Trump is hazardous to our lives. He is a cancer on America and must be removed.
To serve his greed and the greed of the rape and take class he truly represents using race and hate to divide the ignorant, he has appropriated a trillion dollars for the rich and brought us closer to war with North Korea and Iran. He has passed a death sentence in the House against several million Americans, including millions who voted for him, in the form of the Unaffordable Trump Heath Insurance Removal Act.
Dowd is way late out of the gate weighing in - and on this sideshow issue. Trump is a traitor who serves Putin. Killing millions of sick Americans is simply another distraction on the way to protecting his neck from being hung as a traitor. The Republicans are obstructing several investigations into Russia-Trump at the very moment they are attacking another NATO ally's free election. In the latest assault: France.
To serve his greed and the greed of the rape and take class he truly represents using race and hate to divide the ignorant, he has appropriated a trillion dollars for the rich and brought us closer to war with North Korea and Iran. He has passed a death sentence in the House against several million Americans, including millions who voted for him, in the form of the Unaffordable Trump Heath Insurance Removal Act.
Dowd is way late out of the gate weighing in - and on this sideshow issue. Trump is a traitor who serves Putin. Killing millions of sick Americans is simply another distraction on the way to protecting his neck from being hung as a traitor. The Republicans are obstructing several investigations into Russia-Trump at the very moment they are attacking another NATO ally's free election. In the latest assault: France.
65
You should have been writing columns like this for the previous 8 years.
146
this is one of your better op ed pieces! Personally, the sight of that victory
celebration by the bevy of male retros who represent the worst of us, will remain pressed in my brain for some time. And they drank beer? It's my sincere hope they go down in flames in the next election, which can't be too soon. Too bad they won't take Trump with them. To even dare to call themselves a house of representatives is shameful. They are such garbage!
celebration by the bevy of male retros who represent the worst of us, will remain pressed in my brain for some time. And they drank beer? It's my sincere hope they go down in flames in the next election, which can't be too soon. Too bad they won't take Trump with them. To even dare to call themselves a house of representatives is shameful. They are such garbage!
84
Well, Maureen, you and many other Hillary haters gave us Trump. So why the second thoughts?
148
It's time to greet the smiling faces of Republicans with the stern resolve shown in Aristophanes' Lysistrata by the women of Sparta and Athens. Let us greet their lust for power and control with saltpeter.
Got your Viagra? Sorry, Charlie. Not this presidential term. I have a headache.
Want your dinner? I have a nice bowl of gruel for you. Perhaps you would like some Soylent?
Laundry? Too bad, the washer is on the fritz.
Inconveniences should mount for the corrupt who wish us to fill their iron rice bowls with gold. It's time to destroy the elevators at every Trump Tower.
Got your Viagra? Sorry, Charlie. Not this presidential term. I have a headache.
Want your dinner? I have a nice bowl of gruel for you. Perhaps you would like some Soylent?
Laundry? Too bad, the washer is on the fritz.
Inconveniences should mount for the corrupt who wish us to fill their iron rice bowls with gold. It's time to destroy the elevators at every Trump Tower.
26
That so called press conference was hard to watch. It is horrifying to believe these men ( yes white privileged obnoxious) could believe what they say. That they could call this improved leadership - thank you Ms Dowd, keep their dirty feet to the fire.
48
She's right. If the House goes Democratic in '18, the Liberal base will spend two years screaming 'Impeach!"
16
Why is Paul Ryan not being held to account for this disaster? This weasel tries to pass everything off as compassionate conservatism. Give me a break. He is a soulless zealot who relishes waging war against the poorest and sickest among us. Shame on you Speaker Ryan.
The short answer is NO. Trump got elected by people who never expect their lives to improve. The worse the GOP and Trump treat them, the more they will embrace Trump's authoritarian promises of ethnic cleansing.
45
Trump is a strange beast.
I have often quoted the wise counsel of Thomas Watson, the founder of IBM, who once said:
“…it's very difficult to build and very easy to destroy.”
I only wish that Trump would take the hard road to build than the easy path to destroy, but he cannot change or learn or listen … his narcissistic personality disorder is hard-wired to be counter-productive and his vision and belief in being always right is very dangerous … this is his religion !!!
Trump the “fundamentally lazy … performance artist” is long on promises but short on delivery. Trump’s record on his strategy and actions on all economic issues is to damage the middle class and the poor to the benefit and profit of the one-percenters.
King Trump the Zero works and lives alone in this world !!! twittering his way through reality !!!
I have often quoted the wise counsel of Thomas Watson, the founder of IBM, who once said:
“…it's very difficult to build and very easy to destroy.”
I only wish that Trump would take the hard road to build than the easy path to destroy, but he cannot change or learn or listen … his narcissistic personality disorder is hard-wired to be counter-productive and his vision and belief in being always right is very dangerous … this is his religion !!!
Trump the “fundamentally lazy … performance artist” is long on promises but short on delivery. Trump’s record on his strategy and actions on all economic issues is to damage the middle class and the poor to the benefit and profit of the one-percenters.
King Trump the Zero works and lives alone in this world !!! twittering his way through reality !!!
18
I am sorry Ms. Dowd but this game you play has serious consequences.
Which game, you might ask?
The game where you spent years and years attacking Hilary and Bill -- often, but granted not always, unfairly -- and then during the last election you write the occasional indirect, small, kinda/sorta valentines to Trump; then, you say you can't believe Trump is president?
Gimme a break. Trump is on you, Ms. Dowd, along with the television folks (especially cable shows like Morning Joe.) The hypocrisy here is breathtaking.
Which game, you might ask?
The game where you spent years and years attacking Hilary and Bill -- often, but granted not always, unfairly -- and then during the last election you write the occasional indirect, small, kinda/sorta valentines to Trump; then, you say you can't believe Trump is president?
Gimme a break. Trump is on you, Ms. Dowd, along with the television folks (especially cable shows like Morning Joe.) The hypocrisy here is breathtaking.
155
Unfortunately, but as always, Ms. Dowd begins her writing with the premise "if it's a Republican idea, it can't be good ". Her lack of understanding or even interest in the subject matter is overshadowed by her distaste for ideas not generated by her party. Had the Democrats not created such an unaffordable and complete mess, the need to fix health insurance would not be required. Note the reference to "insurance"...that is all Obamacare is, it did nothing to improve healthcare. I laugh when reading the references to Jimmy Kimmel's impassioned remarks. There was never a chance his son would not be covered as he and his family are insured under a corporate plan and his son was born covered by it. As a covered party, by definition his son's condition was post coverage. It would have been the same under any health insurance policy. Ms. Dowd, please do your homework or at least suspend your partisan views long enough to be at least mildly objective.
Go right ahead, Republicans. Pass that bill. It might just be your death knell for 2018. Wouldn't that be ironic?
18
A reminder to Maureen and other liberals - how you view this bill, just as you view the world, is unlikely to be shared by the Americans who are not on the coasts. A review of the bill shows is is not draconian by any means, and as noted the GOP Senate will likely adjust it further. A year from now the Left and it's press allies will make hysterical claims while the GOP will argue they saved the individual market from certain collapse and saved the federal government billions per year AND reduced taxes across the board AND got the economy running on all cylinders. The democrats will not win the House - they will look like Labor in the UK - utterly out-of-touch.
4
Finally Maureen figured out Trump's 3 Card Monte. There was a pea but not for the sick or the poor. It disappeared so he could pay back his wealthy supporters with tax breaks, cheap foreign
labor-everything he promised he wouldn't do. Yes, there is a sucker born every minute.
labor-everything he promised he wouldn't do. Yes, there is a sucker born every minute.
28
Perceptive analysis Ms. Dowd. It isn't mattresses and steaks. Clinton and Obama studied Healthcare for years, and suffered the political consequences of trying to pass legislation that would improve the lives of all our citizens. The ACA and its essential coverages are first and foremost patient protections that effect ALL health insurances coverages, both on and off the exchange. Every single citizen, regardless of party has a moral obligation to oppose this slap dash piece of garbage just celebrated in the Rose Garden and the craven fools that attended that celebration. It was either a vote out of ignorance, or political calculation, while they all sit with great health insurance, ironically funded by our taxes. It doesn't escape notice that the word "affordable" is not part of the new name. Maybe because the costs inherent in this bill are too much to be tolerated.
It's not a healthcare bill at all but a windfall tax cut for zillionaires paid for by eliminating the healthcare insurance of 24 million Americans.
A brutal, heartless obscenity of a bill that only a despicable Republican could embrace.
A brutal, heartless obscenity of a bill that only a despicable Republican could embrace.
55
Trump has twice pushed to pass disgraceful health care bills without even trying to grasp what’s in them — or more important, what’s not in them. He couldn’t care less that the dog’s breakfast served up by the House on Thursday wounds the struggling Americans he had promised to lift up."
And should he? He ain't making any money out of it.
He faked his way to the Oval Office peddling phony machismo and falsehoods. He lacks intellectual curiosity and cares more about style, size, and looks than philosophies and ideas.
Yesterday I watched Malcolm X debates @ Harvard and Oxford. I needed a mental boost to cleanse my head from the daily trash of Drumpf & CO.
And should he? He ain't making any money out of it.
He faked his way to the Oval Office peddling phony machismo and falsehoods. He lacks intellectual curiosity and cares more about style, size, and looks than philosophies and ideas.
Yesterday I watched Malcolm X debates @ Harvard and Oxford. I needed a mental boost to cleanse my head from the daily trash of Drumpf & CO.
29
@ Princeton 2015
Please submit your medical bills to Apple if you should (hopefully not) suffer some kind of unfortunate accident or personal health problem. I am sure they will appreciate your loyalty at that time, and see that all your medical bills are promptly paid.
Please submit your medical bills to Apple if you should (hopefully not) suffer some kind of unfortunate accident or personal health problem. I am sure they will appreciate your loyalty at that time, and see that all your medical bills are promptly paid.
5
The only hideous gloater missing from the accompanying image for this column is Mitch McConnell.
What a complete and utter disgrace. This can only be judged as reality TV posing as utter Kleptocracy.
What a complete and utter disgrace. This can only be judged as reality TV posing as utter Kleptocracy.
31
"In “The Art of the Deal,” Trump said that playing to people’s fantasies and promising the greatest product was “an innocent form of exaggeration.”"
It would be helpful if every time someone quoted "trump" from "The Art of the Deal" that they would point out it was written by Tony Schwartz, not trump. Trump's mind is too small and his character is too shallow to even conceive of such concepts. As has been said of Shakespeare that "he created the human," so can be said of Tony Schwartz that he created the donald trump that we have all been seeing trump perform since he read Schwartz's book. As you have quoted:
“He’s not a student of anything other than protecting his image. What he cares about is how he’s perceived, not the nuts and bolts of things. He is essentially a performance artist.”
What we have is an ignorant narcissist and predator who needs to be exposed at every turn for the phony, money-grubbing liar that he is.
It would be helpful if every time someone quoted "trump" from "The Art of the Deal" that they would point out it was written by Tony Schwartz, not trump. Trump's mind is too small and his character is too shallow to even conceive of such concepts. As has been said of Shakespeare that "he created the human," so can be said of Tony Schwartz that he created the donald trump that we have all been seeing trump perform since he read Schwartz's book. As you have quoted:
“He’s not a student of anything other than protecting his image. What he cares about is how he’s perceived, not the nuts and bolts of things. He is essentially a performance artist.”
What we have is an ignorant narcissist and predator who needs to be exposed at every turn for the phony, money-grubbing liar that he is.
34
When 2018 comes around the Republicans will do two things 1) take credit for saving health care from the slow death of Obamacare and 2) blame Democrats for destroying health care.
Gullible Republican voters will believe every word of it.
Gullible Republican voters will believe every word of it.
38
Th.e prophetic song lyrics of the 60s make ever more sense: "hope I die before I get old. . . ." The "fixin' to die rag". . . .
Yes, we have all been here before in those 60s and 70s lyrics, and now we are literally here as our troubadours age and leave us everyday.
Yes, we have all been here before in those 60s and 70s lyrics, and now we are literally here as our troubadours age and leave us everyday.
3
I doubt it. Ms. Dowd is looking at this issue from the point of view of a liberal, intellectual woman. But the Republican supporters of their representatives in Congress--male and female-- have demonstrated time and again that they like their conservative nabobs just the way they are--simple, male, and exclusionary. These voters have consistently believed that their conservative reps are doing the right thing when they bar freeloaders from "entitlements," even when these voters themselves are the recipients of these very entitlements. Conservatives represent something deeper to their constituents than providers of public service or protectors of peace... Not sure what it is, but it may be the way that conservatives have appropriated American culture--seized the mantle of being the true Americans--and when they exclude others, they make their constituents proud. No, I doubt that voters in their gerrymandered districts will change their minds, and too few Americans will actually lose their health insurance for other Americans to care much. As for those conservatives nabobs: they're perfectly aware of this.
23
I would go a bit further: the "Freedom" Caucus is a pre-existing condition. They are not yet done wreaking havoc--but they have good health insurance.
The notion that the optics of a deal outweigh the importance its contents may not be unique in history, but to have the development of a national health care system tied to such antics is quite something.
Trump's recent possible conflation of the Nullification Crisis with the Civil War--based on statements he made about Andrew Jackson--is a minor disturbance compared to his confusion between real national health care policy and the current bill that is not-so-well disguised political theology aimed at defunding federal social programs.
The notion that the optics of a deal outweigh the importance its contents may not be unique in history, but to have the development of a national health care system tied to such antics is quite something.
Trump's recent possible conflation of the Nullification Crisis with the Civil War--based on statements he made about Andrew Jackson--is a minor disturbance compared to his confusion between real national health care policy and the current bill that is not-so-well disguised political theology aimed at defunding federal social programs.
5
Saw Tom Price, Secretary of Health & Human Services, several times claiming that a third of doctors won't take Medicaid patients, because payment rates are too low. Trump, Ryan, Pence, and Price are going to address this problem by taking $880 billion out of Medicaid.
This is premeditated homicide. Trump, Ryan, Pence, and Price are homicidal.
This is premeditated homicide. Trump, Ryan, Pence, and Price are homicidal.
33
Here is how I see it. The House GOP has neither the skill, ideas or even the will to come up with a decent replacement for the Affordable Care Act. What they could grasp is that unless they repealed the ACA and appeased President Trump, each was subject to being tweeted out of re-election and seeing big donor Republican campaign donations dry up. Witness the "celebration " and decide for yourselves whether the interests of American citizens were considered while the House GOP punted this off to the Senate.
I will try to remember that this hideous vote carried by one member of the House but as far as I am concerned, they are all tarnished with the same brush. Keep that in mind, fellas.
I will try to remember that this hideous vote carried by one member of the House but as far as I am concerned, they are all tarnished with the same brush. Keep that in mind, fellas.
18
Pres Trump would do well to stand by his words of promising coverage for all and his admiration for the Australian system that smartly combines a baseline Gov't managed insurance scheme with the ability to supplement with private insurance with for-profit competitive providers.
Ms Dowd is spot on, unfortunately, with her assessment: The President seems focused on the optics with no apparent hard look at the reality of what is in the bill.
Ms Dowd is spot on, unfortunately, with her assessment: The President seems focused on the optics with no apparent hard look at the reality of what is in the bill.
5
You remark that Hillary was not good at salesmanship and was unable to explain why she wanted to be president.
That illustrates Steve Jobs's point about the error of focusing on sales instead of product. The product which the Clinton team was trying to sell was an individual who wanted to be president because her life was devoted to self-advancement, period. That does present a marketing problem.
That illustrates Steve Jobs's point about the error of focusing on sales instead of product. The product which the Clinton team was trying to sell was an individual who wanted to be president because her life was devoted to self-advancement, period. That does present a marketing problem.
2
The great ethical hazard in our health care system are cases like the Jimmy Kimmel test, but as applied to everyone from 0 to 110 years old . The reason health care costs are 17% of GDP is everyone gets everything on demand. It is a tragedy of the commons, fueled by Americans' poor health at baseline (obesity, obesity, obesity) and ignited by everyone's wish to "have it all" when it comes to their own care. Very few patients know what medications they take or how to take them appropriately, yet Americans love to take "something" for any ailment. Very few people will wait two or three weeks with back pain without demanding a MRI or at least visiting a doctor. ERs are flooded with healthy patients with transient viral illness, headache, earaches, environmental allergies, etc. The consumption side of the equation, especially in the primary care and end-of-life ICU arenas, has to be chopped to rein in this system of overspending. In every medical specialty, there is overspending on demand, because of poor patient decision-making, or because of defensive medicine. American medicine today is less about curing disease as about comforting and maintaining the chronically ill U.S. population. We spend so much more than anyone else worldwide because we demand more care for any ailment. Obesity-related problems lead the pack, with cardiac disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea all big ticket items that we cover for with each monthly insurance payment.
6
One in four people has a pre-existing condition; it is not the norm. As in any insurance pool they should be "high risk"; plain and simple they are. The U.S. taxpayer cannot satisfy nor subsidize everyone; it is just common since.
1
This whole incident is disturbing. They took health care away from $25M & looked people in the eye and continually Lied. Not about small things, but everything.
8
You’ve nailed it Maureen but I’m pretty sure you are off Trump’s Christmas card list this year. House Republicans and Trump should have looked up the definition of "criminally negligent manslaughter" before they forced passage of this odious, harmful, un-American, and dystopian bill. Passage by both Houses of a new healthcare plan even resembling this bill would directly cause those unable to attain or afford health insurance to die. And when that happens, those who voted yes are culpable morally, if not legally, in my view. On top of that, not reading or not understanding the bill and still voting yes is the equivalent of driving while blind drunk. It's up to the Senate to save the feckless yes-men in The House from their nightmares of a well deserved perp-walk. I have no idea how people like this sleep at night.
12
Trump only talks the talk, but it's enough for his followers and he knows it.
He continues to make gigantic unrealistic promises, because he knows he don't have to deliver.
The followers are happy even when he fails, because "At least he's saying the right things and trying."
Sad!
He continues to make gigantic unrealistic promises, because he knows he don't have to deliver.
The followers are happy even when he fails, because "At least he's saying the right things and trying."
Sad!
7
I had been calling my Representative- Elise Stefanik, a Republican asking her office how she planned to vote on previous attempt and on this last abomination. "She hasn't decided," they insisted. Also that she was working to make sure her constituents - mostly middle-to-lower middle class in Upstate NY were able to afford health care.
We'll, she lied! She voted for the Bill. On my last call, I questioned her previous resolve and the answer, paraphrased, 'The Senate will fix it'.
I was flabbergasted- she voted for a bill she knew was bad in the hopes that the Senate would fix it. And of course, through gerrymandering, she has a presumably 'safe seat'. I hope the voters wise up in 2018. Her name is Elise Stefanik of the NY 21st and she should be fired!
We'll, she lied! She voted for the Bill. On my last call, I questioned her previous resolve and the answer, paraphrased, 'The Senate will fix it'.
I was flabbergasted- she voted for a bill she knew was bad in the hopes that the Senate would fix it. And of course, through gerrymandering, she has a presumably 'safe seat'. I hope the voters wise up in 2018. Her name is Elise Stefanik of the NY 21st and she should be fired!
51
The "Jimmy Kimmel test" certainly tugs at everyone's heartstrings and it will undoubtedly remain a huge talking point for those who oppose the repeal of Obamacare. The only problem is there is no evidence, other than "it seems like it should be true" to support it! As an adult heart surgeon, I no longer perform cardiac surgery on children, but during my training I participated in many congenital cases where the parents were poor, and in fact many in which the child was poor and from another country. I seriously doubt that anyone can find a single documented case in America of a child with a diagnosed congenital cardiac defect requiring surgery in which that surgery was not performed because of the family's inability to pay for it!
5
It is difficult to disagree with the thesis, however, and a major however, it appears that those who support the "smoke and mirrors" of the present administration don't really care about the "goods." Americans appear to treasure hype rather than substance and it may take a long time before this changes. What is required is a return to what may really count for many Americans and try to move them back to values and programs that were the core of the Democratic Party. It will be difficult in our electronic world which regardless of potential creates and reinforces what we currently see.
6
I'd like to believe that the congressmen who supported this bill will pay for it at the polls but I have a feeling they won't. If their bill passes the senate and health care falls apart, somehow it will be Obama's fault.
10
The “Flimflam Man” and his three “ Irish Undertaker Colleagues” Ryan, Pence, and McCarthy will be remembered forever in the “Actors Hall of Fame” along with Burt Lancaster for his memorable portrayal of Elmer Gantry in the 1960 movie of the same name.
19
Why the facile and facetious swipe at Obama? He passionately fought for and full-throatedly defended policies to improve life for the American people, and I remember an energetic reelection campaign with one great speech at the convention by Bill Clinton. You were wrong about the man for eight years and are still wrong, as Obama grows in stature every day compared to the current cretinous commander in chief.
46
Enough of the critics corner on the mess in DC....So...is anyone in Washington working on the answer to this question: How do we make HEALTH CARE more affordable (Not just health care insurance premiums)?
1. Pharmaceuticals (drugs, vaccines, etc)-bring down the prices and the huge profits the companies make
2. Minimize futile end-of-life care
3. Follow proven scientific criteria for ordering lab tests and expensive procedures (i.e. not everyone with a headache needs a MRI or CT)..minimizing the liability if the proven set criteria is followed by the ordering health care provider.)
1. Pharmaceuticals (drugs, vaccines, etc)-bring down the prices and the huge profits the companies make
2. Minimize futile end-of-life care
3. Follow proven scientific criteria for ordering lab tests and expensive procedures (i.e. not everyone with a headache needs a MRI or CT)..minimizing the liability if the proven set criteria is followed by the ordering health care provider.)
3
We can't forget the under 65 year old seniors that often have no job opportunities that offer workplace health insurance. They need healthcare and premiums that they can afford. Everyone eventually has to get through these years. ACA (Obamacare) is good. Universal Health Care through general taxation would be better. We can nickel and dime healthcare by making more efficient and modern. Cut out waste and fraud. We can do it.
6
What is going on in the US? That is question. You have elected a mad man, put him in charge. What are yoy complaining about?
4
I wish the battle over health care were not partisan. I wish both sides would find solutions together for all citizens. They will not cooperate, of course, but if they did they would both strengthen their parties and regain the faith of the American people. And, speaking of the people, only the people can force these politicians to cooperate and solve the Nation's problems. The people should insist on a working political system and send the demagogues home.
3
I was hoping to find something insightful from Dowd. I was disappointed. Just typical nytimes anti trump nonsense.
1
Pitch perfect. For the record, Steve Jobs ended up a "con" too. Money and power are just too seductive for the reptile brain and the male ego. P.S. HRC was also too contrived.
3
The GOP is merely testing the Trumpettes to see if their allegiance is still with #45; will they believe his Hannity insanity or the facts? If Trumpettes do, the GOP can do anything they want with impunity.
1
big trouble in river city, it starts with t and ends with p and that spells trump, the same in the suburbs, it starts with c and ends with (oops, a sondheim stymie)...but the point is clear, what a pair!
so, what to do, keep griping or get busy...the vote here is for the latter, let H(R)C run the resistance (which ought to ensure it's demise) and let's pick up the nuke the Rs handed us with health care bill and use it to take back the house in '18, half the battle in the dis-election of of the donald
...then, let's pasture the cadre of increasingly tedious voices, H(R)C, raging elizabeth W, way, way off broadway chuck and our own norma desmond, nancy p, and start the casting process, finding and developing the talent for the next reel.
so, what to do, keep griping or get busy...the vote here is for the latter, let H(R)C run the resistance (which ought to ensure it's demise) and let's pick up the nuke the Rs handed us with health care bill and use it to take back the house in '18, half the battle in the dis-election of of the donald
...then, let's pasture the cadre of increasingly tedious voices, H(R)C, raging elizabeth W, way, way off broadway chuck and our own norma desmond, nancy p, and start the casting process, finding and developing the talent for the next reel.
4
"Heartless" Republicans and so-called president applauding themselves for taking away healthcare for over 20 million, who mostly voted them into office. That pretty much says it all, EXCEPT there will be a day of reckoning.
6
Maureen - your thoughts that went into writing this column are pure WOW... thanks!
9
It's not healthcare it's Wealthcare !
Obama cared
Republicans don't.
Obama cared
Republicans don't.
15
I think Trump has Alzheimer's disease. A friend of mine had a mother who died from it. She said her mother showed symptoms years before it became distinctly apparent.
Trump repeats himself a lot; the same ideas, over and over, as if he is trying to remember himself.
Trump repeats himself a lot; the same ideas, over and over, as if he is trying to remember himself.
11
Good to see you back, Ms. Dowd. And with a rockin' column!
1
Despite making some very good points here, Maureen, I still have such a hard time reading you after your relentless and unnecessary slamming of Pres.Obama and Secretary Clinton all those years. Their shortcomings were certainly fair game and needed to be pointed out, but you always did it in a mean-spirited and snarky manner. You could have written about Clinton's qualities that would have made her a good president. And, you were very late in taking on Trump ( I'll NEVER understand that) and to my you mind you contributed to his election. You've lost a lot of credibility out here.
25
All the commentators were aghast after the all white male crowd gathered behind the president of the frat house to brag that they just bamboozled 46% of the voters. The President mentioned NOTHING about the impact of that legislation on his subjects while he reminded us one more that he is president and "can you believe it?" More like WTH in my opinion. It was a disgusting display that should send all of them packing in 2018 and 2020, but I have no faith in the US electorate who repeatedly votes for trickle down scams to benefit the "job creators." As they said in another famous frat house: "Thank you sir; can I have another?"
3
What follows pain? Sorrow, regret, self reflection, and fear to proceed in whatever goals you set for yourself. The pain won't set in until action is taken against the people who made ACA explode. Only then will they seek forgiveness. Otherwise they'll go on to destroy more lives.
1
Gemli said, referring to Trump, "as the man who now squats on the throne..."
In another context altogether, The sculptor, Rodin, created "The Thinker," reposing on a throne-like seat.
I would re-imagine that as Trump "squatting" on his - um - throne, with the title of that image: "The Stinker."
In another context altogether, The sculptor, Rodin, created "The Thinker," reposing on a throne-like seat.
I would re-imagine that as Trump "squatting" on his - um - throne, with the title of that image: "The Stinker."
5
Maureen,
I think you know that if you chat with your brother he will agree with..
Trump's sales language around (everything he does not do).
So it is with all of Trump's base. They don't even know he is collecting his salary. They only heard him say he would not, but, did not notice when he decided to take his salary (and millions in travel money).
So, not so fast. Trump can easily be elected again if two things happen:
1. He does not send his base to Korea to be killed.
2. The Democrats run a rabid dog against him again.
Easy for him to win.
I think you know that if you chat with your brother he will agree with..
Trump's sales language around (everything he does not do).
So it is with all of Trump's base. They don't even know he is collecting his salary. They only heard him say he would not, but, did not notice when he decided to take his salary (and millions in travel money).
So, not so fast. Trump can easily be elected again if two things happen:
1. He does not send his base to Korea to be killed.
2. The Democrats run a rabid dog against him again.
Easy for him to win.
3
I sincerely hope I'm wrong but I if I had to guess, Democrats will once again snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
The answer was, is and will always be some form of single payer health insurance and yet most Democrats, certainly the corporate centrist ones who comprise the majority of the party, are not even talking about single payer. Why?
They are defending still Obamacare and hoping to preserve it, and now restore it. Why? Only Bernie and a few progressive Democrats are talking about single payer. F.Y.I. - the one senator who has the most favorable public approval rating by far is the scourge of the Democratic Party elite. That alone is certain to ensure defeat for Democrats in 2018 and 2020.
My message to the Democratic establishment - listen to Einstein! Stop doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result!
The answer was, is and will always be some form of single payer health insurance and yet most Democrats, certainly the corporate centrist ones who comprise the majority of the party, are not even talking about single payer. Why?
They are defending still Obamacare and hoping to preserve it, and now restore it. Why? Only Bernie and a few progressive Democrats are talking about single payer. F.Y.I. - the one senator who has the most favorable public approval rating by far is the scourge of the Democratic Party elite. That alone is certain to ensure defeat for Democrats in 2018 and 2020.
My message to the Democratic establishment - listen to Einstein! Stop doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result!
5
Her mandatory gratuitous digs at President Obama and Hillary Clinton aside, Mother Superior Dowd has delivered by far her best column in months. Perfect characterizations of our Fake - in every way - President and the soulless Irish Undertaker enabling him. Spot on.
5
more white racism . Obama got a majority even with dowd et al sniping
5
Trumpcare:
The sales pitch: Low deductibles, low price, great coverage
The reality: Covers Ebola, toenail fungus, and bubonic plague. Everything else is a pre-existing condition not covered. But it's cheap.
Thanks to my congressman Faso from NY who voted for this immoral monstrosity. You gave me a tax break on the backs of the needy, and sick.
Go celebrate and whoop it up.
The sales pitch: Low deductibles, low price, great coverage
The reality: Covers Ebola, toenail fungus, and bubonic plague. Everything else is a pre-existing condition not covered. But it's cheap.
Thanks to my congressman Faso from NY who voted for this immoral monstrosity. You gave me a tax break on the backs of the needy, and sick.
Go celebrate and whoop it up.
14
I vanka comes out with a book on women's "rights" the same week her father is destroying them.
13
The folks in America are kind and generous. Nowhere else in the world you see such giving, such compassion and care. America has done much for the world too. It's aid programs, peace corps and other initiatives speak volumes of its altruism. But and there is a big but. There is a certain amount of naiievite among American voters. Just like they fall for shiny cars and gizmos, they fall for politicians who dazzle them with fanciful promises that actually work against their best interests.
Just look at the South and Middle America. They all vote republican and elected Trump and much of the senate and the house. Trump and the Senate gave them the dog biscuit of Gorsuch for the Supreme Court to keep them happy but in all other matters that are really important to their health and welfare Trump and company are working against their interests.
They are gutting constraints put in effect during the last fifty years to protect the environment, preserve national parks, keep banks from predatory practices that caused the depression in 2007 and keep Wall Street from flimflamming investors that also contributed to the financial disaster.
So why do we behave in such stupid ways? Go figure. I am still scratching my head.
Just look at the South and Middle America. They all vote republican and elected Trump and much of the senate and the house. Trump and the Senate gave them the dog biscuit of Gorsuch for the Supreme Court to keep them happy but in all other matters that are really important to their health and welfare Trump and company are working against their interests.
They are gutting constraints put in effect during the last fifty years to protect the environment, preserve national parks, keep banks from predatory practices that caused the depression in 2007 and keep Wall Street from flimflamming investors that also contributed to the financial disaster.
So why do we behave in such stupid ways? Go figure. I am still scratching my head.
6
Great column, Mo.
The only way to take on Trump: ridicule, no more euphemisms, straight line analysis, pithy indisputable examples. Across the board, deny Trump the adulation his psyche must have. No more normalizing this train wreck, no more 'giving him a chance'.
The only way to take on Trump: ridicule, no more euphemisms, straight line analysis, pithy indisputable examples. Across the board, deny Trump the adulation his psyche must have. No more normalizing this train wreck, no more 'giving him a chance'.
4
Another Op-ed which doesn't even mention the primary driver behind the vote this week. Health insurance policy is incidental.
This is a tax cut for the rich.
It needed to happen before they gut the income tax. They got the votes because the Republicans have fixated on this approach. The impact on peoples' lives doesn't factor into their calculus.
This is strictly class warfare.
This is a tax cut for the rich.
It needed to happen before they gut the income tax. They got the votes because the Republicans have fixated on this approach. The impact on peoples' lives doesn't factor into their calculus.
This is strictly class warfare.
15
Every single word and action for this man is self serving; The need to win at everything at any and all costs. We elected a deranged man-child!
7
Our accidental president is a perfect example of ego run amok. The American people are not even an afterthought, they've faded into oblivion.
4
One can only hope that the Republican Party is repaid by the voters for their callous passage of this deeply flawed Healthcare plan.
It is inconceivable that those who bragged about this death warrant for many could have had any grasp of its ramifications.
It's imaginable that some may have held their noses while voting just to rid the chambers of its foul odor.
