The GOP Health Plan -or-If You're Not Wealthy You're Screwed

[Lord Jim]

I'm waiting for wes to come by and tell us that Trump wanted this bill to lose all along, so yesterday's vote was all part of his cunning plan...

[RayThom]

I'm waiting for wes to come by and tell us that Trump wanted this bill to lose all along, so yesterday's vote was all part of his cunning plan...

Not to forget Lord Dampnut's next cunning plan... for sure failure,

THE WALL


The OMB will be beyond apoplectic.

[Lord Jim]

Next up on The Trump Fail List will be tax reform...

If he thought healthcare was complicated, wait till he takes a gander at the federal tax code...

[ex-khobar Andy]

From a NYT article about how Trump has failed to close the deal; and whom to blame:

Mr. Schmidt said the White House would have to be “delusional” not to recognize the depths of the challenges for the new president.

That would be a yes, I think.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/25/us/p ... -news&_r=0

PS can someone tell me the syntax for a link where I can substute a few words for the whole text of the link? Thanks.

[Joe Guy]

a few words

[ex-khobar Andy]

Thanks JG. Let's see if I've got it.

Daily Kos has a suggestion that Trump's expectation that Obamacare will explode (and presumably will do his best to ensure that it does) is in contravention of his constitutional duty to 'faithfully execute the laws of the United States.'

[Guinevere]

So all of you who say you would prefer single payor/extension of Medicare for all Americans time to put your money where your mouth is.

[Guinevere]

Thanks JG. Let's see if I've got it.

Daily Kos has a suggestion that Trump's expectation that Obamacare will explode (and presumably will do his best to ensure that it does) is in contravention of his constitutional duty to 'faithfully execute the laws of the United States.'

Unfortunately, there is and always has been a fair amount of policy discretion afforded to the executive branch agencies, and ultimately the president, in executing that duty. Off the top of my head, recently, the Obama administration refused/used its discretion to fail to enforce the Controlled Substances Act with respect to medical and recreational use marijuana, in states that have passed their own laws (which conflict with, and are likely if ever challenged to be found to be inferior to the federal law). And didn't Obama also fail to enforce DOMA when asked, and actively sought its repeal?

[BoSoxGal]

I enthusiastically support Medicare for all! I suspect my Congressman and Senators will, too - so I'm not sure how I can put my money where my mouth is, I've always heard from Hill staffer friends that calls from non-constituents are irrelevant to Congresspeople?

[Guinevere]

1. Always call your own Senators and Representative. If they have already come out in support of the bill or issue, thank them. If they haven't yet taken a public stance, lobby them. If they are counting calls and votes, make sure your voice is heard and counted.

2. Lots of lists abound concerning swing districts, or states that voted for HRC and have a Senator with an election in 2018 who needs to be reminded about the kinds of policies the majority of voters in the state supported. Find friends who live in those states or districts and lobby *them* to lobby their Congresscritters. Give them the same scripts and phone numbers you would use.

3. Call Senate and House leadership, and sometimes Committee leadership or Committee members, when they are holding hearings on specific issues you are concerned about. Or target your out of district/find a friend advocacy to those specific members.

4. Support and call interest and lobbying groups working on the issue. Use twitter, or Facebook too, when applicable.

5. Spread the word, contact information, and talking points. Many people are uncomfortable lobbying, but when you make it simple and easy, they are more likely to do it. It's not the quality of the conversation, or even the specific points made, but the repeated calls and comments and tweets, that are garnering attention.

[Lord Jim]

Let's compare The Donald's achievements in his first few months in Office, to Mr. Reagan's achievements at a comparable time...

By the spring of 1981, with the Democrats in firm control of the House, Mr. Reagan, (despite having to take time out for being shot) was able to get through both Houses of Congress both a major tax cut bill, and an enormous increase in defense spending...

He was able to accomplish these things, because:

1. He was elected in a legitimate and indisputable landslide (Unlike The Donald's claims of a faux landslide) which made even members of the opposition party mindful of his clout...

