(Jim Morin via Gocomics.com)
__
And yet, Greg Sargent reports at the Washington Post, the “GOP [is] losing the argument over Medicare“:
With the debate still raging over whether the Dem victory in NY-26 is a bellwether for 2012, Dems will pounce on these striking new findings from CNN:
A new national poll indicates that a majority of Americans don’t like what they’ve heard so far about congressional Republicans’ plans to change Medicare.
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According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey, a majority also don’t think the GOP has cooperated enough with President Barack Obama and, for the first time since they won back control of the House last November, the number of Americans who say that Republican control of the chamber is good for the country has dropped below the 50 percent mark…
__
“Half of those we questioned say that the country would be worse off under the GOP Medicare proposals and 56 percent think that GOP plan would be bad for the elderly,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. “Opposition is highest among senior citizens, at 74 percent, suggesting that seniors are most worried about changes to Medicare even if those changes are presented as ones that would not affect existing Medicare recipients.”The suggestion from CNN seems to be that the Ryan plan, in addition to being unpopular, has caused the GOP’s overall image to sink even as the arguments from both sides have been publicly litigated. That would square with the finding of other analysts who claim that Republicans are particularly vulnerable because the public finds arguments against the plan persuasive. Also, the nearly three-quarters of seniors who oppose Ryancare would suggest that they are rejecting a primary GOP defense of the program: That it doesn’t impact anyone over 55.
The poll, curiously, also finds that a majority of conservatives and even 50 percent of Republicans oppose the plan…
Post your positive goals for the evening below. Yes, ‘plus-many’ beverage planning counts as positive…
demkat620
My right winger friend is convinced the GOP will win the whole shebang next year because of this Plan.
“People reward you when you stand for a principle”
For my positive plan for the evening, My daughter’s final French Horn concert is tonight. Next year she wants to play drums. So I can’t have Kath + anything tonight. :(
13th Generation
Having my neighbor over for chili (who is trying to get me hired on at the company he works for.)
+3 and counting.
Studly Pantload, a full-service troll
If you’re not
outragedgetting stinkin’ drunk every night, you’re not paying attention.BGinCHI
Probably gonna have wieners on the grill in honor of Anthony Weiner and his chutzpah.
And before you ask, yes, Hebrew Nationals.
13th Generation
@BGinCHI:
I’m a Nathan’s fan myself.
ETA, but yes, I see what you did there..
The Ancient Randonneur
I rode a century today! (Cycling parlance for 100 mile ride.) Which if IIRC comes out to 10 completely calorie neutral beers! I seem to remember being told you can drink one very fine Belgian abbey ale for each 10 miles you ride. I could only find 750 ml bottles. Darn! I’ll suffer through it and report back later.
erlking
I’m taking the kids and some friends and going to listen to Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys in the beautiful Duke Gardens.
With + beaucoup beverages.
Brachiator
This just in. Kansas to the Arts: Drop Dead
No surprise that the hand of Koch is behind this.
Will Reks
Obviously the American people aren’t quite ready to have a serious discussion about entitlements and our crushing debt.
If anything, Paul Ryan should be commended for raising awareness of this issue.
Linda Featheringill
I talked with a lady today [about other things] and she mentioned something about Medicare and I got the impression that she is afraid that the reductions would impact on her in a few years when she qualifies.
Because of the nature and purpose of the conversation, I didn’t get into a discussion about Medicare with her.
I thought they perhaps the Republicans really hadn’t got the message out that those over 55 [like this lady] would not have to undergo any changes. It didn’t occur to me that maybe folks thought that the Republicans were lying about it.
Folks who don’t trust Ryancare and its supporters might have a point. Maybe they are lying. And maybe they just haven’t gotten around to screwing the Seniors yet.
kindness
OK so we all know Democrats have a built in advantage over repubs with the current Mediscare data.
So why do I worry so much that Bidden & the rest will join with repubs to cut medicare and blow their advantage?
Brian S
The first wedding guest to stay with us arrives tonight. My goal is to get to that point without having a full on asthma attack from the dust/hair I’m kicking up a from cleaning/packing boxes for our move. For those keeping score at home, that’s a wedding and a move in a six week span, while eating two summer courses for the next four weeks. Good thing I have a borrowed kegerator in my living room.
gex
Positive goals, eh? Me and the not-exactly-Missus are heading off on vacation. First to Austin, TX to have the best breakfast burritos ever, visit the father-out-law, and the GF will be hitting the open mic at Cap City.
