White House Prescription For Medicare Woes: Another PR Campaign
White House Prescription For Medicare Woes: Another PR Campaign
The Bush administration’s implementation of its new Medicare prescription drug benefit wasn’t quite a “seamless transition” as Medicare administrator Mark McClellan promised. The Miami Herald has called the implementation of the new program an “unmitigated disaster.”
But instead of mitigating the disaster, the Bush administration has launched a PR campaign:
President Bush’s top health advisers will fan out across the country this week to quell rising discontent with a new Medicare prescription drug benefit that has tens of thousands of elderly and disabled Americans, their pharmacists, and governors struggling to resolve myriad start-up problems.
“Several hundred thousand” people enrolled in the new plans were unable to fill essential prescriptions and many states declared public health emergencies. Twenty states have stepped up to the plate to “help low-income people by paying drug claims that should have been paid by the federal Medicare program.”
McClellan, who has found plenty of cash for his propaganda campaigns, now refuses to reimburse these 20 states that picked up the administration’s slack:
People are in Medicare drug plans, and it’s the Medicare plans that are supposed to pay for the medications.
More at firedoglake and Eschaton.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
101 Responses to “White House Prescription For Medicare Woes: Another PR Campaign”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
They simply can’t govern. It’s all just a chance to make money and play games with the lives of real people.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:08 pmBush does not want average Americans to have any health care! He just wants the wealthy to be well and fit! The Proles, as Orwell said in 1984 book, are just slaves for the rich!
January 18th, 2006 at 12:12 pmSo was there a DOS attack on the site this AM? I couldn’t get through till now.
On thread - DUH! Waddaya expect from King Georgie?
January 18th, 2006 at 12:19 pmPay no attention to the man behind the curtain!
The further along we go with this administration the more he reminds me of “the great and powerful OZ.”
The lion is a coward? Well here, a medal will fix that.
Progam is a disaster, just tell everyone it’s not until they’re convinced.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:23 pmI’m sure White House spokesman Scott McLellan will be more than happy to critique the actions of his brother in implementing Bush’s wonderful plan (that took a bribe on the House floor to pass).
January 18th, 2006 at 12:25 pmAmanda, your firedoglake link goes to the Post article. I think you meant to link to this:
January 18th, 2006 at 12:26 pmhttp://firedoglake.blogspot.com/ 2006_01_15_firedoglake_archive.html#113759939616420753
Today’s GOP: Never missing an opportunity to over-reach. Pigs.
More fun here: http://circus-minimus.blogspot.com/
January 18th, 2006 at 12:26 pmF*ck the PR rounds, just fix the program! I’ve had so many clients come in and talk about the problems they’re having with this program. The stress will be causing them health problems soon, and they can’t get their meds. Does this administration know what a PLAN is?
January 18th, 2006 at 12:28 pm#5, thanks for answering my question. I was wondering if this McClellan was any relation to Scotty. Just add the poor and sick to the list of people that BushCo hates.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:31 pmJust remember, this prez has failed at everything he’s attempted in life. . . why stop now?
January 18th, 2006 at 12:34 pmFor the background on the Bush flip-flop and recipe for disaster on Medicare prescription coverage, see:
January 18th, 2006 at 12:35 pm“Medicare’s Prescription for Failure.”
This is going to be huge issue. This affects millions of Americans directly and will cause a lot of anger. I only hope there is a Dem strategy formulated on this.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:39 pmUnmitigated disaster
Said HW on Duhbyas Birthday
and he continues now
hes not conservative
but hateful and vindicative
thats our man
without a plan
an MBA of Ivy League Moulde
Doing what he is told
for they are the muppet men
money to strings
strings to mouth
Yay thy are the Louse!
Hey IRI I love YEW, CMon over here and give bubba a Hug.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:42 pmSo, bush is screwing over and failing our parents and grandparents at this very moment. The same folks that his “town hall” farces exploited so that he could get his sound bites for the traditional media to inundate us with. The same folks that he used fear to manipulate in order to cast their votes in his direction. Gee, and isn’t it odd that you don’t hear about any of the pharms or health care corps having any problems with this new plan.
So, to all of the bush supporters, all of the “good folks” who indulged in the kool aid and voted for this crook, I wonder how you get up in the morning and look at yourself in the mirror knowing that beyond all of the other attrocities that the bush cabal has perpetrated upon this country, now he is raping your parents and grandparents. How bush’s supporters are not up in arms and threatening to burn him at the stake is beyond me.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:48 pmI wish the Dems would come up with a Universal Health Care solution.
Which would you prefer - (the current health insurance system in the United States, in which most people get their health insurance from private employers, but some people have no insurance); or (a universal health insurance program, in which everyone is covered under a program like Medicare that’s run by the government and financed by taxpayers?)