2. He had an approval rating 20 points higher that spring, (then The Donald "enjoys" today...)

3. He had spent eight successful years as Governor of the nation's largest and most complex state (learning the process of how to negociate successfully as an Executive with the Legislative branch...)

4. He had spent 16 years in the political trenches since his 1964 "A Time For Choosing" speech, developing a hardcore and devoted following...

5. He united the Republican party around him by bringing in George HW Bush as his Vice President, and surrounded himself with very capable and experienced people, with whom he was personally secure enough to give great deference in allowing them to make decisions...


Of those five points, which of them matches up with Donald Trump?

If you said, "none of them" you win a cookie...

Of all the faux claims made by the Trumpanzee minions, the one that disgusts and offends me personally the most, is when they try to say, "He's like Ronald Reagan"...

Il Boobce is nothing like Mr. Reagan...

Laying aside the fact that Mr. Reagan was a class act, who would never speak or behave like The Trump-thing in public, (President Reagan wouldn't even walk into the Oval Office without wearing a coat and tie...that may have been a bit extreme...especially compared to Bill Cinton... )

He also had no illusions about the Soviets...

And he would never have become a kiss-ass for a Russian KGB thug...

Love him or hate him, Ronald Reagan was a patriotic American, who made decisions and acted in a way that he sincerely believed were in the best interests of the American people...you can disagree with his polices if you choose, but you cannot question the sincerity of his motivations...

The same thing cannot be said of our current President...

If The Gipper were alive today, I suspect he would want to repeal his 11th Commandment when it comes to Donald Trump...

ETA:

Of course Dutch might quip:

"Well, I'm not really advocating the repeal of my 'Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill Of Another Republican' 11th Commandment, because Donald isn't really a Republican..."

[dales]

Lord Jim I particularly remember this campaign ad:

[Lord Jim]

Well Dale, I'll always be a fan of this commercial:







With our current POS Presidential Poseur, it will be "Mourning in America"...

[Scooter]

And didn't Obama also fail to enforce DOMA when asked, and actively sought its repeal?

DOMA was enforced, the decision that was made was to no longer defend it in court when challenged.

[Guinevere]

And didn't Obama also fail to enforce DOMA when asked, and actively sought its repeal?

DOMA was enforced, the decision that was made was to no longer defend it in court when challenged.

Thanks Scooter, I knew I wasn't remembering it correctly.

[Econoline]

Let's compare The Donald's achievements in his first few months in Office, to Mr. Reagan's achievements at a comparable time...

...and Obama's, and Clinton's and both Bushes' and even Jimmy freakin' Carter's...

[Scooter]

HIV activists rally at Capitol: 'Important moment' in history

WASHINGTON — More than 600 activists and allies from across the country gathered at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday to push for HIV funding from their congressional leadership and spread awareness of issues facing people with HIV and AIDS.

"This is an important moment in American history for all of us addressing health care. The HIV community will do everything it can to continue to lead the way to make sure that people have access to prevention, treatment and care,” said Jesse Milan Jr., president and CEO of AIDS United, a national non-profit organization that aims to end the AIDS epidemic in the U.S.

The rally took place just four days after Republicans failed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which many see as a lifeline for those with HIV/AIDS.

The news has “given all our participants and advocates for HIV/AIDS a new sense of hope that there is a possibility of achieving victory on the legislative front,” said Milan at the annual AIDSWatch, an advocacy event taking place since the 1990s that spotlights issues from health care to research to sex education in schools.

But the GOP bill's failure did not stop concerns that HIV programs might still be at risk under President Trump’s recently released budget and beyond. “Just because the Friday vote did not occur, it doesn’t mean they don’t have the desire. This is the round-one fight of what I think is going to be a four-year fight,” said Joseph Butcher, an HIV activist who came from New York for the rally.