Then on to LA for the Max Fun Con at UCLA’s Conference Center in Lake Arrowhead. Lovely place. Will be hanging out with John Hodgman, Maria Bamford, Jonathan Coulton, and others. I’m signed up for an animation activity with someone from Cartoon Network and a stand-up workshop with Maria Bamford.
It doesn’t get any better than that. Well, it would be better if I could bring my pup. I’m atypically happy right now even with the frequent visits to BJ and reading about our broken social contract.
Lolis
I think it is hilarious Repuublicans are trying to pass this pile of crap onto Democrats via the debt ceiling hostage situation. Democrats can be dumb, but not that dumb. Even The Nelson Blue Dog pac in the Senate voted against that stinky bomb.
Linda Featheringill
Also, too:
If three-quarters of the current Seniors think that the Republicans are lying, won’t that have consequences?
Han's Solo
@Will Reks: We should also commend him for voting for: Medicare Part D, The Iraq war and the Bush tax cuts. After all, without those votes we wouldn’t be dealing with crushing debt and therefore wouldn’t have anything to commend him for.
piratedan
quietly drinking myself into some self indulgent navel gazing with a cold sixer of Stella before getting on a plane to Portland to care for my Mom while she undergoes treatment for stage 4 lung cancer.
Jay B.
@Will Reks:
Yes, history started on Jan. 20, 2009. Saying shit like “entitlements”, “serious discussion” and anything about the debt and/or deficit automatically outs you as a complete hack.
Poopyman
Goals for the evening? A quiet celebration of my 57th for just me & Mrs. P which may or may not involve alcohol. Probably not since it’s a work night, but I’m not wedded to that idea.
And cake. Chocolate cake. Really good chocolate cake.
Cermet
My discus fish surprised me and breed (eggs)and since other discus are in the tank, warfare has broken out – they’ll eat the eats (parents) if I net out the other fish so I’ll try a divider – worked in Iraq, right (Green zone and all that)? These are rather young parents (first try) so I’m not holding my breath that they’ll be good parents … the young are worth about $5 each and you can get up to 100 (but I’d be happy to get 15 – 25 to fry stage.)
Ryan has helped all demorats by betraying the thugs real motives – hope it holds until 2012 and hope the debt ceiling gets raised without the demorats taking a hit on a bad deal fort medicare.
CaseyL
My big plan for the evening is to go see “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame,” a China-made movie based on the Detective (and, later, Judge) Dee Mystery novels which take place in 9th Century China. I read a few of the Judge Dee mysteries some years back, and enjoyed them for portraying a legal system and cultural background I knew nothing about. Supposed to be a fun flick, with people spontaneously combusting and many kung fu fights!
No booze tonight, though.
Lev
@kindness: Well, the Administration to date hasn’t exactly given up the store on domestic policy to date–remember Boehner’s radical discretionary spending cut that INCREASED the budget?
For that matter, remember when Republicans thought that discretionary spending was The Scourge Of America? Fun times…
Here’s the thing: Republicans don’t just need some Democrats to vote to cut Medicare to cover their own asses. They need Obama not to say that they were going to blow up the economy if he didn’t make the cuts, and not to run on undoing them. Talk about a re-election romp if he did that…
Danton
@Will Reks:
I’m ready to have a serious discussion about raising taxes and trimming the military’s budget. Apparently, raising taxes (on the country’s wealthiest, potential taxpayers) has been ruled out by Brave and Bold Paul Ryan.
JGabriel
Ooh, look. John Boehner releases a list of 150 economists who have now lost all professional credibility [PDF], in that they are supporting the Republican’s effort to use increasing the debt to blackmail the US government into spending cuts.
It’s so rare to see so many people simultaneously out themselves as evil, sub-human, intellectually dishonest, sociopathically discompassionate assholes.
.
Will Reks
@Han’s Solo:
Yep, I live in Ryan’s district so I know this all too well. I’m hoping Rob Zerban can beat him in 2012. We’ll see.
Strandedvandal
@The Ancient Randonneur:
Congrats on the Century! That isn’t an easy thing to do.
Will Reks
I see the snark didn’t carry through. Oh well.
MagicPanda
@gex: Austin? Surely you’ll be having breakfast tacos instead of breakfast burritos??