Current Universal No opinion
10/13/03 33 62 6
A big majority supports it, but it needs to be marketed properly.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:54 pmTo those in poverty level Bushco owner ship society the Drug companies do OFFER some free drugs, but it takes a While to get into the programs, see
January 18th, 2006 at 12:55 pmPAP
or
Prescription assistance Programs
Most have to Poverty Level some worse case scenarios as cancer patients can make more than poverty wages.
I have worked at one such place, The stories I heard on the phone were terrible, Often these people wont eat to buy their meds, or they cut the pills in half so they can eat. Or they just dont buy their medications. PAP forms can be found for free on the Internet, But the Paperwork (doctors scripts drug companies are a mess) Look into these if you are poverty level perhaps they can help, their are stipulatiosn with Medicare Plan B and other such “member cards” so each case is a little different.
#
I wish the Dems would come up with a Universal Health Care solution.
Which would you prefer - (the current health insurance system in the United States, in which most people get their health insurance from private employers, but some people have no insurance); or (a universal health insurance program, in which everyone is covered under a program like Medicare that’s run by the government and financed by taxpayers?)
Current Universal No opinion
10/13/03 33 62 6
A big majority supports it, but it needs to be marketed properly.
Comment by AkaDad — January 18, 2006 @ 12:54 pm
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE MARKUP
DEMOCRATIC DRUG BENEFIT SUBSTITUTE
http://www.house.gov/ commerce_democrats/ press/ 108st47.htm
June 18, 2003
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to offer the Democratic substitute to the Republican prescription drug benefit.
Let me briefly explain our substitute. Unlike the bill before us, our substitute can be simply explained, because it is built on a simple, known, and effective model – Medicare itself. Just like seniors pay a voluntary premium for Part B medical costs like doctor visits, our bill provides for a voluntary Part D drug premium of $25 per month. For that, the Government will pay 80 percent of drug costs after a $100 deductible. And no senior will have to pay more than $2,000 in costs per year.
These are real numbers, not estimates or guesses. The $25 monthly premium is specified in the bill, and so are the benefits. Unfortunately, there is no such guarantee in the Republican bill.
On top of that, we will be arming seniors with the most potent protection from soaring drug costs. Banded together under the buying power of Medicare, we can begin to use the necessary bargaining power to rein in high drug prices. This is not price control; it is competition and bargaining that Republicans explicitly ban in their bill, leaving seniors at the mercy of pharmaceutical firm price gouging. We saw that the Government was effective in negotiating a competitive price for Cipro during the anthrax outbreak. Why shouldn’t we do the same for other essential drugs for seniors?
January 18th, 2006 at 1:00 pmHey, it’s all the Democrats’ fault.
Just supplying all of you with the GOP talking point a day early.
Wow, TWO McClellans in this Admin? Do they also employ the Three Stooges, Homer Simpson, and Bozo the Clown?
January 18th, 2006 at 1:02 pmPinky=Busch
January 18th, 2006 at 1:07 pmBrain=Chainme
Bozo=Wolfoputz
Stooges=Perle Feith Franklin
Homer=Rove
MLDB #6 - Thanks for catching the wrong link! It’s all fixed –
January 18th, 2006 at 1:09 pm#15
That should go over about as well as Hillary’s universal health care went. Stupid!
January 18th, 2006 at 1:10 pmIhaven`t signed up . Are they going to up what comes out your medicare when they keep raising the prices on drugs? Wat about the co pay? Ihope the american people start to wake up and see what is happing.What a shame it is happing to america.
January 18th, 2006 at 1:16 pmFrom the looks of junior’s jaw lately, he is experiencing no problems what-so-ever in getting his drugs.
January 18th, 2006 at 1:17 pmAll we need is a good photo of him makin’ like a vaccuum.
That should go over about as well as Hillary’s universal health care went.
You mean the one that left the insurance giants fully in control of the system, and was killed by Republicans? That one?
Stupid!
Yes, we can tell.
January 18th, 2006 at 1:24 pmDumbya and Co really screwed this one up. Our pharmacist has been giving my mother-in-law her medications for free until yesterday when he finally got things straightened out. He’s been working 18 hours a day to keep up with the mess. He said the administration really messed up badly but are trying to place the blame on ‘poorly trained’ pharmacists. Isn’t that typical “Not my fault man”. He also said the the way it was set up favored the drug companies at the expense of the patient. What else is new for this administration.
January 18th, 2006 at 1:26 pmAnother Bushco screw up…gee (or is that “heck”), who woulda’ thought??? Anyone remember that Mark McClellen used to be with the FDA???? I think this little fiasco was actually planned to fail….just like everything else this group of screwballs comes up with! It was designed to confuse people and further designed to force the elderly, disabled, ill and poverty level “receipients” of this BENEFIT further into the abyss. There is simply no end to the Bush Administration’s “compassion”!!!