Participants at the AIDSWatch rally support the protection of HIV care under the Affordable Care Act, specifically Medicaid and pre-existing conditions. They also lobbied for:

• Support for the REPEAL HIV discrimination act
• Protection for entitlement funding and medication coverage
• Investment in the Ryan White program
• Federal investments in HIV research to come up with a vaccine for HIV/AIDS
• Overhaul of HIV criminal laws
• Comprehensive sex education

Angel Sato, community organizer at Gay Men’s Health Crisis, said Trump's proposals could cut many people's access to health care. “Trump is slashing everything for people who are HIV positive, and I want to try stop that because we need those services," he said.

Joseph Butcher has had HIV/AIDS for 28 years, and his medical care comes through the Ryan White fund and Medicaid. "If I didn’t have the health care, I could have easily died sitting in an emergency room chatting about who’s going to be charitable enough to take care of me," he said.

The Ryan White CARE act, enacted in 1990 and named for an Indiana teen who became a crusader for AIDS research and awareness, is the largest federally funded program for those with HIV/AIDS in the U.S.

This is the third year that The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation is sponsoring AIDSWatch. After the rally, participants flocked to lawmakers' offices on Capitol Hill to make personal appeals for funding.

“The most important thing today is to have time with our representatives and make sure our voices are heard and that our concerns are spoken clearly,” said Quinn Tivey, grandson of Taylor and one of the trustees of the organization.

He said that some of the challenges that HIV activists face include the public's lack of education and understanding, along with budget constraint and policy issues.

"The lack of attention toward the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS is related to homophobia and transphobia and other issues that cause stigma. We're here to erase that," said Daniel Franzese, actor for Mean Girls and an ambassador of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

[Lord Jim]

This week, on Fantasy Island:

Trump Wants Health Care Bill Passed Next Week

This thing is very much alive," Rep. Tom Cole tells CNN regarding the Republican health care proposal that appeared to have died in the House last month. Politico reports the White House is hoping to try a second time to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act as early as next Wednesday. Sources say President Trump has recently been pestering Paul Ryan about a Republican health care bill—sometimes multiple times a day. Senior White House officials says Trump is worried his failure on health care—he had promised to repeal the ACA on "day one"—will be the big story in retrospectives on his first 100 days in office next week.

Ryan says Republicans are adding "finishing touches" to a new health care proposal, and sources say the text of a new bill could be released Friday. The new health care deal is being negotiated by leaders from the conservative House Freedom Caucus and moderate Tuesday Group. According to the Washington Post, it's unclear there's any compromise that could please both moderates and conservatives enough to secure the necessary 216 votes in the House. Even if a new bill passes the House—the White House says it's "close" to having the votes—an even bigger hurdle looms in the Senate.

http://www.newser.com/story/241613/trum ... -week.html

If the Congressional GOP really want to improve the odds for a wave election, I can think of no better way to do it then to roll back Medicaid expansion and toss 14 million people off of their healthcare right before the election...

They dodged a bullet when the Kamikaze Caucus sunk this the first time around, and to be coming back to it again is political stupidity on a truly epic scale...

The good news for the Republicans is that I have a better chance of headlining at Mitchell Brothers then they have of passing a bill like this...

The exact same dynamics that killed the bill the last time are completely unchanged. Make it Draconian enough to pass muster with the Radical Randians, and you lose more moderate Republicans; somehow overcome that hurdle, and then you have a bill that is DOA in the Senate. (But not before the House Republicans have to go on the record voting for a bill that had 17% support with the public before, and given the direction they are heading with this to try and appease the Kamikazes, will now likely have even less.)

And of course they get to remind the public a second time that even with the Presidency and majorities in both Houses, they still can't get a repeal and replace bill passed...

Oh well, it's not like the House has anything else important to do next week...

Like stop the government from getting shut down...

[Sue U]

Trump may be running out of distractions with which to wag the dog.

Which reminds me, how's that First Hundred Days list of accomplishments coming?

[Lord Jim]