Joint Committee Stalemate, Obama Cares

I think things will be quiet for a while -- until the Joint Committee goes public or the Conservative Republicans decide to stir things up with unfounded, essentially irrational statements about Medicare.  Even if it is quiet, TMDR will let you know what (little) is going on.

No Progress to Report After Secret Talks

"After weeks of secret meetings, the 12-member deficit-cutting panel established under last summer's budget and debt deal appears no closer to a breakthrough than when talks began last month.  ...  The reason?  A familiar deadlock over taxes and cuts to major programs like Medicare and the Medicaid health care program for the poor and disabled.  Democrats won't go for an agreement that doesn't include lots of new tax revenue; Republicans are just as ardently anti-tax."

Well, some people -- including me -- think just about nothing will come of the work of the Joint Committee.  In fact, I'm among those who think no action by them, which will result in the imposition of the pre-determined cuts, is a better alternative for Medicare.

Obama Likes ObamaCare

"President Obama is embracing the term 'ObamaCare' on the campaign stump, attempting to turn the tables on critics who use it in a derogatory way.  'They call it ObamaCare?' the president told supporters at a St. Louis fundraiser Tuesday evening.  'I do care!  You should care, too.'"

For Your Information -- Dysfunctional Governance

"Congress has always been Washington's whipping boy, particularly near election time.  ...  That's not news.  What is news is that this time it's starting to scare the pros.  The GOP's hyper-partisan turn after Barack Obama's victory in 2008 meant 112th Congress was destined to test the limits of dysfunctional governance.  But it also happened to coincide with a moment in history when the country needed the government to do better than the bare minimum.  Instead, it's done less.  And that's shaken people who've spent their careers steering the ship of state."

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Fighting for Medicare, New Deal a Bad Deal?

Good to be back.  Here's a short TMDR for Columbus Day.

From the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

"The National Committee's new online video is part of the first wave of actions in the newly launched multi-million dollar "Hands Off -No Cuts" campaign -- a coast-to-coast effort combining grassroots mobilization, advertising and social media to stop the Congressional Super Committee from proposing cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, programs which are vital to millions of middle-class Americans.  The ad highlights a new bipartisan poll that shows 82% of Democrats, 73% of Independents and 58% of Republicans are united in opposition to benefit cuts to reduce the deficit."

Of course, Medicare and Social Security are our most effective pre-paid public benefits.  If either were a failure, it would have been altered (as they have been from time to time) or scrapped long ago.  Each is extremely successful and popular -- with good reason.

New Deal Under Attack

"The New Deal has been targeted by conservative politicians for decades.  But no one in recent memory has placed an attack on the New Deal at the forefront of a political campaign as assiduously as Texas Gov. Rick Perry.  Perry has famously labeled Social Security a 'monstrous lie.'  Perhaps less well known is that a much broader attack on the New Deal lies at the core of his book/political manifesto 'Fed Up!'"  Read more of this Washington Post editorial.

No matter that every major, reputable poll ranks President Franklin D. Roosevelt as among the top three US Presidents: Historical rankings of Presidents of the United States.  (It's hard to beat George Washington, but FDR sometimes does.)  Overall, considering all the rankings, only Abraham Lincoln ranks better than FDR.  Mr. Perry apparently thinks he's a better judge of these matters than academic historians and political scientists.  Certainly, he has his own strong opinion.

For Your Information

The Top Five Reasons To Move Your Money From Bank Of America

Special Edition:  The Republican Reality-Free Zone

[I just have to quote you a little of this one.]  "Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich just completed one of the most radical speeches ever delivered by a presidential candidate on the judiciary.  Gingrich’s speech calls for a radical reshaping of our constitutional democracy, eliminating the judiciary’s power to make binding constitutional decisions.  He promises to openly defy Supreme Court decisions he disagrees with, and pledges to intimidate judges who dare to part ways with the Constitution According To Newt."

So much for the Oath of Office of the President of the United States:  "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."  (Article Two, Section One, Clause Eight)  Kind of makes you think.  Kind of makes you wonder.  What in the world is going on here?

FYI:  From the same source:  ”The Vice President also has an oath of office, but it is not mandated by the Constitution and is prescribed by statute.  Currently, the Vice Presidential oath is the same as that for Members of Congress [emphasis added].  I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.  So help me God."

More: The Republican Reality-Free Zone

Despite 14 Straight Months Of Public Job Loss, Republicans Continue To Block Obama’s Jobs Plan

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Quiet Friday - Quiet Weekend

TMDR is taking the rest of the week off for a brief vacation.  We'll see you back here next Monday.

McCaskill Supports Seniors

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo) shares her views about Medicare and Social Security:  "I never need to go far if I need a reminder of how important Medicare and Social Security are to Missouri's seniors.  My mom, Betty Anne, is one of millions for whom these services provide a reliable safety net.  Across the country, these protections are an integral part of sustaining millions of seniors' health and dignity.  Unfortunately, some misguided politicians in Washington don't understand the value of these protections."

Something to Remember

"President Obama has enjoyed a string of marquee victories against terrorist networks, but voters' concerns about the economy are obscuring what would have been significant political wins just a few years ago."  "The threat of terrorism has clearly been eclipsed by growing worries about the economy. That change in political dynamics represents both a remarkable change in the perceptions of the national parties and a bittersweet problem for a president facing reelection."

If You're interested in Learning More

From the National Academy of Social Insurance:  Medicare.

From the Medicare Rights Center:  Medicare Answers.

The Republican Reality-Free Zone

Michele Bachmann blames Obama for Arab Spring. Yes, 'blames.'

On Day Obama Gets Awlaki, Fox And Friends Says He’s Too Weak On Terror

Perry open to sending troops to Mexico against drug cartels

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