January 18th, 2006 at 1:48 pmyes, hillary was way in front of the curve, attempting to address healthcare issues BEFORE they became an albatross around the neck of the middle and working class folks…..
shame on her……many did not see the massive cost increases coming and downplayed her concerns as hysteria…..
13 years later, there is no 100% coverage, the copays have increased exponentially, the costs of every healthcare item have tripled or quadtrupled…..
just think if we could have headed this off before the hmo’s and pharm companies elected one of their own to the senate leader’s position?
de-regulation has been a collossal failure since the 80’s and we are now paying thru the nose for it, in particular in healthcare and energy costs…
where does all that money go? ^^^^up to the 1%, eh?
January 18th, 2006 at 1:49 pmAKADad - yea, I agree with Gary above. After what the repubs did to Bill & Hillary’s proposals, now it’s a case of “Only Nixon could go to China” type thing.
I’ll admit the TV ads attacking Clinton’s suggestions were good (to those who refused to think about the issue) and I’ll admit putting Hillary in charge wasn’t the best move.
But now we are here and it’s partly cause of that. Some accountability from repubs might be nice, but as we’ve seen with all the other issues surrounding this administration and the republican leadership, I’m not gonna hold my breath.
January 18th, 2006 at 1:51 pmHR 635,
January 18th, 2006 at 1:53 pmI think that you have stumbled across the perfect label for bush’s economic model: “The Siphon Up Theory”
I’ll grant that the Clintons were at least partly responsible for the failure of that plan. They weren’t willing to take on the insurance giants, so they came up with a ridiculously complicated monstrosity that left them fully in control. As Dr. Quentin Young of PNHP put it (or roughly — I’m quoting from memory) each page is a new reason for someone to hate it. The new HR 676 is a much simpler and better plan.
January 18th, 2006 at 2:10 pmThis administration doesn’t want government to have to help the poor. Medicare has been intentionally botched by the Republicans. I bet they knew this would happen and wanted it to happen so they could then rant about government entitlement programs. It’s the same reason they botched the response to hurricane Katrina. They want to act like they’re trying then give up when they inevitably fail. That justifies them not trying in the future. They’ll spin it that they really, really care about the poor, but those evil Democrats won’t let them do their job.
January 18th, 2006 at 2:13 pmGary,
Last I checked, it is congress’ job to make laws and it was the congress who shredded the plan that came from the clinton administration. It is the role of the president and their administration to set and manage the legislative agenda, but it is the house and senate that are responsible for the actual legislation.
I say this not in defense of mr. clinton, but rather because we the people need to hold our elected representatives to account. That is, after all, our constitutional duty.
January 18th, 2006 at 2:24 pmOp: Point taken. Even though the plan submitted by the Clintons was a lemon, Congress certainly could’ve passed a better one. In fact, I think McDermott and Wellstone actually had come up with such a bill but the leadership refused to support it.
January 18th, 2006 at 2:27 pmI don’t think this is a goverment screw up. This plan favors the pockets of the drug companies and digs into the pockets of the poor and middle class patients. I think thats exactly what they wanted and thats what the lobbyists for the drug companies wanted. Mission accomplished.
January 18th, 2006 at 2:36 pm#34 - So do you think the government deliberately screwed up the program to help out its Republican big business friends?
That’s even bad for this White House.
January 18th, 2006 at 2:41 pm#35 - Yes, i believe that there is money at the end of disasterous descisions in washington.
January 18th, 2006 at 2:46 pmI never understood why big business would oppose a Universal Health Care system.
It would free up all the money they currently spend on supplying heath care to their workers. This would make them more economically competitve with the rest of the world, who all have a Universal type health care.
January 18th, 2006 at 2:52 pmAkaDad, some people in big business do see it that way. But that’s balanced against some other factors. Many of these companies have directors or major investors who are also directors/major investors of drug companies, HMOs, and/or insurance companies, and they won’t want to give up their cash cow even if doing so would be good for their other holdings. Secondly, there’s a strong ideological bias there against giving people something for free that could otherwise be sold to them for profit. It would (in their eyes) set a bad precedent. Finally, the really big businesses can move production overseas, to so-called third world countries where workers are basically disposable commodities — if one gets sick, you just replace him with another one.
January 18th, 2006 at 3:03 pm#38
Gary,
Good points, all. What is so sad to think about is that the “something” for free is not only a healthy life, but life itself.
Don’t forget the recent allegation that Wal-Mart was engaging in a practice to hire younger employees due to the fact that they were less likely to have/develop health problems, thus cutting their healthcare costs.