Perhaps the Senate can perform radically needed surgery on this malignancy
It is inconceivable that those who bragged about this death warrant for many could have had any grasp of its ramifications.
It's imaginable that some may have held their noses while voting just to rid the chambers of its foul odor.
Perhaps the Senate can perform radically needed surgery on this malignancy
5
Too bad Hillary was dissed relentlessly.
21
Very dear Mrs Dowd:
By watching the photo, enacting your column, in todays amusing column;
It looks almost un - objectivly, though, purposly, distinguish, the smiles of all partisipants;
Made me wonder, either, are all, introspectedly hearing the cascade of nuts coments of DC, and or, their expectancy of coming business , namely Paul Ryan, i will leave out the VP, ( he has always observed, discration.).
The faces of voters of DT, in coming months will be , for sure NOT SMILING,once they use the modified health care changes.REGARDS
By watching the photo, enacting your column, in todays amusing column;
It looks almost un - objectivly, though, purposly, distinguish, the smiles of all partisipants;
Made me wonder, either, are all, introspectedly hearing the cascade of nuts coments of DC, and or, their expectancy of coming business , namely Paul Ryan, i will leave out the VP, ( he has always observed, discration.).
The faces of voters of DT, in coming months will be , for sure NOT SMILING,once they use the modified health care changes.REGARDS
2
Thank you, Ms. Dowd, for helping put this ignoramus in power. You should spend your words apologizing, rather than attacking that which you have wrought.
15
Trump realized that Australia's universal healthcare is superior to our dysfunctional healthcare which remains, the most expensive and ranks last in quality, access and outcomes when compared to 15 countries that have single-payer healthcare (check The Commonwealth Fund if you do not believe this).
If Trump really wants to improve his image, improve the healthcare of this country and reverse the decline of his dismal approval ratings, he should encourage universal healthcare and get the insurance and drug companies influence over unaffordable care eliminated.
Unfortunately, Trump being a malignant narcissist, only cares about the tax cut that Trumpcare, if it ever gets passed, will benefit him, his family and his wealthy enablers.
If Trump really wants to improve his image, improve the healthcare of this country and reverse the decline of his dismal approval ratings, he should encourage universal healthcare and get the insurance and drug companies influence over unaffordable care eliminated.
Unfortunately, Trump being a malignant narcissist, only cares about the tax cut that Trumpcare, if it ever gets passed, will benefit him, his family and his wealthy enablers.
7
I personally have zero confidence that Trump voters will actually understand this. I am sure that the Republicans think the same thing. Throw out abortion, God and guns in 2018 and the election is over - another vote for the Republican who is doing his/her best to destroy middle America.
7
Standing in the Rose Garden Thursday, this is the incoherent self-congratulatory statement of our *President*:
" So what we have is something very, very incredibly well-crafted. Tell you what, there is a lot of talent standing behind me. An unbelievable amount of talent, that I can tell you. I mean it. (Applause.) And coming from a different world and only being a politician for a short period of time -- how am I doing? Am I doing okay? I’m President. Hey, I’m President. Can you believe it? Right? (Applause.) I don’t know, it’s -- I thought you needed a little bit more time. They always told me, more time. But we didn’t." (Excerpt from official Press Release)-Office of the Press Secretary
" So what we have is something very, very incredibly well-crafted. Tell you what, there is a lot of talent standing behind me. An unbelievable amount of talent, that I can tell you. I mean it. (Applause.) And coming from a different world and only being a politician for a short period of time -- how am I doing? Am I doing okay? I’m President. Hey, I’m President. Can you believe it? Right? (Applause.) I don’t know, it’s -- I thought you needed a little bit more time. They always told me, more time. But we didn’t." (Excerpt from official Press Release)-Office of the Press Secretary
8
Ryan is as much a flim-flam as Trump is. Ryan is a moral coward, totally unethical as seen in this scam of a "health care" plan; and Ryan's utter disregard for the welfare of our citizens places him in the front ranks as a traitor to this country.
7
It's disingenuous to divide people by age, or disease or gender in healthcare. We are all guaranteed to get sick and old and die in our lifetime. This is why 'single payer' makes good sense. It doesn't discriminate and everyone has skin in the game and it fosters community; that we take care of each other. Canadians are rightfully proud of their healthcare system and are proud to be taking care of each other. There are many good examples already up and running in other countries. We should be able to create a good American plan. Level the playing field was a rallying cry during the election. 'Single payer' is an excellent way to do this.
9
I have to admit it's strange (and maddening) reading Maureen Dowd now, after her scathing attacks on Hillary Clinton and Al Gore. It must be her way of keeping her job and seeming relevant---help the least experienced and unknowledgeable candidate win (Bush Trump) and then lambast them with pyschobabble when they do. Bad for the country, but good for her career.
9
I was born on election day in 1950. As a child, doctors came to our house to treat us for mumps and measles and other childhood illnesses. My family was middle class and those physician visits did not break the bank or leave us with no food on the table. As house calls went the way of the buggy whip, pediatric care was still affordable and my siblings and I made it out of childhood with only memories of broken bones and skinned knees.
My grandson is lucky he has access to the Children's Health Insurance Program. Without it, neither of his parents could afford good health insurance for him. They can't even afford it for themselves and they are both college grads working their butts off.
When election day 2020 rolls around, and I celebrate being old AGAIN, my wish will be for the AFFORDABLE to go back into healthcare in a meaningful way. A country which cannot guarantee that is less of a nation and more of a prayer circle.
My grandson is lucky he has access to the Children's Health Insurance Program. Without it, neither of his parents could afford good health insurance for him. They can't even afford it for themselves and they are both college grads working their butts off.
When election day 2020 rolls around, and I celebrate being old AGAIN, my wish will be for the AFFORDABLE to go back into healthcare in a meaningful way. A country which cannot guarantee that is less of a nation and more of a prayer circle.
14
#DontheCon is a snake oil salesman who can convince people to buy his promise with no underlying evidence. His entire record shows as much. Call for investigations and hearing into his conflicts of interest - because nothing he has done suggests he is working in the interest of our country's well being long term.
5
If this bill is so full of horrible things, why doesn't Dowd mention a couple? All she does is attack people. She calls Trump lazy but she needs to take a look in the mirror.
5
Where is the conversation about intent? Obama risked most of his political capital to provide decent health care to millions of Americans who could not obtain or afford coverage any other way. Passing ACA cost the Democrats dearly in the 2010 midterms, as the GOP began their campaign of slander and lies against it. If they felt any compassion for the people who ACA was designed to help, they could have worked with the Democrats to address the flaws in the program.
Thanks to Trump, Ryan and the GOP's callous, craven cowardice, they have produced a disaster of a bill that reveals their true intent: a big tax break for the wealthy. While it will probably not survive, this bill says everything American voters need to know about what drives the GOP. Regardless of what they say, they will do nothing to improve the lives of 99% of Americans.
Thanks to Trump, Ryan and the GOP's callous, craven cowardice, they have produced a disaster of a bill that reveals their true intent: a big tax break for the wealthy. While it will probably not survive, this bill says everything American voters need to know about what drives the GOP. Regardless of what they say, they will do nothing to improve the lives of 99% of Americans.
7
Even Margaret Thatcher, the Great Privatiser, knew that health care is a form of national defense.
6
Paul Ryan ( the "Irish undertaker") is not Irish. His mother has German and English ancestry.
Bravo Maureen!
Your lately best column.
Missed you.You're needed.
Your lately best column.
Missed you.You're needed.
I so hope that you're right, Ms. Dowd. The entire Republican delegation deserves to go down for voting aye to such a steaming, fetid heap of corruption wrapped in cruelty. But November 6, 2018 is so far away, the news cycle is so short, and the voting public seems to have the attention span of very, very young children. Trump will keep distracting us with shiny new outrages every day and it will be incredibly difficult to keep focused on what happened this week and who was really at fault. I know you'll do your best, so will I.
1
No one can tell the hard truth about Deadbeat Don better than Maureen Dowd. What kills me is that, when it mattered, she was all subtleties, humor and "friendly advice." We who read or publish NYT are, to a large extent, an echo chamber, but it would have been nice to know what might have been.
7
I agree with Chait in that Trump does not understand ideology. So, he can be neither a Republican nor a Democrat. He is an opportunistic, impulsive, shallow, hustler with money. The evil is actually in the GOP with Ryan, McConnell, Pence, and the faux Christians on the podium with him. The Senate will not save them as McConnell will not allow it.
It is sickening to see only middle aged white men attacking all women, the poor, sick, and elderly citizens on behalf of the wealthy who feel 'entitled' to more and more.
Their hypocrisy on the health care issue is staggering as they all have guaranteed health care for them and their families for life. When some Christian's suffer, especially when losing a child, they console themselves with "It is part of God's Plan". Why would God give a young child cancer? That can't be a 'plan', it just happens. Their God did not wish the GOP as it is today on us as part of his plan.
The column hits Trump nicely. Just leave Clinton out of it next time.
It is sickening to see only middle aged white men attacking all women, the poor, sick, and elderly citizens on behalf of the wealthy who feel 'entitled' to more and more.
Their hypocrisy on the health care issue is staggering as they all have guaranteed health care for them and their families for life. When some Christian's suffer, especially when losing a child, they console themselves with "It is part of God's Plan". Why would God give a young child cancer? That can't be a 'plan', it just happens. Their God did not wish the GOP as it is today on us as part of his plan.
The column hits Trump nicely. Just leave Clinton out of it next time.
9
From my experience, Trump supporters watch only Fox News. They don't read anything and they are totally unaware. They want to believe, therefore they do. They have no idea what the Trump-Ryan healyh care bill is about. They will believe anything and follow Trump into hell. They are a mindless, ignorant mob. Trump was the reason those who established this country set up the electoral college. The electors failed. Now we have Mitch McConnell as a last line of defense? Jesup Christ are we in trouble.
12
Could the NYT's focus on the fact that the Trump campaign were talking to the Russians and then the Russian's hacked the Democrat National Committee swaying the election. And ah yes Trump is tearing down any institution or safe guards so that he can help the super rich. Not just well off upper middle class, the 1% super rich of which there are about 10,000 in the USA. Who by the way this 1% has the same income as the lower 100 million USA citizens. We are thrown back in time to the 1830's when robber barrons owned the USA. Not to mention Trump talks of nuclear war on a regular basis.
4
Is this waht it has come to, saving face and just get a bill passed? Obama told the Democrats when the passed the O.C.A. that some may lose the next election, but getting people health care was worth it. For get about what you think of A.C.A. Where in this President is that conviction? It's always about him and his Brand. When will his followers see that?
2
When we begin to treat healthcare as a basic right not merely as a luxury good only the wealthy can afford then we be able to change paradigm in this country. A for profit model only benefits those who stand to make the most profit which are the health insurers while everyone else suffers. One's health and one's level income isn't static...you can be healthy as an ox for 39 of your 40 years then hit with a rare illness that insurers deem to be a pre-existing condition. The other underlying issue not being discussed that the fact the underlying cost structure is untenable. Big pharma to hospitals can price gouge their customers with 300-3000% markup on products and services. For example it may cost you 3-5 dollars for a bottle of aspirin. Prescribed a single aspiring in a hospital or clinical session and it may cost you 30 dollars a pill if not more. This mentality exists because you seen as a customer and not as a human being in need of life saving medicine. Yes, everyone up and down the food chain from the CEO of a health insurer to your general practitioner needs to make a living but do they need to do so at our expense. Yes, in every healthcare system they are tradeoffs but the tradeoff shouldn't be your life.
3
McConnell's words will come back to haunt the republican party - Republican Agenda "is exactly the same as the Trump agenda" let's see how that works out for you and your republican colleagues.
2
Just say "NO" to illness and all is OK!
The best thing the Republicans have going for them is the rage of the Democrats.
The more time and energy the Democrats spend in venting, the more Time Republicans have to advance their agenda. And that is happening all around us.
Listen to the programs of the Trump Cabinet Secretaries, from Di Vos to Ben Carson to the others firmly planting the conservative flag in all aspects of American life.
If the Democrats can't come up with an agenda soon, other than rage, they will not know what hit them
The more time and energy the Democrats spend in venting, the more Time Republicans have to advance their agenda. And that is happening all around us.
Listen to the programs of the Trump Cabinet Secretaries, from Di Vos to Ben Carson to the others firmly planting the conservative flag in all aspects of American life.
If the Democrats can't come up with an agenda soon, other than rage, they will not know what hit them
1
I pray-fantasize- which-upon-a-star, Democrats will be so terrified they get out of this tepid mid-set of Risk Aversion and push a Bernie Sanders-Joe Biden ticket in 2020 or something more radical. If Republicans can create President Donald Trump (and folks actually buy it)- God help us if Democrats can't come up with a "Real" Tranformative candidates with the morality, insight and will to make this a better and humane place to dwell.
1
Its not about salesmanship over product quality. The point is that Trump stumbled into the presidency because of the archaic, and as it turns out, damaging to democratic processes electoral college. Hillary Clinton despite being a lousy candidate would have put together a gov't and put experienced talented people to work on coherent policy choices. Clinton was a corporatist who probably would have filled her financial team with Goldman Sacs types. Trickle down would be more generous since Clinton is a Democrat. But the US economy with Citizens United was going allow billionaires to scream bloody murder about Wall Street regulation and buy candidates. Clinton would have taken her bull horn and excorticated any attempt to deal with Russia. McCarthyism was not such an outlier after all especially with liberal doyens practicing it daily. Anyway the Republicans absolutely were not prepared to take over leadership with Trump's victory. One would think, that since the day the ACA was enacted the Rs have screamed about repealing it, that they would have given some thought into a replacement. But their true colors have come out. They would replace the ACA with mean spirited mumbo jumbo and big tax cuts for the wealthy.
4
Why doesn't anybody care about how Obama was arming extremists in Syria to overthrow Assad, when Assad is more liberal than Saudi Arabia who USA don't care about? Like how USA armed and trained extremists in 80s Afghanistan to get one over on Russia, and funded Al Qaeda against Gaddafi.
1
prior comment should state: "$880 Billion" - not $880 million...
Not surprisingly no one in "mainstream media" seems to mention the parts of this bill that completely defund Planned Parenthood while giving massive tax cuts to the rich (mostly white) folks in the country.
All the people (mostly men) in this picture are the proverbial poster child(ren) for the population and purpose of the Republican Party - money, power, greed at everyone else's expense.
It's not about health care. It's about legalized tax evasion.
All the people (mostly men) in this picture are the proverbial poster child(ren) for the population and purpose of the Republican Party - money, power, greed at everyone else's expense.
It's not about health care. It's about legalized tax evasion.
6
Re: "...a crowd of guys applauding themselves for gutting health care protections for women."
You of course ignored what Obamacare did to men, because liberals don't care about men (for exp., they care more about the gender wage gap than about gender longevity gap, men's lives).
"Does Obamacare About Men? Three takes on Obamacare’s discrimination against men" https://malemattersusa.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/does-obamacare-discrimin...
Excerpts:
A lot of young, healthy men may nix Obamacare when they learn this:
Young men will see higher premium increases than their female counterparts. This is true despite these two facts:
Young men go to the doctor far less and cost their insurers far less than do young women, even factoring out women’s reproductive-related visits.
With Obamacare, young women will have more nonreproductive-related preventive services than young men.
In short, men will get fewer benefits than women after being forced to pay a bigger premium increase. That’s how Obama will uphold his promise to eliminate “premium discrimination against women.”
You of course ignored what Obamacare did to men, because liberals don't care about men (for exp., they care more about the gender wage gap than about gender longevity gap, men's lives).
"Does Obamacare About Men? Three takes on Obamacare’s discrimination against men" https://malemattersusa.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/does-obamacare-discrimin...
Excerpts:
A lot of young, healthy men may nix Obamacare when they learn this:
Young men will see higher premium increases than their female counterparts. This is true despite these two facts:
Young men go to the doctor far less and cost their insurers far less than do young women, even factoring out women’s reproductive-related visits.
With Obamacare, young women will have more nonreproductive-related preventive services than young men.
In short, men will get fewer benefits than women after being forced to pay a bigger premium increase. That’s how Obama will uphold his promise to eliminate “premium discrimination against women.”
1
Malematters,
"Liberals don't care about men" is the most ridiculous argument against Obamacare that has been offered up by a Trumpeter. Thanks for the laugh.
"Liberals don't care about men" is the most ridiculous argument against Obamacare that has been offered up by a Trumpeter. Thanks for the laugh.
1
Interesting to read all the news about healthcare legislation... It's a huge industry... a major part of our nation's gross national product. However, more and more tax dollars are not going to provide better patient care. A "substantial percent" of healthcare costs have little to do with healthcare. A recent report in the Harvard Business Review suggested $1 trillion could be saved through process modifications that would make better use of technology and eliminate the vast waste, fraud and "excessive profits" ingrained in today's healthcare paradigm.
1
He was elected President, nothing would surprise me anymore. Ms. Dowd members of your family were/are Trump supporters, how do they feel about him now???
4
Fine column, Ms. Dowd.
Good to see that you've re-focused your analytic skills and wit on the Trump administration now that you don't have Hillary Clinton to kick around any more.
Good to see that you've re-focused your analytic skills and wit on the Trump administration now that you don't have Hillary Clinton to kick around any more.
7
When are Trump supporters going to understand that they voted for a monster who would watch every member of their family die without healthcare and call it a personal victory?
5
Isn't the Repub Health care plan a Ponzi Scheme that they may win on in the short term anyway? The cuts in health care and the threat to employer-based plans as well, if not outright cuts, are supposed to subsidize the tax plan for the wealthy. If they spin their tax plan as a "win" based on the health care cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and the subsidies that made Obamacare possible, might they not have enough fodder to fling over their supporters? If they win in 2018, the REpublicans will gut America. See you in the emergency room, I guess.
4
United Health Care profits last year were $46.49 Billion ....but yet.....not enough.
hey Democrats....wake the F up and call these vicious liars out. And oh, Ivanks, tell us again, like you did in Berlin how your Father is a big supporter of "women and families"...
hey Democrats....wake the F up and call these vicious liars out. And oh, Ivanks, tell us again, like you did in Berlin how your Father is a big supporter of "women and families"...
8
The people most at risk are the 30-40% with Trump derangement syndrome. It's not covered.
7
I'm still waiting to read what Kevin thinks, Maureen.
4
As a three tour combat of Iraq, I enjoyed a single payer system called Tricare when I was active and the VA since I been out. Yes they are both funded by the U.S. Taxpayer. Neither is perfect but served me well when I had any health related issues. The question is why can't a similar system be instituted for all of America. Obamacare isn't a single payer system and folks complained about that as well. When people are able to have access to affordable healthcare it reduces stress in one's life and it shifts the conversation from treatment to prevention. A true measure of one's wealth is their health. Allows one to have a productive lifestyle, hold down a job, and enjoy a quality life that some citizens in a third world can only imagine. No one is saying it has to be free, but if our taxes goes to all manner things with our health and wellbeing being at the bottom of the priority list, shouldn't it be the other way around. Our elected leaders can find hundreds of billions of dollars to pay for lethal weapon systems yet can't spare a few pennies for a national healthcare system that actually works on behalf of all Americans and not the 1%. Yes, we will need to involve all stakeholders from hospitals to doctors to make this work. Yes, the GOP may promise you access to healthcare but not access to affordable healthcare. Yes, we all have access to a Lexus dealership, but it doesn't mean all of us can drive off the lot with one.
31
Great comment.
2
Here's a new effort at branding:
"a catastrophe of Republicans"
It is sadly true that they are a disaster for our nation, making it small and mean along with the Trump con/shyster kleptocracy team. Those who only enable are every bit as bad.
"a catastrophe of Republicans"
It is sadly true that they are a disaster for our nation, making it small and mean along with the Trump con/shyster kleptocracy team. Those who only enable are every bit as bad.
5
Trump is hazardous to more than just our health. He is hazardous to everything that he makes a presidential decision on.
6
Mo- are you really still underestimating the Donald? Maybe you and your peers in the liberal echo chamber are missing the point. Trump is doing what he said he would. He will be successful because his positions are malleable. You can't credibly argue the deficiencies of the GOP healthcare bill if you refuse to acknowledge that Obamacare was in a death spiral. You can't call Trump a shiftless shortcutter without acknowledging that his predecessor's fragile legacy was built on a foundation of slippery executive orders. You can't say that Trump's "innocent exaggerations" don't pale in comparison to "keep your doctor, keep your plan." We who stand on the other side of the fence have now annexed the working class, who the democrats have burdened with their onerous global policies and the victimization identity of the party. Good luck with 2018. I will be very encouraged if your paper gives the dems a 95% chance of winning control of congress.
3
A great column, Ms. Dowd. I appreciate your writing because in addition to the always thoughtful 'facts', you never fail to give me a few chuckles! I think your last paragraph/sentence nailed it all perfectly for the Republicans !
1
Bernie Sanders said it best - that picture shows "Donald Trump and Republicans [celebrating] voting to let thousands of Americans die so that billionaires get tax breaks."
15
What did the Cook report have to say about Hillary's chances last fall?
What the left continually fails to realize is that the people most helped by Obamacare generally don't vote, and the few who do already vote overwhelmingly for Democrats. Meanwhile the people most hurt by Obamacare are reliable Republican voters.
If you're a middle to lower-middle class socially moderate to conservative white voter, the Democrats offer you nothing but insults. Until that changes reports of the demise of the congressional GOP are merely wishful thinking.
What the left continually fails to realize is that the people most helped by Obamacare generally don't vote, and the few who do already vote overwhelmingly for Democrats. Meanwhile the people most hurt by Obamacare are reliable Republican voters.
If you're a middle to lower-middle class socially moderate to conservative white voter, the Democrats offer you nothing but insults. Until that changes reports of the demise of the congressional GOP are merely wishful thinking.
2
The effects of the AHCA won't become apparent until late 2020 when folks see their neighbors and family going into foreclosure to pay their health bills, or being buried because they couldn't get preventative attention. So Trump could make a second term before it all hits the fan.
To avoid that, the Dems have to do better than sniping at the AHCA. It's the economy; it's jobs; it's finding solid employment, not the big economy. Get serious Dems: the corporate sponsor isn't going to get you elected!!
To avoid that, the Dems have to do better than sniping at the AHCA. It's the economy; it's jobs; it's finding solid employment, not the big economy. Get serious Dems: the corporate sponsor isn't going to get you elected!!
2
Americans who wonder why the country is suffering through a spike in opioid overdoses only need look at the photo accompanying this article. Our elected representatives are absolutely joyous that they have successfully voted to rip basic healthcare away from millions of Americans of modest means. As a result of this, and most developments since Trump took office, our national mood can only be described as desperation.
3
Jack Tapper tried to press Tom Price this morning on the "Not really Medicaid Cuts" statement of his; but Tom wasn't not biting: Instead he further insists the estimated $880 Million in cuts will merely be a "reapportionment" ".... give[ing] states the freedom to tailor the program to suit their needs, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said Sunday,"
Why won't interviewers bluntly confront these bald-faced liers and simply say to them that this information is flat-out wrong? And- if cutting is actually budget-flexibility, why aren't Republicans as interesting in helping the rich become Budged-Flexers and eliminate all tax loopholes and raise their taxes? The insanity of perpetual lying is only insane because it works.
Why won't interviewers bluntly confront these bald-faced liers and simply say to them that this information is flat-out wrong? And- if cutting is actually budget-flexibility, why aren't Republicans as interesting in helping the rich become Budged-Flexers and eliminate all tax loopholes and raise their taxes? The insanity of perpetual lying is only insane because it works.
5
The countries which insure Universal health coverage to its citizens:
Sweden, Switzerland, iceland, Poland, Italy, Israel, Japan, Denmark, Germany, Portugal, Chile, ...you know what there are just too many to write, the best way to understand it is like this, if you went to the United Nations in full session and asked all the countries with Universal Health coverage to raise their hands, the only hand that would be down is the USA. Is this what makes us exceptional? That we are the only country that pays taxes but is not provided free health care by the government it pays taxes to. I do not call that exceptionalism i call it stupidity.
Health care is the new slavery bonding you to your employer who can make you grovel to keep it. Make you give up pay raises to keep it. Make you give back other benefits to keep it. Make you stay on your job when you want to retire.
The time has come for a change. Time to get smart and join the rest of the World. Believe me, they will be happy for us.
Sweden, Switzerland, iceland, Poland, Italy, Israel, Japan, Denmark, Germany, Portugal, Chile, ...you know what there are just too many to write, the best way to understand it is like this, if you went to the United Nations in full session and asked all the countries with Universal Health coverage to raise their hands, the only hand that would be down is the USA. Is this what makes us exceptional? That we are the only country that pays taxes but is not provided free health care by the government it pays taxes to. I do not call that exceptionalism i call it stupidity.
Health care is the new slavery bonding you to your employer who can make you grovel to keep it. Make you give up pay raises to keep it. Make you give back other benefits to keep it. Make you stay on your job when you want to retire.
The time has come for a change. Time to get smart and join the rest of the World. Believe me, they will be happy for us.
12
Is the House really in play for Democrats in 2018? Won’t Cambridge Analytica and Fancy Bear deliver a victory for Republicans in every election? https://medium.com/join-scout/the-rise-of-the-weaponized-ai-propaganda-m...
As much I disagree with this replacement plan passed last week, I must say: Outside the preexisting conditions clause, the perplexing thing is the Democrats obliviously pretending Obamacare wasn't flawed and doesn't have a multitude of improvement areas for many it's recipients, plus in general their complete oblivious to the challenges of rising costs and degradation of coverage for everyone OUTSIDE of Obamacare, ignoring the broader public. Insurance and health care costs are still out of control. Additionally, their complete lack of solutions/proposals for both, particularly during critical news cycles where the opportunity is ripe. They are, for some reason, quite content with simply NOT being republicans and saying "Well, the GOP wants to take away insurance for 24 million..."
As Lewis Black famously says, republicans are the party of really bad ideas, while democrats are the party of no ideas.
As Lewis Black famously says, republicans are the party of really bad ideas, while democrats are the party of no ideas.
1
Don't know what rock you've been living under for the last 18 months, but most of the Democrats I've heard have talked about fixing the flaws in ACA, rather than ripping everything away. Petulance is not a substitute for education.
I can't speak for America, but I know he makes me GRATE long before the next election.
2
The elections in 2018 will be different. The Democrat and Republican leadership won't make a difference. Voters' neighbors - the ones standing up hollering at town halls about what they have lost - will make the difference. Voters will listen to them. What has happened to their neighbors or themselves will be what's on voters' minds in the voting booths.
2
Lying is the principle sales tactic when the product isn't good enough to sell itself. That craft has been conspicuously on display with the selective and pre-agreed to use of certain words that are deliberately intended to mislead. We're not talking about laundry detergent here.
In the push to repeal ACA we were bombarded by Republicans with the buzz words "access" and "choice" which most of us knew were meaningless options if you cannot afford them.
After the passing of this bill we now have the supporters making their interview rounds. When asked about the protections on preexisting conditions and the ability of any state to take a waiver they apparently have consulted their Office of Obfuscation and were told to use the word "flexibility".
In the push to repeal ACA we were bombarded by Republicans with the buzz words "access" and "choice" which most of us knew were meaningless options if you cannot afford them.
After the passing of this bill we now have the supporters making their interview rounds. When asked about the protections on preexisting conditions and the ability of any state to take a waiver they apparently have consulted their Office of Obfuscation and were told to use the word "flexibility".
2
The Great Gatsby described Trump and his sycophants perfectly:
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
13
The picture at the start of your column shows Pence on the far right with a look that is hard to describe. I read it as, "Oh boy. Here goes goofy again." In fact, the look of adoration I see on the face Ryan is barfworthy.
The Republican Senators who see the bill for what it truly is will have the support of the Democrats in tearing it down. Best scenario will be its defeat and removal for the whole health care issue.
The Republican Senators who see the bill for what it truly is will have the support of the Democrats in tearing it down. Best scenario will be its defeat and removal for the whole health care issue.
1
The Republican Party has veered too far right for the American Public to tolerate. The brutal healthcare bill is only the latest evil they have doled out. Other plans include:
1. Canceling the EPA so our kids and grandkids breathe carcinogens.
2. Cutting the NIH so life-saving research grinds to a halt.
3. Defunding Planned Parenthood in the name of religious beliefs most of us don't share.
4. Defunding PBS so rural folk who count on it lose nature shows and things like Masterpiece theater. Forget Downton Abbey!
5. Quashing the National Endowment for the Humanities so museums are forced to close and theater and dance are canceled.
6. Controlling the free press and media so we only have fake Fox News.
7. Crushing the judiciary in order to cancel civil rights and protests.
8. Funding grandly the NRA so more innocents are randomly shot.
9. Cutting taxes for the fascist Republican oligarchy.
And on and on.......,.
1. Canceling the EPA so our kids and grandkids breathe carcinogens.
2. Cutting the NIH so life-saving research grinds to a halt.
3. Defunding Planned Parenthood in the name of religious beliefs most of us don't share.
4. Defunding PBS so rural folk who count on it lose nature shows and things like Masterpiece theater. Forget Downton Abbey!
5. Quashing the National Endowment for the Humanities so museums are forced to close and theater and dance are canceled.
6. Controlling the free press and media so we only have fake Fox News.
7. Crushing the judiciary in order to cancel civil rights and protests.
8. Funding grandly the NRA so more innocents are randomly shot.
9. Cutting taxes for the fascist Republican oligarchy.
And on and on.......,.
7
The great lie told by conservatives now is that someone who doesn't pass the so called Jimmy Kimmel test should be in a high risk pool and, yes, they should have to pay more.
This shows that no one who is a conservative, a republican or from a red state should ever be in charge of anything that has a dollar sign in front of it.
Risk implies choice. You can chose your level of risk. But no one chooses their genetic makeup when they are conceived. No one chooses to have MS or MD or ALS or cancer. These are not high risk people; they are simply more expensive to insure and to insure they can get insurance they must remain in the larger risk pool so their rates can remain affordable.
There are lifestyle choices that can increase your level of health care risk like smoking, heavy drinking, drug abuse and insurance companies price this risk accordingly.
But once again conservatives have word smithed their ideology in a way that perverts a stable and staid institution like insurance.
This shows that no one who is a conservative, a republican or from a red state should ever be in charge of anything that has a dollar sign in front of it.
Risk implies choice. You can chose your level of risk. But no one chooses their genetic makeup when they are conceived. No one chooses to have MS or MD or ALS or cancer. These are not high risk people; they are simply more expensive to insure and to insure they can get insurance they must remain in the larger risk pool so their rates can remain affordable.
There are lifestyle choices that can increase your level of health care risk like smoking, heavy drinking, drug abuse and insurance companies price this risk accordingly.
But once again conservatives have word smithed their ideology in a way that perverts a stable and staid institution like insurance.
2
Does the J stand for Jerk? When less than 100% of the eligible voters vote in any election, this is the kind of officials we end up with. "We the People" are to blame for the idiots in the WH and on Capitol Hill! If this doesn't say that we need to borrow from Australia again (secret ballot was their idea) and have mandatory voting laws, nothing does and God help America!
In 1863, the 19th of November, Lincoln said "--- that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth".
Certainly the key words are "the people" along with their participation in governance as "of, by and for". As we are all humans, is that not the proper philosophy?
The House version of Trumpcare touts fiscal savings at the cost of 24 million people that will lose health care. Costs will soar for the aged and states will be given the right to disallow or charge more for previous conditions. As we age, who doesn't have previous conditions?
In 2017, the 28th of February, Donald Trump said "Nobody knew that health care could be so complicated" an acknowledgement of his ignorance.
In 2017, the 4th of May, US Representative John Lewis wrote "Never have I seen legislative action that reveals such clear disdain for the human dignity of the most vulnerable among us."
In 2017, the 5th of May, Republican House member Raul Labrador said "Nobody dies because they don’t have access to health care." Incredulous.
We must all assume the mantle of patriot; the agenda of our government is to take care of all of its people. We must never lose sight of that principal. Pay attention to this dereliction of duty to we, the people.
