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Friday, December 5, 2003
Medicare fallout
The Washington Times reports on how the vote on the Medicare Bill is already a political factor:
The Republican Main Street Partnership began running a radio ad Wednesday against Rep. Patrick J. Toomey, Pennsylvania Republican, for voting with 24 other conservatives against the $395 billion bill President Bush is set to sign Monday. Mr. Toomey, who said the bill didn't adequately reform Medicare and was too costly, is running in the Republican primary for the Senate seat of Sen. Arlen Specter, whom the partnership backs.
"Pat Toomey slammed the door on President Bush, who championed the Medicare bill," says the ad, which airs on a Harrisburg station through Dec. 16.
There are of course differing views on its political effects. The Republicans believe:
In House races, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Carl Forti agreed the Medicare vote will be a key issue next year. He said House Democrats who already were vulnerable will be more so because they voted against the bill. Those include Baron P. Hill of Indiana, Tim Holden of Pennsylvania, Darlene Hooley of Oregon, Leonard L. Boswell of Iowa and maybe Lloyd Doggett and Chet Edwards, both of Texas, depending on the outcome of that state's redistricting.
The Democrat line is:
"The Republican Medicare bill presents tremendous opportunities for Democratic candidates in 2004," said Rep. Robert T. Matsui, California Democrat and chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "We'll make sure seniors understand that its limited benefits are a Trojan horse for giveaways to HMOs and drug companies that will keep their drug costs high and threaten Medicare."
Soros’ explanation
George Soros has an op-ed piece in the Washington Post that answers the question of why he is giving millions to defeat President Bush:
I and a number of other wealthy Americans are contributing millions of dollars to grass-roots organizations engaged in the 2004 presidential election. We are deeply concerned with the direction in which the Bush administration is taking the United States and the world.
If Americans reject the president's policies at the polls, we can write off the Bush Doctrine as a temporary aberration and resume our rightful place in the world. If we endorse those policies, we shall have to live with the hostility of the world and endure a vicious cycle of escalating violence.
Hate, hate, hate
On the track WE AS AMERICANS, obtained by DRUDGE, the nation's top selling rapper shockingly rants: 'F**k money. I don't rap for dead presidents. I'd rather see the president dead. It's never been said, but I set precedents and the standards and they can't stand it... We as Americans. Us as a citizen. We've got to protect ourselves'...
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this page was last updated: 12/05/03