats who used to be Liberals! See?

[elocs]

67. Except it will be A or B who will be the next president, not C.

You're going to get either A or B whether you like it or not. That's the way it is whether you like it or not.

[demwing]

80. You miss the point - there will ALWAYS be a Republican bogeyman in the wings to scare Democrats

I'm not playing that game. If Obama wants my vote, he can damn well earn it.

It's called shared sacrifice, this is not a bloodless process.

[elocs]

81. I post on Democratic Underground. I am a Democrat. I vote for Democrats.

I don't demand perfection or that a candidate jump through all my hoops. I am not entirely satisfied with Obama, but I am convinced he is a Democrat and being one he does not have to earn my vote. My choice.

For me a Democrat beats any Republican hands down and they don't have to be a boogeyman. The next president will either be Obama or the Republican and there's no way to explain that away. I live in Wisconsin so I know what Republicans do when they take power (after the 2012 elections they are likely to have both the House and the Senate, so it's important for Democrats to at least have the White House).

[demwing]

82. That's your choice. But I want something more for my vote than "Better than the other guy"

and we will NEVER get that if we let the party drift to the right, and take us for granted.

I'm not advocating third party. I'm advocating that Democrats act like Democrats. If you find that distressing, I'm sorry, but I can't help you.

[tomp]

98. frankly, you're just too damn easy to please. nt

[TfG]

43. That's some choice there

*sigh*

[elocs]

68. But that's reality. One choice may fuck you, but the other will gang rape you at every opportunity.

Nobody ever said life was fair.

[demwing]

84. Life is fair, it's just not always fair to the people that are watching

but in the end, the world tends to find a balance

[TfG]

106. Read your blog, the greenash

I'm sorry for your loss. :( No, life doesn't seem fair...

[TfG]

105. Well, that's one way to put it...

And true, life may not be fair, but I'm a firm believer that people get what's coming to them - sooner or later. Sometimes, it might be a long time later, but it comes nonetheless.

[Fire1]

108. Well, it's NOT the lesser of two evils for me and neither will

I hold my nose. I have benefited TREMENDOUSLY from this administration and will vote AND campaign for him on those grounds. So, FUCK what these people are saying!!

[The Stranger]

109. Please go away.

[Imagevision]

7. I want to kiss Nancy Pelosi goodbye and the rest of these loser leaders...

[momrois]

12. Yes, I've heard that refrain before

Look where it got us.

[Broderick]

37. They had two years of controlling all three

branches of the government. All I think happened was that Wall Street got bigger bonuses, campaign coffers got stuffed, and the ruling class bankers could afford more homes and boats to accommodate their leisure more easily.

[BigD_95]

48. thats not true and you know it

Republicans wouldnt let anything get through the senate.

Also Right after Obama won Pelosi wanted to roll back the Bush taxes cut for the rich. Obama said no.

[Broderick]

49. And it is better now?

A more closely divided Senate and a Republican controlled house?

WHY do all negotiations seem to start from a Republican platform no matter who is in charge.

Sorry just frustrated. It seems the bankers and the wall street folks are doing great.

My customers not so much.

And now there is discussion of hurting those on SS or Medicare?

[kath]

78. so why the fokkity-fok is it that Repugs control everything even when they're in the MINORITY, and

Dems can't get anything done even when they're the MAJORITY?????. I mean really - WHAT. THE. FUCK.

The Dems had both houses and the WH for two freakin' years - and what of any substance did they accomplish?

[juajen]

60. There was a chart on MSNBC that showed the difference

between Pelosi's "reign" and boner's. She got almost 400 pieces of legislation through the house, to boner's 12?, I think that was the number. It was unbelievable. She was a good Speaker. You need to check out the legislative accomplishments of her tenure as Speaker. I hope she will be again.

[totodeinhere]

15. Pelosi is part of the problem, not the solution.

Pelosi - “It is clear we must enter an era of austerity."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/choose-your-poison-as-the_b_912345.html

[Rageneau]

18. There seem to be a lot of wingnuts commenting on this thread.

And, as usual, they are obfuscating while they do so.

This thread is supposedly about what Pelosi said.