And speaking of big business, I frequently read message boards on several auto-related Web sites. One topic that receives a lot of attention relates to auto companies’ health care costs, especially the legacy costs that GM has to pay out for the retirees. On any given day, people posting to the boards seem to want to put most, if not all, blame on the UAW for this due to their outrageous demands regarding healthcare coverage for their members. I’m not saying that this is not one of the issues, but in reading the posts what stands out the most is that hardly no one bothers to raise, or discuss, the issues regarding why healthcare costs are so high to begin with.
January 18th, 2006 at 3:18 pm“Many of these companies have directors or major investors who are also directors/major investors of drug companies, HMOs, and/or insurance companies, and they won’t want to give up their cash cow even if doing so would be good for their other holdings. Secondly, there’s a strong ideological bias there against giving people something for free that could otherwise be sold to them for profit. It would (in their eyes) set a bad precedent.”
I never understood this type of thinking from them.
How would they be giving up their cash cow, when millions of Americans who cant afford their drugs now, will be into the system, demanding drugs and health care services. Common sense says there will be huge growth in those areas. The only difference is that the Government pays.
Taxes fund the Universal Health Care system, so theres no free lunch, since everyone pays taxes.
January 18th, 2006 at 3:23 pmHow would they be giving up their cash cow, when millions of Americans who cant afford their drugs now, will be into the system, demanding drugs and health care services. Common sense says there will be huge growth in those areas. The only difference is that the Government pays.
No, there’s another difference: the government will be able to negotiate prices, just like the Canadian one does, only even more effectively since it’s a bigger market.
January 18th, 2006 at 3:25 pm“No, there’s another difference: the government will be able to negotiate prices, just like the Canadian one does, only even more effectively since it’s a bigger market.”
I agree on that, but its not like they won’t still make a boatload of profits. Negotiating prices is how Canada spends less per GDP and covers all citizens, while we spend more than Canada now per GDP, and have over 40 million Americans without coverage.
January 18th, 2006 at 3:37 pm#21
January 18th, 2006 at 3:52 pmAt least Hillary tried to do something other than give out recipes. Laura is a good conservative woman, sticking to the kitchen.
[…] >> Josh Marshall: “Bamboozlepalooza all over again” >> “Save my grandma” >> White House Prescription For Medicare Woes: Another PR Campaign >> “PART D, AS IN DEBACLE” […]
January 18th, 2006 at 3:58 pmMedicare Drug Plan Problems…
How’s YOUR Medicare Prescription Plan working? For tens of thousands of Americans, the answer is: “Not so good.” It’s the Administration’s task to fix it. Right? That would mean they are spending some of our tax dollars to make things work. R…
January 18th, 2006 at 4:20 pmNo. 21
Tell me what is stupid about creating the largest insurance pool possible?
January 18th, 2006 at 4:34 pmThe current system has private insurance companies with much smaller pools that take our (or our employers’) money, tell us who we can see for what ailment, shuffle some papers and pay the docs with our money. Nothing but middle men who are making out like bandits.
It’s like paramutuel racing. We make our bets, the track takes 20% and we get paid from what’s left. Only insurance companies take much more of our money for their paper shuffling.
The insurance companies have a 30% overhead and realize $400 billion in profit each year.
Medicare has a 3% overhead and that $400 billion profit that goes to the insurance CEO’s and their real estate purchases, could go directly into patient care, if necessary. Once again, we would have the absolute largest possible insurance pool possible.
It’s not as if we won’t use the same doctors we use now.
Single-payer is absolutely the most logical medical plan there is.
#9, Not only are the two McClellans brothers, but their mother just resigned her Republican job to run as an independent candidate in her state.
January 18th, 2006 at 4:50 pm#27,HR635,
January 18th, 2006 at 5:03 pmI was working in the health care field during those years and the medical community was strongly opposed to Clinton’s plan, as were the hospitals (the hospital I knew first hand was HCA, the one owned by the Frist family), and of course, the insurance companies. There was nothing that Clinton could have come up with that the Republicans would have approved because of those three huge lobbies.
There was a medical insurance fiasco soon after that run by HMOs leaving many seniors totally confused.
Clinton was ahead of the curve, as you aptly put. Had her plan been implemented and tweaked over the years, we would not be in the horrible condition today.
Even corporations would have to agree that not having the burdon of health care for employees would be a good thing.
AkaDad- the biggest single saving in our Canadian medical system in relation to yours is in administration costs. Consolidated into one system the paperwork is more streamlined here. It can also be argued that with health care being free for everyone, people go earlier to seek diagnosis and the ailment is usually stemmed earlier and at less cost. Plus, even, knowing that you are covered and no medical disaster will harm you financially provides a better mental health environment. Stress takes it toll on health as everyone knows. I don’t know how bad it is down there and if this senario is real but I would be simmering if I had a tumour growing in me that would kill me in say four years and not the resources to get treatment. Who needs a three-piece taking a cut anyway. What value do they add to the process
January 18th, 2006 at 5:16 pmI was working in the health care field during those years and the medical community was strongly opposed to Clinton’s plan, as were the hospitals (the hospital I knew first hand was HCA, the one owned by the Frist family), and of course, the insurance companies.
