You're surprised that Bill Clinton wants to slash Medicare?

[MannyGoldstein]

Newt Gingrich isn't surprised, you shouldn't be either.

As President, Clinton cut a deal with Gingrich to make deep cuts in Social Security. Fortunately, Congress balked. Incidentally, that deal was brokered by Clinton's Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, who Obama picked as co-chair of his "Deficit Commission". Obama's commission has voted to recommend $56,000 in lifetime cuts per recipient: the Bowles/Clinton/Gingrich initiative lives on.

Clinton ended meaningful bank regulation by ending Glass-Steagall, which had protected us for 70 years. We've seen the direct and predictable results: hundreds of millions in banker payments to Clinton, Summers, Emmanuel and the rest of that crowd, but economic catastrophe and banker bailouts for working Americans.

Clinton championed free trade with China and other micro-wage nations. Adios, American jobs.

Unless you're rich as hell, Bill Clinton is not your friend.

[Fumesucker]

1. Bill is a multimillionaire these days..

Why should he give a fuck about Medicare?

[Very_Boring_Name]

2. Where did Bill Clinton say he wants to slash medicare?

[MannyGoldstein]

3. For example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv1tRa9fr7A

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[meow mix]

6. he actually wants to expand it!! LOL

isnt that right!!?
:rofl:

[Very_Boring_Name]

7. Clinton proposes expanding medicare

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-5719810.html

WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) -- U.S. President Bill Clinton proposed Tuesday expanding Medicare to allow millions of Americans to purchase coverage under the government health insurance plan before reaching the current eligibility age of 65.

Clinton said his plan would give Americans aged 62 to 65 "the security they deserve" by assuring them the opportunity to purchase health coverage.

In addition, he said, the plan would allow Americans who are at least 55 years old to purchase Medicare coverage if they lose their jobs, and would require employers to let former workers over 55 purchase company coverage until they reach 65.

[meow mix]

9. back in the 90s? lol

i doubt thats his plan anymore.. quite the opposite. but i hope your right and im wrong =)

[Very_Boring_Name]

11. Does that mean he magically changed overnight?

[meow mix]

14. non-magically, over the course of years..

and im not really seeing that big of a change anyways

[Bragi]

5. You mean this Clinton?

For many more crony shots, see: http://www.google.ca/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1152&bih=732&q=clinton+and+bush&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g1g-m1&aql=&oq=

[Very_Boring_Name]

10. Hey lookie, I can do that too

[MannyGoldstein]

18. Do you see any difference in facial expressions

between Clinton and the rest?

[Very_Boring_Name]

20. It's wrong when Clinton does it because of his facial expressions!!!111!!!

Clinton Derangement Syndrome at its finest.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[msanthrope]

46. It's the Clenis. It drives 'em nutz. n/t

[MannyGoldstein]

53. Bill Clinton's penis ended bank regulation?

Thanks 4 playing.

[Bragi]

24. Now that you mention it, I do

Obama seems to be dutifully greeting a former President that he doesn't much like.

Clinton seems delighted to be spending time with his good pal, perhaps because he really likes him.

Or maybe he's happy because he has been so well paid for doing PR events designed to rehabilitate the tarnished image of this war criminal.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bragi]

21. Bet you can't do this one...

Have you any pictures of Obama being paid to have a public "conversation" with Bush in front of a finance industry audience so as to try to rehabilitate war criminal Bush's tarnished public image?

Just wondering. Here's a Clinton PR promo for doing exactly that.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PxdZO6V-yD0/SiDAVTMrgiI/AAAAAAAACjk/ZI2nNrSqDk4/s400/Bush+Clinton+Toronto+Ticket.JPG

[Very_Boring_Name]

22. Don't worry, Obama will be there when he leaves office. He's wall street's best friend

[fascisthunter]

42. didn't realize this was about Obama vs Clinton

[deminks]

8. The MEdia are using this video as a wedge. And guess what, it's working.

They just wanna stir up sh^t. Putting words in his mouth. Saying to Democrats, doesn't the former President's comments to Paul Ryan suggest that Democrats must cut Medicare? I watched on Morning Jerk as Valerie Jarrett was subjected to this question by every member of their panel, at least 4 different times, same question. In this case it is bullwhackie. Not that Clinton hasn't done his share contributing to the current economic whirlwind. Just in this case, it is bs, IMHO.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[madokie]

13. You might help me out with my thread about un-subscribing to Mr Bill's emails

'Unless your rich as hell, Bill Clinton is not your friend' is so correct. I didn't see that 12 or so years ago but I damn sure do today.

edit to correct subject line

[MannyGoldstein]

17. I did rec it.

Now I added a comment.

