The GOP’s “Vouchercare” Ends Medicare As We Know It!

The Republican’s have been trying desperately to change the subject, redefine the word “voucher” and get the media to help them with it. So far it hasn’t been working, although the media is starting to come around – they are made up of some of the dumbest people on the planet. I have to admit that I’ve been enjoying watching Paul Ryan and all those Republicans who hitched their wagon to him scattering like rats fleeing a sinking ship. It’s also been fun watching as others double down on their strategy and dig the hole even deeper. The tactics the GOP are using amount to intimidation and a huge heaping of whining. From Paul Krugman…

What’s in a name? A lot, the National Republican Congressional Committee obviously believes. Last week, the committee sent a letter demanding that a TV station stop running an ad declaring that the House Republican budget plan would “end Medicare.” This, the letter insisted, was a false claim: the plan would simply install a “new, sustainable version of Medicare.”

But Comcast, the station’s owner, rejected the demand — and rightly so. For Republicans are indeed seeking to dismantle Medicare as we know it, replacing it with a much worse program.

I’m seeing many attempts to shout down anyone making this obvious point, and not just from Republican politicians. For some reason, many commentators seem to believe that accurately describing what the G.O.P. is actually proposing amounts to demagoguery. But there’s nothing demagogic about telling the truth.

The kings of demagoguery, the GOP, are trying the Karl Rove strategy of accusing your opponents of doing what you are actually doing. This works with the “red meat” Republicans who simply chew up anything thrown their way, but I’m afraid it doesn’t work on the rest of the population. But since the election of President Obama, it seems the only people the GOP is playing to these days are those hard core, believe anything Fox and Rush say boneheads. It’s kind of funny though, when it comes to seniors being directly affected by the idiocy of the Republicans, they don’t take too kindly to things like paying out of pocket for their Medicare. More from Krugman…

And most seniors wouldn’t be able to afford adequate coverage. A Congressional Budget Office analysis found that to get coverage equivalent to what they have now, older Americans would have to pay vastly more out of pocket under the Paul Ryan plan than they would if Medicare as we know it was preserved. Based on the budget office estimates, the typical senior would end up paying around $6,000 more out of pocket in the plan’s first year of operation.

I say to the Republicans, keep doubling down, seniors don’t vote or contribute anyway. You’ll be just fine, keeping pushing your plan to eliminate Medicare, it won’t matter to those seniors. Really!

Anti Incumbent Fever – Where Did You Go?

It should be fun watching the media try to tell us how anti-incumbent fever is sweeping across the country, look out you incumbents, people are angry. I heard on NPR this morning that they are being renominated at a 98% rate. Watch the bullshit unfold on your favorite cable news network. Here is a classic Rachel Maddow clip on the subject…

What Tuesdays Elections Mean

My answer is, whatever anyone wants it to mean. The pundit class is out and about today spinning and interpreting the results of primaries and one special election. Apparently both parties are claiming victory which proves to me that when people cast votes, politicians get elected. I personally don’t read too much into individual races, just like I don’t read much into polls this far out from an election. Like Tip O’neill said, all politics are local. Trying to read a larger meaning into primary elections or any individual election is an exercise in futility. I scoff at most of the talking heads who try to connect dots that aren’t supposed to be connected or prognosticate the implications for the general election in November. The voting public, specifically the middle of the electorate are very fickle, their opinions blow in the breeze depending on whatever the current mood is. Good politicians like Barack Obama and David Plouffe know how to swing that fickle middle. But I propose that until we get close to November, it’s pretty silly trying to predict outcomes or major swings. One major event, a natural disaster, a terrorist event or even an upturn in the economy can cause major swings in the middle segment of the voting population. both parties have weaknesses and incumbents are in trouble if they are perceived to be part of those problems. I would propose that Republicans look much more like a part of the problem and it is up to us liberals to help get that word out.