The HIAA, a collection of smaller insurance companies, did oppose the Clinton plan. The bigger ones like Prudential actually supported it and even helped write it. They stood to gain because of their investment in HMOs, which would’ve expanded under the Clinton plan.
Even corporations would have to agree that not having the burdon of health care for employees would be a good thing.
The Clinton plan actually put a greater burden on employers, by making employee health coverage mandatory. You may be confusing it with the McDermott/Wellstone single-payer plan (the current reincarnation of which is HR 676).
January 18th, 2006 at 5:20 pmi remember when the clinton plan was being put forward and my sister, a nurse, and a right-wing-know-it-all, was vehemently against it…she was arguing from the medical field’s perspective…
so, WHY ??? why were these people so strongly against the idea…
seems like it’s back-fired, what with medicare under-funding, high insurance, etc.
January 18th, 2006 at 5:55 pm“AkaDad- the biggest single saving in our Canadian medical system in relation to yours is in administration costs. Consolidated into one system the paperwork is more streamlined here. It can also be argued that with health care being free for everyone, people go earlier to seek diagnosis and the ailment is usually stemmed earlier and at less cost. Plus, even, knowing that you are covered and no medical disaster will harm you financially provides a better mental health environment.”
Thanks for sharing that. It’s nice to find a blog where people can discuss important issues, without the insults and shrillness, like on most blogs.
Excellent info to make a better case for it.
On stress, I have more grey hair since Gore won/lost…
January 18th, 2006 at 6:24 pmme too!
January 18th, 2006 at 6:37 pmso, WHY ??? why were these people so strongly against the idea…
seems like it’s back-fired, what with medicare under-funding, high insurance, etc.
Comment by katy #51
katy,
because it was coming from what many greedy, racist, right wing scumbag, traitors and haters felt was a president who was too close to the poor and disenfranchised people…
January 18th, 2006 at 8:59 pmbig papa - i understand the clinton hating angle - but what were the actual reasons given…i wish i could remember all of what my sister said back then…
i don’t have much to say to her these days, but she spent the past 3 months trying to figure out what presciption plan my mom should use - i’m curious as to her mindset these days…she is of the ilk that will NOT admit a bush mistake, so i doubt i will ever know…
January 18th, 2006 at 9:46 pmbecause it was coming from what many greedy, racist, right wing scumbag, traitors and haters felt was a president who was too close to the poor and disenfranchised people…
Otherwise known as “We the peopleâ€â€¦..
“WE THE PEOPLE†who are called unpatriotic for standing up for our Inalienable rights as guaranteed by our constitution, can not idly standby as the laws and institutions that have been set in place to ward off such evil plans and devices are shredded before our eyes in the name of the Almighty Fascist camp of George W. Bush and fueled by fear and deceit.
When in fact “WE THE PEOPLE†now live in fear of the government and how it will crush its citizens next. Any, government that, allows it’s own policies to deny it’s elderly access to life saving medications as the new Medicaid/Medicare have done in this “transition period†depicts a government that is unjust and wicked. As these medications are needed to sustain the lives of those who depend on them. Just like our freedoms and liberties where here yesterday and gone when Alito is confirmed. These crooked bastards make Don Corleone wet himself with glee and approval. Except Vito had class and looked after the people
Now that the middle class has been sold out and as more and more of us move into the unemployment lines and welfare roles, the government, who forced this, sell off of the American dream has also turned it’s back on it’s citizens. You know, the ones who can’t afford their medications, the one’s who can no longer pay the amount of taxes we used to support this country with, the ones who are thrown into the gutter as an expendable worthless commodity.
Any, government that, allows it’s own policies to deny it’s elderly access to life saving medications as the new Medicaid/Medicare has done, Throws it’s Skilled worker’s to the side and allow Corps. to lie and throw “guarantee’s†of pensions and health care out the window otherwise known as “Breach of contract†just because they might show a loss. Is a government that will see us all sold off with no rights to the highest bidder (China) sparing no expense in doing so.
Is it such a wonder that selling the world on a system of “Democracy?†when it “the US†routinely crushes its citizens through policies that ride on the backs of the poor and disenfranchised as the last budget does as voted for by “OUR†Senate and House and fully backed by the World’s leader of Fascists. When they themselves already have a system “Tyranny†“Fascisms†“Communism†that does that without them having to give up a thing.
