I believe WE have hit the Trifecta ...

[Trajan]

ALL in The Medicare fiasco alone ....

1) Possible Bribery
2) Medicare Actuary threatened
3) Unprecedented and truly slimy legislative manuvering ...

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Nightline/Politics/medicare_040325-1.html

The Medicare Scandals

Accusations of Bribery, Lying, Intimidation Cloud Bill’s Success

By Jake Tapper and Dan Morris


The "Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003" is, according to Norm Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute, "the domestic issue for the White House going into the election season." Before it passed last fall, "the White House and the Republicans in Congress were desperate to get a huge trophy," he said.

Republicans in Congress agree. "The fact is there was an awful lot riding on this bill politically — for the president and for the Republican Party," Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., told ABCNEWS.

The bill passed the House and Senate and was signed into law on Dec. 8. "Our government is finally bringing prescription drug coverage to the seniors of America," Bush said at the bill signing.

Bush and Republican leaders said the new law would cost $400 billion, providing drug benefits to seniors beginning in 2006, as well as subsidies to insurance companies and HMOs. It would also allow the first steps to allow private plans to compete with Medicare.

Certainly at the time the president never anticipated headlines like these, from recent newspapers in swing states Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania: "The Medicare fiasco; President's political dream scheme is becoming a nightmare," wrote the Sarasota Herald-Tribune; "Bush's Medicare dream turning into a nightmare," wrote the Detroit Free Press; "Medicare law has become stumbling block for Bush," wrote the Philadelphia Inquirer.

So what happened?

-snip-

Folks ... The chains are tightening on this cabal ....

They are BESET with exposed malfeasance on EVERY side ...

Can they survive all this ??? ...

[Jane Austin]

1. Whew! What a story.

But will any reporters be interested in it?

[Bundbuster]

2. The Fat Lady officially sang last night

A few days ago I was in agreement with Q on his post about premature optimism, but after seeing Nightline last night, I am declaring for the first time since selectiontheft2000 that the Junta is done. For those who didn't see the program, the degree of bushCorp sleaze and corruption, laid out perfectly and comprehensibly - even to morans - by ABC, was more damaging and outrage-inducing than anything to date. Only the most terminal, hopeless corporistas & fundies could possibly have watched it without being absolutely repulsed at the entire reichwing machinery.

My only question now is how much collateral damage to the repuke octopus will occur in November, in the form of Democratic Senate & House gains. The genie's out of the bottle, folks. While impeachment will not be seen, the cries for it will get alot louder now.

Remember that the most difficult act in either political or private life is to maintain an extended, longterm juggling act of multiple lies. Each person added to the lie machine exponentially increases the degree of difficulty. Tonight I feel truly at peace for the first time in almost 3 1/2 years.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. And I think we may get to the heart, or near the heart, of 9/11...

before this is all over. I am hoping with all my heart that we can rid ourselves of these usurpers.

[Bundbuster]

4. More links - just can't get enough

Investigation sought on Medicare costs:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/8269966.htm

Senators Lautenberg, Stabenow, Kennedy and Clinton Allege Potential Criminal Violations in Foster-Medicare Case:
http://lautenberg.senate.gov/~lautenberg/press/2003/01/2004324A34.html

A talk-radio host who helped expose the Medicare bribe loses his job:
http://slate.msn.com/id/2097717