I happen to agree with her, and think that it's about time our leaders spoke up plainly about the issues and the consequences. But that's because I'm a liberal Democrat.

OTOH, were I a slavering wingnut, I would dismiss and criticize ANYthing a Democratic leader said -- and the closer to the truth it was, the more quickly and vociferously I would condemn it.

It is an old wingnut tactic to shout down opposing views. To change the subject from issue to personality and then to heap abuse upon and try to lynch the personality. That's what's happening here.

It strikes terror into the right wing when someone speaks the truth to their ravenous power.

So go get 'em, Nancy!

[neoralme]

26. Oh, really?....Then you haven't been paying attention to what's

been going on. Obama the chess player began the negotiations offer adjustments (cuts) to both SS and Medicare, the two greatest achievements in Democratic history. If they go, Obama will go too, and the Democratic Party will not be viable anymore.

[Rageneau]

45. I'm not thrilled about what's being proposed, but I DO like the way Nancy is framing the issue.

When Pelosi says something like "The GOP is attempting to end Medicare!", it gets the voters' attention. And since what she's saying is absolutely TRUE, we Democrats WANT the voters' attention.

I'm not talking policy, I'm talking approach.

[Proles]

58. I agree.

I also liked how she said it was a "job killer." I think it's about time the Democrats start using that expression.

[Stuart G]

27. Delete...

[marions ghost]

50. yep

:applause:

[blank space]

75. People who dont agree with me

use tactics like calling people names and shouting them down, I shout these people down and call them wingnuts.


Hyper Narcissism is so easily identified.


Here's another insight - you're wrong.

[no_hypocrisy]

19. Committed to killing Medicare even if the wars ended tomorrow.

[alp227]

20. OHHHH...I thought it mean Pelosi backed down to Boehner. Keep it up!

Keep dialing up your Congress members and the leadership and do not let them proceed without hearing from US!

[Liberalynn]

21. I thought the same thing.

I thought she was preparing us for getting stuck with the Boner plan. Even though I am an agnostic, I am still praying that doesn't happen. Might not help but can't hurt. I've made calls as well.

Keep fighting Dems!

And in reference to my earlier post. "This sucks" means this :wtf: situation as a whole.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

38. I knew what "this sucks" referred to. Do I win anything?

On a more serious note, (can it be any more serious?) this entire situation should never have materialized in the first place.

"Pragmatic decisions, bi-partisanship, it's (fill in the blank) off the table, the best that we could get, poker bluff, 50 dimension chess"...and whatever else it's been labelled here and elsewhere all seem to be code for policy being the same old, same old in DC.

Something is wrong when decisions and discussions all seem to start on the center-right amd move even farther to the right.

Disclaimer: I really do hope that I'm wrong and that this is some kind of masterpiece by President Obama and the other Dems (and Bernie). If we lose this fight, we are in real deep doo-doo.

Maybe this will serve to unite our Democratic leaders, but past performance leads me to be very pessimistic.

[liberal N proud]

23. You can damn well be assured there will be funding to bomb the shit out the world

These war mongering fuckers don't care about anything but putting money in the pockets of their cronies.

[madrchsod]

24. so nancy is leading the fight now...

about time someone called out the republicans and their bullshit....

[neoralme]

28. She is posturing for a possible loss, letting all know she was not

for cuts to SS and Medicare.

[madrchsod]

32. we will see....

[Waiting For Everyman]

30. Good job, Nancy. This is the first time in a long while the Dems are holding together.

I'm grateful for any who will stand up to the psychotic anarchist Tpots.

[Jim_Shorts]

31. Where the rubber meets the road i believe she will be there for us

She has mentioned austerity a couple of times, which I don't like but the devil is in the details.

Her last press conference : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEnZTY1VU-0

[patrice]

34. The people behind this NEEEEEEEEEEEED a bunch of people to Go AWAY and to leave subsequent

generations unguarded.

[DallasNE]

40. Finally, Somebody Is Framing The Issue Correctly

Why has it taken so long to frame this first and foremost as a job killer. Next, the cap provision will set up rationing down the road. And balance is just another starve the beast attempt. Nixon tried wage price freezes, which was in reality a cap, and the outcome of that was rationing and runaway inflation that lasted for a dozen years. This is clearly the worst piece of legislation in my lifetime and I am 70 years old. Yes, it is even worse than the Patroit Act.