January 18th, 2006 at 10:05 pmThere was a big story on the front page of our newspaper here, the Bloomington (IN) Herald Times, where the Williams Brothers Pharmacy was talking about what an absolute nightmare this program is and they said we should have listened to Hillary when we had the chance. They said she over-reached but if it had been implemented in stages and tweaked along the way we would be far better off than we are today. On the other hand they said they’ve had to hire an additional full time employee to handle the mess so I guess we’ve found G.W.’s super secret job creation rogram.
January 18th, 2006 at 11:50 pmI’m a retired pharmacist, on Medicare, and have avoided signing up for Part D because I could see it was going to be a mess, and it would cost me more than staying with the original basic Medicare. For all my Republican pharmacist co-workers who voted for Bush, and are now being blamed by Bush for this disaster, and are working 18 hour days calling insurance companies for reimbursement and enrollment verification, I hope you vote for anyone but a Republican in the next election.
January 19th, 2006 at 12:10 amLike I said Bush does NOT want affordable health care for average Americans! Many elderly people are on fixed incomes, so if medicine costs more they have to make a choice between getting meds or food or heating/air conditioning! More may eat cat food thanks to Bush ass!
January 19th, 2006 at 12:20 ami wish i could remember all of what my sister said back then…
i don’t have much to say to her these days, but she spent the past 3 months trying to figure out what presciption plan my mom should use - i’m curious as to her mindset these days…she is of the ilk that will NOT admit a bush mistake, so i doubt i will ever know…
Comment by katy #55
This message brought to you by,
The Criminal Bushite Junta
“BRINGING FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, OUR WAY…OR THE HIGHWAY”
kathy,
I don’t mean to make light of your differences with your sister, it’s just that Bushiva has had that effect on the world…
Evil does that…
This Medicare thing…
Maybe now the “greatest generation” will get a little fu*king common sense and vote their kitchen tables from now on!
I suspect that the “BOO!!! Boys”
Bushiva and L’Il Dick garnered a pretty hefty vote total amongst the “terrified” over 60 crowd…
Now they’re reaping what they’ve sown…
Forgive me but I have no patience with inbreds who voted for this criminal cabal (either time), but ESPECIALLY the 2nd time!
January 19th, 2006 at 9:04 amUniversal healthcare will happen, it is inevitable. The republican money grubbers will kick and scream and fight as hard as they can to hold on to the corporate healthcare mentality. It is extremely profitable and that is the ONLY reason there is profit on pain in this country.
Eventually, healthcare will break the bank and the only logical conclusion is universal healthcare for all. Right now, insurance companies have LOBBYISTS and their good friend Bill Frist to continually scare the public into thinking that they will now receive inadequate healthcare. That is ridiculous, doctors won’t be going anywhere and if they are in it for the money, they are in the wrong profession.
It won’t stop young people from wanting to become healthcare providers either. What is happening to Americans is horrifying. My mother does not have insurance and hasn’t been to a doctor in 16 years. She can’t afford even a mamogram. I am sickened. She doesn’t get any government assistance as she makes too much as a cashier. She can’t afford the insurance they offer her because it would cost half of her salary.
Now, tell me republicans, what should she do? What are your answers? My mom’s boss makes millions and she suffers to keep her boss fat and happy. What is a girl to do?
UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE IS INEVITABLE.
January 19th, 2006 at 9:32 ambig papa…you hit that nail…unfortunataly…
this is something that said sister sent my way last week; it has been making the email rounds - maybe you’ve seen it…the music video to honor WW2 vets (well worth a look and listen)…
here is the message, link and my response:
*****
1/12 - Read this and then click the link below:
The elderly parking lot attendant wasn’t in a good mood! Â Neither was Sam Bierstock. Â It was around 1 a.m., and Bierstock, a Delray Beach, FL eye doctor, business consultant, corporate speaker and musician, was bone tired after appearing at an event. Â He pulled up in his car, and the parking attendant began to speak. Â ”I took two bullets for this country and look what I’m doing,” he said bitterly.
At first, Bierstock didn’t know what to say to the World War II veteran.  But he rolled down his window and told the man, “Really, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you.”  Then the old soldier began to cry. “That really got to me,” Bierstock says.
Cut to today. Bierstock, 58, and John Melnick, 54, of Pompano Beach and a member of Bierstock’s band, Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Band, have written a song inspired by that old soldier in the airport parking lot. Â The mournful “Before You Go” does more than salute those who fought in WWII. Â It encourages people to go out of their way to thank the aging warriors before they die.
“If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have been shot,” says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. Â ”The WW II soldiers are now dying at the rate of about 2,000 every day. Â I thought we needed to thank them.”
The song is striking a chord. Â Within four days of Bierstock placing it on the Web
 http://www.beforeyougo.us, the song and accompanying photo essay have bounced around nine countries, producing tears and heartfelt thanks from veterans, their sons and daughters and grandchildren.