Thanks!

[brooklynite]

55. ...and I Unrec'd it...

You want to complain about Bill Clinton's positions, more power to you. Just don't base your decision on positions he hasn't taken.

[DURHAM D]

15. DU used to have Democrats that were somewhat politically sophisticated.

They are no longer in the majority here. Instead we see this sort of crap.

[MannyGoldstein]

16. Which assertion do you disagree with?

Thanks.

[blindpig]

19. Selling out to the ruling class is 'sophisticated'?

Who knew?

[grahamhgreen]

26. Yes, we are sophisticated. You're fighting for the wrong causes.

[socialist_n_TN]

31. I'm curious. What "sophisticated" causes are

you guys fighting for? Because the causes I'm fighting for are unashamedly and unequivocatingly on the side of the working class and NOT on the side of the exploiting class. I'm just curious what causes the "sophisticated" Democrat fights for now.

[grahamhgreen]

34. Taxing the rich at the rates of the greatest generation. Ending the wars. Renewable energy.

Out of the slave trade agreements. Repeal of the financial reforms that are impoverishing the world. Ending hunger and poverty. Medicare for all.

Hopefully , we are fighting for the same thing.

More sellouts form our leaders on key issues are not going to get us there, IMHO.

[socialist_n_TN]

35. Do you think that Bill is fighting for those things?

I could be confused about your position on this issue. Or you could be confused about the post you responded to. Or it could be a confusion cluster fuck all around.

BTW, we are fighting for the same things. Roughly. I have no problems with ANY of the list you mentioned as transitional measures that improve the lot of the working class. I just don't think that we get those issues through reform of the current system.

[socialist_n_TN]

36. Mea Culpa graham.........

I misread what (and who) you responded to.

[grahamhgreen]

37. No sweat...

:fistbump:

[socialist_n_TN]

39. Thanks! And I give you back a........

:fistbump: :)

[madfloridian]

30. You call someone's post "crap"? You say we are not "politically sophisticated"?

Maybe I am glad I never will be that way.

[socialist_n_TN]

38. I personally ALWAYS look in askance at someone

who is politically "sophisticated". At least until it's clarified in what ways that "sophistication" applies to core issues that affect the working class/poor.

WAY too often, "sophistication" in politics is just another way to say that they're fucking over the people to benefit the exploiters.

[fascisthunter]

41. that charge is irrelevent.... the truth is posted below

now that person can eat crow or apologize. "sophisticated".... oh boy.

[Forkboy]

47. lol...no we didn't.

It's probably the same percentage now as it ever was.

[styersc]

61. Sadly you are right.

There was a day when DU was a forum for the open discussion of diverse ideas. Too many think that this is the flip side of Free Republic, where a narrow clique demands lockstep adherence. Sad.

[grahamhgreen]

25. F*ck Bill Clinton for being a selfish prick. Raising taxes on the wealthy is job 1.

[OKNancy]

60. He said in his talk the night in question just that

He said taxes should be raised to the levels they were when he was in office

"I would favor returning individual rates to where they were when I was president and maybe even across the board, certainly for high income people. Then I think you ought to do something on tax expenditures."
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/May/26/fiscal-times-Clinton-Rips-Ryans-Plan-at-Fiscal-Summit.aspx

[SDuderstadt]

27. Absolute bullshit...

Manny.

Please quit misrepresenting Clinton's words.

[dionysus]

51. why SDuderstadt, mad cap. where you going with that post SDuderstadt?

:)

[deacon]

28. Bullshit.

[madfloridian]

29. Here are Bill Clinton's words on Medicare this week.

He says Ryan's plan is the wrong way, but then he continues.

“I don’t think the Democrats or Republicans ought to
conclude from the New York results that no change can be
made in Medicare.”