[Doctor_J]

52. Absolutely. Hopefully president "both parties are to blame" will read

this and pick a side on this battle

[tomp]

99. both parties are to blame. nt

[the_chinuk]

46. At last. Straight Talk.

[Doctor_J]

51. If this is the actual politico headline, it's rather harsh on Pelosi

It sounds like she's yanking medicare. But politico is very right-wing, so it's not that surprising.

[marions ghost]

53. Kiss Your Medicare Goodbye

= the Truth, if it goes through.

:grr:

[KamaAina]

54. Many at DU criticized her harshly when she was Speaker

And now, guess who's the only one showing anything resembling leadership on this issue? Why, it's Nancy Pelosi!

[Tx4obama]

61. As speaker, Pelosi was able to get over 500 bills passed, so far Boehner's tally is 12

So,if Boehner holds at the same rate he will have a grand total of 48 in the same amount of time.

I think many folks never gave Pelosi the credit she deserved.

[seeker4ever]

62. I Loved Her Work During the Bush Administration! A TRUE Democrat!

[seeker4ever]

63. Does Anybody Know What a Super Congress is?

[Tx4obama]

65. It is ...

what some of the folks in DC are calling a proposed committee that would be created to work on the deficit.
Apparently it would have the power to act with out the full Congress voting.

I don't think it will materialize.

[seeker4ever]

74. Does the Harry Reid Plan Include This?

[Tx4obama]

76. I think it is mainly Boehner. Here's LINK that explains it all

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/23/super-congress-debt-ceiling_n_907887.html

SNIP

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has made a Super Congress a central part of his last-minute proposal, multiple news reports and people familiar with his plan say.

SNIP

Edited to add:
I've read elsewhere that it would be unconstitutional.

[seeker4ever]

102. It IS included. Why?

"Under a plan put forth by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his counterpart Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)"
--From you link

[julian09]

79. Full congress would vote straight up or down no amendments

on the committee proposal.

[seeker4ever]

101. Ummm, isn't that a bad thing?

And, I see it is in Harry's proposal.

[Major Hogwash]

88. So, what is that, about 2 a month? Yeah, he's a real effective Speaker of the House.

And how many of that "Wicked Dozen" were signed into law by President Obama?


Mueha-ha-ha!!

[emulatorloo]

56. Go Nancy Go

:patriot:

[jtuck004]

57. Good for her. K&R.

I hope she doesn't mind if I borrow that...

[midnight]

70. These legislators that allows this power play to go down are

not serving and protecting us... Time for them to go...

[perdita9]

72. One Incredibly Useful Thing John Boehner is Doing ...

...he's showing that Nancy Pelosi was a far superior Speaker of the House.

[madrchsod]

77. although i had my doubts...

i knew that she was born with democrat blood in her veins...

the boner is a child...

[bbinacan]

83. She's full of shit

I'm tired of this fear mongering fucking bullshit.

[unkachuck]

85. '...seniors could "kiss their Medicare good-bye."'

....and Dem heads could roll in 2012....ANY Dem that touches Social security, Medicare or Medicaid, or plays the pukes game of not taxing the wealthy, should expect to lose in 2012....

....we will remember

[buckrogers1965]

90. I paid into Medicare for decades.

Aren't I legally entitled to get some value for the money I spend on that insurance program? Or did I get defrauded?

If medicare and social security fail, is it time to lawyer up to get my original investment back?

[patrice]

92. BUT ALL WARS ARE FREE.

[pokerfan]

94. but but but....

we have to pay for:
1. tax cuts for the richest 1%
2. two and a half wars
3. bailouts for bankers

:sarcasm:

[BiggJawn]

100. Mu-AWH!

There. I just kissed it goodbye. Mu-AWH! there, I just kissed my Medicare goodbye.

I think I'm going to move south. Indiana can be a bitch in the wintertime if all you have is a cardboard box.

Thanks a buttload, center-right Democrats!

[Fire1]

107. This whole thread is nothing but fuckin SPIN. n/t