Certainly the key words are "the people" along with their participation in governance as "of, by and for". As we are all humans, is that not the proper philosophy?
The House version of Trumpcare touts fiscal savings at the cost of 24 million people that will lose health care. Costs will soar for the aged and states will be given the right to disallow or charge more for previous conditions. As we age, who doesn't have previous conditions?
In 2017, the 28th of February, Donald Trump said "Nobody knew that health care could be so complicated" an acknowledgement of his ignorance.
In 2017, the 4th of May, US Representative John Lewis wrote "Never have I seen legislative action that reveals such clear disdain for the human dignity of the most vulnerable among us."
In 2017, the 5th of May, Republican House member Raul Labrador said "Nobody dies because they don’t have access to health care." Incredulous.
We must all assume the mantle of patriot; the agenda of our government is to take care of all of its people. We must never lose sight of that principal. Pay attention to this dereliction of duty to we, the people.
1
It's called insurance for a reason. Put everyone in the same pool and make sure providers are charging reasonable costs.
These millionaire GOP congressmen get it, but the money in that is small time. The real gold is in a healthcare system full of fat, and then put in family members as CEO's of healthcare startups, as Joe Manchin did for his daughter at Mylan. We would have never paid attention to that form of enrichment if not for the EpiPen scandal.
These millionaire GOP congressmen get it, but the money in that is small time. The real gold is in a healthcare system full of fat, and then put in family members as CEO's of healthcare startups, as Joe Manchin did for his daughter at Mylan. We would have never paid attention to that form of enrichment if not for the EpiPen scandal.
There are two completely different goals driving the healthcare debate.
One goal is to find the best healthcare for the American people.
The other goal is to make the richest Americans richer at the expense of the health of the American people.
One goal is to find the best healthcare for the American people.
The other goal is to make the richest Americans richer at the expense of the health of the American people.
As a Louisiana voter I find it ironically interesting that Bill Cassidy is arguing for some sense in the Republican attempts to repeal Obamacare. During the campaign he successfully waged to unseat Mary Landrieu, we were subjected to non-stop ads attacking Obama and Obamacare, to the extent that I started avoiding Youtube altogether.
1
paul ryan and his cabal are the worst sort of hypocrites. they rail against the corrosive dangers of government assistance on the public morality...... meanwhile their salaries and benefits are paid for by tax dollars. and when they retire their influence reaps them even greater rewards. at least they ought to have to live with the healthcare they offer the rest of us. instead they proselytize from their tax payer built guided thrones.
3
The hypocrisy of Maureen Dowd decrying the Republican/Trump Tax Break for the Oligarchs Masquerading as a Health Care Bill is astounding and breathtaking!!!
You got what you wanted - Anything But Hillary. And now you're complaining because what you wanted turned out to be Donald Trump?!
You couldn't find anything good to say about Hilary Clinton (because she didn't divorce Slick Willie when he cheated) and now you're shocked, shocked I say, that Trump is doing what he said he would in order to further his narcissistic fantasies and is being abetted by the Republican Congress whose only goal is to redistribute wealth from the poor and middle class to their oligarch masters.
Stop writing Ms. Dowd; you are morally bankrupt.
You got what you wanted - Anything But Hillary. And now you're complaining because what you wanted turned out to be Donald Trump?!
You couldn't find anything good to say about Hilary Clinton (because she didn't divorce Slick Willie when he cheated) and now you're shocked, shocked I say, that Trump is doing what he said he would in order to further his narcissistic fantasies and is being abetted by the Republican Congress whose only goal is to redistribute wealth from the poor and middle class to their oligarch masters.
Stop writing Ms. Dowd; you are morally bankrupt.
6
Ah, rugged individualism, the bane of 19th century gallantry, gone awryy and while they dither, because of ineptitude; unable to govern, all the while turning a blind eye to the destruction they've wrought. Pathetic hucksters doing the bidding of their wealthy overlords.
1
This guy is not only harmful to our health but to our sense of ethics, decency, truth, and honor. He is nothing but trash incarnate.
7
Without health insurance, perhaps we will, as a nation, suffer a pandemic and the people at the top will succumb to their own folly. Only history shows that not to be true. The wealthy ran to the countryside to escape the black plague etc.
So, it is time to vote the bums out.
So, it is time to vote the bums out.
2
Maureen Dowd ends her op-ed with the correction conclusion that the Republican members of the House of Representatives voted for themselves an unhealthy "pre-existing condition" of their own for the next election.
The Republicans now have a pre-existing condition: They voted for something that will cause them a lot of pain in the future.
Only the well-entrenched House Republicans who voted for the measure, such as House Speaker Paul Ryan, do not have to worry about being re-elected in 2018.
The Republicans now have a pre-existing condition: They voted for something that will cause them a lot of pain in the future.
Only the well-entrenched House Republicans who voted for the measure, such as House Speaker Paul Ryan, do not have to worry about being re-elected in 2018.
But with health care, Trump wanted to make a deal so badly he was heartless.
He is heartless period. For trump the health care bill is just one more footnote in the performance act you talked about in the preceding two paragraphs.
He is heartless period. For trump the health care bill is just one more footnote in the performance act you talked about in the preceding two paragraphs.
1
How can anyone who lived through the 2016 campaign possibly be surprised about Donald Trump's attitude towards health care?
In 2016, he was thoughtless, rude, and downright cruel. (Remember his mockery of a handicapped journalist, and all the reports of his forcing himself on women?)
I would say, "I told you so," to all those people who voted for Trump and who are now going to lose their health care as a result, but they have enough on their plates already--and I'm not sure they'd believe me, even now.
In 2016, he was thoughtless, rude, and downright cruel. (Remember his mockery of a handicapped journalist, and all the reports of his forcing himself on women?)
I would say, "I told you so," to all those people who voted for Trump and who are now going to lose their health care as a result, but they have enough on their plates already--and I'm not sure they'd believe me, even now.
4
This is also a massive transfer of middle class assets (all those 401k's) to the for-profit health care industry. When Trump/GOP does tax reform, they will eliminate the inheritance tax and this wealth transfer will take it's place minus the government middleman.
2
The comment from Tim O'Brien (Trump's biographer) describing him as "essentially a performance artist" does an enormous disservice to actual performance artists everywhere.
6
Trump has set the bar so low we need to step over it.
6
Dowd wrote that Cassidy addressed “the Jimmy Kimmel test”: “Would the child born with a congenital heart disease be able to get everything he or she would need in that first year of life?”
Chances are that the child of Mr. & Mrs. Middle/Lower Income, would have received the same care as Mr. Kimmel's child.
The difference would have been that Mr. & Mrs. Middle/Lower Income would have been swamped by catastrophic healthcare expenses and would face bankruptcy, losing their homes, or face years of being hounded by collection agencies.
Chances are that the child of Mr. & Mrs. Middle/Lower Income, would have received the same care as Mr. Kimmel's child.
The difference would have been that Mr. & Mrs. Middle/Lower Income would have been swamped by catastrophic healthcare expenses and would face bankruptcy, losing their homes, or face years of being hounded by collection agencies.
8
Remember, it is not Trump who is doing the bidding for health care reform, it is his benfactor and puppet master, Mr. Mercer.
6
Maureen, you imply Trump is successful, and "Barack Obama faltered because he hated selling and simply lectured"?? I'd say the groundswell of negativity about Obamacare came from the well-honed propaganda skills of the right and the naive, hapless inability of the Dems to fight back. We are outnumbered in the "think tank" sources of misinformation and outclassed as mega-liars. Truth and reality must be defended more vigorously - even if we have to borrow a few weapons from the liars.
6
What a revealing symbiosis we have here. In Trump, Ryan and McConnell have the perfect useful idiot. Ryan and McConnell get their legislation, Trump gets the adoration. How can this lose for either faction?
You helped elect Trump by savaging Clinton in every column. You knew exactly what you were doing. Did you doubt that Trump would do what he said he would? He's making our country "safe" for wealthy white women like you who supported him.
12
Oh but Hillary was so awful that Mo praised fake forty five for over a year.
12
One trillion dollar wealth transfer out of the healthcare system, to fund a tax cut to the 1%. About $900 billion in cuts to Medicaid -- including traditional Medicaid -- which will result in caps on persons in nursing homes.
Think about that, people from places like Long Island, where nursing home costs average $12,000 per month (not a typo), and 2 out of 3 elderly patients receive Medicaid in order to be there.
And when you go to the polls next year in districts like NY1 and NY2. Your representatives (Zeldin and King, R), voted in favor of these cuts for you and your family.
Think about that, people from places like Long Island, where nursing home costs average $12,000 per month (not a typo), and 2 out of 3 elderly patients receive Medicaid in order to be there.
And when you go to the polls next year in districts like NY1 and NY2. Your representatives (Zeldin and King, R), voted in favor of these cuts for you and your family.
7
Sorry, not my job to pay for the bad choices made by others.
2
Republicans are their own pre-existing condition.
10
We have become an oligarchy. There is unbounded greed and psychopathic behavior by "elected" politicians that mind-control whole swaths of our population, ignorant people besotted by fear, yet slated to die by their "representatives". They might deserve their fate, but in killing their own voters, (R)'s are doomed to irrelevance in the near future.
The future is going to be a full on battle for our nation's soul and if we lose, it will be secession and civil war, great times.
The future is going to be a full on battle for our nation's soul and if we lose, it will be secession and civil war, great times.
4
You said Republicans were doomed in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016......
1
Trump
The Great American Obscenity.
The Great American Obscenity.
14
In “The Art of the Deal,” Trump said that playing to people’s fantasies and promising the greatest product was “an innocent form of exaggeration.”
He couldn’t care less that the dog’s breakfast served up by the House on Thursday wounds the struggling Americans he had promised to lift up.
Maureen correctly concludes: "It is 'something terrific' but only for the super-rich who are getting a Marie Antoinette wealth transfer at the expense of health care for the poor."
This is, and will always be, the Republican Party governing policy at the highest levels, especially Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. It's just more of the same old "trickle down" economics of when the super-rich get even much richer that the poor and middle-class will get more crumbs . . . maybe and eventually. "Just trust us with this "innocent form of exaggeration" that the new Republican health care law will be better than Obamacare.
Already, if you turn out the bright lights of the Trump rhetoric on the health care legislation narrowly passed by the Republican House of Representatives, one can see Trump, McConnell, and Ryan "all glowing in the dark" (thank you, Nancy Pelosi, for those well-chosen words). None of these Republican legislators saw fit to wait for the Congressional Budget Office to do an assessment of the actual costs and make an estimate of just how many poor and middle-income families would lose health care coverage.
He couldn’t care less that the dog’s breakfast served up by the House on Thursday wounds the struggling Americans he had promised to lift up.
Maureen correctly concludes: "It is 'something terrific' but only for the super-rich who are getting a Marie Antoinette wealth transfer at the expense of health care for the poor."
This is, and will always be, the Republican Party governing policy at the highest levels, especially Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. It's just more of the same old "trickle down" economics of when the super-rich get even much richer that the poor and middle-class will get more crumbs . . . maybe and eventually. "Just trust us with this "innocent form of exaggeration" that the new Republican health care law will be better than Obamacare.
Already, if you turn out the bright lights of the Trump rhetoric on the health care legislation narrowly passed by the Republican House of Representatives, one can see Trump, McConnell, and Ryan "all glowing in the dark" (thank you, Nancy Pelosi, for those well-chosen words). None of these Republican legislators saw fit to wait for the Congressional Budget Office to do an assessment of the actual costs and make an estimate of just how many poor and middle-income families would lose health care coverage.
5
Make no mistake. The Republican plan is a form of eugenics, aimed at women, minorities and the poor. This is institutionalized American genocide. They must be removed from office in 2018. Organize. I will get a second job and devote every dime I earn to defeating Republicans who voted for this bill, whether they are in my district or not.
13
Please explain with details how this is eugenics.
1
A botched health care bill isn't just bad for the poor, it is bad for all of us. The cynicism of the whole process from the Trump administration on down to the Congress makes the entire country a meaner, more selfish place empty of the values that used to empower the people and government to try great things.
In response to those who will point out all the past transgressions of the US from the moment the first white man stepped on the shores think of this - when has there not been an answering call to values and principles.
The protests and marches have all been about things - science, women's disgust with Trump's behavior, lack of healthcare etc., but where are the cries for values above ourselves. Have we all bought into the idea that business and America first are our new guiding principles. That buying more junk on amazon is a better Sunday morning activity than thinking about ideas bigger than ourselves.
The nauseating cynical bunch in the WH like vampires to the light can be defeated with a little just cause shining on their ugly corrupt minds.
In response to those who will point out all the past transgressions of the US from the moment the first white man stepped on the shores think of this - when has there not been an answering call to values and principles.
The protests and marches have all been about things - science, women's disgust with Trump's behavior, lack of healthcare etc., but where are the cries for values above ourselves. Have we all bought into the idea that business and America first are our new guiding principles. That buying more junk on amazon is a better Sunday morning activity than thinking about ideas bigger than ourselves.
The nauseating cynical bunch in the WH like vampires to the light can be defeated with a little just cause shining on their ugly corrupt minds.
1
So the loyal Trumpster voters are OK with losing their healthcare. Once again the rest of the dying middle class will have to pick up the cost of their doctor and emergency room visits. Well guess what--we are all tapped out. You are on your own with your world class huckster.
2
The Deplorables dance on the graves of the Innocents. Their Pro-Life Party turns out to be anti-American, and anti-heath for those who need care the most. Yes, there is without a doubt in our Christian mind that a pre-existing club is clamoring for the arrival of this deadly fraternity.; its membership is very exclusive. You, however, have more than earned your membership fee, and you will travel on that private Trump express cart. Yes, it is a speedy delivery of your soulless selves; straight to that special circle in hell.
Your Prince of Darkness gleefully awaits!
Your Prince of Darkness gleefully awaits!
2
Congress' health care hasn't been gutted, has it? Their wives and daughters don't have to worry. Just remember that at the midterm elections.
3
To use a metaphor, up here in Canada, with universal healthcare, we understand that medically, we are all on the Titanic, we just don't know where the iceberg is. What we do know is that there are "lifeboats" for all, when medically needed.
My image of your Trumpcare system relates to what actually happened on the Titanic, with many of the steerage passengers barred by locked gates from the lifeboat decks, while the first class passengers got access to the lifeboats.
Respectfully, the USA is not a country I would want to live in, or right now, even visit.
My image of your Trumpcare system relates to what actually happened on the Titanic, with many of the steerage passengers barred by locked gates from the lifeboat decks, while the first class passengers got access to the lifeboats.
Respectfully, the USA is not a country I would want to live in, or right now, even visit.
9
Health insurance should be a non-profit enterprise. The essential coverage of the ACA doesn't need changing. The method of financing it does.
None of that changes the cynical, amoral and shameful way in which trumpcare and the republicans (lowercases intended) in general view their constituents. It's only about $$$$$$ and looking good. Disgusting.
None of that changes the cynical, amoral and shameful way in which trumpcare and the republicans (lowercases intended) in general view their constituents. It's only about $$$$$$ and looking good. Disgusting.
2
Maybe The NYTimes and the Washington Post and the NYer should collaborate and purchase a television station, providing 24 hour coverage of the Trump disaster, supported with columnist and editorial commentary, giving the Murdock machine a run for its money. The voters are no longer readers, sadly, and are brainwashed by Fox and (to a lesser extent)CNN, networks which are normalizing the abnormal. Younger voters rely on internet sources and direct information from candidates such as Sanders and are deeply suspicious of print and broadcast news, but middle-aged and elderly voters are fed a steady diet of falsehood and propaganda by Murdoch. Propaganda works, unfortunately, and if we do not have a robust response, I am afraid we will have eight years of Trump despite dedicated, enthusiastic resistance marchers.
6
Why is this man-baby in charge? Electoral Congress? Time to re-think our election process.
1
Tell me again how great Obamacare was? The $5,000 deductibles? The ever expanding Medicaid roles that the states can't afford? The inadequate health care networks? The lack of choice?
By all means Democrats, remind us how great Barry's legacy was.
By all means Democrats, remind us how great Barry's legacy was.
2
reply to Mookie: If you were in the work force- Pre ACA, you should have already been familiar with Employer-Provided insurance premiums with $5000-7000 annual deductibles; high office co-pays that no longer counted toward the annual deductibles and RX in the $30 per Script range; life time limitations, zero Ambulance provisions or negligible coverage. That you do not address this, is evidence you haven't been in the work force very long or you are intentionally misleading by your comments. (The fact that you use the term "Barry" explains your comments in toto.")
2
Tell me again how great TrumpCare will be? No deductibles because the premiums are too expensive? Pre-existing conditions that prevent anyone from getting any coverage for anything?
ACA saved my life. AHCA will end it.
ACA saved my life. AHCA will end it.
2
Is there a case to be made for schadenfreude? I am talking about those rural, working class voters that will be most affected by an Obamacare repeal, yet voted for Trump as they reveled in the aspirational parody of their projection. I'm talking of that kind of voter who liked practically every feature of the Affordable Care Act, their State's branding name for the AHA, but despised 'Obamacare'.
How ironic that Obama was willing to benefit that republican leaning population by committing federal subsidies from a of (deserved) wealth taxation and dispersing their healthcare risk among the younger, healthier, urban, probably liberal population. I hope Democrats will become more cynical and aggressive in their pursuit of a transparently progressive agenda that pushes the low information older/rural/conservative voters to reckon with the reality of the obstacles posed by their reliable votes against their own interests.
How ironic that Obama was willing to benefit that republican leaning population by committing federal subsidies from a of (deserved) wealth taxation and dispersing their healthcare risk among the younger, healthier, urban, probably liberal population. I hope Democrats will become more cynical and aggressive in their pursuit of a transparently progressive agenda that pushes the low information older/rural/conservative voters to reckon with the reality of the obstacles posed by their reliable votes against their own interests.
4
This, along with most other political discussion I have read since the election, misses the critical point. It is premised on the notion that people vote issues or connect the dots between legislation and the effects in their lives. There is little evidence, surely since 1980, that people are voting on the basis of what is good for them. The election of Donald Trump eliminated any lingering doubt about the wisdom, or taste, of American voters.
2
Don't drag Marie Antoinette into this, it's the $$ from their court that funded the (American) Revolution that founded this country. We were birthed from their blood.
2
This nightmare of a bill is a joke. Just like the White House event that congratulated themselves on a bill yet passed. Sadly, tv era politics and those that were glued to Trump's TV show really believe Trump has a new bill.
The only way the country wins is when the Senate fails to pass this garbage. And the only way House Republicans win is the Senate refusing to consider this joke.
How much more of this smoke and mirrors GOP controlled government can we withstand?
The pre existing condition coverage is a joke. The State of Illinois is currently 2 years behind in paying Doctors and Dentists for services rendered to state workers. And now the GOP leaves pre-existing condition to the states with less Medicare ---- Please let the riots in the street begin. Our country is dysfunctional at best and a failure of epoch perportions to the ever decreasing middle class in red and blue counties across the land.
The only way the country wins is when the Senate fails to pass this garbage. And the only way House Republicans win is the Senate refusing to consider this joke.
How much more of this smoke and mirrors GOP controlled government can we withstand?
The pre existing condition coverage is a joke. The State of Illinois is currently 2 years behind in paying Doctors and Dentists for services rendered to state workers. And now the GOP leaves pre-existing condition to the states with less Medicare ---- Please let the riots in the street begin. Our country is dysfunctional at best and a failure of epoch perportions to the ever decreasing middle class in red and blue counties across the land.
3
And now America's healthcare is in the hands of McConnell, the most despicable man in the USA. It does not look good for the uninsured and rank and file of the country. Save your pennies people.
3
I expect the Democrats to squander this and every other opportunity to remain relevant at the national level of politics.
2
Well, Maureen, you and the Times certainly did your part getting Trump elected, and you still can't let a column go without insulting Obama and the Clintons. Go investigate Trump's collusion with Russia. Here, the best you can come up with is that the Republican House health care bill was bad, because Trump's a real estate salesman and the Reps never thought they'd win. Wow, such insight. You are not doing a very good job.
8
I listened to what Trump said in the Rose Garden.
He said it will be better, cheaper, and with lower deductibles.
We know the CBO will say different.
But his base will believe him and Fox News will not say anything to give them a reason to not believe.
He said it will be better, cheaper, and with lower deductibles.
We know the CBO will say different.
But his base will believe him and Fox News will not say anything to give them a reason to not believe.
Pre-existing Condition layered protection for coverage:
Layer One: Insurers are required to sell plans to all comers, including those with pre-existing conditions. This is known as "guaranteed issue," and it's mandated in the AHCA. No exceptions, no waivers. I spoke with an informed conservative news consumer earlier who was stunned to learn that this was the case, having been subjected to 24 hours of unhinged rhetoric from the Left.
Layer Two: Anyone with a pre-existing condition and who lives in a state that does not seek an optional waiver from the AHCA's (and Obamacare's) "community rating" regulation cannot be charged more than other people for a new plan when they seek to purchase one -- which, as established above, insurers are also required to sell them.
Layer One: Insurers are required to sell plans to all comers, including those with pre-existing conditions. This is known as "guaranteed issue," and it's mandated in the AHCA. No exceptions, no waivers. I spoke with an informed conservative news consumer earlier who was stunned to learn that this was the case, having been subjected to 24 hours of unhinged rhetoric from the Left.
Layer Two: Anyone with a pre-existing condition and who lives in a state that does not seek an optional waiver from the AHCA's (and Obamacare's) "community rating" regulation cannot be charged more than other people for a new plan when they seek to purchase one -- which, as established above, insurers are also required to sell them.
Show me in the text of the bill. Show me. I want citations.
Pre-existing Coverage layered protection continued:
Layer Three: Anyone who is insured and remains continuously insured cannot be dropped from their plan due to a pre-existing condition, and cannot be charged more after developing one. So if you've been covered, then you change jobs or want to switch plans, carriers must sell you the plan of your choice at the same price point as everyone else. Regardless of your health status. This is true of people in non-waiver and waiver states alike.
Layer Four: If you are uninsured and have a pre-existing condition and live in a state that pursued (and obtained after jumping through hoops) a "community rating" waiver, your state is required to give you access to a "high risk pool" fund to help you pay for higher premiums. The AHCA earmarks nearly $130 billion for these sorts of patient stability funds over ten years.
Layer Three: Anyone who is insured and remains continuously insured cannot be dropped from their plan due to a pre-existing condition, and cannot be charged more after developing one. So if you've been covered, then you change jobs or want to switch plans, carriers must sell you the plan of your choice at the same price point as everyone else. Regardless of your health status. This is true of people in non-waiver and waiver states alike.
Layer Four: If you are uninsured and have a pre-existing condition and live in a state that pursued (and obtained after jumping through hoops) a "community rating" waiver, your state is required to give you access to a "high risk pool" fund to help you pay for higher premiums. The AHCA earmarks nearly $130 billion for these sorts of patient stability funds over ten years.
Keep in mind that continuously insured is in jeopardy if you cannot afford to make payments. And that $130 billion is about 10 percent of what would actually be needed to fund the high risk pool, since nearly everyone in the country will probably be tagged with one of the pre-existing conditions the GOP so "generously" identified.
hhhhhmmmmm....time for an update from MoDo's famously contrarian and self-righteous brother on how Trump has met his previously stated expectations, from swamp-draining to border wall to any other failed & broken promise. Is he still Ok with a malignant petty narcissist with Dunning-Kruger problems?
2
Thank you Maureen Dowd for helping Trump get elected. Your constant anger toward the Clintons and snarky comments about President Obama fed the DJT machine. At least for you his election gave you 4 years of material. For the rest of us....not much.
7
The only "health" trump cares about is his personal financial health. His Schtick as a performance artist is wearing thin like his hair. This emperor has no clothes and although many of his supporters may never admit their mistake publicly when they don't get their old jobs back and no health care or inferior health care they will turn on him and his enablers like Ryan.
3
As president, everyone of the Donald's "victories" has been the destruction of something that took years to build. Its easy to destroy and call it a "victory". All he does is destroy health care, environmental protections, foreign alliances, the education system, etc. etc. The standard of any president should be what they build, not the wrecking ball they take to things they don't understand.
4
I've said it before and I'm saying it again. For all you voters, Republican and Democrat, who didn't and wouldn't vote for Hillary because you didn't trust her well, this is what you got. Congratulations. Thanks for nothing.
10
The piece of junk was no cause for celebration. It is impossible for me to see how anyone could vote for this let alone celebrate it. This presidency does not represent me and my values in any way. Disgusting. I am disgusted with all of my fellow country men and women that feel this new way of being is a good thing.
This is no revolution. There is no winning taking place in our government. This is cynicism and greed cloaked in blue collar patriotism. All you blue collar workers are being used and you are going to loose more. I propose you go out and pay attention to what is happening before you make allow your false gods make your lives even worse.
This is no revolution. There is no winning taking place in our government. This is cynicism and greed cloaked in blue collar patriotism. All you blue collar workers are being used and you are going to loose more. I propose you go out and pay attention to what is happening before you make allow your false gods make your lives even worse.
3
Thanki you Maureen. Absolutely right on. A man who knows nothing and has never wanted to...always had the money to pay others to learn and think. All he cared about then and today is his own image and self-aggrandizing agenda. There never was and never will be anything about his actions that truly demonstrates a real caring for the truth or for other people. }
Pray that 2018 will take the congress from him so that he can be fully cauterized. Who knows, he may throw a tantrum and resign.
Pray that 2018 will take the congress from him so that he can be fully cauterized. Who knows, he may throw a tantrum and resign.
2
I cannot fathom how this Narcissistic Clown was elected President- a man who gets childish thrills out of trashing the environment, destroying the balance between church and state, playing king of the hill, and picking colleagues who, as my family often would say, "don't have the sense to come in out of the rain." We could have done so much better than this, and will pay the price for his incompetency for generations.
4
Wow, I though the problem was with Trump and all those white men, but reading the comments, wherein
"Obama is the best president since Truman"
"no one ever though that Hilary 'deserved' to be President"
"the 2nd worst president in our history" (what happened to Jimmy Carter?)
More and more, from both sides, it's obvious that in Mr. Trump, the country got exactly what it deserved. We were a great republic, on our way to becoming a third world country. Uneducated, violent, irresponsible.
"Obama is the best president since Truman"
"no one ever though that Hilary 'deserved' to be President"
"the 2nd worst president in our history" (what happened to Jimmy Carter?)
More and more, from both sides, it's obvious that in Mr. Trump, the country got exactly what it deserved. We were a great republic, on our way to becoming a third world country. Uneducated, violent, irresponsible.
5
So glad Maureen that you are finally off the Trump train when it does not matter and everyone can see the the King is naked. When it might of made a difference you were blasting Hillary relentlessly and swooning over DJT.
With or without your help, this latest debacle will hopefully bring down the Repubs and their ignorant, lying leader before he destroys us all.
With or without your help, this latest debacle will hopefully bring down the Repubs and their ignorant, lying leader before he destroys us all.
6
What does your brother say now? Let's have Opinion piece from him. Does he justify his position or has he seen the light?
2
"The Republican health-care bill is an act of monstrous cruelty. It should stain those who supported it to the end of their days." — Paul Waldman, Washington Post.
Please copy and post this quote to FB and/or Twitter once a once a month until 2018 elections.
Please copy and post this quote to FB and/or Twitter once a once a month until 2018 elections.
3
Mo nailed it when she wrote that Trump cares only for the sale--done by projeting his image--and nothing for the product. I even hd to make sure that The column was a Maureen Dowd production.
["Bialystock und Bloom!"]
I don't know if we're ready for another remake of "The Producers," but the Republicans are in dress rehearsal.
Unfortunately, nearly half of American voters have no ear for dialogue nor imagination for consequences. Consider that when Bill Clinton won with 43%, he needed third-party Ross Perot to take votes from GHW Bush, Reagan's less-than-valued Vice President who was in the room when the criminal Iran-Contra discussions went down.
A decade later, in order to perform badly enough to lose, GW Bush managed to invade the wrong country, be photographed looking mindlessly serene flying over a drowning city, and surround himself with financial experts who couldn't see The Big Short coming. In the midst of the country's worst financial crisis in 80 years, though, the GOP even had to sweeten the deal with Sarah Palin to ramp the horror factor up to 11.
No, this goes beyond Mel Brooks. This aspires to National Lampoon level zaniness.
Trump and his party have grasped America firmly and shouted recursively into its face, "We don't have a clue what we're doing other than making sure that those who fund our campaigns have no reason to fund somebody else instead!" One can see Trump played by Curly Howard, meeting Angela Merkel, and smirking, "How ya doin', Toots?"
As for the Merry Pranksters of Hell, led by Ryan and McConnell, what won't those scamps do next? But no matter how hard they try, they keep getting elected.
[Enter Dick Shawn, carrying flowers]
I don't know if we're ready for another remake of "The Producers," but the Republicans are in dress rehearsal.
Unfortunately, nearly half of American voters have no ear for dialogue nor imagination for consequences. Consider that when Bill Clinton won with 43%, he needed third-party Ross Perot to take votes from GHW Bush, Reagan's less-than-valued Vice President who was in the room when the criminal Iran-Contra discussions went down.
A decade later, in order to perform badly enough to lose, GW Bush managed to invade the wrong country, be photographed looking mindlessly serene flying over a drowning city, and surround himself with financial experts who couldn't see The Big Short coming. In the midst of the country's worst financial crisis in 80 years, though, the GOP even had to sweeten the deal with Sarah Palin to ramp the horror factor up to 11.
No, this goes beyond Mel Brooks. This aspires to National Lampoon level zaniness.
Trump and his party have grasped America firmly and shouted recursively into its face, "We don't have a clue what we're doing other than making sure that those who fund our campaigns have no reason to fund somebody else instead!" One can see Trump played by Curly Howard, meeting Angela Merkel, and smirking, "How ya doin', Toots?"
As for the Merry Pranksters of Hell, led by Ryan and McConnell, what won't those scamps do next? But no matter how hard they try, they keep getting elected.
[Enter Dick Shawn, carrying flowers]
I am glad that a lot of the news media has woken up to the toxicity of Trump, and are not afraid to express it. Maureen, those of us who have read you for years will probably never forget your unrelenting attacks on Obama and Clinton, finding little nuggets about them to feast on with glee week after week. Columns like this are welcome, but we don't forget. But it will be a cold day in Hell when the MSM talks about their roll in electing Trump.
What was disgusting was to see the reaction of the MSM to Clinton, who had been out of the public eye for some time after the election, when she quoted Nate Silver about why she had lost, never denying personal culpability. The snark came out loud and strong. Like with muscle memory the MSM pounced, like they had on each released WikiLeaks e-mail. The sarcasm, the sneering, especially among male commentators, even on MSNBC. Why is she back? She doesn't plan to run again, does she? Did she properly take enough blame? Like we don't forget Maureen, we don't forget the roll the MSM played. The continued false equivalencies, the denial of coverage of policy to go to the easy emphasis on e-mails. I would love to see a real assessment of the behavior of the media in the campaign. Joan Walsh mentioned she was appalled to see the Hillary hatred still alive in many of her liberal colleagues. It comes out again with each new Hillary appearance. And now we have Trump.
What was disgusting was to see the reaction of the MSM to Clinton, who had been out of the public eye for some time after the election, when she quoted Nate Silver about why she had lost, never denying personal culpability. The snark came out loud and strong. Like with muscle memory the MSM pounced, like they had on each released WikiLeaks e-mail. The sarcasm, the sneering, especially among male commentators, even on MSNBC. Why is she back? She doesn't plan to run again, does she? Did she properly take enough blame? Like we don't forget Maureen, we don't forget the roll the MSM played. The continued false equivalencies, the denial of coverage of policy to go to the easy emphasis on e-mails. I would love to see a real assessment of the behavior of the media in the campaign. Joan Walsh mentioned she was appalled to see the Hillary hatred still alive in many of her liberal colleagues. It comes out again with each new Hillary appearance. And now we have Trump.
5
How can any woman vote for these men who literally despise them. Look at that picture. No birth control, but Viagra for every old white republican who needs it. What a country.