*****
Sis - Thanks for sending the link to the pictures and song “Before You Go”. I forwarded it to my kids and others. It was very moving and profound in its message. I found this line especially telling:
…the parking attendant began to speak. “I took two bullets for this country and look what I’m doing,” he said bitterly.
I’m sure there’s more to the story, but I can imagine that it must be especially hard for those vets to watch as their country and the values they fought FOR, are on a decline towards those of the countries whose ideology they fought AGAINST:
FLAGRANT CORRUPTION
ARROGANT CRONYISM
CORPORATE DOMINANCE
STATE CONTROLLED MEDIA
MILTARY ECONOMY
RELIGIOUS TYRANNY
PARTISAN JUDICIARY
FASCISM
Everyone who was duped and fooled into voting for this Bush/Cheney cabal has to take the blame for the destruction of this once proud and revered United States of America..
We must ALL work together to change and correct the damage done and return to the democratic ideals of our heritage.
January 19th, 2006 at 11:12 amA new study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research projects the potential savings that would result if Medicare could negotiate the same prices for drugs as countries like Australia and the program was administered in a more efficient manner.
The potential savings are so large that the current projected budget for the program would be enough to fully finance the benefit with no contribution from the beneficiaries whatsoever. In fact, it would still leave a surplus of $40 billion (over the years 2006-2013) which could be divided between savings to the state and federal governments.
Read more here: http://www.cepr.net/ publications/ efficient_medicare_2006_01.pdf
January 19th, 2006 at 12:11 pmI think the failure was planned for a far more sinister reason. There is no way the repuglicans could scrap medicare unless a majority of seniors were fed up with it. Then they think they would get a chance to “modernise” medicare like they tried with social security and they have done with the under 65 healthcare system. The HMO’s see medicare as a universal health care system that they aren’t allowed to exploit to their benifit, the part D was constructed to remedy this all the while allowing the pharmicutical industry pick the pockets of the elderly.
January 19th, 2006 at 12:33 pm#64 - talk about sinister reasons…a caller to majority report (airamericaradio) gave the opinion that just maybe this was bush’s way of “fixing” the social security problem - no meds, more old people die off…
i know, completely horrible logic…but these days, i put nothing past bushco…
January 19th, 2006 at 1:17 pmThe only reson that bushco, inc. doesn’t want them to die is they spend so much money on health care that to the Repuglicans it would be a shame to let them die befoe they bilk them dry
January 19th, 2006 at 1:27 pmThis is ‘bioethics’ in it’s finest hour. Another chapter in the non-treatment of the sick and elderly. Only the rich and healthy shall survive to the glory of the Bush dynasty.
January 19th, 2006 at 1:40 pm#64 and #65, I have had similar thoughts. I know Bush&Co makes long-term plans, and the Repubs have had 40 years to carefully to focus on their goal, and with the proper people in the right places, they’re good to go forward.
January 19th, 2006 at 2:29 pmI’m not there yet, but I did advise all I know who are of the “certain age” that this Rx plan was bogus. Designed to create chaos and confusion in the seniors, enrich the pharmaceutical companies, frustrate providers, families until they cry out to privatize the whole thing — the Bush&Co goal in the first place. The very sick, very old would simply die as they did in the years before chemotherapy, antibiotics, etc.
We must have universal health care for all citizens. It is unconscionable that health care would be denied those who can’t afford it, are under-employed, are already sick with chronic disease. Our present health care system is an embarrassment.
January 19th, 2006 at 2:33 pm“An unmitigated failure”. Said as though this regime actually wanted the “drug benefit” scam to succeed. Since 1935, the repugs have wanted to destroy Social Security-and, now Medicare as well. What better way than a harebrained sceme designed to fail, followed with the usual excuse: “we had your best interests in mind”? By now anyone with half a brain can see the best interests of the obscenely wealthy are what’s foremost on the minds of the scumbags in Washington.
January 19th, 2006 at 4:10 pmMy mother is 91, and she got this big pamphlet regarding the new drug program. Of course, she has no idea what it means. I was a finance officer for 30 years, my son is a physician’s assistant, and my brother teaches business. None of us could make any sense out of the program.
But, of course, it wasn’t intended to help the elderly. It was intended to help the drug companies.
January 19th, 2006 at 5:30 pmi know, completely horrible logic…but these days, i put nothing past bushco…
Comment by katy #65
katy,
If you know anything about the right wing conservative ideology then you know that destruction of the “social safety net” is one of their main objectives…
Bushiva’s Medicare Rx “Plan” is nothing more than a Trojan horse designed to overwhelm the budget causing the people to turn sour on it and the congress to have to abandon it in the future…
Why else do you think the criminal Bushite junta smeared and eventually destroyed the career of yet another whistleblower (whose name unfortunately escapes me), who brought it to the public’s attention that the Bushites underestimated the cost of this “reform” by some $500 billion dollars over ten years…
Bushiva was attempting to do the same thing with the so-called “Social Security Privatization”…
This mofo (Bushiva)and his supporters need to be axed, BEFORE they make us all poor and destitute…
…then ride off into the sunset with their ill gotten gains, leaving the poor and middle working class holding signs “Will Work for Food”…
Believe IT!