Just Some Fuckhead
I have to run some network drops and it’s 150 degrees in the attic.
+2
gbear
(Maybe) positive moves tonight: A relator who lives up the block from me is coming over to discuss strategies for selling my (very old moneypit) house and getting me into a townhouse or rental. After that I’m heading up to Walgreens to pick up my depression medication. I turn 57 this month and I am feeling older and lower than dirt.
At least I’ve known better than to vote for republicans. That’s my positive contribution…
Linda Featheringill
http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/05/30/pawlenty-says-u-s-must-curb-increases-in-spending/
So does this mean that as people get closer to the end of life and the prognosis is poor, hospitals and doctors won’t take them in for fear of not getting paid?
Eric S.
@The Ancient Randonneur: Congrats! I’ve never completed a century. I was hoping to ride one this summer but the scheduled weekend has a scheduling conflict with my job.
On the cycling topic. I did a short 20 last night after work. Near my turn around point I had to go around a rollerblader. I checked to make sure no one was passing me at the time and discovered I had a drafter. I have no idea how long he’d been there. Never announced his presence or if he did, he did not do so loud enough.
I don’t mind people hopping on for a ride. I go pretty quick and I’m big enough to provide a good wind break. It’s just common courtesy and safest to announce your presence though.
I did the Ride Of Silence a couple of weeks ago. Next year I’d like to participate again as a rider and not a destination.
JPL
Tornadoes have now been sighted in MA according to my friend who just called. Stay safe Anne.
maus
I find that stunning considering the nonstop press and glowing coverage the GOP gets to counter reality. I refuse to believe it’s because anything’s sinking in through the reality distortion field, there’s got to be another reason!
arguingwithsignposts
Heading out now to see Chris Pureka with The Somebody in Philly.
jl
@Linda Featheringill:
That performance pay sounds like a good idea. Why pay if you cannot measure performance somehow? It’s a sound businessman type thinking. Just like the responsible daddy party GOP would propose, with some good olde timey tough love. Good thing that is a GOPer idea.
When that idea was proposed during the health care reform debate it was not good because Democrats proposed it, and it was the same as rationing (or was it death panels? I forget) both of which would result in callous murder of sweet gandmas everywhere. Which is a evil atheistic commie type idea.
Edit: sorry, forgot the snark tag.
Joel
@Will Reks: Poe’s law.
BGinCHI
All comments eaten. FYWP x 10.
Studly Pantload, a full-service troll
@JGabriel:
I wouldn’t bet the rent money that some majority of those whose names are on that list that are contacted by press won’t go on record as stating they never made such claims and don’t know what the h-e-double-hockey-sticks they’re doing on the list.
Roger Moore
@Linda Featheringill:
This just occurred to you? I’d think that anyone who’s paying attention carefully enough to understand that the Ryan plan would supposedly protect Medicare for people currently over 55 would also have been paying enough attention to know the Republicans hated Medicare for ages. It’s natural to suspect that a group that has long hated Medicare and is proposing to destroy it for one group of people is lying through its teeth when it loudly proclaims the importance of protecting it for other people.
Dee Loralei
@piratedan: Best wishes to your mom and you. And enjoy the Stellas.
DFH no.6
Huh. Some troll farted in here, and it came out as the nonsensical phrase “crushing debt”.
I’ve asked many of the uncountable rightwingers with which I am surrounded, “What, exactly, is the actual problem being caused by our current federal debt? I mean, right now – not some day far off in the future – but today, what economic harm is this debt causing?”
Not surprisingly, I get no answer, or I get one (like, “we’re bankrupt, we’re living beyond our means”) that has no bearing on actual reality, and is not, in fact, a problem.
So what, exactly, is this “crushing debt” actually crushing, and how is it doing that?
Oh, and I also just love the typical conflation of “entitlements” with this alleged “crushing debt” (this is a favorite, and – you’d never guess – completely disingenuous and absolutely false rightwing meme).
As if it is spending on entitlements (meaning Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security) that has led to our current federal debt.
And not, just the opposite, that we’ve in fact been heavily borrowing from payroll tax receipts for said entitlements for the past thirty fucking years (to fund, in large part, Republican policies like stupid wars and wealth transfers upwards to the “Haves and Have-Mores” as some famous guy – in a rare moment, for him, of candor and lucidity – once called the real Republican base. And right to their fat, smug faces, no less).