7
What's really interesting is that everything that is wrong with Trumpcare (or so-called health care) is that I haven't heard any Republicans denying the fact that 24 million people will lose coverage and that it's a big tax break for the fat cats. Quite galling is you ask me. And of course, none of them will have to worry about poor or no coverage.
1
Perception is reality, Trump knows this and works very hard at perception. This explains the endless campaign, I am the best and any idea I promote is beautiful, big league and everything else is fake news. Reality will come, Trump university sued for fraud and he settled, Russia really helped and his advisors did contact Russia, Flynn wants immunity, healthcare is important, not a means to a tax cut. Selling is easy until the product is delivered. The product is either as goodness advertised or it is not. Trump has not delivered a product yet, except Supreme court justice. Time will not be kind, ask George Bush Jr. But the country went through 8 years of Bush, deficits, depression, and war. That is why Republicans could not even nominate a politician. Trump was different. Unfortunately we will find out he is not.
Maureen doesn't fail to get in a dig at Hillary because a questionable book says what Hillary "might" have done. Remember, Maureen, you share part of the blame for denying Clinton the Presidency. I seem to recall a column about Trump being your buddy. How do you like your buddy now?
6
Sorry Ms. Dowd, but you need to write a stronger mea culpa than this. You helped elect him. Every column had snark about Hillary and Bill. You obsessed over her stupid emails, and ignored a lot of what you are now seeing in Trump - what many of us saw then, you just glossed over. You let your brother write columns supporting Trump that were full of nonsense. You helped. Have some contrition.
9
As with other acts of GOP irresponsibility, the press is insisting that Trump didn't know specifics.
He knew enough to hurt as many as possible, except the 1%.
He knew enough to hurt as many as possible, except the 1%.
2
"The Republicans now have a pre-existing condition: They voted for something that will cause them a lot of pain in the future."
Get back to us on this, Maureen, after Trump has added two more conservative justices to the Supreme Court.
Get back to us on this, Maureen, after Trump has added two more conservative justices to the Supreme Court.
My parents both came of age in the Great Depression, loved FDR, and hated the Republicans with absolute passion, which puzzled me as I was growing up.
I began to understand in my first election, 1972, when I voted against Nixon.
My understanding solidified in the eight years of Reagan and the four years of Poppy Bush.
My own hatred of them took root and grew under Dubya, and now, after 8 years of GOP obstruction and barely 100 days of Trump, it has, I think, surpassed, that of my parents.
Sadly, my contempt for the Democratic Party is also pretty strong, and I'm contributing time, money, and energy to getting it back to its FDR roots.
As for the GOP, Truman said it best:
“Republicans approve of the American farmer, but they are willing to help him go broke. They stand four-square for the American home — but not for housing. They are strong for labor — but they are stronger for restricting labor’s rights. They favor minimum wage — the smaller the minimum wage the better. They endorse educational opportunity for all — but they won’t spend money for teachers or for schools. They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine — for people who can afford them. They consider electrical power a great blessing — but only when the private power companies get their rake-off. They think the American standard of living is a fine thing — so long as it doesn’t spread to all the people. And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.”
I began to understand in my first election, 1972, when I voted against Nixon.
My understanding solidified in the eight years of Reagan and the four years of Poppy Bush.
My own hatred of them took root and grew under Dubya, and now, after 8 years of GOP obstruction and barely 100 days of Trump, it has, I think, surpassed, that of my parents.
Sadly, my contempt for the Democratic Party is also pretty strong, and I'm contributing time, money, and energy to getting it back to its FDR roots.
As for the GOP, Truman said it best:
“Republicans approve of the American farmer, but they are willing to help him go broke. They stand four-square for the American home — but not for housing. They are strong for labor — but they are stronger for restricting labor’s rights. They favor minimum wage — the smaller the minimum wage the better. They endorse educational opportunity for all — but they won’t spend money for teachers or for schools. They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine — for people who can afford them. They consider electrical power a great blessing — but only when the private power companies get their rake-off. They think the American standard of living is a fine thing — so long as it doesn’t spread to all the people. And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.”
1
There is nothing in the least original in Ms Dowd's column. I have read or heard everything in it, except the ethnic slurs, many times before. And. although I share her disgust with Trump and the legislative concoction the Republican House just passed, I have to ask, why are our subscription dollars being given to stale drivel?
Is this what the Times means when it asks us to support its mission? I can, and have, gotten more and better, in many places and for free, elsewhere.
Is this what the Times means when it asks us to support its mission? I can, and have, gotten more and better, in many places and for free, elsewhere.
2
By some estimates, 83 percent of U.S. citizens have a preexisting condition, when everything from allergies to depression are thrown into the insurance-defined mix. House Republicans have a festering wound that won't heal until Americans have single-payer healthcare.
1
During his campaign, Trump sold the sizzle, not the steak. Enough of us bought it because we are either desperate, naive, uncritical, or alienated within our own larger national society. Whether or not the lockstep Republican mentality of "party above all" fully displayed by their health care scam can survive 2018 and 2020 is less a measure of Trump and his giddy acolytes than of us. Will we become better consumers and not be distracted by the sizzle-cons?
2
The USA has the worst health care options in the civilized world. We are not civilized nor does the Republican house offer a shred of humanity or decency. I hope the Senate reads this op-ed and imagines a better future for our country.
The decisions made during the Trump Reign thus far feels like decisions you would find in Russia or China. The rules only line the pockets of those in power and the rest of the people eat crumbs...are expendable.
We are no longer a democracy. We are an oligarchy and that needs to be explained clearly to the people of America by the press.
The decisions made during the Trump Reign thus far feels like decisions you would find in Russia or China. The rules only line the pockets of those in power and the rest of the people eat crumbs...are expendable.
We are no longer a democracy. We are an oligarchy and that needs to be explained clearly to the people of America by the press.
2
Trumpcare robs from the sick to gift the rich with tax-love, $800 Billion of love and affection for the rich and corporations. Trump-Ryan dropped the MOAB on Medicaid, currently the most cost-effective insurance in the country. Ryan hates Medicaid. He constantly repeats how Medicaid folks need to get out of their hammocks. Ryan appears to think the elderly in nursing homes and the very disabled ( the sectors that utilize about 65% of Medicaid costs) live in hammocks and not medical beds with attached monitors or oxygen tanks.
Trumpcare will push Alzheimer folks who need 24/7 care back home to be cared for by overwhelmed grandchildren and make many young adult disabled homeless. The synergy between Trump, the scam-man,and Ryan, the Scrooge, is harmful for many and frightening to foresee. It has become impossible not to be angry with the GOP voter. The GOP voter believes in the confident liar and not the truth of facts. They put us all in grave peril.
Trumpcare will push Alzheimer folks who need 24/7 care back home to be cared for by overwhelmed grandchildren and make many young adult disabled homeless. The synergy between Trump, the scam-man,and Ryan, the Scrooge, is harmful for many and frightening to foresee. It has become impossible not to be angry with the GOP voter. The GOP voter believes in the confident liar and not the truth of facts. They put us all in grave peril.
4
Ms. Dowd, how on earth can the Dems win the House as long as gerrymandering protects the Repubs majority???
4
That was a lovely caption to the photograph at the top of your op-ed: "President Trump sprinkling flimflam dust in the Rose Garden Thursday to deflect attention from the health care bill House Republicans had just passed."
Keep up the good work, Maureen. You're needed.
Keep up the good work, Maureen. You're needed.
Exactly how long will it take for Trump supporters to figure out they've been snowed?
I'm betting on between it's too late to do anything about it and never.
I'm betting on between it's too late to do anything about it and never.
1
The gloves are off. Republicans have signaled that market forces alone will dictate healthcare costs because it's right. In fact, all goods and services are commodities to be rationed between market forces and your personal resources. Why should young healthy people pay for old me? No more shared burdens in our society or widely pooled risk. So as of today, with my children having finished public schooling, I declare that I will not pay my local school taxes. I want my highway taxes apportioned to reflect the roads I drive (I will dutifully log the roads driven and distance). I want proportionate voting approval for military expenditures (weighted of course by a regional threat index, eg., the West Coast has a higher risk of being attacked by North Korea than the East coast). Because we're not a nation of men and women with shared values any longer, but individual economic entities competing for everything. Dignity and compassion - now available on Amazon.
1
Glad that Maureen is back. Here's a lady that has followed "The Donald" for years!
The "dog’s breakfast served up by the House on Thursday"? Maureen, what are you feeding your dog? This is flattering to the Trump plan and degrading to dogs.
I agree that the frat-party celebration in the House was even more disgusting than the bill it was celebrating. In times past, tense discussions over budget priorities were often accompanied by the need for reality checks during tough times. We are the richest nation on earth, with rising GDP- though equally shared. Unemployment is at record lows (thanks Obama!), which means higher tax receipts. Had both Rs and Ds not bowed to the super wealthy and multi-national corporations over the two decades, previous tax levels would have carried us into even better financial times. Trump proposes to spend billions on the military and a wall, yet Republicans can't find a way to create a reasonable, fair healthcare system. And then, after reeling off all of the common ailments that will make more than half of Americans ineligible for 'affordable' insurance- to celebrate the political victory for the cameras is as arrogant and tone-deaf as it can be. I'm an independent with little 'party loyalty.' I've now been reduced to hoping that each and every Republican in the House who voted for this bill is forced by law to live with all of its terms and conditions- and may each of them develop cancer to be denied insurance or required to pay huge premiums. Oh wait, the taxpayers pay 70+% of their premiums and they're all millionaires to boot. And, in case anyone missed the connection.... the new tax plan will deny us the ability to write-off excessive medical expenses.
1
My reconciliation powers are failing me at the moment - ie Just how exactly was it that "America's heartland", the rural middle class & poorer, "just us" folksy, ball cap wearing, less educated types came to vote for a born & bred billionaire New Yorker who wouldn't be caught dead in any of their company in the normal course of events?
The gap between the urban con man (the goofball, showboating ad man) & the rural, everyday man - who apparently is the archetypal guy who actually buys the vacuum cleaner from the salesman at his door - is a distance too wide for my understanding.
The gap between the urban con man (the goofball, showboating ad man) & the rural, everyday man - who apparently is the archetypal guy who actually buys the vacuum cleaner from the salesman at his door - is a distance too wide for my understanding.
1
Give me Obamacare! I want to keep my doctor and my plan. Plus, I want to save $2500 a year on my healthcare! Oh wait....things didn't work out quite that way did they?
As difficult as it is, progressive liberals must face reality. Your shot at healthcare was as much of a failure as Hillary Clinton running for President.
And you want us to give you another shot at it? It's just not gonna happen.
As difficult as it is, progressive liberals must face reality. Your shot at healthcare was as much of a failure as Hillary Clinton running for President.
And you want us to give you another shot at it? It's just not gonna happen.
La Dowd makes a Democratic victory in the 2018 mid-terms sound almost inevitable, even easy. I suggest that the health insurance imbroglio makes a Dem House majority possible, not inevitable, but Democrats need to get their act together, and fast. Time wasted blaming Comey for HRC's loss is wasted. Did those emails on Weiner's computer matter more, or matter only, in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania? No. It's not possible to beat the Republicans only with criticism. Dems need some positive answers, some solutions to burgeoning health CARE costs, a program to address the unsustainable shift of wealth to a tiny sliver. Are Democrats united in any of this? If so, it's far from obvious. Much more obvious is the continuing replay of Bernie vs Hillary. At least Bernie is about issues greater than himself! Hillary is still reliving the lost campaign, trying to find someone (else) to blame. Time past for her to go back to camping in the woods! Democrats need a coherent program, something new. They can't depend on Trump alone to help them win in just 17 months.
3
Once again, the Democrats are kidding themselves. Yes, if the bill passed virtually intact, the Republicans would be decimated in the 2018 elections.
But it won't--and they know it. Senate Democats and a few GOP moderates will create a much more reasonable bill, and the Republican majority in Congress who created this monstrosity will take credit for it.
And they won't lose a single seat.
If you doubt this, check out what Trump said about Australia's health care system--single payer--being "much better than ours". Where are the Democrats screaming bloody murder on the House floor about this, educating the American people about the GOP's blatant hypocrisy?
Where is Anthony Weiner when we need him?
www.newyorkgritty.net
But it won't--and they know it. Senate Democats and a few GOP moderates will create a much more reasonable bill, and the Republican majority in Congress who created this monstrosity will take credit for it.
And they won't lose a single seat.
If you doubt this, check out what Trump said about Australia's health care system--single payer--being "much better than ours". Where are the Democrats screaming bloody murder on the House floor about this, educating the American people about the GOP's blatant hypocrisy?
Where is Anthony Weiner when we need him?
www.newyorkgritty.net
2
the picture of a horde of white men celebrating their disgusting so called win in repealing ACA with not a woman in sight says it all.We are more than 50% of the population and we need to seriously organize against passage of ANY bill that does not give us our due.The GOP has descended to a new low since bozo got into the white house and the only way the they can redeem themselves is to admit this president is unfit and remove him.
1
You began with what I have been saying and it explains our president.
He thinks that he still selling real estate and does no prep work. He was able to make things up in his last position. It is possible in that profession to make the wildest of statements and no one will check or he made claims which are uncheckable [the best, best view!!].
But he doesn't yet fully realize that he is in a position where learned people listen to his every flimsy utterance and can and will check it. That is why, when confronted with his now-checked lies, he does what he did to John Dickerson, simply not answer. He was caught, he was fact checked and couldn't talk his way out of a lie so, in effect, he moved on to the next customer.
Trumps motto has probably always been: why learn and present facts when I can make stuff up and the ignorant customers will buy my puffed-up phoniness? He has, unfortunately for him, met the educated consumers...and they publish daily.
He thinks that he still selling real estate and does no prep work. He was able to make things up in his last position. It is possible in that profession to make the wildest of statements and no one will check or he made claims which are uncheckable [the best, best view!!].
But he doesn't yet fully realize that he is in a position where learned people listen to his every flimsy utterance and can and will check it. That is why, when confronted with his now-checked lies, he does what he did to John Dickerson, simply not answer. He was caught, he was fact checked and couldn't talk his way out of a lie so, in effect, he moved on to the next customer.
Trumps motto has probably always been: why learn and present facts when I can make stuff up and the ignorant customers will buy my puffed-up phoniness? He has, unfortunately for him, met the educated consumers...and they publish daily.
Ms. Dowd has spent a significant portion of her op-ed columns lambasting and smearing Clinton for over two full decades. She, her writings, and her obsession, are part of the reason why Clinton faced such an illogical, visceral hatred from much of the voting public, on both sides of the spectrum. Her excessive, unreasonable negativity toward Clinton continued long into the latest Presidential race - bringing up long-debunked talking points and smears even after it became obvious that Trump was the leading candidate and stood at least an outside chance of victory.
Now, only after he's clearly demonstrated in the actual job that he's incompetent, narcissistic and destructive, does Dowd discover that maybe he shouldn't have been elected.
If only Dowd had given up her obsession with Clinton years ago, had stopped smearing her at every opportunity just because she had a platform from which to do it, and spent her column inches on something useful - like a good, clear analysis of the relative value of the two candidates - or, indeed, of a serious examination of Trump's many faults and failures running back many years to when he first entered the political arena.
I can only hope that Dowd feels remorse and guilt for her role in getting Trump elected - but knowledge of human behaviors suggests this is unlikely, that she's rationalized her nastiness toward Clinton as somehow justifiable, and that she accepts no responsibility for her downfall.
Now, only after he's clearly demonstrated in the actual job that he's incompetent, narcissistic and destructive, does Dowd discover that maybe he shouldn't have been elected.
If only Dowd had given up her obsession with Clinton years ago, had stopped smearing her at every opportunity just because she had a platform from which to do it, and spent her column inches on something useful - like a good, clear analysis of the relative value of the two candidates - or, indeed, of a serious examination of Trump's many faults and failures running back many years to when he first entered the political arena.
I can only hope that Dowd feels remorse and guilt for her role in getting Trump elected - but knowledge of human behaviors suggests this is unlikely, that she's rationalized her nastiness toward Clinton as somehow justifiable, and that she accepts no responsibility for her downfall.
4
Winning at politics is akin to cheating at baseball, football, and however one wins here in our wonderful real world.
Isn't it reality that DJT's true believers are jaded voters sort of rationalizing that being deceitful is part of being a success?
Yeah, moral & political contradictions happen in angry "true believers."
Heck, in fact I'm now suggesting (nearly) everybody is rationalizing their voting choices as justifiable relatively.
Because we are (imperfect) human beings, some "worse" depending on one' s authentic/natural/reasoned bias or subjectivity,
Hillary is no expert at being phony, and that's why she lost to a much better phony.
Ayn Rand won't tell you this, but I just did, Walter.
Isn't it reality that DJT's true believers are jaded voters sort of rationalizing that being deceitful is part of being a success?
Yeah, moral & political contradictions happen in angry "true believers."
Heck, in fact I'm now suggesting (nearly) everybody is rationalizing their voting choices as justifiable relatively.
Because we are (imperfect) human beings, some "worse" depending on one' s authentic/natural/reasoned bias or subjectivity,
Hillary is no expert at being phony, and that's why she lost to a much better phony.
Ayn Rand won't tell you this, but I just did, Walter.
You are so late to this party, but it's nice to see you here.
2
This is nothing more then a huge tax cut masquerading as healthcare bill, shameful.
I remember speaking to my Trump supporting neighbor about the wisdom of voting in an all Republican government with a powerful Paul Ryan who is intent on the social safety net that my neighbor required. He told me that if I were paying attention to the primaries, I would have seen that Trump hates Paul Ryan and that Trump will handle Ryan and protect us.
Looks like the Trump voters have been tricked again. Not only will they lose their healthcare, they will lose their health which will then be used to deny them employment.
Ironically Trump voters hve hasten their economic as well as personal demise.
But somehow it will be Obama's fault.
Looks like the Trump voters have been tricked again. Not only will they lose their healthcare, they will lose their health which will then be used to deny them employment.
Ironically Trump voters hve hasten their economic as well as personal demise.
But somehow it will be Obama's fault.
2
I wish I was as hopeful as the House Democrats who serenaded the GOP after the health care vote. I don't see how the voters who elected Donald Trump will see the end of Obamacare as a reason to switch their votes next election. It doesn't matter whatever sausage legislation eventually comes through the House-Senate process. Republicans are already blaming the failings of Obamacare (which they facilitated) for the need for their replacement health care.
To think that the Trump voters would suddenly see Trumpcare as a reason to switch their allegiance after so many broken promises already by their man is, I believe, very far fetched, particularly considering the heavily gerrymandered voting districts.
The Democratic Party, my Party, needs to get some real leadership and an agenda that grabs and moves its base. It now has replaced the GOP as the Party of "No", and that's not good enough.
To think that the Trump voters would suddenly see Trumpcare as a reason to switch their allegiance after so many broken promises already by their man is, I believe, very far fetched, particularly considering the heavily gerrymandered voting districts.
The Democratic Party, my Party, needs to get some real leadership and an agenda that grabs and moves its base. It now has replaced the GOP as the Party of "No", and that's not good enough.
4
Hi Maureen,
Do you miss Hillary yet?
Do you miss Hillary yet?
5
Dowd, now that Hillary has been eliminated, aims her patented and tiresome vitriol at the Orange president. Dowd bears at least some of the responsibility for 45 and the GOP for their transparent allegiance to the wealthy movers who control the country without experience or compassion.
We are now a nation governed by lies, half truths, deceptions and sheer incompetence of a political party that seems to have lost its way. George Washington's fear of political parties dividing and fracturing the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA has com to pass.
6
It’s hard to care about these uncaring men.
The next revolution will be a caring one.
Hard to imagine where the uncaring will go.
The next revolution will be a caring one.
Hard to imagine where the uncaring will go.
1
“Because It’s Her Turn.”
Exactly. Hilarious, I chuckled out loud. And it couldn't be more spot on. Oh the chutzpah of the Hillary/DNC machine was breathtaking, especially on the heels of her zillion dollar Wall Street speeches, that were unpublishable no less. Poor Joe Biden, watching helplessly as the easy win trickled through her fingers.
But because of this latest back-breaking attempt at governing, we will witness the political equivalent of the Republicans gassing their own village. Horrific, but effective.
Yes, we will pick up the pieces. I used to think of the Supreme Court as the morally superior branch of the Republic. But I now fear that after the progressives take back their representative branch we'll have to fight the political flotsam on the high bench from all these poisonous Republican-controlled years.
Exactly. Hilarious, I chuckled out loud. And it couldn't be more spot on. Oh the chutzpah of the Hillary/DNC machine was breathtaking, especially on the heels of her zillion dollar Wall Street speeches, that were unpublishable no less. Poor Joe Biden, watching helplessly as the easy win trickled through her fingers.
But because of this latest back-breaking attempt at governing, we will witness the political equivalent of the Republicans gassing their own village. Horrific, but effective.
Yes, we will pick up the pieces. I used to think of the Supreme Court as the morally superior branch of the Republic. But I now fear that after the progressives take back their representative branch we'll have to fight the political flotsam on the high bench from all these poisonous Republican-controlled years.
3
Unfortunately Democrats don't have enough heartless meanness in them to fight the next mega millions infomercial fake news election cycle which the Republicans will throw at them. Giving more money to the filthy rich is a hard campaign to defeat.
3
But but Timothy, what about the millions and millions Hillary and her celebrities raised for her campaign? Obama joined them as well. Where is the accountability for all that money raised? The DNC treasure chest must be overflowing thanks to the Clintons' money generating machine, plus all the celebrities, including Warren Buffet who supported her. Are these megadonors going to ask Hillary where their money went?
1
Great column...finally.But I'll bet that the insurance companies lower their premiums for a year or so just to get the headline "Trump Plan Lowers Premiums for Many"......just long enough to fool the public into thinking that this gross piece of legislation is a good thing for them. Then the upward march of premiums will start again as it has for the past 15 years prior to Obamacare.I remain cynical.
7
There are going to be a lot of gun owners out there that are going to take health care matters into their own hands when the opioids run out...
10
This was an excellent column, Maureen.
Remember the 1969 hit by the Spiral Starecase, "More Today Than Yesterday"?
Here are my new lyrics for Trump and Ryan:
I don't remember what day it was
I didn't notice what time it was
All I know is that you fell in love with greed
And if this nightmare should proceed
You've put us in dire need.
Every day's a new day you lie to us
With each day comes a new way undermining us.
Every time you tweet and whine my mind starts to wander
But if all my dreams don't fail
You'll be spending time in jail.
OH, I loathe you more today than yesterday
But not as much as tomorrow
I loathe you more today than yesterday
But, Don and Paul, not as much as tomorrow.
Remember the 1969 hit by the Spiral Starecase, "More Today Than Yesterday"?
Here are my new lyrics for Trump and Ryan:
I don't remember what day it was
I didn't notice what time it was
All I know is that you fell in love with greed
And if this nightmare should proceed
You've put us in dire need.
Every day's a new day you lie to us
With each day comes a new way undermining us.
Every time you tweet and whine my mind starts to wander
But if all my dreams don't fail
You'll be spending time in jail.
OH, I loathe you more today than yesterday
But not as much as tomorrow
I loathe you more today than yesterday
But, Don and Paul, not as much as tomorrow.
5
There are several special US Congressional elections in 2017, including Montana, California, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama (to replace Sessions).
Get out the vote for Democrats.
Get out the vote for Democrats.
9
This vote is one of the most immoral votes I have ever witnesses. Health care is a right not an option - and this will deny health care to millions of Americans. And, the political decisions made on our healthcare were not for the betterment of this country, where the healthcare industry is 1/5th of the gross domestic product. Moreover, the health industry has been and will be a vital growth sector in our economy. Needless to say, in the end, Obamacare added both a moral and economic component to our society. And remember - Hillary, a woman like myself, won the popular vote - Trump did not.
67
Trump has a limited mind as we are aware of. All you need to do is listen to him speak. His vocabulary is an indication of his lack of learning and laziness in this area. The images of him, Ryan and the grinning herd of Republicans who passed this health bill sends shivers up my spine. These submissive clones Trump has cocooned himself with do not make allot of Americans very comfortable. So what did we expect from him? Trumps mendacity is horrifying. He convinces his erratic self he's right and the yes crowd around him nod with with grins and claps. It's the image your portraying that will bring you down plus your total lack heart and not knowing what your doing. Some voters may be fooled by you but you can't fool the majority of us and we're waiting for the next round.
69
How can this bill be called a health care bill? It is a massive tax cut for the rich and a massive benefits cut for the poor and the elderly. Masquerading as a health insurance bill. PS: the ACA was never an actual health care bill, but a method of assuring access to health care through appropriate insurance coverage at a fair price. Trump/Ryan care is a monstrosity that guts support for the poor, undercuts appropriate coverage, and pre-pays the massive tax cuts to follow in the next tax "reform" bill. Trickle up economics.
5
The republican party has morphed into a cult so it does not matter to their base what they do as long as they continue to chalk up perceive victories. At least cult leader Jim Jones had the decency to give poisoned Kool Aid to his people and kill them quickly. What the house republicans passed last week would drag many of their base through drawn out illness's and bankruptcies before reaching the comfort of death. Nice one guys. Keep up the good work.
6
It still shocks the conscious to see people take Donald seriously. I suppose grieving over Hillary's loss can't go on indefinitely.
But it's unfair to talk about her "inability to explain why she wanted to be president." Hillary knows that whatever she says will be shredded to memes for analysis by an unfriendly opposition and by a too familiar press.
Deliberation is not a universal skill among politicians, or... opinion writers.
But it's unfair to talk about her "inability to explain why she wanted to be president." Hillary knows that whatever she says will be shredded to memes for analysis by an unfriendly opposition and by a too familiar press.
Deliberation is not a universal skill among politicians, or... opinion writers.
4
Trump does not read, even a paperback thriller. Forget History or rather French History. Otherwise, he would know, he will end up like Marie Antoinette guillotined. Too bad he might end up that way, figuratively i.e.
1
If I understand it correctly, subsidies are to be ended and tax rebates will be utilized instead. Has it occurred to anyone who retires early that there will be a problem obtaining affordable health insurance?
5
And Image to Trump seems purely superficial. To win the image game in politics as Hedrick Smith demonstrated long ago, a president must carefully and deftly build coalitions that generate policies with short term and long term gains, that consolidate electoral victories and expand the base. Trump lacks the temperament and team for this purpose.
1
Is there a legal way to bet on whether the Ds insistently make an issue out of wide gaps between what Trump promised on health insurance and what the R bill delivers?
Has it occurred to the Ds to point out that one of the main ways they paid for Obamacare is the way trickle down economics can actually work? In exchange for a 3.8% tax on the investment income, only, of well-to-do people, the finances of local hospitals are improved, the burden on local taxpayers is reduced, and the health care industry can afford to hire more people.
If you don't think that's a legitimate way to stimulate the economy then you can have fewer administrative workers by designing a system more like what they have in other western countries.
I don't mind if the Rs work hard to bend the system more towards high deductible policies and tax advantaged health savings accounts. It's fair to point out that the income of someone who owns a couple of mid-sized apartment buildings shouldn't be taxed just like income from a stock fund to help pay for the health care system.
But the divisive way the Rs played this helped rip the country apart.
Has it occurred to the Ds to point out that one of the main ways they paid for Obamacare is the way trickle down economics can actually work? In exchange for a 3.8% tax on the investment income, only, of well-to-do people, the finances of local hospitals are improved, the burden on local taxpayers is reduced, and the health care industry can afford to hire more people.
If you don't think that's a legitimate way to stimulate the economy then you can have fewer administrative workers by designing a system more like what they have in other western countries.
I don't mind if the Rs work hard to bend the system more towards high deductible policies and tax advantaged health savings accounts. It's fair to point out that the income of someone who owns a couple of mid-sized apartment buildings shouldn't be taxed just like income from a stock fund to help pay for the health care system.
But the divisive way the Rs played this helped rip the country apart.
And horrifyingly enough the celebrating group in the Rose garden seemed merely to be going through the expected motions of celebrating — watching, I saw what seemed to be mere mechanical celebratory movements and twitches and did not sense the infectious good vibes of those who know they have done good. They themselves know, they know, that what they have done is shameful.
3
As I am splattering cold water on my 73-year-old face each morning, I look into the mirror and wonder: 1. Do most people use their hands instead of a washcloth to do that? 2. Is today the day my right knee will give out? 3. What day is this? 4. Is this the day Trump will go down? If he does, what will my life be like? I'd have to go back to routinely hating my first wife, the shop teacher who gave me an F, and that nasty little, black dog who poops on my lawn while he is looking at me.
46
Our only hope is to regain both houses. The Dems, however have been asleep at the wheel. The 2020 census is only 3 years away. By now the Dems should have accomplished the retaking of the many state houses they lost after 2010. But, no. They seem oblivious to the fact that the gerrymandering will exclude them for another decade. What will it take to awaken them. Can this be done in three years?
1
Congress should be required to participate in any plan they draft. It would get those creative juices flowing. Otherwise they really don't care.
4
Excellent! And, thanks for not being too rough on HRC. Ah yes, DJT: A rerun of my pontificating late uncle!
Maureen, glad your back from the "wilderness". It's been awhile.
The republicans have it all, the entire government, and they still can't find their rear ends with both hands. They've put their money on the biggest loser to ever occupy the White House. They haven't figured out yet that Trump could care less about them. He cares only for himself? A friend of mine, a staunch republican his entire life, told me that watching the party he grew up with is like watching a close and dear friend slowly dying from a invasive and horrible disease.
Donald Trump is a repulsive, self absorbed and delusional hater. He enjoys the divisiveness and the turmoil. He's a grown man with the brain of a disturbed and troubled child, ignorant, illiterate and mean.
The country has no president. The Republican Party is a joke, apparently harboring a death wish, and god only knows what the democrats are going to do.
This country has come too far in the last two hundred and fifty years to have it all destroyed by a selfish preening peacock of a man. This sickness called Trumpism needs to be stopped, eradicated and excised.
The republicans have it all, the entire government, and they still can't find their rear ends with both hands. They've put their money on the biggest loser to ever occupy the White House. They haven't figured out yet that Trump could care less about them. He cares only for himself? A friend of mine, a staunch republican his entire life, told me that watching the party he grew up with is like watching a close and dear friend slowly dying from a invasive and horrible disease.
Donald Trump is a repulsive, self absorbed and delusional hater. He enjoys the divisiveness and the turmoil. He's a grown man with the brain of a disturbed and troubled child, ignorant, illiterate and mean.
The country has no president. The Republican Party is a joke, apparently harboring a death wish, and god only knows what the democrats are going to do.
This country has come too far in the last two hundred and fifty years to have it all destroyed by a selfish preening peacock of a man. This sickness called Trumpism needs to be stopped, eradicated and excised.
4
Maureen, you're a good writer who doesn't write enough. What do you do between efforts?
Dowd has zero creditability with me for her pro-Trump, anti-Hillary stances pre-election.
Here she simply states what has been obvious to many of us for a year or more!
Here she simply states what has been obvious to many of us for a year or more!
6
The only person winning with little donnie president is Putin.
This is an illegitimate president, who will be eventually charged with treason.
Show us the tax returns. You are not the winner if you cheated.
This is an illegitimate president, who will be eventually charged with treason.
Show us the tax returns. You are not the winner if you cheated.
1
I hope Maureen Dowd is right and that the recent House health care vote will do for the Republican majority what the ACA did for the Democrats in 2010, but what if the Republicans are better in the short run, at least, at selling a bad product than the Democrats were at selling a better product.. What is more likely to happen , I think, is that the Senate will amend the House bill enough to mitigate the political harm done to the themselves by the Republican house members, but still manage to come with a worse product than the ACA. In any case progress towards a good national health care policy is still likely to be impeded. The real national goals continue to be vastly more money for an already bloated military budget and a tax cut for the wealthy
4
Mainstream media predicted in March that the GOP wouldn't get a healthcare bill out of the House. Now they are predicting that the Senate won't pass a horrible bill that removes both the Obamacare taxes and the commensurate amount of healthcare to low-income families, We need to take the GOP at their word and believe that they want to kill Obamacare. We need to endure the pain and educate our know-nothing friends, family and co-workers that they are being bamboozled. Their majority government and advocate "news" sources are leading the country to disaster.