But Clinton, who presided over adoption of four balanced budgets during his two terms as president during the 1990s, insisted that lawmakers could still find plenty of opportunities to reduce spending on Medicare for seniors and Medicaid for the poor as part of a comprehensive budget plan. “I don’t think the Democrats or Republicans ought to conclude from the New York results that no change can be made in Medicare” and other entitlement programs.

He added that “There is a real hunger among Americans” for us to do things,” but that the biggest cuts in health care and other domestic programs should be delayed for at least a year – as the president’s fiscal commission recommended – until the economy has improved more. “Most of this stuff should bite next year because the economy is too weak,” he said.

..."The existing Medicare system is a fiscal fantasy
that can no longer be sustained and will eventually
crash the system."

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/May/26/fiscal-times-Clinton-Rips-Ryans-Plan-at-Fiscal-Summit.aspx

[grahamhgreen]

32. And the solution is increasing revenue by returning to the tax rates of the greatest generation -

not cutting benefits.

Not to mention ending the wars.

The entire dialog is a perversion of reality.

[Bragi]

33. ++++ /nt

[fascisthunter]

40. I Think People Up Thread should Apologize to Manny

for calling him a liar.

And we are um, sophisticated enough to admit when people in our own party are trying to fuck us all.

[OKNancy]

58. did you read the link?

[Starry Messenger]

49. Thank you madfloridian.

[OKNancy]

56. glad I read the whole thing, not just the selected quotes

I suggest Clinton bashers do the same

[madfloridian]

62. You are right about the quote. I made a mistake. But you are wrong otherwise.

First off I am not a "Clinton basher". Neither am I an "Obama basher."

I believe that Democrats should stand for the people, and in this case I suspect neither will do so.

And I am totally right about Clinton's willingness to privatize or cut the social safety nets.

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2008/05/29/the-pact-between-bill-clinton-and-newt-gingrich

"The exact details would have been worked out later, but the broad outlines were clear. Gingrich was willing to give up the tax cut for a proposal that included private investment in Social Security. "The balanced budget bill was Act I,'' Gingrich reflected. "This was Act II.'' Instinctively, both men still wondered whether the other was setting a trap in preparation for the upcoming elections. Would Clinton leak word that Gingrich was once again trying to tamper with Social Security and Medicare, reinforcing his image as hostile to the old and poor? Would Gingrich tell reporters that the president was ready to accept the centerpiece of Republican proposals for Social Security: privately funded accounts?"

I notice that in one post you implied I was telling a lie. There is a huge difference between a lie and a mistake.

I apologize for the mistake. You need to apologize for calling me a "Clinton-basher". It's a little childish.

[OKNancy]

57. by the way.. another attempt to distort or just not care about quoting

..."The existing Medicare system is a fiscal fantasy
that can no longer be sustained and will eventually
crash the system."


This was said by Paul Ryan.. NOT Clinton

[lbrtbell]

43. Bill Clinton destroyed welfare

He eliminated it completely for adults without children, as a matter of fact.

That's all you need to know about Bill Clinton.

[nashville_brook]

44. +1

[Sheepshank]

45. I think Clinton was feeding Ryan tons of rope.

If there is anything at all oing on in the machinations of the OP's imagination, why is it that you couldn't come up with something a little more palusable?

Here's how I see it.....Ryan will need a lot of it for all of those that voted "for" his plan.

Why not encourage that act of suicide? What does it help the Dems to have Ryan change his course?

[davekriss]

50. I still say the Big Dog was the best "Republican" President we've ever had

This century, at least

[bvar22]

52. K & R.

I must not be "sophisticated".
I STILL believe in these traditional Democratic Values.

"We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

*The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

*The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

*The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

*The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

*The right of every family to a decent home;

*The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

*The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

*The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

Americas own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens.

For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world."--FDR

How FAR we have fallen.

[librechik]

54. He starttedout by sayting he disagrees completely with the Ryan plan

people are misquoting and distorting what he said in this case. Period.

Even tho he did a lot of stuff that unnecessarily helped the financial industry, and did those free trade deals. In this case people got him wrong.

[OKNancy]

59. or out right posting lies