Chart of the day.

Steve Benen graphs the new WaPo/Bloomberg poll...

So, just how crazy is Rick Perry?

Rick Perry is so crazy that even his own spokesman doesn't think he could possibly be that crazy.

Pretty crazy, huh?

Clear?

Crystal. Speaker-In-Waiting Nancy Pelosi…

"We have been very clear Democrats are not supporting -- House Democrats are not supporting any cuts in benefits for Social Security or Medicare."

From the "Me neither" file.

Sir Charles...

People who believe it would be beneficial to raise the Social Security retirement age or eliminate Medicare as we know it or who think that Paul Ryan is a profile in courage or that deficits matter more than unemployment, really aren't the folks I want in charge of decision making.

Me neither. That's why I keep saying that...

Yes, Virginia…

…there is a difference. Professor Sinhababu at the podium this time...

The Affordable Care Act and the Paul Ryan budget illustrate the difference between Democratic and Republican approaches to Medicare spending. Democrats want to keep offering people good care and save money by driving harder bargains with the corporations who sell it. Republicans want to keep offering corporations sweet deals and save money by giving people less care.

If I keep quoting academics, maybe I should start charging tuition.

Quote of the day.

Nancy Pelosi...

"We have a plan. It’s called Medicare."

From the "Wild about Harry" file.

The Senate Majority Leader...

The Republican plan to end Medicare and immediately raise prescription drug costs for seniors in order to pay for millionaire tax breaks will never pass the Senate.

Sic 'em, Harry!

Chart of the day.

Via digby...

.

They've warned us…

…what they're going to do with a majority. The Republican Tea Party Contract On America...

1. Repeal the Affordable Care Act (Health Insurance Reform)

2. Privatize Social Security or phase it out altogether

3. End Medicare as it presently exists

4. Extend the Bush tax breaks for the wealthy and big oil

5. Repeal Wall Street Reform

6. Protect those responsible for the oil spill and future environmental catastrophes

7. Abolish the Department of Education

8. Abolish the Department of Energy

9. Abolish the Environmental Protection Agency

10. Repeal the 17th Amendment

Puts some of the frustration with our majority in context, doesn't it?

Mean Mr. Mustard...

...made me laugh.

You know you are a teabagger when

Your dog rides in your truck, but your wife stays home and mixes ammonium nitrate.

You can remember the fertilizer, pellets and ammonium nitrate mixture ratios, but cannot recall your wife’s birthday.

You have stolen gravel from the county road to cover your AK -47 ground stash.

You shout down someone who is talking, because you believe they are trying to limit your freedom of speech.

You’ve used the same knife to whittle a shiv, and threaten your Congressman.

You have been asked to leave a yard sale.

You put the beatdown on your tattoo artist for spelling "MOM" backwards.

You hate government health care, and don’t want them to touch your Medicare.

The Rush Limbaugh show ended and you cried like John Boehner.

From the "When you put it that way…" file.

NYT-CBS News poll…

"Would you favor or oppose the government offering everyone a government administered health insurance plan -- something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get -- that would compete with private health insurance plans?"

Favor 65%
Oppose 26%

I just hate it…

…when I think Republicans are right. From The Washington Independent (my emphasis)...

The ruckus began last week when the federal Medicare agency announced an investigation into Humana for letters the insurance giant had mailed to seniors warning that the Democrats’ health reform plans were threatening their private insurance coverage, called Medicare Advantage. The letters urged the seniors to contact their lawmakers opposing the legislation.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services claim those letters represent a breach of contract, because CMS requires MA sponsors to screen such mailings through the agency. CMS has barred all MA sponsors from sending similar messages to their customers. Republicans, though, say the First Amendment trumps the CMS guidelines.

I don't think blocking HHS confirmations is the best way to establish Constitutional principles, but a political gag order as a condition of a government contract sounds like a pretty cut and dried violation of 1st Amendment.

The civil libertarian in me is pretty sure that "no law" means no law, regulation, compact or clause. I'd like to think there are other Democrats who agree, and I hope we hear from them soon.

From the "Slightly bowdlerized" file.

Tbogg on the teabagging seniors, slightly bowdlerized...

If they didn't burn their Medicare cards,
they're just a bunch of f*cking posers.

Or if they did, for that matter.

From the "...half of 'em are dumber than that" file.

Or at least 39% of 'em. Public Policy Polling, via John DeVore...

One poll question indicative of how difficult it is to gain public understanding on a complicated issue asked if respondents thought the government should ‘stay out of Medicare,’ something inherently impossible. 39% said yes.

From the "...half of 'em are dumber than that" file.

Paul Krugman...

There was a telling incident at a town hall held by Representative Gene Green, D-Tex. An activist turned to his fellow attendees and asked if they "oppose any form of socialized or government-run health care." Nearly all did. Then Representative Green asked how many of those present were on Medicare. Almost half raised their hands.

Sigh.

From the "…half of 'em are dumber than that" file.

Via Paul Krugman...

At a recent town-hall meeting in suburban Simpsonville, a man stood up and told Rep. Robert Inglis (R-S.C.) to "keep your government hands off my Medicare."

Oy.

From the "One can only hope" file.

Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY)...

"Forcing private plans to compete with a public program like Medicare, with its price controls and ability to shift costs to private payers, will inevitably doom true competition and could ultimately lead to a single-payer, government-run health care program."

Sounds like a cunning plan to me.

Hat tip to Steve M.

Robbing Peter…

…and Paul. Mary, too. The WSJ, via AMERICAblog…

John McCain would pay for his health plan with major reductions to Medicare and Medicaid, a top aide said, in a move that independent analysts estimate could result in cuts of $1.3 trillion over 10 years to the government programs...

He's going to tax any employer provided insurance you may be lucky enough to have while you're working, and cut your Medicare coverage when you retire. I guess the idea is to cut health care costs by shortening life spans through reduced care.

Or something.

Heckuva plan, Johnny.

Here at home...

...via The Gavel.

The President’s Budget Would Cut Critical Programs for Washington.

The budget:

§ Cuts $195 billion nationally over five years for Medicare and Medicaid, threatening to endanger Washington’s 797,000 Medicare and 851,000 Medicaid patients' access to the care they need

§ Cuts federal funding to build, rehabilitate, and improve Washington’s roads and bridges by $10.5 million

§ Cuts Washington’s Improving Teacher Quality grant by $2.1 million, leading to 9,212 fewer children with highly qualified teachers

Of course, it's even worse than that.

From the "Stuff I just don't get" file...

Via the NYT...

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Wednesday that employers could reduce or eliminate health benefits for retirees when they turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare.

The policy, set forth in a new regulation, allows employers to establish two classes of retirees, with more comprehensive benefits for those under 65 and more limited benefits — or none at all — for those older.

I mean, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission deliberately created two classes of employees? Two classes unequal in their provision of benefits?

I just don't get it.