2
Trump and Ryan/GOP with help from Fox News and the Radio Limbaughs have done their jobs well. Trump is well on the way of convincing his base of supporters that 2 + 2 = 5. (Nineteen Eighty Four - Orwell).
If Trump ever does sign the bill into law and when the reality kicks in, I wonder if these same supporters will finally wake up and understand that how badly they've been hurt?
Somehow I doubt it and that is the scariest part of all.
If Trump ever does sign the bill into law and when the reality kicks in, I wonder if these same supporters will finally wake up and understand that how badly they've been hurt?
Somehow I doubt it and that is the scariest part of all.
3
President Trump? Really? The Times said Hillary had a 90%chance of winning the election. If the Times and its writers and the loyal Times readers can be so wrong, maybe it is wrong now.
3
And Trump's 40% hardcore base will let him lead them off a cliff to their deaths.
Fox News, their preferred media outlet, has zero interest in truth and is busy describing reasonable reporting on the facts of the Trumpcare bill as "the left trying to scare the American people".
Fox News, their preferred media outlet, has zero interest in truth and is busy describing reasonable reporting on the facts of the Trumpcare bill as "the left trying to scare the American people".
4
I don't see evidence that no healthcare or bad healthcare will affect the Trump gullibles one bit. When one follows an ideology, you are a true believer in the ultimate power whether that power bring storm or sunshine into your life and livelihood. Their belief is emotional, not rational. They support what Trump does because they really want to believe even if it will do them harm. They belong to a religion now that will require martyrdom but it will be a good deal, a fantastic deal that will allow the venting of their hate and the release of their blame to someone else for the bad things that happen to them. Ideology destroys and the GOP ideology will do likewise.
7
From your moth to their - the GOP's - deaf and dumb ears. Once again, the heartlessness of this country is showing, and we worry for our nad our children's futures needlessly. We came so close to the beginning of an acceptable system of health coverage, only to see it grabbed from under us so the Republicans can win something. Trump obviously has no clue what he is raving so proudly about. But he will when the tide turns and the Dems are back in power.
2
Trump has pulled off the ultimate "Con" and yet his hapless supporters continue to admire him while he sends them to ruin. Unbelievable.
Great article thank you. I am 75 and for the very first time in my life I fear the Citizens are on the brink of a total collapse of this beautiful country. I lived through Vietnam, race riots of the 60's, I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news of Kennedy's assasination, Nixon's resignation, and the destruction of the Twin Towers, but nothing has scared me as much as this debacle. Nothing! We are in serious trouble.
Great article thank you. I am 75 and for the very first time in my life I fear the Citizens are on the brink of a total collapse of this beautiful country. I lived through Vietnam, race riots of the 60's, I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news of Kennedy's assasination, Nixon's resignation, and the destruction of the Twin Towers, but nothing has scared me as much as this debacle. Nothing! We are in serious trouble.
16
Obamacare was designed to be another entitlement. Too may lazy and manipulative people willing to take money from their fellow citizens and they think we're the fools for being gullible enough to fork it over. If you like your plan you can keep your plan, if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor, even Gruber the Obamacare architect stated, We passed law due to ‘stupidity of the American voter’. Here's another, premiums will decrease $2,500 for the average payer. What a pant load bunch of lies. Obamacare was failing, was way to expensive, had repressive taxes and made you buy maternity care for people in their 60's and 70's. Sorry moonbats everything Obama did is going away. The socialism and the fundamental changing of America was rotten for America and law abiding Tax payer citizens .
Interesting that you live in a state where the ACA originated under Romney. I guess that makes you one of the entitled you rail against.
2
Regardless of the merits or demerits of this bill, which is going nowhere, I can't get past the tax cut for the hyper-rich. It is mind numbing to watch the Republicans stand in front of the camera and lie about what this bill will and will not do, but that pales in comparison to how the tax cut is over looked, glossed over, whatever.
If only the Democrats would stop performing for the rabid "leftist base" and perform for the majority of Americans, at least there might be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. So sad, and scary, too!
If only the Democrats would stop performing for the rabid "leftist base" and perform for the majority of Americans, at least there might be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. So sad, and scary, too!
4
Fine essay, Maureen. Yes, there is something to having a passion for crafting a great notion, reifying it carefully so that one has produced a benefit to people. In keeping with Steve Jobs's passion, as some of us do, we appreciate great expertise.
Now, about Trump and his followers. You are right, it's all show, smoke and mirrors. But Trump people thrive on entertainment, as their eyes glaze over when Trump repeats to them in his hypnotic drone. In the end, there is no healthcare, but they sure believed that there was.
It takes intelligence, capability and *persistence* to make an idea successful. Trump has neither, although he's built a resort empire and a reality TV legacy. A president really has to see things through. Obama pushed healthcare, but he should have worked with (okay, baby sat) congress to keep them out of trouble during the formation of ACA. Trump should make sure that a set of requirements for Trumpcare drive the creation of a healthcare plan.
We'll get a functional, single-payer, national healthcare system, just like all of the other major nations; it's just going to take a while.
Now, about Trump and his followers. You are right, it's all show, smoke and mirrors. But Trump people thrive on entertainment, as their eyes glaze over when Trump repeats to them in his hypnotic drone. In the end, there is no healthcare, but they sure believed that there was.
It takes intelligence, capability and *persistence* to make an idea successful. Trump has neither, although he's built a resort empire and a reality TV legacy. A president really has to see things through. Obama pushed healthcare, but he should have worked with (okay, baby sat) congress to keep them out of trouble during the formation of ACA. Trump should make sure that a set of requirements for Trumpcare drive the creation of a healthcare plan.
We'll get a functional, single-payer, national healthcare system, just like all of the other major nations; it's just going to take a while.
1
“He’s not a student of anything other than protecting his image. What he cares about is how he’s perceived, not the nuts and bolts of things. He is essentially a performance artist.”
A greedy sick flim flam man adored by 35 million americans - -most of them religious christians - how much lower can we sink?
A greedy sick flim flam man adored by 35 million americans - -most of them religious christians - how much lower can we sink?
6
This was a very bad week for Trump. Very bad. He only knows how to manipulate people, otherwise he doesn't know is anything. He was reveled this week. It's mind-boggling. He's on the clock. He will crack from the ridicule and humiliations. I say he's out gone by labor day.
2
The picture accompanying this confusing piece is a study in contrasts. Trump is... well, Trump - brutish and obnoxious - while Pence and Ryan seem to be smiling in that slightly befuddled fatherly way that dads of adolescent boys smile when their sons are given an award for participation at their 8th grade graduation.
Meanwhile, half of the middle aged white men in the picture seem confused about why they're there, while the rest seem concerned about the optics of the thing. "Should we pretend to be benevolent or proud of ourselves?" they seem to be wondering.
All in all, it's a bunch of clueless individuals who just don't get it. They only needed to work to improve the ACA, not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Now we'll have to throw the whole lot of 'em out. Idiots, led by the biggest idiot of all.
Meanwhile, half of the middle aged white men in the picture seem confused about why they're there, while the rest seem concerned about the optics of the thing. "Should we pretend to be benevolent or proud of ourselves?" they seem to be wondering.
All in all, it's a bunch of clueless individuals who just don't get it. They only needed to work to improve the ACA, not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Now we'll have to throw the whole lot of 'em out. Idiots, led by the biggest idiot of all.
8
For Trump closing the deal is all that matters. His shocking lack of interest in the details of the revised House health care plan demonstrates that his "secret" to closing deals is having no interest in the consequences (as long as he gets out unscathed, of course). It's one thing when the damage is limited to a few casinos in Atlantic City, quite another when the lives of the critically ill people he promised to protect are on the line.
5
It is so true! I've been feeling sick since he go the title... without the popular vote! It's sickening!
3
Trump, Ryan, Pence et al - just your basic death panel. Question going through their small minds - why are we smiling?
4
Trump looked pathetic with Ryan smirking behind him, DT not realizing who's zooming who. In photo such smugness that they've found how to work him-- he's a babe in DC shark waters, they can't believe their good fortune as he seeks wins & has to let his populism slide.
Wealth redistribution upwards is GOP's only raison d'etre. Of course it will pass the Senate, somewhat altered. Tax cuts for wealthy vs healthcare for all? haha. Just needed to find the right wording to justify....
Soon they'll be coming for Social Security, Medicare and any tiny decent thing left built over last 50 yrs that's for the people instead of donors and/or corporations. This is our country now.
Wealth redistribution upwards is GOP's only raison d'etre. Of course it will pass the Senate, somewhat altered. Tax cuts for wealthy vs healthcare for all? haha. Just needed to find the right wording to justify....
Soon they'll be coming for Social Security, Medicare and any tiny decent thing left built over last 50 yrs that's for the people instead of donors and/or corporations. This is our country now.
6
As a physician, I saw the change that the Affordable Care Act provided. It gave the poor and the less fortunate, including many hard working white patients who just couldn't afford conventional health care.
The Affordable Care Act restored some dignity to the poor and the less fortunate, allowing them to show up in ERs and not look like beggars.
The Republicans just voted on a bill that would take away the dignity of the less fortunate, and the care that their children and woman needed.
Shame on the Donald, who obviously has spent his life catering to the rich, and wishes to continue that process.
Sad, Bad!
The Affordable Care Act restored some dignity to the poor and the less fortunate, allowing them to show up in ERs and not look like beggars.
The Republicans just voted on a bill that would take away the dignity of the less fortunate, and the care that their children and woman needed.
Shame on the Donald, who obviously has spent his life catering to the rich, and wishes to continue that process.
Sad, Bad!
16
The term "The Irish undertaker" really pulls this column together Maureen.
2
Nice picture of the He-Man's Women Haters Club accompanying your column, Maureen. The original was founded by 7-year-olds; it's nice to know the charter hasn't changed since the mid-'30s. Is that Darla trying to squeeze into the picture?
3
"The Irish undertaker and his crew were so desperate to prove they had not totally forgotten how to pass anything that they were willing to go with garbage." "Go with garbage" would be an accurate campaign slogan for the Republicans in 2018, if they had any interest in accuracy.
3
Rage is my response to Republicans and those in the photo op: literally POX on all of them, maybe then they will realize the importance of access to health care when they ooze with painful, incurable piistules. d Singing by the Democrats was unproductive, juvenile and offensive ....that was about mid term elections, their club, which does little for those who are potentially left with no health care. They should stand on the Capital steps in mass everyday to inform the public how Republican policies will effect their everyday lives. I sign the petitions to support Democratic causes but can not afford to donate to the party in order to fight for votes to defeat the insanity. . In fact the requests for money are beginning to make me feel I must must pay for legislation that will be beneficial for not only my family but the majority of citizens in this country.
1
I think to take advantage of this, Democrats need to really distinguish themselves by pushing for single payer. I think the public is now ready for some form of Medicare for all. The complexities of the ACA will only work if both parties support and are willing to fix it as needed. With one party intent on sabotaging it, the ACA will surely fail.
And, yes, Ms. Dowd, the image of a bunch of old white guys (of which I am one) celebrating their depriving millions of healthcare was disgusting.
And, yes, Ms. Dowd, the image of a bunch of old white guys (of which I am one) celebrating their depriving millions of healthcare was disgusting.
4
When the issue of a single payer system is raised, the burning question that is never mentioned and that is a huge stumbling block is, what happens to the insurance companies and the many thousands of people they employ? We're talking about companies that only deal with health insurance. Do they morph into something else, I.e. Life , casualty, property insurers etc? Do they fold putting millions of people out of work?
I have no love for the insurance industry but this is a reality that needs to be taken seriously if and when a single payer becomes a reality
I have no love for the insurance industry but this is a reality that needs to be taken seriously if and when a single payer becomes a reality
1
Included in that argument should be that the major insurance companies have seen the value of their stocks rise 300% since 2010, while their CEOs are giving themselves yearly raises in the millions.
Meanwhile, nearly every European country as well as Japan, Israel, the U.K., Canada and Turkey have government-run, universal health coverage and all their citizens pay less than we do for better care. We need to get away from the foolish labeling of government run healthcare as "socialist," and accept that everyone needs insurance and decent medical care. Healthcare and the cost of medical insurance in our country should not ultimately be determined by greedy corporations.
Meanwhile, nearly every European country as well as Japan, Israel, the U.K., Canada and Turkey have government-run, universal health coverage and all their citizens pay less than we do for better care. We need to get away from the foolish labeling of government run healthcare as "socialist," and accept that everyone needs insurance and decent medical care. Healthcare and the cost of medical insurance in our country should not ultimately be determined by greedy corporations.
Maureen, to the best of my memory, this is your third column since the inauguration of 45 that has been both insightful and a valuable attack aimed at (almost exclusively) the appropriate target(s). There is no way of ever knowing this for sure, but I think the 12-18 months in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election--with all of your Trump puff pieces and phone call based columns--will be the most regrettable stretch in your career.
Trump is no longer (nor was he ever, really) a pop-culture like curiosity story to be observed remotely and examined from afar. He is a dangerous character who is unable to critically examine himself and his actions and believes that all he has to do play role (as he interprets it) selected for him by the casting director. Where The Apprentice ends and the presidency begins is a blurry line of unrecognizable dimension for President Trump. He is a man that needs to held accountable, and despite what he says, you know that you have his attention.
Now more than ever, your pen requires your Pulitzer winning skills.
Trump is no longer (nor was he ever, really) a pop-culture like curiosity story to be observed remotely and examined from afar. He is a dangerous character who is unable to critically examine himself and his actions and believes that all he has to do play role (as he interprets it) selected for him by the casting director. Where The Apprentice ends and the presidency begins is a blurry line of unrecognizable dimension for President Trump. He is a man that needs to held accountable, and despite what he says, you know that you have his attention.
Now more than ever, your pen requires your Pulitzer winning skills.
6
One would think from reading this ridiculous screed that ObamaCare was a huge success. As everyone knows, it isn't. It's imploding. Instead of constructive criticism, Democrats resort to name calling and now are licking their chops that 2018 is within their grasp. Dream on. This bill is a good start for removing the Federal Government out of our lives and giving the States more control over where to donate their resources. The insurance companies may even figure out a way to sell health plans that are profitable and suit consumer needs. After all, a twenty year old man does not require maternity care except in Maureen Dowd's fantasy.
1
Imploding? Evidence please. I would say that the 45 million people who gained coverage don't agree with you. Why should states be the answer? Look how well states' rights worked through 1965: slavery, civil war, Jim crow laws, legal segregation, lack of voting rights. All sounds fine, does it not? Try studying a little history.
"Because it's her turn" - classically funny, but too little. Really, Maureen, you shouldn't fall into the trap of your colleagues by ditching your humor, while criticizing Trump. The Opinion section of The NY Times has become a never-ending Jonathan Edwards sermon. Let's get back to some levity!
Funny! Levity! Yes! That's just what we need! Like: "A rabbi and a priest walk into a bar, one has a pre-existing condition, loses his healthcare and dies under the AHCA!"
A few GOP Senators need to flip so we can put a Special Prosecutor to work taking what we already know and writing up a bill of particulars to get this man our of our life, now, before it is literally too late.
4
The people who voted for Trump, and those who voted Green or couldn't be bothered to vote in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan have gotten what they deserve.
But don't think that Trump and the Republicans are bound to have a comeuppance in 2018 and 2020. Trump supporters are not leaving the reservation in droves; many of them blame "the system" or the media and not the Donald or the Congressperson in their district. And gerrymandering has made it harder and harder to unseat incumbents in red states. No, don't assume that the Republicans will pay a price for the unfolding disaster. You may instead learn that there's no possibility of a happy ending to this national nightmare.
But don't think that Trump and the Republicans are bound to have a comeuppance in 2018 and 2020. Trump supporters are not leaving the reservation in droves; many of them blame "the system" or the media and not the Donald or the Congressperson in their district. And gerrymandering has made it harder and harder to unseat incumbents in red states. No, don't assume that the Republicans will pay a price for the unfolding disaster. You may instead learn that there's no possibility of a happy ending to this national nightmare.
5
trump, AND, the Republicrooks, are hazardous to our health, as they attempt to dismantle our Democracy, and establish an official plutocracy, where they are the overlords, and WE are the serfs.
7
For all the Hillary naysayers, and for everyone else, too, we now have a band of traitors in the White House, and those who cover up for them in Congress, who methodically work, step by step, to dismember our government and the power of the country as a whole. It feels so good to say it was her fault, and I suggest heroin as an even more potent form of self-medication.
3
TrumpCare: State-Assisted Suicide.
6
Trump and his denizens of low empathy lynched tens of millions of Americans with
their joke of a healthcare plan.
It is a horror show and as a nation we should be embarrassed.
It's clear how low Trump will go but now he is taking us all with him.
Time to pack up move to the land down under!
their joke of a healthcare plan.
It is a horror show and as a nation we should be embarrassed.
It's clear how low Trump will go but now he is taking us all with him.
Time to pack up move to the land down under!
3
Most of the recipients of Medicaid and insurance subsidies are White people many of whom were Trump voters. Trump appealed to their hatred of minorities and promised to bring back good factory and better health care. Trump voters drank the coolaid and still support their false messiah. Will they continue their devotion when they discover they the scam?
2
America used to strive to be the greatest nation on Earth but these days its leaders seem to have given up on that. This action is not about taking care of the nation's populace. It's about the people who have it all taking more.
4
This photo reminds one of the high priests surrounding Pontius Pilate when he condemned the Nazarene.
4
We are a nation that values entertainers, we vote based on a Hollywood inspired myth. We are paying for that. Hillary admitted she did not possess the star power of Bill or Obama, both who were also qualified intelligent men who came prepared, and continued to learn. Hillary, was a politician, a woman who dared to be smart, and she was crucified. Was she perfect, really? She was a politician. We bought the smear job against Clinton, and the press focused on ratings, not on a deeply serious and intelligent coverage of an election. Now a deeply disturbed President is at the helm. I do not need a friend in the WH, I demanded and voted for competence, knowing full well that I may not agree with everything she would do, but at least there would be an adult governing. In a business, whose CV would you pick? Please, she won the popular vote.
2
this is not about Hillary or Republican or Democrats , it is for our country's future, l understand that Mr.Trump is elected to our president and run our country best way he knows, first 100 days shows us that he does not have what it takes, he remains me to when we go to a fair some people scrims how beautiful girls and show and try to sell tickets and you buy the ticket get in there is nothing there, but this not a fair ground or bank or golf course or marrige , this is our country and if we do not do some thing noe our country is in grave danger , not N,Korea's misiless but him
4
Jimmy Kimmel's poignant statement that “... it shouldn’t matter how much money you make, I think that’s something that whether you’re a Republican or Democrat or something else, we all agree on that, right?”
Bill Maher correctly took exception to the last part - Trump and his enabling Republicans DO NOT agree on that. They want to bring in more sick babies into the world by getting rid of all abortion, all contraceptives, all maternity care, and all access to health care for poor and or unwanted babies.
Republicans are not pro-life - they are pro-sick. It is more profitable for the medical industrial complex, the drug companies that researches and supplies "dependency" solutions, the financial industry who will profit from the added debt, and the foreclosure agents. Yes, the GOP will keep their word.
Ryan just stated that "Medicaid isn't working" on This Week with George Stephanopoulos! Using the same false claim that the ACA isn't working, it is obvious what he is coming after next - Repeal and Replace Medicaid! The GOP is truly a depraved group of people.
Bill Maher correctly took exception to the last part - Trump and his enabling Republicans DO NOT agree on that. They want to bring in more sick babies into the world by getting rid of all abortion, all contraceptives, all maternity care, and all access to health care for poor and or unwanted babies.
Republicans are not pro-life - they are pro-sick. It is more profitable for the medical industrial complex, the drug companies that researches and supplies "dependency" solutions, the financial industry who will profit from the added debt, and the foreclosure agents. Yes, the GOP will keep their word.
Ryan just stated that "Medicaid isn't working" on This Week with George Stephanopoulos! Using the same false claim that the ACA isn't working, it is obvious what he is coming after next - Repeal and Replace Medicaid! The GOP is truly a depraved group of people.
6
Under the ACA, Kimmel's child would be covered until he is 26 yrs old. Same as any plan that goes forward.
Under the most affordable of the ACA's plans, that same child's family would have to come up with $12,000/yr out of pocket before the plan kicked in. They would also not have a choice as to doctors or hospitals treating their child. Kimmel can afford it, the majority of people under ACA can't.
The new plan will address these issues, so that every family will have the peace of mind the rich Kimmel has now but most do not under the ACA.
Under the most affordable of the ACA's plans, that same child's family would have to come up with $12,000/yr out of pocket before the plan kicked in. They would also not have a choice as to doctors or hospitals treating their child. Kimmel can afford it, the majority of people under ACA can't.
The new plan will address these issues, so that every family will have the peace of mind the rich Kimmel has now but most do not under the ACA.
1
You've got that alternative facts thing down really well! Just make stuff up and put it out there! Deductibles were high before the ACA, as were premiums. The best plan would be single payer, eliminate insurance companies completely, regulate drug prices. Healthcare is a right, not a product.
Republicans keep telling us the free market will solve everything.
For 100 years, we have gotten our electricity from regulated monopolies.
Seems to work pretty well.
For 100 years, we have gotten our electricity from regulated monopolies.
Seems to work pretty well.
1
"Flim-flam Dust, I love it. You can just get a mental picture of this orange, winged beast sprinkling it all over his admirers. LOL
1
Healthcare anew American style?
Based on a single overarching imperative, kill the ACA — finally.
Virtually none of the promised replacement embellishments that now President Trump proclaimed with such gleeful disregard for reality have survived the political skullduggery of the lower house of our august Congress.
Who in their right mind would hand such a process off to 238 acutely partisan politicians bent mostly on doing something, anything, as quickly and shoddily as possible just to prove they actually can govern. Predictably the result has been abysmal — that is unless you are among the gilded class who were presented with a $600 billion plus tax repeal windfall.
The notion that the Senate will work some form of the Washington dark art to make it all warm and fuzzy is pure fantasy.
After all the gnashing of teeth and aimless partisan wrangling what is most disturbing is that there is little evidence that anyone actually knows how to untangle the Gordian Knot that is the vastly complicated, convoluted, obscenely expensive, grossly inequitable, and largely ineffective healthcare system that currently exists in the US of A.
Healthcare is without question the most pressing American issue both in terms of economic as well as individual health. As long as our healthcare system is profoundly broken one of our most fundamental individual and collective rights will continue to be serially violated.
Based on a single overarching imperative, kill the ACA — finally.
Virtually none of the promised replacement embellishments that now President Trump proclaimed with such gleeful disregard for reality have survived the political skullduggery of the lower house of our august Congress.
Who in their right mind would hand such a process off to 238 acutely partisan politicians bent mostly on doing something, anything, as quickly and shoddily as possible just to prove they actually can govern. Predictably the result has been abysmal — that is unless you are among the gilded class who were presented with a $600 billion plus tax repeal windfall.
The notion that the Senate will work some form of the Washington dark art to make it all warm and fuzzy is pure fantasy.
After all the gnashing of teeth and aimless partisan wrangling what is most disturbing is that there is little evidence that anyone actually knows how to untangle the Gordian Knot that is the vastly complicated, convoluted, obscenely expensive, grossly inequitable, and largely ineffective healthcare system that currently exists in the US of A.
Healthcare is without question the most pressing American issue both in terms of economic as well as individual health. As long as our healthcare system is profoundly broken one of our most fundamental individual and collective rights will continue to be serially violated.
3
The undertakers are trying to sell their loyalists a coffin with a false bottom in it as a model of cost efficiency, but it will only give those who worship at Temple Trump the mere appearance of a dignified end.
Republican Party = potters field.
Republican Party = potters field.
1
Donald Trump has had a few accomplishments. His candidacy brought both the Arizona Republic and the Salt Lake City Tribune to endorse a Democrat for the first time in their history.
He has managed to irritate both our northern and southern neighbors with his endless and foolish "America first" policy.
Now, with his hosting the all white and mostly male Republican House members to a beer drinking celebration for taking away health care coverage for millions of Americans, he may have awakened a sleeping giant which could spell doom for the vulnerable House Republicans in 2018.
He has managed to irritate both our northern and southern neighbors with his endless and foolish "America first" policy.
Now, with his hosting the all white and mostly male Republican House members to a beer drinking celebration for taking away health care coverage for millions of Americans, he may have awakened a sleeping giant which could spell doom for the vulnerable House Republicans in 2018.
2
Here's another pre-existing condition for that crowd of guys applauding themselves in the rose garden: erectile dysfunction.
2
Assumptions are being made about a bill that hasn't even passed. The calculation made by the R's is that they can lower premiums for most people, including those who get their insurance through the workplace. They believe that the majority of those adversely affected are people that have a history of low voter turnout. It is a cold hearted, political calculation. If the majority of the voting public see insurance costs and taxes go down, they believe they will be rewarded, no matter how loud the D's yell.
It is not a moral stance, and it is politically risky, but they may indeed succeed.
It is not a moral stance, and it is politically risky, but they may indeed succeed.
1
Carlos Barria's photo says a lot. Look at all the smug smiles. It's not hard to imagine the thoughts in the smiles...as in..."all the "dough" I'm saving for my wealthy friends investing in hedge funds, ....more dough for investment in military spending in my district....etc."
The photo shows the latest face on GOP policies. It won't be forgotten by the families of millions of Americans who will suffer and die b/c of them.
The photo shows the latest face on GOP policies. It won't be forgotten by the families of millions of Americans who will suffer and die b/c of them.
2
Yes- it is finally clear to all that trump in Mr. Window Dressing. On healthcare bluster, he has truly hit the wall...not built it.
Hype & self-promoting swagger with empty destructive thoughtless policies may appease his most rabid base and market fundamentalists who claim a market solution is always best despite the obvious reality that healthcare is NOT a commodity like any other. We require care be given free in ERs when someone is acutely ill! No other 'product' has that mandate so a national mandate to chip in (no freeloaders) is essential- for fairness & solvency.
yes healthcare should be a right, but the GOP thinks it is a greater right not to pool resources for a civil society; we are only supposed to share in the cost of the military, Trump security costs and corporate welfare.
Phooey.
Hype & self-promoting swagger with empty destructive thoughtless policies may appease his most rabid base and market fundamentalists who claim a market solution is always best despite the obvious reality that healthcare is NOT a commodity like any other. We require care be given free in ERs when someone is acutely ill! No other 'product' has that mandate so a national mandate to chip in (no freeloaders) is essential- for fairness & solvency.
yes healthcare should be a right, but the GOP thinks it is a greater right not to pool resources for a civil society; we are only supposed to share in the cost of the military, Trump security costs and corporate welfare.
Phooey.
4
If I see one more pic of a sea of white men making insane legislative decisions which destroy the vulnerable and underrepresented, I am going to puke, again.
Pardon me, it is just so visceral and overwhelming.
Pardon me, it is just so visceral and overwhelming.
2
Healthcare is not the same as a cell phone. Everyone does not get a free one. In order to be a citizen of a free country you have responsibilities. You need to work in order to obtain what you need. If you have a disability you will be assisted. If not be responsible and do your part. Then you can feel good about living in the land of the free and being a contributor and not a taker.
7
This comment is a NYT pick. Why? I don't even understand it. "Healthcare is not the same as a cell phone." "You need to work in order to get what you need." Sounds like healthcare and cell phones are things you get if you work. Aside from the mention of disabilities, doesn't that make healthcare the equivalent of a cell phone? How does this comment rate any recommendation, let alone a NYT pick?
1
health care costs way ways more than a cell phone...if my health care cost me $750 per year, I would not complain. These people (repubs) are craven liars, just like Trump and his entire family.
I fear Trump supporters will not even notice. The Democrats have been pathetic about getting the message out that this bill is merely a tax cut for the ultra wealthy at the expense of the disabled and frail. Warren Buffet got headlines when he said it, but where are the Democrats? Where is their message machine to counteract Fox "News"?
99
Fox News is in its own death throes it will never be what it was moving forward. Silence is golden we should not forget that at certain times.
Watch MSNBC.
The accompanying photo of gloating smiles by a group of unconsciously cruel white men from a decadent Republican could not be more sickening. There will be a day of historical reckoning for Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan and all those who have led up to this hideous performance.
5
Trump never belonged on the political stage of this once great country. He gave more than enough indications while campaigning for voters to have come to that conclusion. That he is president today is an indictment of the gullibility of citizens and the dismal failure of journalists to inform them.
4
The journalists did inform but it fell on deaf ears. Lots of people just thought it was all fake news.
We're going to lose our health care,Trump has more Russian sympathizers in his inner circle than a May Day parade, and no one seems to be able to stop the Trump family from operating their multiple businesses out of the White House and sending us the bill. Why don't we just put a sign on the Statue of Liberty that says "Trump Inc." and get it over with.
2
The celebratory gathering at the White House was disgusting. We do not belong to the developed world. We belong to the regressing world.
4
I identify most with Obama. I've worked in sales. I was actually quite good at the job. The experience taught me one very important lesson: I never want to work in sales again. Don't get me wrong. The job has it's perks. There's dinner, travel, socializing, fun. At the end of the day though, your livelihood isn't about placing the customer on the right product. Your life relies on closing the sale or you don't get paid. That's it.
Personally, I found the lines of ethics too easily blurred for my comfort. I'm not saying all sales people are unethical. However, it's very easy for unethical people to behave unethically while working in sales. This can range from omission of truth to misrepresentation and occasionally flat out lies. In my opinion this applies almost equally to marketing as marketing is closely tied to sales.
The worst offenders are often the ones that are ill informed as well as financially motivated. They'll say anything to make the sale. Only then will they turn around and ask whether their promises are actually possible. I think Trump falls into this category. Laziness is probably an appropriate description of his behavior. He's too lazy to determine whether or not he's lying about his product. Now that's lazy. Worse, the accusation sounds pretty bad coming from your biographer.
Personally, I found the lines of ethics too easily blurred for my comfort. I'm not saying all sales people are unethical. However, it's very easy for unethical people to behave unethically while working in sales. This can range from omission of truth to misrepresentation and occasionally flat out lies. In my opinion this applies almost equally to marketing as marketing is closely tied to sales.
The worst offenders are often the ones that are ill informed as well as financially motivated. They'll say anything to make the sale. Only then will they turn around and ask whether their promises are actually possible. I think Trump falls into this category. Laziness is probably an appropriate description of his behavior. He's too lazy to determine whether or not he's lying about his product. Now that's lazy. Worse, the accusation sounds pretty bad coming from your biographer.
83
You note that “it’s very easy for unethical people to behave unethically while working in sales." Sorry, but its very easy for unethical people to behave unethically anywhere. The recent Volkswagen emissions cheating engineering cost the company $10s of billions and will affect VW's perceived value to customers globally for as long as people remember. It says that if leadership is inept, value destroying behaviors can occur anywhere in any function of any organization.
Sadly to this Democratic activist, as Dowd notes, Obama's dismissiveness of selling as somehow for the great unwashed and, adding H. Clinton’s unimaginative replication,particularly as reflected in her "deplorables" comment, shows what happens when the sales function is inept.
Sadly to this Democratic activist, as Dowd notes, Obama's dismissiveness of selling as somehow for the great unwashed and, adding H. Clinton’s unimaginative replication,particularly as reflected in her "deplorables" comment, shows what happens when the sales function is inept.
1
Maureen, Trump is evil. I am a Quaker and I would never, ever say this if I didn't believe with all my heart that this usurper represents a death threat to tens of millions of Americans, at the very least. His every single action in office represents a fulfillment of his decades-old promise to try to personally profit from the office if he ever ran for the presidency. Trump is an embarrassment to all Americans. His presidency must be 'nipped in the bud', and very, very quickly, by whatever means ... by any and every legal means possible! Necessity is the mother of invention, and perhaps those more knowledgeable than I am can show us all a way to save our collective Nation's soul by expelling this rotten apple like any healthy human body expels and rejects something foreign to it! 'Vinceremos'!