Goddamn, but winger mentality is right out of Alice in Fucking Wonderland.
IrishGirl
My plan for the evening is to go grocery shopping for my 7 mo old that is eating me out of house and home. And then I plan on cleaning the house after a visit by my 8 year old who is a force of nature. Then I plan to top it all off with “multiple beverages”.
Also, too…want to see my personal Rainbow Unicorn? Check out my blog: http://wp.me/pYORZ-9l
Enhanced Voting Techniques
It does seem the GOP is viewing the pole and the special election lost as Good News For Republicans(tm). Impressive to see them go right back to 2008 mode.
DFH no.6
@Will Reks:
No, I’m sorry to say it didn’t. At least to me (and, apparently, to Han’s Solo, Jay B., Danton, maybe others, so I don’t feel too bad).
You mimic winger all too well.
Studly Pantload, a full-service troll
@Will Reks:
In screenwriter parlance, that would be known as being too on the nose, dontchaknow.
Tonal Crow
My positive plan for the late afternoon is to run on the beach until the sun sets.
Ash Can
@JPL: MSNBC (website) was reporting that Springfield got hammered. Ugh.
Tonal Crow
@Ash Can:
There ain’t no climate change and we ain’t causin’ it.
/wingnut
gex
@MagicPanda: Whatever Rudy’s sells. I don’t remember now if they were burritos or tacos. I do remember they were awesome.
debbie
The tide may have turned on the Great Republican Mandate. In Ohio, the Senate’s softening many of the cuts passed by the House, and Kasich himself has been uncharacteristically quiet lately. Things are looking up.
trollhattan
@Tonal Crow:
Even boring California gets into the act. This is something like four miles away.
I kan haz summer, now? [block quote fail FYWP]
El Cid
You libruls completely ignored all the warning signs that Al Gore was selling tornado technology to Al Qa’ida.
Darkrose
@trollhattan: Have you seenthis?
Everyone in my office is sure we’re going to be dead, since we’re in a “temporary classroom”, aka double-wide trailer.
Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason
@demkat620: Daughter wants to play drums? I recommend an E-drum kit and small amp. Roland TD-3 V-Compact set was good and affordable, used.
It’ll keep the household peaceful.
Original Lee
My AC was finally fixed after having been in a coma since Friday. My goals for the evening are to enjoy an ambient temperature in the low 80s or maybe even the high 70s, a tepid bath with some chilled beverage TBD, and clean sheets.
catdevotee
I’m having my second (or is it third?) glass of Cabernet after combing through reams of papers for financial info for city taxes. And I don’t even live in a city!
Mr. c. and I did take a break to have a snack while watching the reruns of last night’s Daily Show and Colbert Report.
Early bedtime for me because I have a meeting in the morning of our local shelter project, working to start a women’s shelter in our tiny remote town.
Jebediah
@piratedan:
Aw fuck. I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll keep fingers crossed and both of you in my thoughts. Here’s hoping for a good outcome. Have you looked into some kind of support group for yourself? When my wife had breast cancer it was recommended to me, but I ignored it. I thought I had made it through OK, but after I was done taking care of her and could relax after her last chemo and first post-chemo checkup, it all kind of landed on me like a ton of bricks. I know your first priority is taking care of your mom but please don’t forget to save a little care for yourself, too.
Jebediah
@Eric S.:
My riding buddy used to lose his shit over that (announced or not.) Never bothered me- I don’t mind pulling, and if he or she crosses my wheel, they’re the one going down, not me. But it is kind of weird to just sneak onto someone’s wheel. Bummer for them if you don’t know they are there and decide to test your brakes…
Steeplejack
@CaseyL:
The Judge Dee novels were actually written by a Dutchman, Robert van Gulik (which you probably know). I went through them all way back in the day. Charming, and the editions I read had occasional line drawings, which I think were done by van Gulik himself.
acallidryas
I don’t see how this is surprising. If there’s anything Republicans are consistent about, it’s that shared sacrifice refers to other people.
And of course the over-55s are skeptical. My parents just make the cut off-they are 56 and 57. They’ve been counting down the years until Medicare since my Dad and his chronic health problems turned 50. They are understandably quite jittery whenever anyone starts talking about changing Medicare, and it’s not as if the Republicans have given them any reason to believe that they won’t just keep cutting if given any sort of a chance.