January 20th, 2006 at 10:06 ambig papa - yep…i’m well aware…
did you see my post at #62? it’s not directly linked, but worth the look at that video…
good day to you…
January 20th, 2006 at 10:25 amYou’re doing a Hecka Job unmitigated Medicare disaster!
January 20th, 2006 at 12:38 pmNow elders on medicaid which have all meds,doctor,and dental covered in states as Wa. state,now will have switched over to medicare with co payments. How will low income persons afford to pay on less than $600 a month any amt. of payments and meds not generic be covered too for little or no co payments. Will elderly,after turn 65 have to decide which meds to continue to take or stop cause cannot afford all the co pays? This was first to be voluntary now no choice for all? You choose or one be picked for you. Will this be fixed before I turn 65 in 4 years. I sure hope so. A concerned lady of 59 plus..
February 1st, 2006 at 3:44 amIt seems that you dont really know what Plan D is all about! Have you read the additions and how it works with Plan B? Read the news buddy: Medicare news blog
March 24th, 2006 at 4:08 pm[…] - ThinkProgress tells us about the White House’s new Medicare public relations campaign. […]
March 25th, 2006 at 12:59 pmInteresting reading, thanks man.
April 30th, 2006 at 6:42 pmI wish all of you bleeding heart libs would tell your friends to get a job and pay for their own insurance. I tried of supporting people who just want to wine andcomplain. My dad was an orphan, lied about his age to get into the army and he has asked nothing of the government (or anyone else) to help him for 50 years. What is wrong with this society? They want hand outs. Don’t blame Bush for all your self inflected woes.
June 7th, 2006 at 7:42 pmFirst IRI wants to Abolish the Constitution, now you want to keep it and only abolish certain parts. IRI wants all the old people out on the streets, or to go to war for his GOD greenback.
You see IRI this is why your Un American. Money is not the Issue, its those people whom worked all their lifes, at substandard wages, its not their fault they cant afford these way overpriced drugs.
Its people like you whom think that Min Wage isnt poverty. That Capitalism has a Crystal Ceiling. That money can be printed into affinity. It can not.
The Bush War is on IRAQ for the mighty dollar, and you KNOW it. Saddam was to take his oil off the Dollar..Right IRI?
November 20th, 2006 at 6:14 amWasnt that the true threat?
Insurance Small Business Health Insurance Nationwide Insurance
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 15th, 2008 at 2:44 amHealth Insurance Gulf Breeze Insurance Flood Insurance
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 20th, 2008 at 12:10 pmHealth Insurance California Health Insurance Michigan Health Insurance
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 22nd, 2008 at 12:05 amMilford
If you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:18 amJim Crow Laws Employment Law Us Supreme Court
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
March 25th, 2008 at 6:02 pmChristophefr
It would be great help if I could get some clarity on the real issues
March 26th, 2008 at 4:34 amstates have mandatory health insurance
Your site regarding %TITLE% looks very interesting to me. I found it doing a search for %KEYWORD%.
March 29th, 2008 at 1:17 pmmedical assistant job
Didn’t realise there was this type of information out there
March 31st, 2008 at 9:22 amInsurance Automobile Insurance Home Owners Insurance
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:27 amPrudential Real Estate
Can it be that your server is infected with a virus - I get an Virus warning when I open your site with Firefox - Just for your Info.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 amWeight Loss Pill Identifier Pills
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
April 4th, 2008 at 10:16 pmAss Round Ass Tight Ass
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
April 5th, 2008 at 12:24 amPayday Loan Advance
April 5th, 2008 at 2:47 amJack
Cool post. 100% great content everytime. Thanks for sharing.
April 6th, 2008 at 10:26 pmAdSense Money Maker
Do you know how to make money from AdSense automatically? You don’t!? I’ll teach you how!
April 8th, 2008 at 7:38 pmresidual income business opportunity
I enjoyed that. You said it right.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:25 amEric
and readers, Let?s DIGG this Blog post so we can get more blog posts FAST!! Good stuff.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:09 pmmost effective weight loss pills
.) Some individuals or companies have abused the TrackBack feature to insert spam links on some blogs (see sping). (Blogger now has
April 11th, 2008 at 1:10 pmAss Tight Ass Ass Worship
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
April 11th, 2008 at 8:58 pmBuy To Let House Insurance
Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious. ~ Peter Ustinov
April 14th, 2008 at 2:22 amCash Advance No Job Verification
This article sounds well, but how everything is related together?
April 14th, 2008 at 12:15 pm