6
The thing I know the most after twenty years of working on health care financing is that any, and I mean anything proposed will need too be adjusted over time. Health care encompasses almost everything from how physicians practice, how hospitals operate, what technology is evolving, what genetics are telling us and so on.
I recall in a political science class the delicate nature of a Republic. There must be a sense of fairness slight as the balance may be.
This country finds itself with an insurance, employer based system which puts groups or people, and certain business at different advantages regarding what has grown into two of the most important things in most of our lives: health and not going bankrupt.
Somehow this discussion needs to slow down so the heart of the issue can be understood. I don't know if that will help. I know what has been proposed in the last two proposals simply continues to divide.
I recall in a political science class the delicate nature of a Republic. There must be a sense of fairness slight as the balance may be.
This country finds itself with an insurance, employer based system which puts groups or people, and certain business at different advantages regarding what has grown into two of the most important things in most of our lives: health and not going bankrupt.
Somehow this discussion needs to slow down so the heart of the issue can be understood. I don't know if that will help. I know what has been proposed in the last two proposals simply continues to divide.
26
"… harking back to his old statements in support of universal health care."
Universal single-payer health care without the vampire intermediary of the health insurance industry should be viewed and addressed as indispensable to the strength of the nation and its future as are other obvious elements of infrastructure - highways, airports Internet access, and the ever more generously funded national security state.
In denial of the glaringly simple principle that the health of the citizenry benefits all, US health care is left to GOP Death Panels as their current representative bill demonstrates its best Swiftian and Hobbesian intent to just kill the poor. At a clear profit to those whose campaign contributions dictate such an obscenity.
Universal single-payer health care for all. See PNHP.
Universal single-payer health care without the vampire intermediary of the health insurance industry should be viewed and addressed as indispensable to the strength of the nation and its future as are other obvious elements of infrastructure - highways, airports Internet access, and the ever more generously funded national security state.
In denial of the glaringly simple principle that the health of the citizenry benefits all, US health care is left to GOP Death Panels as their current representative bill demonstrates its best Swiftian and Hobbesian intent to just kill the poor. At a clear profit to those whose campaign contributions dictate such an obscenity.
Universal single-payer health care for all. See PNHP.
2
After reading some of the comments here I could only think how great it would be for Jesus Christ to show up now and speak to the political and religious in the United States who think Christianity somehow supports their stances on health care, religious discrimination, welfare and treatment of the "foreigner" (i.e. refugees). Yikes.
4
When Jesus does come it will be after the political has wiped away religion at the behest of the UN. All of the systems political, religious and commercial will be wiped away along with the adherents to these systems and then the Kingdom of God will be ushered in till time indefinite.
Good read on Trump. At some point the effort required to prop up this failed human being will be unsustainable. He will become the second president to resign in disgrace.
2
"In a moment of clueless cynicism, hours after the ego festival in the Rose Garden, Trump sat in a tuxedo with the Australian prime minister on the Intrepid and said Australians have better health care than Americans — harking back to his old statements in support of universal health care"
This shows the hypocrisy, and thought process of Trump. It is amazing to me how anyone that isn't among the wealthiest of Americans can be for this guy.
This shows the hypocrisy, and thought process of Trump. It is amazing to me how anyone that isn't among the wealthiest of Americans can be for this guy.
3
"...wealth transfer at the expense of health care for the poor."
Among Obamacare's many ultimately lethal problems is that it was a massive wealth transfer--i.e., theft--at the enormous expense of the rest of us, TO people claiming to be "poor." Sorry, but most of us have had it with being taxed to death and otherwise amerced so that others can idle their way through their lives at our expense.
Nothing says all the left-leaning sorts can't go create an ObamaFund, or some such, site where people can voluntarily contribute to a fund that offers to help defray the medical expenses of anyone who needs it. Maybe Ms Dowd could run it and the NYT could promote it. But government coercion in forcing some of us to pay the bills of other is not only offensive, it's unamerican, literally so--a common defence of Ocare is a variation of "That's how they do it in civilised countries!" Sorry again, but I'll take freedom over a shackled, pretentious, "civilisation" any day.
I've often observed the moral cowardice of the left in demanding that others be taxed in order to fund their feel-good programmes. If the left had a shred of honour, they'd INVITE participation in their proposals rather than dragooning whole populations into them at point of a figurative, if not literal, gun.
Among Obamacare's many ultimately lethal problems is that it was a massive wealth transfer--i.e., theft--at the enormous expense of the rest of us, TO people claiming to be "poor." Sorry, but most of us have had it with being taxed to death and otherwise amerced so that others can idle their way through their lives at our expense.
Nothing says all the left-leaning sorts can't go create an ObamaFund, or some such, site where people can voluntarily contribute to a fund that offers to help defray the medical expenses of anyone who needs it. Maybe Ms Dowd could run it and the NYT could promote it. But government coercion in forcing some of us to pay the bills of other is not only offensive, it's unamerican, literally so--a common defence of Ocare is a variation of "That's how they do it in civilised countries!" Sorry again, but I'll take freedom over a shackled, pretentious, "civilisation" any day.
I've often observed the moral cowardice of the left in demanding that others be taxed in order to fund their feel-good programmes. If the left had a shred of honour, they'd INVITE participation in their proposals rather than dragooning whole populations into them at point of a figurative, if not literal, gun.
1
The scourge of the marketing guys is not new. It has been lurking around in the shadows of many "successful" companies for decades. The marketing guys will sell anything from candy bars to chemotherapy. It is all the same to them. As I have feared for so long, this scourge has now been elevated to the highest office in our Nation, front and center for all to see. It is noxious but will it be fatal? We can only hope that the marketing monster ultimately devours itself. But what if it doesn't?
1
If, as it has been claimed, the GOP congress does not believe that everyone deserves decent health care, how better to have shown that belief than in this new version of Trumpcare?
Since the congress gets great medical insurance that covers all their family members, leaving the voters to hope for the best reminds me of the pigs in Animal Farm who began to sleep in the farmer's beds because they needed their rest after working hard leaving the rest of the pigs to manage the best they could.
Since the congress gets great medical insurance that covers all their family members, leaving the voters to hope for the best reminds me of the pigs in Animal Farm who began to sleep in the farmer's beds because they needed their rest after working hard leaving the rest of the pigs to manage the best they could.
1
Nothing new. This is what he has been doing all his life.
3
Bravissima!
Trumpcare = Death Panel
3
This is just occurring to Dowd now?
1,275 days.
1,275 days.
5
Talk of Republicans jumping into the dustbin of history may be premature. Democrats need candidates people will come out and vote FOR, not just Republican candidates to vote against.
The voters who decide elections are relatively apathetic zeros. Dems will need to polish up a lot of shiny objects between now and 2018, and I don't see that happening.
The voters who decide elections are relatively apathetic zeros. Dems will need to polish up a lot of shiny objects between now and 2018, and I don't see that happening.
2
Maureen you are finally back on track Welcome !
Mannuccio Mannucci MD
Mannuccio Mannucci MD
Elections have consequences, something you failed to consider when you hated Hilliary more than Trump.
10
Not all of 'our' health is endangered by the Republican House of Representatives health plan.
American Zombies and Vampires are cheering their beloved Donald's health care plan focused on their pre-existing conditions. Tom Price and Mike Pence remain carefully hidden in their graves and coffins.
Make America's Living Dead great again!
American Zombies and Vampires are cheering their beloved Donald's health care plan focused on their pre-existing conditions. Tom Price and Mike Pence remain carefully hidden in their graves and coffins.
Make America's Living Dead great again!
3
Racism and misogyny are apparently more powerful motivators than good health. Hopefully, though, for the health of our country, the energy of the Women's March will only be expanded and motivated by this current pack of know-nothing haters. The Republican Party has been the party of the 1% since 1980.
They have managed to be duplicitous, playing to the fear of the "other" in a base of people who generally are not well traveled, well educated, or well bred.
While that may sound like liberal snobbery, like slander, the truth is a valid defense. If you haven't traveled far from where you were born and haven't experienced any culture other than the specific one you grew up with, you are more likely to be drawn by a message of hoards of Mexican rapists and Muslim terrorists. If you haven't been educated, you are more susceptible to Trump's shtick of fact-less demagoguery. If you haven't been well bred (meaning: showing respect and courtesy to others, and common decency toward all), you have been dying to overturn the "politically correct" environment so much that the actual legislation Trump backs doesn't matter to you at all. At least now you have the power to be a jerk out loud.
Of course, our American experiment hangs in the balance. I only hope that this transparent wealth transfer to the rich at the expense of millions of citizens' healthcare is enough to motivate the opposition in 2018.
They have managed to be duplicitous, playing to the fear of the "other" in a base of people who generally are not well traveled, well educated, or well bred.
While that may sound like liberal snobbery, like slander, the truth is a valid defense. If you haven't traveled far from where you were born and haven't experienced any culture other than the specific one you grew up with, you are more likely to be drawn by a message of hoards of Mexican rapists and Muslim terrorists. If you haven't been educated, you are more susceptible to Trump's shtick of fact-less demagoguery. If you haven't been well bred (meaning: showing respect and courtesy to others, and common decency toward all), you have been dying to overturn the "politically correct" environment so much that the actual legislation Trump backs doesn't matter to you at all. At least now you have the power to be a jerk out loud.
Of course, our American experiment hangs in the balance. I only hope that this transparent wealth transfer to the rich at the expense of millions of citizens' healthcare is enough to motivate the opposition in 2018.
80
There is no shark like hatred, there is no snare like folly, there is no torrent like greed. Wickedness is always wickedness.
2
Donald J. Trump campaigned for the Presidency, which he won overwhelmingly, on the promise to repeal and replace the so-called Affordable Healthcare Act, popularly known as Obamacare, for its name sake, Barack Hussein Obama. The election of Trump, the historic defeat of HRC, was a rejection of Obamacare as well as the last 8 years. Once the Senate approves the American Health Care Act, and Trump signs it in to law, he will once again have delivered on his promises to the American people. Trump stands in stark contrast to BHO, who campaigned on the promise not to raise taxes on Americans earning less than $250,000 annually, as the ACA raised takes upon them significantly, and imposed onerous penalties. Also BHO told the American people prior to the passage of the ACA that if they liked their current healthcare insurance plans, they would be able to keep them; that if they liked their current doctors, they would be able to keep them. For many hard working Americans that was not the case, they lost their insurance plans because it did not contain the arbitrary requirements of the ACA. Consequently they lost their doctors, many of who they had been seeing for years. BHO knew this would happen. Why didn't he tell the American people this would happen? Why? BHO dishonestly sold the ACA to the American people. Why was he so dishonest? Because he is a liar. It is for that reason, I support the repeal of the ACA, and it can be replaced with whatever, if replaced at all. Thank you.
2
Blah blah. 4 more years, like it or not. In 2020, let the Democrats put forward someone not because "It's her/his turn" but because the candidate has good campaign skills and will intelligently contest every close state.
2
We must all stop calling this a health care bill. It's a tax cut bill. Solely for the haves. Reducing support for health care is merely how it will be paid for.
1
Mo,
I loved your last sentencd: "The Republicans now have a pre-existing condition: They voted for something that will cause them a lot of pain in the future."
Truth told, you've caused the Republicans a lot more pain in the past, present and what remains of their future. What would you do without your "right-learning whipping boys and girls"?
Take a deep breath and relax. Obama has caused us a lot of pain with healthcare, too. There's no affordable healthcare plan to cover all pre-exisiting conditions. Also there's no nirvana in this vale of blood, tears and healthcare.
I loved your last sentencd: "The Republicans now have a pre-existing condition: They voted for something that will cause them a lot of pain in the future."
Truth told, you've caused the Republicans a lot more pain in the past, present and what remains of their future. What would you do without your "right-learning whipping boys and girls"?
Take a deep breath and relax. Obama has caused us a lot of pain with healthcare, too. There's no affordable healthcare plan to cover all pre-exisiting conditions. Also there's no nirvana in this vale of blood, tears and healthcare.
1
If TrumpCare is so great, lets' get rid of TriCare for all government employees and retirees and put them on TrumpCare. Let's pass a law that the President of the United States, and his entire family, and anyone afforded Secret Service protection must use TrumpCare. If it is good enough for the American people it should be good enough for the American government. Sad.
2
Like what's I read in this article and the prediction that democrats now have a way to take back the Senate. Not betting on it, though. Too many seem to forget the correlation between whom they elect and the resulting treatment they get. Will those that now understand they have been conned, duped and misrepresented, actually go ahead and vote for the party that has demonstrated it cares about them? This administration wants to watch Obamacare wither and die, instead of making it stronger and more effective! President Obama had called in and asked the leading Republicans what they wanted in this bill he was forming and they said, nothing. And less than nothing is what the Senate passed this week. A big step backwards. Hope voters finally put two and two together and vote in a Democratic Senate!
2
Still at it, Maureen? If you want to see who bears responsibility for the current situation, go look in the mirror.
2
Congratulations to the reporter who got Republican Mo Brooks to admit their disdain for people with pre-existing conditions by saying that "people who live good lives don't have strokes, heart problems, or birth defects." I am increasingly disgusted with reporters that allow Republicans to come on their shows and spit their talking points without calling them on their bull. I am so tired of hearing about how Obamacare is failing...when just about everybody, Dems included, have acknowledged that Obamacare needs to be fixed. If it were not for their rabid need to have President Obama's name off the healthcare policy, and if they truly cared about people, they would spend their time focusing on the areas that need the change and not feel the need to completely start over. I have not heard one reporter really forcefully question any Repub about why they wouldn't focus on just fixing Obamacare. And so, we hear constantly how Obamacare is demonized. For those that have been negatively impacted by Obamacare, what did you have before?..and how did that work for you? At least, it was an attempt at healthcare improvement...who else even tried?
3
Royal should carry this episode like a 2 ton rock attached to his leg. Absolutely disgusting republicans. No sense of shame!
1
Yes Maureen Trump is a snake-oil salesman, but he has a cast of willing Republican shills who only want to destroy Medicaid to the tune of almost $1 trillion to pay for another "massive" transfer of wealth to the Oligarch-in-Chief. They are the 21st century Robber Barons committing legislative robbery in broad daylight. And, they are as heartless as they are ruthless in not caring for the immense "collateral damage" it causes to the millions of sick and wounded citizens littering the political battlefield of their unconscionable greed.
2
Great column. My favorite, "the Irish undertaker", perfect description of Paul Ryan and his loyal assistant could be Dr. Price. I was reminded of a scene in "Manchester by the Sea" where the teenage son of a father who died prematurely of congestive heart failure mocks the faux piousness of the funeral director pointing out that he does the same thing multiple times a day.
1
Can't Maureen Dowd tie her thoughts about Bill and Hillary Clinton to the roof of Mitt Romney's Rambler with Seamus the dog and drive that car off a cliff? We get it. She doesn't like them. Move on.
3
Maureen's raison d'etre was to pen tetchy personal critiques of Democrats who just couldn't match her style or approach her moral purity. Now we have a cartoon figure whose appalling narcissism stands over the prone body of the nation and whose policies, for the minutes that he holds them, are drawn from the far to the alt-right. Sort of makes all the 200 attack pieces on Hilary seem rather small doesn't it? I teach history and I wonder after these four terrible years play out how I will answer a student who asks me how this sad excuse for a person could have one and I have to say, "well you see there was this thing about emails...."
3
Trump Co is just another reality show without any sense of reality. The dream dies hard for Trump lovers but at some point even they must realize he is full of hot air. I actually do hope they repeal Obamacare as those that will suffer the most are those that supported Trump. They believe everything he says and close their eyes and ears to anything else. When their healthcare premiums soar, then they will get the message.
Every time I hear the Republicans talk about the private insurance market - getting government out and letting the free market sort thing out - I shudder.
Do they think this is a new idea? The "free market" in healthcare was the way it always was until the historical, land breaking ACA, the first successful attempt at curbing the awful mess the private industry had made was passed under President Obama.
Americans must surely have short memories. Obamacare was born of the horrors imposed on their customers by private insurance companies and we had no "choice" but accept them - because they all did it.
- empty policies sold to unsuspecting insured who didn't read the fine print but when they made a claim found out they "weren't covered for that" or anything really;
- people with pre-existing conditions uninsurable
- previously healthy people who made a serious claim being canceled - then becoming one of the vast uninsurable with pre-existing conditions
- premiums soaring every year with no recourse, "competition" did not mean they did not all raise their rates at the same time
- lifetime caps on coverage, so with serious conditions you lost your coverage early and then had - you got it - a pre-existing condition
- high risk pools with premiums that those who qualified could never afford
Ad nauseaum. This was WHY the ACA was needed and passed - to correct the system that greed, and corruption and the profit motive had brought to heath care in this country.
Do they think this is a new idea? The "free market" in healthcare was the way it always was until the historical, land breaking ACA, the first successful attempt at curbing the awful mess the private industry had made was passed under President Obama.
Americans must surely have short memories. Obamacare was born of the horrors imposed on their customers by private insurance companies and we had no "choice" but accept them - because they all did it.
- empty policies sold to unsuspecting insured who didn't read the fine print but when they made a claim found out they "weren't covered for that" or anything really;
- people with pre-existing conditions uninsurable
- previously healthy people who made a serious claim being canceled - then becoming one of the vast uninsurable with pre-existing conditions
- premiums soaring every year with no recourse, "competition" did not mean they did not all raise their rates at the same time
- lifetime caps on coverage, so with serious conditions you lost your coverage early and then had - you got it - a pre-existing condition
- high risk pools with premiums that those who qualified could never afford
Ad nauseaum. This was WHY the ACA was needed and passed - to correct the system that greed, and corruption and the profit motive had brought to heath care in this country.
1
Well said Ms Dowd and thanks for the Steve Job's quote.
The knee-jerk Dems won't like your Clinton/Obama comments but who care? It is, in large part, thanks to them we have Trump.
The knee-jerk Dems won't like your Clinton/Obama comments but who care? It is, in large part, thanks to them we have Trump.
2
Somehow or other, when writing a piece about our president, you had to get in a dig in at president Obama. I wonder why, but then again, no one can be Maureen Dowd.
As far as the "health care" bill, I don't see how in the world it can pass in the Senate. The Senate will craft a bill of their own I hope. If the people who are reading this want to make a difference, all your senator. Thousands of people, literally, will die, if this bill is enacted. And millions of Americans will lose health care. But, hey, Ayn Rand would have approved of it so why not the American people?
As far as the "health care" bill, I don't see how in the world it can pass in the Senate. The Senate will craft a bill of their own I hope. If the people who are reading this want to make a difference, all your senator. Thousands of people, literally, will die, if this bill is enacted. And millions of Americans will lose health care. But, hey, Ayn Rand would have approved of it so why not the American people?
1
Steve Jobs was an obsessive, if irritating, business leader. He was not an engineer. He relied on a succession of people from Steve Wozniak onwards. But he knew enough about product development to push the professionals to the limits of their creativity.
Donald Trump and the rest of the Republican Party have forsaken engineering. Their policy wonk, Paul Ryan, seems to stumble over mere math when trying to figure out the federal budget. It pretty much goes downhill from there for the GOP.
The Democrats are better, but not good enough. They still labor under the sway of powerful private interests—especially the healthcare-insurance complex. The few who understand the engineering of health care often fail the larger test when they do not support a single-payer, universal health care system.
A single payer plan can build on what Benjamin Franklin said were the only certainties: death and taxes. Since we are all going to die and still have to pay taxes, let’s pay taxes for a single payer plan that will save money and help us live longer and happier lives.
Donald Trump and the rest of the Republican Party have forsaken engineering. Their policy wonk, Paul Ryan, seems to stumble over mere math when trying to figure out the federal budget. It pretty much goes downhill from there for the GOP.
The Democrats are better, but not good enough. They still labor under the sway of powerful private interests—especially the healthcare-insurance complex. The few who understand the engineering of health care often fail the larger test when they do not support a single-payer, universal health care system.
A single payer plan can build on what Benjamin Franklin said were the only certainties: death and taxes. Since we are all going to die and still have to pay taxes, let’s pay taxes for a single payer plan that will save money and help us live longer and happier lives.
130
Well written Dave. And right on! Especially about the Dems "not good enough". And I am a Dem. But unhappy..........
1
Bravo. Let's all push for single payer. There are numerous examples we can pull to create a good American version.
1
He's a used car salesman and healthcare is the lemon he's trying to get off the lot. When the people bring it back, he'll just lie some more and blame Paul Ryan, "the mechanic" for not letting him know about the problems.
1
It is as if the current administration does not understand how insurance works.
Most people are covered under employer plans that give providers the risk spread necessary for reasonable profitability and negotiation needed to drive costs down. In those same policies, there is little choice about line item details, it is the package deal and you go where the policy says to go (reduced choice of healthcare provider and coverage details). It is the pool size that makes that possible, and most are happy to have healthcare at a reasonable cost despite the limitations of such coverage. The providers are happy because they have stable revenue and profit streams allowing them to help make decisions for current and future shareholders (and their customers).
Stabilization of the individual market requires all of those policies ending up in a much larger pool, regardless of what companies may be providing coverage and/or healthcare services. Reduced choices, larger pools--whether that is continued expansion of Medicare to the individual market or some additional pool -- that is how to make the whole thing work.
Continued instability of the healthcare market does nothing to help anyone.
Most people are covered under employer plans that give providers the risk spread necessary for reasonable profitability and negotiation needed to drive costs down. In those same policies, there is little choice about line item details, it is the package deal and you go where the policy says to go (reduced choice of healthcare provider and coverage details). It is the pool size that makes that possible, and most are happy to have healthcare at a reasonable cost despite the limitations of such coverage. The providers are happy because they have stable revenue and profit streams allowing them to help make decisions for current and future shareholders (and their customers).
Stabilization of the individual market requires all of those policies ending up in a much larger pool, regardless of what companies may be providing coverage and/or healthcare services. Reduced choices, larger pools--whether that is continued expansion of Medicare to the individual market or some additional pool -- that is how to make the whole thing work.
Continued instability of the healthcare market does nothing to help anyone.
1
Great column as usual. Some points made herein jump off the page for me. Knowledge: Trump has always been a dilettante who pretends to know something, buy really has no intrinsic knowledge of a given matter. He leaves that to others. He knows how to find people with the those skills.
Born with a head start, not like his father who can lay claim to building an empire, he inherited one. He never drove a nail or used a shovel. Others did that stuff, not Donald. There is no self made man here.
The only pre-existing condition he can relate to is his own: one of privilege. He has head faked most of his life. And gotten away with it. You can bet he was not part of any detailed conversation on health aside from platitudes such as "it's gonna be great, you'll love it."
His biographer refers to him as "essentially a performance artist." He was being quite civil. I'm inclined to defer to his artistic skills with the word that begins with "bull."
Born with a head start, not like his father who can lay claim to building an empire, he inherited one. He never drove a nail or used a shovel. Others did that stuff, not Donald. There is no self made man here.
The only pre-existing condition he can relate to is his own: one of privilege. He has head faked most of his life. And gotten away with it. You can bet he was not part of any detailed conversation on health aside from platitudes such as "it's gonna be great, you'll love it."
His biographer refers to him as "essentially a performance artist." He was being quite civil. I'm inclined to defer to his artistic skills with the word that begins with "bull."
3
The Trump presidency, Republican health care fiasco, etc. reminds me of what someone once said about the USA (in the context of the film industry, I think): It's not about the steak, it's about the sizzle.....
2
Let us hope America wises up and throws out these disgusting bums - Trump, Ryan and all the soul less Republicans. I hope so though I am not hopeful as an awful lot of people have proven themselves to be amazingly stupid.
2
I am outraged that a group of Bud-light guzzling, back-slapping, disingenious and ignorant white men are willing to offer seriously marginalized health care for me, my daughter and my granddaughter!
Defunding Planned Parenthood so women do not have a choice, among other benefits PP offers and then - raising the cost of pre-natal and pregnancy care! Not to mention completely ignoring post-partum depression?!
Women are 50% of their vote. Women must remain active and resist the willful ignorance and malignancy that the GOP represents.
C'mon, girls! Time to pick up our pitchforks and show them our worth.
Defunding Planned Parenthood so women do not have a choice, among other benefits PP offers and then - raising the cost of pre-natal and pregnancy care! Not to mention completely ignoring post-partum depression?!
Women are 50% of their vote. Women must remain active and resist the willful ignorance and malignancy that the GOP represents.
C'mon, girls! Time to pick up our pitchforks and show them our worth.
1
Irish Undertaker = Ryan......too funny!
1
Just looking at that phto tells me everything I need to know.
Sickening.
Sickening.
2
Maureen, too little too late. You had a chance to support a woman that actually cared about healthcare, women's rights, human rights, and many other things. Instead you waffled around I guess because you have a lot of Trump supporters in your family. But for you to say Republicans should've written a bill recently is such a joke. Instead of trying to repeal a bill for all it's flaws that works pretty darn well now, why weren't the corrupt racist people that wouldn't support anything Obama did because they were racist, over the last seven years instead of wasting millions of dollars and simply posturing to repeal the ACA 74 times, why weren' they writing a bill then?
Oh that's right, Republicans are only in it for the welfare - redistribution from the very poor and sick to the wealthy. You know, the dark money donors and republican members of congress that need another private jet or a gazillion dollar yacht. What a joke. Resist and persist people! At least the racism, cruelty, hatred, contempt, and complete lack of interest in serving the public and their constituents is right out there for all of us to see. Makes it easier to fight.
Oh that's right, Republicans are only in it for the welfare - redistribution from the very poor and sick to the wealthy. You know, the dark money donors and republican members of congress that need another private jet or a gazillion dollar yacht. What a joke. Resist and persist people! At least the racism, cruelty, hatred, contempt, and complete lack of interest in serving the public and their constituents is right out there for all of us to see. Makes it easier to fight.
2
After a 2018 election, Trump will likely find himself with a small democrat majority in both house and senate, cheer them on to a single payer system and then take total ownership of a Trumpcare for all.
1
"He is essentially a performance artist.” And a con artist. And a grifter. And a liar. Yes, he is a liar. He promised his supporters, and the country, that he, on day one, would have "Obamacare" repealed and a better and beautiful plan in place that would cover more medical issues and cover more people at a lower cost than Obamacare. Well, the proof is in the pudding.
So far into this "presidency", we have essentially nothing from him to brag about other than his expensive golf outings (on our dime) and his constant infantile tweets.
Yes, he is a con artist and we the people continue to allow ourselves to be his "marks".
So far into this "presidency", we have essentially nothing from him to brag about other than his expensive golf outings (on our dime) and his constant infantile tweets.
Yes, he is a con artist and we the people continue to allow ourselves to be his "marks".
2
Hillary Clinton in office and the GOP majority in Congress? A real recipe for success.
@ Richard
No. Medicaid does not provide "downgraded" insurance. Recipients of the ACA (expanded Medicaid program) are provided with four essential health benefits namely, medical, mental, eye and dental. It includes annual preventive physical examination especially to those with chronic medical issues, prenatal care, women's access to contraceptive methods and STD prevention, suicide prevention, drug counseling and out patient opioid disease treatment and CHIP. These "downgraded" benefits were not available before ACA nor the AHCA. At least in New Jersey, the recipients can choose which HMO Medicaid network are available otherwise the state will assign one for them. It may look "freebie" but the main household provider and caregiver can finally focus on finding a job not worrying about losing his /her health insurance.
No. Medicaid does not provide "downgraded" insurance. Recipients of the ACA (expanded Medicaid program) are provided with four essential health benefits namely, medical, mental, eye and dental. It includes annual preventive physical examination especially to those with chronic medical issues, prenatal care, women's access to contraceptive methods and STD prevention, suicide prevention, drug counseling and out patient opioid disease treatment and CHIP. These "downgraded" benefits were not available before ACA nor the AHCA. At least in New Jersey, the recipients can choose which HMO Medicaid network are available otherwise the state will assign one for them. It may look "freebie" but the main household provider and caregiver can finally focus on finding a job not worrying about losing his /her health insurance.
1
This all would have been moot if fearless leader Barack Obama had not broken his campaign promise and put forth single payer when he had his bullet proof Congress instead of the right wing Heritage Foundation health care plan better known as the ACA. If that was on the table last year for potential repeal even repellent Hillary would have cruised to victory, Comey, Putin, Wikileaks,misogyny, the media, Jill Stein, Susan Sarandon, white women, white men, Bernie Bros and the munchkins not withstanding.
Congratulations for surviving 8 years of President Obama ... a man who the GOP was determined to thwart every day of those 8 years. A man who Gingrich said Day One the GOP should obstruct every bit of legislation regardless of merit. A man who McConnell said Day One he would work to make a one-term president. A man who Trump accused Day One of not being born in the U.S. A man who rose above petty political vindictiveness to successfully contain the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. A man who worked to bring affordable health insurance to millions of uninsured Americans. Obama is a class act; Trump is not fit to carry his shoes. He will be missed.
2
Donald Trump's celebration in the White House rose garden may very well become his "Mission accomplished" moment.
3
Trump's core supporters won't be swayed even by the loss of their health insurance. They only care about erasing all traces of the man who committed the "atrocity" of "Presidenting While Black", and was, in their minds, trying to take their guns. Not having health insurance is a small price to pay for this victory.
3
Thank you Speaker Ryan, by your action, now "Obama"-care haters have realized by the threat you've created to their healthcare should be a right. The outcome: Single payor will become a reality now.
Ms. Dowd - you contributed to Trump's agenda - you were so obsessed with anti- Clinton sentiment that you failed to consider the effects of a Trump victory. His children do not have a mitigating effect - they are in it for the money - hawking real estate deals around the world. A Clinton victory would have ensured better healthcare, better international relations, better education, and a healthier planet. Please reflect on this with every new executive order.
1
Even Warren Buffet, who doesn't comment on policies or politics, exposed Trumpcare at his shareholders meeting for what it is intended to be: a tax cut for wealthy people making over $250,000. Sad! It is interesting that headline is not shared along with the stripping of all other services provided by the ACA.
'When Trump talked to John Dickerson for “Face the Nation” last Sunday, he said the big difference between business and politics was that in Washington, “you really need heart, because you’re talking about a lot of people. Whereas in business, you don’t need so much heart. You want to make a good deal.” '
His students from his fake university should use that quote in their coming lawsuits.
His students from his fake university should use that quote in their coming lawsuits.
1
Democrats, rise above "The Rot". Now is your time to write and propose serious solutions to the problems of the ACA. Rather than singing snarky songs and beating your chests (counterproductive at best) when Republicans pass this trash, get busy. Once you have a quality product, please for God's sake figure out a way to sell it - including appealing to the emotions of voters who supported Trump, rather than alienating them by mocking Trump and company.
2
Our Stupid Lives Don't Matter
-- Trump supporters' new slogan.
And the one thing on which we can all agree.
-- Trump supporters' new slogan.
And the one thing on which we can all agree.
1
The Republicans henceforth shall be known by the name "Al Qaeda in America" because if they have their way they will be responsible for the deaths of Americans in numbers that Osama bin Laden could only dream of.
2
Well said...
1
Evil Republicans, vanish!Poof!!
1
It makes no sense for Americans to vote for Republicans. Look at our history......only the Democrats ever vote to improve and uplift the lives of our citizens. All Republicans do is increase military spending and cut taxes for the rich. And, why are all those millionaires up there in Congress and the Senate? Where are the normal people who should be running our country? Our voters are totally stupid to keep on voting against their own best interests. Republicans do not want to help you, people. They only want to help rich people. That, again. is why they vote to increase defense spending. Who benefits from that? If our citizens cannot learn to vote for Democrats, we can kiss our behinds goodbye.
2
If we could take politics out of Health Care, what would we really be faced with? The reality is there isn't a perfect plan. It's all political. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the playing field was level? By level, I mean that if it were personal. Almost without exception, everyone if they are really honest, would like to be free from having to worry every day about health issues and how they're going to pay for it. If you work for a major corporation or many jobs in government, it's pretty much a no brainer; you probably have an insurance plan that will cover most of your medical expenses. But what about millions of individuals that don't have that protection? What if one of those individuals was your family member or close personal friend? Would you really care if that person was a Republican or Democrat? Of course not! It's time to take politics out of the medical field. I have a very simple solution. If your politician voted for this so-called fix to Obama Care, it clearly shows that they're NOT working for you or your family or friends. It's just politics. So–use your vote and conscience in the next election.
65
I saw a couple of GOP congressmen say that hadn't even read their bill. You know,. we saps pay for staff members who do that. Do we have legislators who don't know what they passed, a president who just wants to be run up the flagpole, my Uncle Fred who wants to know if somebody is going to help pay to get his butt cancer fixed, and my neighbor who is watching Obamacare coverage of special education go down Trump's crapper. Forget for a minute what Trump wants to do with drug help. We've bought the farm guys. No room for the sick or kids with special needs. The weird thing is that these clowns have not produced anything save confusion and corruption of a kind that will keep a lot of historians and probably too many pundits going over the top. Hell's bells, they can't appoint Pentagon chiefs or find their fleet.
1
I may be one small citizen, but I am determined to do everything in my power to deny the movement of this bill further than a trash can. The Republicans are pretty dumb if they can't see that this travesty shows them up for what they really are -- leeches on power and privilege. Working for the rich man. Not a ounce of honor in the bunch. We will take them down.
1
The Republican hard-core won't believe they're being scammed by Trump until it actually happens and they lose coverage or pay a lot more. Even then, it's possible that Trump/Fox News can scam them into believing its somehow the Democrats fault. They believe that white Republican guys care about the white Americans "that built this nation," and that Democrats don't. Racism is never logical.
2
And so it goes. Lest we all forget, these robotic Republican "statesmen" are nothing more than Grover Nyquist's tax cut zombies, created in his own heartless image to serve as avatars in congressional clothing. Having signed "the pledge" to fiscally "starve the government small enough to drown it in the bathtub", the mindless Republican congress has no will to resist the Grover's bidding. After all, a promise is a promise. There is no act too heinous, no lie too big to tell, if it aids and abets the dismantling of the administrative State. Once again the Right has promised the sun and moon, when their only true objective remains the transfer of wealth obtained by cutting every life-saving benefit the state was created to provide. And the red meat-eating crowd bought it, hate, line and sinker.
4
It is impossible to sum up this disaster in a few words because it is so surreal. You know immediately it's nonsense when not a single supporter can explain in a rational way what they did and why.
6
The very best way to sort out the President and Republican's hypocrisy and spin on healthcare:
Add a new amendment to the bill that provides that the only healthcare coverage to be provided for all Congresspeople, the President, the Supreme Court their dependents and their staffs shall be EXACTLY THE SAME as that provided by the new healthcare bill as rewritten by the Senate.
If Americans demanded that to be so, we would no longer have to worry about spin and hypocrisy, lies, last minute deals with no CBO analysis and allowing states to provide creative care packages "tailored to the need of their populations." With that amendment, there would be an excellent healthcare bill, or none.
Add a new amendment to the bill that provides that the only healthcare coverage to be provided for all Congresspeople, the President, the Supreme Court their dependents and their staffs shall be EXACTLY THE SAME as that provided by the new healthcare bill as rewritten by the Senate.
If Americans demanded that to be so, we would no longer have to worry about spin and hypocrisy, lies, last minute deals with no CBO analysis and allowing states to provide creative care packages "tailored to the need of their populations." With that amendment, there would be an excellent healthcare bill, or none.
2
Congress should be required to have healthcare plans based in their home states, not the District of Columbia.
1
Just a comment about the "Kimmel test". Children who have complex congenital heart conditions usually need specialized care, sometimes including heart transplant, throughout their lives. While well intentioned, I think, the comment about supporting health care throughout the first year of life is dramatically limited in scope. My fear is that one year of coverage may make republicans feel good but it will certainly not be enough for these many vulnerable children.
3
Democrats have multiple golden opportunities to not only defeat Republicans in 2018 but to design and set the stage for a human health care financing system that respects people and does not deprive those with medical conditions of the medical help they need.
Republicans have put their venality and greed on full display by passing AHCA which will deprive people with pre-existing conditions of health care when they need it due to increased policy premiums designed for those most needing health care. They primarily did so to aid their wealthy benefactors in the hopes they will receive campaign contributions to stay in office and inflict more harm on the American people. But Democrats cannot just criticize the GOP, they need to have a positive health care program that deals with the costs of health care and does not impose high premiums and deductibles.
Democrats need to develop a single payer system, eliminating the profit motive and huge administrative insurance company costs, that can be rolled out after the hoped for Republican debacle in 2018.
Republicans have put their venality and greed on full display by passing AHCA which will deprive people with pre-existing conditions of health care when they need it due to increased policy premiums designed for those most needing health care. They primarily did so to aid their wealthy benefactors in the hopes they will receive campaign contributions to stay in office and inflict more harm on the American people. But Democrats cannot just criticize the GOP, they need to have a positive health care program that deals with the costs of health care and does not impose high premiums and deductibles.
Democrats need to develop a single payer system, eliminating the profit motive and huge administrative insurance company costs, that can be rolled out after the hoped for Republican debacle in 2018.
2
We now have grounds for impeachment because President Trump can be charged with a high crime and misdemeanor. He has refused to provide for the health, safety and welfare for all Americans. That is in the Constitution.
3
"Trump did care about his product when he built Trump Tower. "
He may have "cared about his product" but he lied about this like everything else, even lying about how tall it was and how many floored. And, as always, he lied about his promises of give backs to the city and "public spaces."
He may have "cared about his product" but he lied about this like everything else, even lying about how tall it was and how many floored. And, as always, he lied about his promises of give backs to the city and "public spaces."
1
How perfect that the House Republicans rushed to pass this bill before the CBO had a chance to go over it! If you are going to sell trash, better that no one knows up-front what it will actually cost. Evidently Ryan's legislative plan is to throw any kind of nonsense together, then rely on Trump's decades of experience in selling worthless junk by gold-plating everything in sight and slapping his name on it.
However, the Senate Republicans would do well at this juncture to reflect on another of Trump's demonstrated abilities, which is to make sure that someone else is always holding the bag when things fall apart.
However, the Senate Republicans would do well at this juncture to reflect on another of Trump's demonstrated abilities, which is to make sure that someone else is always holding the bag when things fall apart.
1
Several years ago I heard the executive director of the Friends Committee on National Legislation (the Quaker presence in Washington) quote an architect that "there's no elegant solution to a poorly-defined problem." National health care continues to be more of a concept than a well-defined process. Consequently, any and all attempts at legislating a "solution" are condemned to be misunderstood, misrepresented and misdirected. Whether it's for-profit, non-profit, single-payer or whatever, it's likely to continue to run into a fundamental problem (not at all dissimilar to higher education): there's simply no way to economically ration scarce resources in the face of demand that is (a) fraught with often-uncertain outcomes; (b) accompanied by costs that are generally unaligned with usage; and (c) generally driven by emotion as much as science.
We have allowed this to become a partisan issue in a search for a legislative solution...as though a group consisting primarily of lawyers has a snowball's chance in Hell of deriving an economically, morally and logistically-justifiable program. Donald Trump is nothing more than the harpooner who "landed" the whale; the rope has completely payed out the bow of the longboat and he and his crew are off on a Nantucket sleigh ride - which will go wherever the whale wants to go. Any appearances of leadership are just an illusion; while Mr. Trump is singularly ill-equipped to forge a robust solution, is there anyone who could?
We have allowed this to become a partisan issue in a search for a legislative solution...as though a group consisting primarily of lawyers has a snowball's chance in Hell of deriving an economically, morally and logistically-justifiable program. Donald Trump is nothing more than the harpooner who "landed" the whale; the rope has completely payed out the bow of the longboat and he and his crew are off on a Nantucket sleigh ride - which will go wherever the whale wants to go. Any appearances of leadership are just an illusion; while Mr. Trump is singularly ill-equipped to forge a robust solution, is there anyone who could?
4
He followed his "Im the President. Can you believe it?" With: "I dont know". Two of his truest statements of the week. Watching him sign executive orders that he hasnt even read while his VP stands behind with an all-knowing, eerie, almost evil smirk on his face is a constant reminder for all of us that the inmates have taken over the asylum. SAD! Sadder than you would believe. The saddest thing ever in history, that I can tell you.
8
When Barack Obama was allegedly trying to bargain with the Constitution-lovers on a budget one, his favorite thing to say was the same as Mr. Trump's, basically, ''Hey, I won!'' The more things change the more they stay the same.
Will Mr. Trump get better at saying these things? Will he stick to the Twitter baiting? Will there be a new psychological disorder in the medical field accounting for remote anger training of thousands of people all at the same time?
Seriously, though, what happens to a country that was once supremely governable but has become ruled by rage accelerated by the most ignorant voters that have ever enjoyed the franchise?
Will Mr. Trump get better at saying these things? Will he stick to the Twitter baiting? Will there be a new psychological disorder in the medical field accounting for remote anger training of thousands of people all at the same time?
Seriously, though, what happens to a country that was once supremely governable but has become ruled by rage accelerated by the most ignorant voters that have ever enjoyed the franchise?
3
These lily-white Republican men are dancing and celebrating the gutting of health care for pregnant women and infants, the poor, the working poor, and the elderly. This is the most disgusting show of smirkism I have ever seen in my 67 years. This bill even allows employers to gut coverage for their staff.
What kind of people do this? If any of these white men claim to be Christians, I beg to differ. They are not in any way following the teaching of the New Testament.
Their actions and behavior are completely shameful, and, I might add, sinful.
What kind of people do this? If any of these white men claim to be Christians, I beg to differ. They are not in any way following the teaching of the New Testament.
Their actions and behavior are completely shameful, and, I might add, sinful.
11
Reminds me of the David Bowie song, The Man Who Sold the World.
Democrats have never said the ACA was perfect. However, it could never have any of its flaws fixed because Republicans have been determined to destroy it, not fix it, from the beginning. Now that Americans were realizing that even a flawed health care plan is better than none, in normal times, you would have expected both parties to work together to produce the "something great" Trump had promised. Instead in a display of mean spiritedness almost beyond belief, Republicans have showed their complete disregard for the average misguided Americans who elected them. This is a huge tax break for the rich that takes away health care, not helps people get it.
I can only hope the Republicans will be rewarded as they richly deserve, by being booted out. However, my faith in rational behavior of voters has been badly shaken by the last election.
I can only hope the Republicans will be rewarded as they richly deserve, by being booted out. However, my faith in rational behavior of voters has been badly shaken by the last election.
9
I hope your analysis is correct but until I see safe seated Republicans losing at the polls will I be convinced that enough Americans have had their fill with our imposter-president.
6
The only hope for the country's survival Is de-Trumping it with impeachment, and then having Congress give Bernie Sanders back he election that was stolen from him by the Clintons-Trump side show. Mr. Trump is an oaf in aristocrat's clothing. He will be a constant source of absurdities as long as he is allowed to twitter his thoughts to the incredulous nation.
1
There is a good chance that Trumpcare will be his undoing and also Republican leadership.
we can only hope.
“The Cook Political Report has now downgraded the 2018 re-election chances of 20 House Republicans.”
Not so fast. I have not seen anything that will automatically cause a Trump voter who loses his/her healthcare insurance because of Thursday’s bill not to vote for Trump (or Trump backed Republicans) next time round.
The Democrats have to realize that demonizing Trump is pointless – as was evidenced by Hillary’s defeat last year. They need specific policies – ones, for example, that will show the Trump voter who lost his/her healthcare insurance that there are emphatic reasons for voting Democrat.
Not so fast. I have not seen anything that will automatically cause a Trump voter who loses his/her healthcare insurance because of Thursday’s bill not to vote for Trump (or Trump backed Republicans) next time round.
The Democrats have to realize that demonizing Trump is pointless – as was evidenced by Hillary’s defeat last year. They need specific policies – ones, for example, that will show the Trump voter who lost his/her healthcare insurance that there are emphatic reasons for voting Democrat.
110
Disagree, respectfully, that Trump voters will respond to anything that sounds as complicated as the word "Policy". This is a group that votes on gut and emotion, is eager to believe the big lie because it confirms their prejudices, and I believe are comforted by the idea that, no matter how bad they themselves may have it, there will always be others worse off, as long as they have leaders who appear to think like they do. Policy, 'Smolicy - give us rich white men who respect the proper place in society of women, minorities, and the disenfranchised.
Democrats had specific policies during the last election. It didn't help. The blind remain willfully blind, and will probably remain so even on their deathbeds with their bankrupt families around them.
The problem with the old tale of snake oil salesman being tarred and feathered for the stuff not working is that the people who bought it immediately ran out and bought the next elixir from the next snake oil salesman who rode into town.
Ya, Trump is a salesman. He could care less if what he sells is worthless, as long as it gets bought and he gets to keep the money.
And he will. Trump goes back to his golden tower regardless, as untouchable for his sins as was Richard "the Dick" Nixon. Nixon prolonged the war in SE Asia just to make sure Humphrey wouldn't beat him, then prolonged it further as president, assuring the deaths of over a million additional Vietnamese, Laotians, Americans, Cambodians, et al, lied to Congress, lied to his citizens, and retired, pardoned, to a life of comfort and the admiration of the towns people who believed his potion was indeed healing them.
Trump is worse. Nixon did it his damage in secret and obscurity. Trump is celebrating it.
And the towns people flock to the show.
The rest of the wealthy nations figured out one of three ways to provide health care to all their citizens. The U.S. has managed to cobble together a system that is pieces of them, but requires everyone without money to pay their own bills or not get them. That's most Americans.
And Trump doesn't care. He can say what he wants and not mean it.
He never has. There's no penalty. From anyone.
He doesn't have to care and he won't suffer because he doesn't. He's rich.
Ya, Trump is a salesman. He could care less if what he sells is worthless, as long as it gets bought and he gets to keep the money.
And he will. Trump goes back to his golden tower regardless, as untouchable for his sins as was Richard "the Dick" Nixon. Nixon prolonged the war in SE Asia just to make sure Humphrey wouldn't beat him, then prolonged it further as president, assuring the deaths of over a million additional Vietnamese, Laotians, Americans, Cambodians, et al, lied to Congress, lied to his citizens, and retired, pardoned, to a life of comfort and the admiration of the towns people who believed his potion was indeed healing them.
Trump is worse. Nixon did it his damage in secret and obscurity. Trump is celebrating it.
And the towns people flock to the show.
The rest of the wealthy nations figured out one of three ways to provide health care to all their citizens. The U.S. has managed to cobble together a system that is pieces of them, but requires everyone without money to pay their own bills or not get them. That's most Americans.
And Trump doesn't care. He can say what he wants and not mean it.
He never has. There's no penalty. From anyone.
He doesn't have to care and he won't suffer because he doesn't. He's rich.
10
In the end, Democrats need to realize that Obamacare was bad legislation and an almost willful death knell for the party.
Obama was at best a moderate progressive. He wrapped himself around a Heritage Foundation created bill and refused to acknowledge it was a party killer which could lead to absolute Republican control of government for the foreseeable future. He then ignored its application by never testing the website. Had he really wanted to direct health care in a positive direction he would have done it incrementally, pressuring the GOP step by step. Instead he handed the process over to a conservative Democrat, Sen. Max Baucus, who along with Obama, got played at every angle by the Republicans. This while poll after poll showing the GOP anti-Obama resistance was paying off very well. Then Obama allows the ACA to go live on line when it wasn't ready. That made no sense considering the political winds or the enormous task of shifting such a large segment of the American economy. He was in the middle of a financial crisis which, as Elizabeth Warren explains, looked as if Obama did everything Wall Street wanted. So at this point, we have Obama pushing a conservative health care plan, working the financial levers to make banks whole again through the U.S. treasury and completely ignoring the prevailing politics.
Now, Obama, coming off Geffen’s boat and Branson’s island, is taking a lot of money from Wall Street, shrugging off Obamacare’s demise.
Obama was at best a moderate progressive. He wrapped himself around a Heritage Foundation created bill and refused to acknowledge it was a party killer which could lead to absolute Republican control of government for the foreseeable future. He then ignored its application by never testing the website. Had he really wanted to direct health care in a positive direction he would have done it incrementally, pressuring the GOP step by step. Instead he handed the process over to a conservative Democrat, Sen. Max Baucus, who along with Obama, got played at every angle by the Republicans. This while poll after poll showing the GOP anti-Obama resistance was paying off very well. Then Obama allows the ACA to go live on line when it wasn't ready. That made no sense considering the political winds or the enormous task of shifting such a large segment of the American economy. He was in the middle of a financial crisis which, as Elizabeth Warren explains, looked as if Obama did everything Wall Street wanted. So at this point, we have Obama pushing a conservative health care plan, working the financial levers to make banks whole again through the U.S. treasury and completely ignoring the prevailing politics.
Now, Obama, coming off Geffen’s boat and Branson’s island, is taking a lot of money from Wall Street, shrugging off Obamacare’s demise.
5
Destroying Obamacare and ending access to abortion is what 53% of white women voted for, and Trump is delivering on his promise to do just that. Planned Parenthood is headed for the shredder, and that, too, is what the majority of white women decisively voted for.
We have a male-dominated Cabinet, just like the good Republican ladies knew it would be, and Trump's third wife remains the mute but photogenic model of submissiveness that is the conservative standard of adult womanhood.
Freud famously asked, "What does a woman want?" We can update by a century that question, slightly modified: What does a Republican women want? Answer: Donald Trump.
Some people just have no taste...
We have a male-dominated Cabinet, just like the good Republican ladies knew it would be, and Trump's third wife remains the mute but photogenic model of submissiveness that is the conservative standard of adult womanhood.
Freud famously asked, "What does a woman want?" We can update by a century that question, slightly modified: What does a Republican women want? Answer: Donald Trump.
Some people just have no taste...
19
And no brains.
1
What Republicans voted for last week will only cause them electoral pain if the American voting public manages to awake from its slumber of bigoted resentment, and count the ways, in real dollars, that they are getting shafted. I am not optimistic. His base remains solidly behind him. Other voters appear etherized into a depressive failure to even to vote, and the Democratic Party conveys all the inspiration of day-old bread.
Our body politic is such that our Congress, enjoying approval ratings south of cockroaches and hemorrhoids, gets sent back to their offices time after time. Other polls peg the Democratic Party to be so out of touch that it couldn't even win an election against -- well -- Donald Trump.
The American two-party system is at best on life support and at worst, defunct. At the same time as our poilitican system screams for a third option
Our body politic is such that our Congress, enjoying approval ratings south of cockroaches and hemorrhoids, gets sent back to their offices time after time. Other polls peg the Democratic Party to be so out of touch that it couldn't even win an election against -- well -- Donald Trump.
The American two-party system is at best on life support and at worst, defunct. At the same time as our poilitican system screams for a third option
5
Will it?
The proper authorities only expected 185K jobs on last week's jobs report. Instead there were 211K jobs created. While that may not mean much to the elites and liberals that populate the upper echelons of media and mirth, it means a great deal to middle class workers that have spent the last eight years floundering in unemployment and underemployment. Like it or not, we vote too. I will admit Trump was not my guy, but there was no way anyone who has struggled to pay for over the top insurance while trying to also pay bills and taxes for other people to get free stuff was going to vote for Hillary and more of the same. As a woman who read "The Feminine Mystique" in the first printing, I have to say today's women don't expect equality, they expect to be treated better than men. I should not, as a 60 year old, have to pay for someone else's birth control via my insurance premiums. If you're old enough to drink coffee, you're old enough to make it. The same holds true for sex. Stop expecting the rest of the world to assume responsibility for your choices.
The proper authorities only expected 185K jobs on last week's jobs report. Instead there were 211K jobs created. While that may not mean much to the elites and liberals that populate the upper echelons of media and mirth, it means a great deal to middle class workers that have spent the last eight years floundering in unemployment and underemployment. Like it or not, we vote too. I will admit Trump was not my guy, but there was no way anyone who has struggled to pay for over the top insurance while trying to also pay bills and taxes for other people to get free stuff was going to vote for Hillary and more of the same. As a woman who read "The Feminine Mystique" in the first printing, I have to say today's women don't expect equality, they expect to be treated better than men. I should not, as a 60 year old, have to pay for someone else's birth control via my insurance premiums. If you're old enough to drink coffee, you're old enough to make it. The same holds true for sex. Stop expecting the rest of the world to assume responsibility for your choices.
Keep in mind how small, actually, the percentage of the voting public actually voted for him - i.e. those who are registered voters.
But it's just fine, Ellen, for your insurance premiums to pay for somebody else's Viagra? What about cancer or heart medication? What about Jimmy Kimmel's child? What about care for a hemophiliac? Maybe you just shouldn't have health insurance at all. No worries; heaven will help with your life-threatening illness.
1
The new POTUS is just a re-packaging of what the greatest generation fought against, but what's been creeping up on us since the Cold War- another white man's tyranny with less freedoms for everyone except the wealthy and well connected. For the post-war boomers the malignant spirit of Altamont trumped Woodstock. Lawyers, guns and violence beat peace, love and music. It's a shame really, watch Joe Cocker sing "with a little help from my friends" or any of Santana's playlist at Woodstock, and realize what could have been, a beautiful and healthy American pastiche.
8
Unfortunately, the new Republicans that voted for him, who couldn't afford a single night in any of his hotels, will continue to support him even if it costs them bigly. Really weird.
15
Too many of those who vote are just ignorant and uneducated, ripe for the flim-flam man who is also uneducated, mean, and who cares only about his fortune, which grows every day he is in office. It's time for all Democrats to vote and give the House back to the party who can stop him.
1
LOCK HIM UP! He's a horrid, crazy beast. And if the red states like him so much, then it IS time for secession. The NE and West Coast should dump the free loading "heartland." This travesty of alternative facts and fake news cannot go on.
25
The presidency is not a business. It is not about "a win". It is about providing services to citizens who need healthcare they can't afford. It is shameful to gloat when millions could end with no care. It is shameful to give billions to heartlesss, greedy insurance companies. It is shameful for the Republicans to ignore the voice of the people when they say they want Obamacare fixed but not destroyed. Very disheartening to see what is happening in America in the age of Trump.
15
Exactly. So many people voted for Trump because they though they needed a good businessman as president when in fact the presidency is about public service.
1
Another great essay. Another piece stating the obvious, however. Trump only cares only about how he's "perceived?" True, a certain large percentage of Americans adore the man. But, an even larger percentage, a majority, don't just dislike him, fairly despise him and are aghast at his rise to power. I believe there's a good bit of resentment, racism, xenophobia, misogyny and homophobia at play here but why Trump. Why a man like Trump? I will never understand why him. He was a birther; he mocked a disabled person. End of story for me. Hundreds of other things followed. Do the Republicans really like Trump? Are they all just about power? Does Ryan have Christian principles and values that he will not ignore just to win? Will any of them stand up to Trump? The Democrats are weaker than ever. Do we realize that we are never ever going to be rid of Trump? That he is now and forever a part of our political history? We'll be dealing with him and his heirs for decades to come. Paying his way. Enduring the lies and narcissism from here on out. I read in the Times that at one event at one of his estates they staged a mock battle of special forces and terrorists. They did this for the president and an audience? If this happened, it's only something a despot would love, one out of touch with reality but reveling in power. Some fear a coup if he loses the next election or is impeached and removed from office. Get used to Trump folks. We're stuck with him.
3
Never before, as far as I can tell, has a president built his agenda on petty revenge against his predecessor.
21
The membership of the Senate is based on territory; it's locked at two Senators per State no matter the square miles contained by State boundaries. The House of Representatives was intended by our Founders to grow to reflect a growing population. In 1910, however, with national population clocking around 90 million souls, Congress froze the number of Reps in the House at 435; it's been frozen ever since and has, therefore, has become more and more like our Senate: territorial, monolithic, held under the invested sway of single personalities, vulnerable to 'old' money, gerrymandering and the manipulation of lobbyists; less and less input has been allowed to bubble up from the People at large, the very People the House is supposed to be representing.
Please: The US of A was NOT designed for both Congressional Houses to represent territory. The government Lincoln fought the Civil War over -- OF the People, BY the People and FOR the People -- needs more representation in the House of Representatives; following the template of our Founders, with the Country's population now around 325 million, that number should be north of 12 hundred, not 4 hundred.
I was born into a Constitutional Democracy, not an oligarchy or an autocracy; it wasn't perfect but because the People could vote a way forward, the improvements have been varied and numerous. Let's get back to that democracy; let's expand the House of Representatives to reflect our Founders' original concepts.
Please: The US of A was NOT designed for both Congressional Houses to represent territory. The government Lincoln fought the Civil War over -- OF the People, BY the People and FOR the People -- needs more representation in the House of Representatives; following the template of our Founders, with the Country's population now around 325 million, that number should be north of 12 hundred, not 4 hundred.
I was born into a Constitutional Democracy, not an oligarchy or an autocracy; it wasn't perfect but because the People could vote a way forward, the improvements have been varied and numerous. Let's get back to that democracy; let's expand the House of Representatives to reflect our Founders' original concepts.
3
I am so glad I made it past 65 and am able to get Medicare. It is that best health insurance I have ever had and I always worked for companies that provided very good health plans. I have a reasonable supplemental plan and never have to pay any medical bills. I don't understand why everyone is not clamoring for single payer healthcare. It has been great to me. Younger people should be up in arms about this and demanding something equivalent to what us old folks have.
13
Hi, Nat...
I have 2 1/2 years to go before I am eligible for Medicare. I am holding my breath.
I have 2 1/2 years to go before I am eligible for Medicare. I am holding my breath.
I am trying to imagine President Obama being unable to articulate exactly what was in his ACA, or any other legislation he championed....and cannot even begin to imagine it. He spoke eloquently and thoroughly on every subject that concerned him and us.
Trump knows less than nothing about anything, especially the American gov't of which he is the titular head. This has gone beyond absurd into horror for all of us.
Trump knows less than nothing about anything, especially the American gov't of which he is the titular head. This has gone beyond absurd into horror for all of us.
7
"I am trying to imagine President Obama being unable to articulate exactly what was in his ACA, or any other legislation he championed..."
You don't have to imagine. Remember "If you like your plan, you can keep your plan"?
I loved my plan, wasn't able to keep it. Now I overpay for a plan that includes coverage for things I'll never, ever need. Bad policy.
You don't have to imagine. Remember "If you like your plan, you can keep your plan"?
I loved my plan, wasn't able to keep it. Now I overpay for a plan that includes coverage for things I'll never, ever need. Bad policy.
I'm more than a little dubious that many voters in the districts that matter are following the ins and outs of the health care fiasco. More likely they're seeing it as yet more background noise from dysfunctional Washington politicians and zany media -- and that rarely includes their own true blue Representative or the anti-politician Trump. As Trump knows, it's all about image on these complicated things. Can the Democrats wake people up and turn their frustrations into votes? They haven't yet and I don't see their strategy for doing so.
58
I found the current debate on healthcare too simplistic, partisan and ideological. Unfortunately, both sides have some valid points but they also missed the fundemental problem - the lack of global competitions. In fact, healthcare industry is not unique. Are you happy with your cell phone and internet carriers? It is just puzzling to me why nobody points out the most obvious example of higher cost caused by the lack of global competitions. It is the healthcare industry. Silicon Valley type of disruptions cannot happen. We end up with inefficiency no matter which party is in charge. Not to mention healthcare industry is a huge high-paying job creator and it is "recession-proof". Tax payers end up subsidize the industry. Of course this special interest group will not want any disruption. There is no way out and we are going down together.
Learn from history! Great powers come and go. And I don't see much hope. Blaming President Trump is too convenient. Without the efforts of GOP, we wouldn't have Trump. The college-town liberals are not innocent either. The partisan fights are mostly serving their own interests. The truth is usually in the middle. Sad!
Learn from history! Great powers come and go. And I don't see much hope. Blaming President Trump is too convenient. Without the efforts of GOP, we wouldn't have Trump. The college-town liberals are not innocent either. The partisan fights are mostly serving their own interests. The truth is usually in the middle. Sad!
5
When the first epidemic wave of multi drug resistant TB amongst folks too poor to afford medicine starts jumping the fences into Republican gated communities, we'll have universal health care before God gets the news.
But until diseases of the middle class and poor effect Republicans, taking millions of Americans off health care is no skin off their back.
But until diseases of the middle class and poor effect Republicans, taking millions of Americans off health care is no skin off their back.
10
One visit to an Apple Store would show Congressional Republicans the fallacy of their ways. Apple employees don't try to sell you something. They listen to your problem and work to help you solve it. I've even had employees at the local store suggest I go to Best Buy to save money on an equivalent product. Steve Jobs' philosophy is serving the company well years after his death.
Congressional Republicans and their flimflam man Trump have mixed up some awful snake oil and put a pretty label on it. Sorry. One whiff of the stuff, and the citizenry is becoming ill. We're not buying. Imagine it, these guys want us to buy their product that would cause us terrible problems!
What would Jobs have to say about this bunch? I am certain he would fire every single one of them. And so should we.
Congressional Republicans and their flimflam man Trump have mixed up some awful snake oil and put a pretty label on it. Sorry. One whiff of the stuff, and the citizenry is becoming ill. We're not buying. Imagine it, these guys want us to buy their product that would cause us terrible problems!
What would Jobs have to say about this bunch? I am certain he would fire every single one of them. And so should we.
6
"The Republicans now have a pre-existing condition: They voted for something that will cause them a lot of pain in the future."
If we don't win the House next year, Nancy Pelosi and her old lieutenants should leave the country.
If we don't win the House next year, Nancy Pelosi and her old lieutenants should leave the country.
9
Would be a mistake for the democrats to think this awful legislation has given them a shot at taking back the house. They have demonstrated profound abilities to lose elections - they should keep front and center the fact they ran such a pathetic presidential campaign that a know-nothing reality TV personality who felt the need to talk about his genitalia during a presidential "debate" beat their candidate.
14
WCB, you say Democrats "ran such a pathetic presidential campaign".
Did that include what Hillary put up on her web site vs. what was on Trump's? If you looked at the time, you would have seen that Hillary's was FAR more comprehensive.
Did that include what Hillary put up on her web site vs. what was on Trump's? If you looked at the time, you would have seen that Hillary's was FAR more comprehensive.
"Everybody’s got to be covered. I am going to take care of everybody. I don’t care if it costs me votes or not. Everybody’s going to be taken care of much better than they’re taken care of now." ~ Trump, September 2015
By 'everybody' he meant everybody that he knows personally.
As for the rest of America, good luck.
By 'everybody' he meant everybody that he knows personally.
As for the rest of America, good luck.
38
By "covered", he meant a sheet over your head ...at the morgue.
Nice piece Mo. Here's the rub though"
1. Trump voters will only care that he "Repealed and Replaced", the consequences they will blame on others.
2. The "moderate" Republicans will moan about it in cocktail parties, but they will toe the line in the polling booth.
3. A significant chunk of educated White women (*I hate racial grouping, but I will explain below why I am doing it here) will tell their friends how much they hate Trump, and yet once in the booth will vote again for Trump since his bluster and bravado make them feel secure against unknown, imaginary enemies.
4. The Right has been hungry to win - what with FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter, all expanding the role of the Federal government and personal rights and quality of life for the poor, oppressed and downtrodden (New Deal, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Clean Water, Clean Air, Civil Rights...) They had the fire in their bellies. The Democrats have no fire, just full bellies. Sure Voting Rights are being compromised, so what, JayZ and Beyonce are billionaires, right? Most Dems are well-to-do and in secure jobs with decent home prices and nest eggs. So they are complacent about losing elections. Bernie has the fire in his belly, but he is a joke to the mainstream Dems (put politely.)
So Trump has little to worry about in 2018 and 2020.
* White women = ~30% of voters. People say Blacks elected Obama. Nope, 12% don't cut it. The 60+% of Whites elected him. And Trump in '16.
1. Trump voters will only care that he "Repealed and Replaced", the consequences they will blame on others.
2. The "moderate" Republicans will moan about it in cocktail parties, but they will toe the line in the polling booth.
3. A significant chunk of educated White women (*I hate racial grouping, but I will explain below why I am doing it here) will tell their friends how much they hate Trump, and yet once in the booth will vote again for Trump since his bluster and bravado make them feel secure against unknown, imaginary enemies.
4. The Right has been hungry to win - what with FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter, all expanding the role of the Federal government and personal rights and quality of life for the poor, oppressed and downtrodden (New Deal, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Clean Water, Clean Air, Civil Rights...) They had the fire in their bellies. The Democrats have no fire, just full bellies. Sure Voting Rights are being compromised, so what, JayZ and Beyonce are billionaires, right? Most Dems are well-to-do and in secure jobs with decent home prices and nest eggs. So they are complacent about losing elections. Bernie has the fire in his belly, but he is a joke to the mainstream Dems (put politely.)
So Trump has little to worry about in 2018 and 2020.
* White women = ~30% of voters. People say Blacks elected Obama. Nope, 12% don't cut it. The 60+% of Whites elected him. And Trump in '16.
61
@Suppan: But Trump didn't "repeal and replace." The House passed a law that will be killed by the Senate. The odds that Senate Republicans will come up with a bill cruel enough to win passage by conservatives in the House are nil.
Obamacare is still on the books, and it's likely to remain there. Maybe Trump's supporters are too dumb to notice.
Obamacare is still on the books, and it's likely to remain there. Maybe Trump's supporters are too dumb to notice.
it is my impression that the 237 million eligible voters who did not bother to vote gave this election to a mad man.
The opening prayer of the House contained these words on the day the ACHA was passed:
"The attention of millions of Americans is focused as the House considers legislation impacting the health care and coverage of so many citizens."
"May the deliberations of these days issue forth in legislation that indeed promotes the general welfare, one of the purposes of government articulated in the preamble to our Constitution"
Apparently no House Republicans laughed. Or were stuck by lightning.
In the interest of government efficiency, I suggest the House dispense with long, customized prayers. Standardize on something that speaks to the one trait Ryan and company venerate above all others: Hypocrisy.
"O Lord make me principled -- but not yet!"
"The attention of millions of Americans is focused as the House considers legislation impacting the health care and coverage of so many citizens."
"May the deliberations of these days issue forth in legislation that indeed promotes the general welfare, one of the purposes of government articulated in the preamble to our Constitution"
Apparently no House Republicans laughed. Or were stuck by lightning.
In the interest of government efficiency, I suggest the House dispense with long, customized prayers. Standardize on something that speaks to the one trait Ryan and company venerate above all others: Hypocrisy.
"O Lord make me principled -- but not yet!"
8
The axis of evil - Trump, McConnell and Ryan - are part of the "Survival of the Fittest" crowd . Old ,sick, decrepit, poor, - over the cliff you go. God might help you, if you believe in God.
It used to be that captains of industry such as Henry Ford needed the poor to work for them . No longer - robots, , outsourcing saved their day. Our oligarchy sit in their gated communities, and trade and deal and work their computers.
But their grim reaper is at hand in the form of inequality and the last will soon be first .
It used to be that captains of industry such as Henry Ford needed the poor to work for them . No longer - robots, , outsourcing saved their day. Our oligarchy sit in their gated communities, and trade and deal and work their computers.
But their grim reaper is at hand in the form of inequality and the last will soon be first .
9
We can only hope NO ONE will forget how the GOP sold out the voters! (And the leaked draft of gutting the drug czar by 95 %? Trump and the entire GOP Party are now the byword for dishonesty.)
Looking forward to the 2018 elections. What a great image: The GOP celebrating a bill that would literally kill thousands of voters and that same day Trump telling the Australian Premier that they have a better health care system than we do. GOP: if you did this out of loyalty to Trump--you got suckered!
And you betrayed us. Even if the Senate crafts a bill that restores the ACA, the turmoil and uncertainty they have created will raise all our premiums and has thrown the entire health insurance system into turmoil.
Thanks GOP. Way to show you REALLY don't know how to govern.
Looking forward to the 2018 elections. What a great image: The GOP celebrating a bill that would literally kill thousands of voters and that same day Trump telling the Australian Premier that they have a better health care system than we do. GOP: if you did this out of loyalty to Trump--you got suckered!
And you betrayed us. Even if the Senate crafts a bill that restores the ACA, the turmoil and uncertainty they have created will raise all our premiums and has thrown the entire health insurance system into turmoil.
Thanks GOP. Way to show you REALLY don't know how to govern.
10
Trump is starting to give the wealthy Republicans who were his recalcitrant supporters the tax breaks that were the basis of their votes in November and their future support. Despite Trump's demagoguery and populist promises, these wealthy Republicans knew, with the exception of policies that would hurt the poor, immigrants, blacks, women, and the environment, Trump would be there for them while he continued to placate the working class with his lies and symbolic tokens and to stoke their anger with his bombastic hate speech. Donald Trump may be very rich, but he has never been respected amongst his elite economic peers. Now, more than anything, he has a chance to win their approval and he will do whatever is necessary to get it. This is all about Trump's narcissism.
12
Shame on Trump! Shame on Ryan! Shame on all the Republicans in the
house who voted for repeal. They must be voted out of office in 2018!
house who voted for repeal. They must be voted out of office in 2018!
11
More full time employment guarantees stronger healthcare for more Americans. Where's your jobs bill POTUS?
3
The Republican's Rose Garden celebration will become their "Mission Accomplished" moment.
13
Correction: a crowd of WHITE guys applauding themselves for gutting health care protections for women.
21
yes, it was quite a week:
by the mere flip of a coin, (or the flip of three rural states) Nancy Pelosi has once again become the voice of reason in an otherwise Mad Men's world, reminding her fellow congressmen that they will 'Glow in the dark' for what they've done.
We really can't afford to let this disheveled mess of a party carry on so arrogantly and irresponsibly. There's already a petition to rescind the Congressional health insurance system to show them what it truly feels like to be an American these days.
And as for Trump. His superficial cynical world view will continue to isolate him. This shallow *victory* is real news (not fake)...he better get used to what that brings him.
Comey better absolve his own sins and get to the end of his investigation.
by the mere flip of a coin, (or the flip of three rural states) Nancy Pelosi has once again become the voice of reason in an otherwise Mad Men's world, reminding her fellow congressmen that they will 'Glow in the dark' for what they've done.
We really can't afford to let this disheveled mess of a party carry on so arrogantly and irresponsibly. There's already a petition to rescind the Congressional health insurance system to show them what it truly feels like to be an American these days.
And as for Trump. His superficial cynical world view will continue to isolate him. This shallow *victory* is real news (not fake)...he better get used to what that brings him.
Comey better absolve his own sins and get to the end of his investigation.
9
Presidents have to be good salesmen - No they don't! This is the problem with Americans who think politicians need to be able to market him/herself. This is not homecoming or prom queen selection and I don't care if you are "liked" or "popular". I care that you are competent, hard-working, have integrity and will do the right thing for all Americans not just certain ones.
12
Exactly. I want a policy wonk in the White House, a Rhodes scholar, someone with the right experience. I don't need the president to sell me stuff or pump me up.
But instead of qualified leaders, Republicans have given us a clown car stuffed with Reagan, GW Bush, and Trump. They'll never learn.
But instead of qualified leaders, Republicans have given us a clown car stuffed with Reagan, GW Bush, and Trump. They'll never learn.
Jobs goes on to say that those heartless and artless companies are run by "marketing guys."
8
The photo says it all. A bunch of rich white guys taking good care of a bunch of rich white guys.
The rest of America, not so much.
The rest of America, not so much.
20
"The Republicans now have a pre-existing condition: They voted for something that will cause them a lot of pain in the future."
Don't count on it. Some 40% of Americans still stand by Trump, no matter how ignorant, incompetent, and badly he does; no matter how much he lies to them and does a bait-and-switch; and no matter how much his and the GOP agenda make life more problematic and worse for his supporters.
Like any good con artist Trump counts on this. As he said:
"I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, okay, and I wouldn't lose any voters, okay?... It's, like, incredible."
So the next question is what is wrong with the populace? Well, there is something wrong. Another mini-Trump is Martin Shkreli, the Wall Street guy that bought the drug Daraprim and boosted the cost of a pill from $13.50 to $750 per pill. His trial is coming up soon, and Shkreli is quoted as saying: "There are going to be jurors who will be fans of mine. I walk down the streets of New York and people shake my hand. They say, 'I want to be just like you.'"
Is Shkreli exaggerating or lying? A year ago, I probably would have said "yes." After this horrible Trump presidency, evidently lots of people support Trump (and creeps like Shkreli).
So the question becomes: Who is really more hazardous to our health? Trump, or those who cheer, pander, enable, and support Trump and his destructive policies and nasty behavior?
As Pogo said: "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
Don't count on it. Some 40% of Americans still stand by Trump, no matter how ignorant, incompetent, and badly he does; no matter how much he lies to them and does a bait-and-switch; and no matter how much his and the GOP agenda make life more problematic and worse for his supporters.
Like any good con artist Trump counts on this. As he said:
"I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, okay, and I wouldn't lose any voters, okay?... It's, like, incredible."
So the next question is what is wrong with the populace? Well, there is something wrong. Another mini-Trump is Martin Shkreli, the Wall Street guy that bought the drug Daraprim and boosted the cost of a pill from $13.50 to $750 per pill. His trial is coming up soon, and Shkreli is quoted as saying: "There are going to be jurors who will be fans of mine. I walk down the streets of New York and people shake my hand. They say, 'I want to be just like you.'"
Is Shkreli exaggerating or lying? A year ago, I probably would have said "yes." After this horrible Trump presidency, evidently lots of people support Trump (and creeps like Shkreli).
So the question becomes: Who is really more hazardous to our health? Trump, or those who cheer, pander, enable, and support Trump and his destructive policies and nasty behavior?
As Pogo said: "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
34
The people are more hazardous. That includes the news media, who fawns on Trump's every breath.
6
One reason they do continue to support him is that they are still only getting his side of the story. They don't watch "other" news, read "other" papers or get "other" news clips/articles or comments in their Facebook feed. I have been in the midst of an online discussion (rare, but a good one) with a supporter -- we, literally, are not operating from the same set of facts, but I have discovered there are areas of agreement. But he honestly believes that GOPs value and support the very same things that I believe they have consistently taken away (e.g., job training, counseling, help for the homeless). And he has absorbed the whole mantra of the right - trickle down, welfare abusers/waste mantra, etc. I took him to be sincere and good-hearted but ill-informed (but then he probably took me the same way).
1
There are two things going on here. There's Trump, who is a lying parody of a huckster promoting this bill as some great thing that is going to make things better for us all, and there is the Republican establishment working diligently to provide the very richest of Americans with a tax break at the expensive of poor sick people. I'm not sure which is worse.
27
Apple - Interesting. True Story.
In the late 90's, I was a lead Test Engineer at a large Texas semiconductor company. One day a marketing, applications engineer, Russell ... at my company asked me to help him solve a problem with two Apple engineers. They complained that the devices we sold them were not working in their new system. I agreed to assist.
He set up a conference call. After introductions, I began asking detailed questions. They couldn't answer any of them. So I back tracked and asked more simple questions. They sounded like they were stoned. I remember telling Russell that they reminded me of, Mutt and Jeff. He needed to kick the problem up the Apple staircase.
At least they had Steve Jobs and others who were willing to learn. Made a difference, didn't it? What do we have?
When I started my first job as a teenager, my father pulled me aside and asked, "What do you call someone, that gets paid to do one thing, but does something else?" I shrugged. He responded ,"A crook. A cheap useless crook."
In the late 90's, I was a lead Test Engineer at a large Texas semiconductor company. One day a marketing, applications engineer, Russell ... at my company asked me to help him solve a problem with two Apple engineers. They complained that the devices we sold them were not working in their new system. I agreed to assist.
He set up a conference call. After introductions, I began asking detailed questions. They couldn't answer any of them. So I back tracked and asked more simple questions. They sounded like they were stoned. I remember telling Russell that they reminded me of, Mutt and Jeff. He needed to kick the problem up the Apple staircase.
At least they had Steve Jobs and others who were willing to learn. Made a difference, didn't it? What do we have?
When I started my first job as a teenager, my father pulled me aside and asked, "What do you call someone, that gets paid to do one thing, but does something else?" I shrugged. He responded ,"A crook. A cheap useless crook."
13
The way I see it is the sooner that 45's Crew takes down America, the sooner that the next revolution will commence.
4
"The Republicans now have a pre-existing condition: They voted for something that will cause them a lot of pain in the future."
Fully aware Mr. Trump is a republican, this isn't an issue we can blame on one party or another -- and we shouldn't. Why? You stated, "They voted for something that will cause THEM a lot of pain the future." This is the United States. Whether we like it or not, we all go down together -- regardless of color, wealth, or even intelligence. We all die due to asinine "presidential" decisions.
Fully aware Mr. Trump is a republican, this isn't an issue we can blame on one party or another -- and we shouldn't. Why? You stated, "They voted for something that will cause THEM a lot of pain the future." This is the United States. Whether we like it or not, we all go down together -- regardless of color, wealth, or even intelligence. We all die due to asinine "presidential" decisions.
2
MJ, I think you miss the point of Dowd's column. You are quite correct that the damage won't be limited to any group of Americans. But it's important that the heartless manikins who voted for this ruthless legislation are denied the majority as soon as possible. That's the only way we can prevent this Administration (including Congress) from continuing to throw people under the bus ... good people, hardworking people, all but a tiny cadre of the super-rich.....Too bad it will be moderate Republicans who are vulnerable to a Democratic challenger. But that is the system we have (partially thanks to Republican gerrymandering...)
Nancy
Nancy
"we all go down together -- regardless of color, wealth, or even intelligence"
I beg to differ. No one who is white and wealthy is going down with the rest of the masses -- regardless of intelligence.
The ones who are going down are the poor and the middle class regardless of color and intelligence.
I beg to differ. No one who is white and wealthy is going down with the rest of the masses -- regardless of intelligence.
The ones who are going down are the poor and the middle class regardless of color and intelligence.
Trump has no regard for human life. He has no critical thinking skills and he is an excellent liar. Trump is killing us whether it be a nuclear conflagration in the next 5 minutes, 5 days, 5 weeks or 5 months or a healthcare plan that will result in deaths because of its lack of coverage of people. He has no regard for anyone but Donald.
Never did I ever think the leader of the free world could get away with lying all the time, commit crimes without being incarcerated, being more civil to authoritarian leaders than to our allies. How is he still in office? Why has he not been charged with crimes and misdemeanor? Why has he not been impeached over Russiagate? How can he basically destroy all these institutions and programs that were set up to help people. Trump represents fear and greed. I just pray and I am not religious each and every day that more people wake up to the fact that Trump is killing us each and every day and he has got to go and be removed from office. He is not a normal President, he is an illegitimate president. I want to say so long to Mr. McGreedy. I want to say no more free golf on the tax payer and a free ride to grow his business on the tax payer. The GOP has completely lost its moral compass and every single GOP legislator is an accomplice in the devastation to this country that is Trump!!! Trump is killing us!!!!!!!!!!!
Never did I ever think the leader of the free world could get away with lying all the time, commit crimes without being incarcerated, being more civil to authoritarian leaders than to our allies. How is he still in office? Why has he not been charged with crimes and misdemeanor? Why has he not been impeached over Russiagate? How can he basically destroy all these institutions and programs that were set up to help people. Trump represents fear and greed. I just pray and I am not religious each and every day that more people wake up to the fact that Trump is killing us each and every day and he has got to go and be removed from office. He is not a normal President, he is an illegitimate president. I want to say so long to Mr. McGreedy. I want to say no more free golf on the tax payer and a free ride to grow his business on the tax payer. The GOP has completely lost its moral compass and every single GOP legislator is an accomplice in the devastation to this country that is Trump!!! Trump is killing us!!!!!!!!!!!
16
This isn't that much different than what Reagan and W did.
Reagan, who didn't say the word AIDS for what -- 6 or 7 years after the epidemic began?
W - Who took advantage of 9/11 and got us into a war with Iraq that we are still fighting today?
I didn't refer to Nixon because I was a child when he was President. I knew that he was not liked by many but don't know much about him to describe his faults here.
Trump is just the latest iteration of Republican disasters.
Reagan, who didn't say the word AIDS for what -- 6 or 7 years after the epidemic began?
W - Who took advantage of 9/11 and got us into a war with Iraq that we are still fighting today?
I didn't refer to Nixon because I was a child when he was President. I knew that he was not liked by many but don't know much about him to describe his faults here.
Trump is just the latest iteration of Republican disasters.
9
The difference is, I think Reagan and Bush deep down did have moral compasses and the GOP did as well. I agree with your points on both Reagan and Bush. I don't know much about Nixon either and he was a liar like Trump but I think he at least read and analyzed things.
Reagan, Bush and Nixon had respect for the office. I don't think they wanted to do anything that would destroy the world. Trump is clueless, he is a charlatan and he is using the office for the growth of his businesses and never have we had a foreign power infiltrate our government. Trump is so clueless he could do something to destroy the country and the world with nukes. The internet and social media is a game changer and hence puts Trump on a totally different level. It is dangerous to say "Trump is just like them", he is not and he is killing us.
Reagan, Bush and Nixon had respect for the office. I don't think they wanted to do anything that would destroy the world. Trump is clueless, he is a charlatan and he is using the office for the growth of his businesses and never have we had a foreign power infiltrate our government. Trump is so clueless he could do something to destroy the country and the world with nukes. The internet and social media is a game changer and hence puts Trump on a totally different level. It is dangerous to say "Trump is just like them", he is not and he is killing us.
Compared to the bozos that followed him, Nixon had many good points. Weird to be able to say that.....
It's time for marches and media to spread the word. The GOP congress is totally against the people. A tax break for the super rich- less health care for patients-makes one ill. Fight the GOP and tump!
12
Problem is there's a whole other media that reports fake news. There are two sets of information in this country. I'm afraid the truth will never get through.
It's time for the adults in Washington in the US Senate of both parties, including the Independents, to hold pubic hearings on Australia's better health care system. Who knew health care could be so easy?
6
Cowboy, the answer, sadly, is that anyone who looks around the rest of the civilized world, finds that everybody but us covers all their people with health care, like health care is public utility. People elsewhere don't die from failure to get treated for routine illnesses, like happens here. People elsewhere get ordinary treatment for an illness and spend a couple days in the hospital and have routine followup, and don't go bankrupt. Fact is, Jimmy Kimmel's baby was only in danger because he had the misfortune to be born American. Everyplace else, all kids get the care they need.
Yes, only in America do we wrestle with whether to provide health care...
and the really GREAT part: we pay twice what others pay, get worse results and don't even cover everybody. And The Orange Cockup wants to make us greater than that! HOW? Well, we already pay more and get less, so I guess it's even less coverage and even higher costs.
Yes, only in America do we wrestle with whether to provide health care...
and the really GREAT part: we pay twice what others pay, get worse results and don't even cover everybody. And The Orange Cockup wants to make us greater than that! HOW? Well, we already pay more and get less, so I guess it's even less coverage and even higher costs.
1
When will the Trumpees realize that they have been bamboozled by a snake oil salesman? As New Yorker humor writer Andy Borowitz wrote in his latest offering, "Moments after House Republicans voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act on Thursday, millions of Trump supporters celebrated the imminent loss of their health insurance.
From coast to coast, Americans who cast their votes for Donald J. Trump expressed jubilation at finally being relieved of the burden of being insured in the event of catastrophic illness."
There are those who don't realize that the Borowitz Report is indeed Fake News.
http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/trump-supporters-celebrat...
From coast to coast, Americans who cast their votes for Donald J. Trump expressed jubilation at finally being relieved of the burden of being insured in the event of catastrophic illness."
There are those who don't realize that the Borowitz Report is indeed Fake News.
http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/trump-supporters-celebrat...
7
What will they do? They will stick by him because he doesn't want to be seen sweating and they don't want to see him sweat.
There are so many people in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania , Ohio; not to speak of the reliable red states, that are either too gullible to see through all this lunacy or are too trapped in their own silo to think for themselves. Difficult to see how sanity can prevail
25
No Shishir, Bernie got through to them but they couldn't vote for him, he was NOT on the ticket. Because the dnc was-is tone deaf.
1
Trump does not care about health care or about anything . He has the intelligence and the maturity of a child . He is a spoiled child playing at being President . The obsession of the GOP with repealing Obamacare may allow the Democrats to regain control of Congress in 2018 and then start impeachment procedures . That is the only way to stop the spoiled brat from breaking the Country like he would break a toy .
26
Not to worry Republicans. A very solid majority of American white women were stupid enough to vote for this low life. They will keep voting for him because he is a big, rich, white guy.
10
If Democrats in the senate want to gain any traction during health care debates they should recommend that a united bi-partisn senate concentrate on the price gouging insurance and pharma companies. If Americans are too frightened by universal health care they should at least try to rein in the evil profiteering running rampant in those two industries.
13
Good luck with that.
The insurance and pharma companies have too much influence and Americans are frightened by them too.
The insurance and pharma companies have too much influence and Americans are frightened by them too.
How is that the party which defines itself as the party of family values, the party of morals, the party of faith, the party of law and order etc etc, can get behind this man as President?
This man who has been thrice divorced, had extramarital affairs, says he can grab a woman by her crotch, has multiple female accusers of his inappropriate behavior, has six bankruptcies, has cheated hundreds out of their due pay, ran a fraud 'university', has lied extensively on the record, and demeans the office of the President almost continually with his crude boorish behavior and tweets...and on and on.
My rational and reasonable mind can't align these opposing facts. Thus I have had to come to the conclusion that the GOP now supporting Trump cares only about power and party. Power and party. Nothing else.
They are now an empty and soulless vessel devoid of morals, ethics, and humanity, led by a petulant and narcissistic charlatan man-child.
Eisenhower rolls in his grave.
This man who has been thrice divorced, had extramarital affairs, says he can grab a woman by her crotch, has multiple female accusers of his inappropriate behavior, has six bankruptcies, has cheated hundreds out of their due pay, ran a fraud 'university', has lied extensively on the record, and demeans the office of the President almost continually with his crude boorish behavior and tweets...and on and on.
My rational and reasonable mind can't align these opposing facts. Thus I have had to come to the conclusion that the GOP now supporting Trump cares only about power and party. Power and party. Nothing else.
They are now an empty and soulless vessel devoid of morals, ethics, and humanity, led by a petulant and narcissistic charlatan man-child.
Eisenhower rolls in his grave.
29
Eisenhower may be rolling but let's be real. Have we had an Eisenhower Republican in the White House in the last 60 years? I was born during the Kennedy years and have no memory of Eisenhower but he has to be better than Nixon, Reagan, Bush, Bush and Trump. Oh yeah, Ford, too. Ford may actually have been good if he would not have pardoned Nixon so quickly.
Thank you.
1
There is a less devastating possibility, it may be that little donnie's followers may be acting as a cult.
This changes only how do deal with those effected...
for zombie cult followers - discussions on the morality of compassion
empty soulless vessels - direct in-their-face confrontation
This changes only how do deal with those effected...
for zombie cult followers - discussions on the morality of compassion
empty soulless vessels - direct in-their-face confrontation
1
It's insanely ironic that Trump and his cronies can push their Unhealth bill and, at the same time, with a straight face, Trump can admit that Australia has better health care than we do.
The Republicans in the House just don't get it -- Americans are finally ready to join the rest of the world and have universal health care. With the state that medicine is in today, no other type of system has a chance of helping the average person without the threat of bankruptcy hanging over your head as soon as you get really sick.
The Republicans in the House just don't get it -- Americans are finally ready to join the rest of the world and have universal health care. With the state that medicine is in today, no other type of system has a chance of helping the average person without the threat of bankruptcy hanging over your head as soon as you get really sick.
16
Every evening I ask myself how can these despicable human beings look in the mirror or at their spouses and children. I've known since my days in NYC and AC that DJT was a grifter after he screwed vendor friends of mine.
Now we have Sean Spicer lying to the press every day and the press afraid to call him out. Now we have Paul Ryan "playing" Trump to promote his lifelong cynical agenda.
When do we march in unity against this madness? When, if ever do the Trump "loyalists" have regrets? No answers here! ONLY HOPE THAT WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS!
Now we have Sean Spicer lying to the press every day and the press afraid to call him out. Now we have Paul Ryan "playing" Trump to promote his lifelong cynical agenda.
When do we march in unity against this madness? When, if ever do the Trump "loyalists" have regrets? No answers here! ONLY HOPE THAT WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS!
8
We need to understand this is really not about health care. Its to undo what a Black President could achieve in a white county.
Look at the eyes and glee of Republicans when they passed the anti Obamacare. They would not feel that happy if all wars ended
Look at the eyes and glee of Republicans when they passed the anti Obamacare. They would not feel that happy if all wars ended
12
Yes, this is about erasing Blackness.
But those of us will remember the good that President Obama did for this country.
All we will remember about Trump is the screaming, if we are alive to remember at all.
But those of us will remember the good that President Obama did for this country.
All we will remember about Trump is the screaming, if we are alive to remember at all.
Weep or rage--either is an appropriate response to the triumph of greed and the politics of revenge. Can anything good come of something so truly awful? Only if enough people refuse to endorse this attack on women, the elderly and anyone who is not rich, white and Republican.
8
Trump sends a missile to Syria over "God's gassed children" but he and his cronies criticize Jimmy Kimmel for weeping over his tiny little infant, born with a heart condition.
Not only do they criticize, but they threaten to send children like Kimmel's to a guillotine.
Not only do they criticize, but they threaten to send children like Kimmel's to a guillotine.
8
Health care in the United States is run by insurance and pharmaceutical companies. It's that simple.
7
Mo, the "do nothing" GOP congress is now officially the "do something awful" congress. I, for one, am glad we have their votes on the record because 2018 will be a reckoning like no other. One hopes the Senate will be smarter, but given their 13 white men drafting circle, I'm not holding my breath.
7
This Republican bill is dangerous to our fabric as a nation. We cut the cost for the young (who under the ACA were asked to contribute to care for older Americans) and make older Americans pay more. I understand older Americans have more illnesses and medications, but the young are not immune. There are plenty of young with type2 diabetes and cancer and ... But regardless of which population group is sicker, what we are doing is setting up a they vs, us based on age. And if we do that, then older Americans can tell the young with children in school, to pay more for their children's education. Instead of being a compassionate society which cares for one another and supports each other we become an aggressive, competitive, we vs. them ... young vs. old. We ruin our country. Let us hope people begin to appreciate the ramifications of a health care policy which erases millions from the insurance rolls because the insurance is no longer affordable.
122
Excellent point of the quid pro quo that the over 50 population pay for the education of the under 50 crowd's education (and at some point, more pro family policies) while the reverse should be true for health care. A classic win-win.
Rev, the purpose of open pools in insurance is so the healthy do pay for the sick. It's called actuarial tables. Look it up. Ryan doesn't even understand that. Oh God, this is worse than we even imagined!
We can only hope. Nearly half of voters in the presidential election voted for a charlatan whose persuasive parlor tricks included full-throated racism, misogyny, mocking of the disabled, and incitement of violence against the media and protestors. It is clear his tax break for the very wealthy, which masquerades as a health care plan even as it attempts to take health care from millions of people, that Trump is all about smoke and mirrors, confident that the folks who voted for him will be as easily duped about the effects of his policies as they were by his rhetoric on the campaign trail.
8
We can only hope that this vote, and their prolific incompetence in general, will truly haunt the GOP.
Along with all the other horrid executive orders and decisions Trump has foisted upon our national humanity as well to please his insatiable ego, and of course churn out applause from his fawning, albeit clueless supporters.
But the Myopia of the GOP voters who placed an utterly unqualified man in the oval office, has proven very dangerous and unpredictable.
Now is not the time to hide from the news, rather it is the time to stand and fight as we are facing the single greatest threat to our country and our way of
life – The current governing GOP and their leader Trump.
This is an all out disaster in every facet of government.
Why anyone ever voted for this crass, tacky, gotta have everything gold plated and gilded and shiny, ignorant, incurious huckster is truly beyond my capacity to comprehend.
Along with all the other horrid executive orders and decisions Trump has foisted upon our national humanity as well to please his insatiable ego, and of course churn out applause from his fawning, albeit clueless supporters.
But the Myopia of the GOP voters who placed an utterly unqualified man in the oval office, has proven very dangerous and unpredictable.
Now is not the time to hide from the news, rather it is the time to stand and fight as we are facing the single greatest threat to our country and our way of
life – The current governing GOP and their leader Trump.
This is an all out disaster in every facet of government.
Why anyone ever voted for this crass, tacky, gotta have everything gold plated and gilded and shiny, ignorant, incurious huckster is truly beyond my capacity to comprehend.
8
Hazardous to our health? Why leave the blame on Trump alone?
13 white men.
That's right. 13 white Republican men will work in the senate on The Healthcare Bill...
Who speaks for the 150 million women in the country?? Are these men qualified to represent their heathcare interests?
It's not that Republicans are tone deaf. They just heard criticism of their colleagues in the House celebrating their success in denying healthcare to millions of Americans - with a picture of their all white male fraternity.
It's that they just don't care. Seriously. They consider themselves as America's saviors... if not outright partisan in reflecting the white men of America.
Why does any woman vote for these regressive patriarchal Republicans? Why should any minority vote for these Republicans?
Why should anyone in America who's compassionate and empathetic vote for Republicans? No one other than the Top 10% of the country in terms of wealth should vote for these self serving unprincipled partisans who care not for hurting the citizens of the country but for grabbing and holding on to power.
We need to throw all these bums out. Starting 2018.
13 white men.
That's right. 13 white Republican men will work in the senate on The Healthcare Bill...
Who speaks for the 150 million women in the country?? Are these men qualified to represent their heathcare interests?
It's not that Republicans are tone deaf. They just heard criticism of their colleagues in the House celebrating their success in denying healthcare to millions of Americans - with a picture of their all white male fraternity.
It's that they just don't care. Seriously. They consider themselves as America's saviors... if not outright partisan in reflecting the white men of America.
Why does any woman vote for these regressive patriarchal Republicans? Why should any minority vote for these Republicans?
Why should anyone in America who's compassionate and empathetic vote for Republicans? No one other than the Top 10% of the country in terms of wealth should vote for these self serving unprincipled partisans who care not for hurting the citizens of the country but for grabbing and holding on to power.
We need to throw all these bums out. Starting 2018.
11
Yes, this bill is everything it shouldn't be IF good healthcare for all is the goal. And yes, this bill is about teeing up a big tax cut in a tax reform bill, by passing a big tax cut in a healthcare reform bill. But don't miss the bigger stealth mission, the one Ryan has been dreaming about since he was a beer drinking kegger in college, the dismantling of the social safety net. Make no mistake. Orchestrating the deconstruction of Medicaid is Ryan's big prize. It's his gateway drug to dismantling Medicare, and dare he dream, Social Security.
14
Social security, which Ryan benefited from as a child.
This is who is the House Speaker.
Fascism will come in a handsome, smiling face, waving a flag. And I'm not talking about Trump.
This is who is the House Speaker.
Fascism will come in a handsome, smiling face, waving a flag. And I'm not talking about Trump.
1
The Republican health insurance proposal should be called "The Ice Flow Plan."
2
The group pictures of House Republicans celebrating their "victory" resemble nothing so much as a good old-fashioned fraternity party. And with kegs of Bud Light, we are told. That all-absolving proverb "Boys will be boys" is not so out of date, after all. A crowd of guys can rev up one another more than anyone can even imagine. It's only realistic to expect some rough talk, some tough treatment, some blood-lust for a "win," some victims of hazing, maybe a death or two. Playing with death seems--almost--to be the invisible point, driving through all the bonding, and boasting, and wrestling to make specious arguments appear true.
Is this wild political scene just another replay of "Lord of the Flies"?
Don't ask me. I'm a bleeding heart liberal.
Is this wild political scene just another replay of "Lord of the Flies"?
Don't ask me. I'm a bleeding heart liberal.
6
There is no excuse for Trump, he is a living, breathing disaster. We can reflect on the Clinton campaign's ineptness to understand just how upset middle America was/is.... specifically in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and how the DNC did itself in with the hacks showing the clear prefernce to Clinto over Sanders (this is the exact moment that many jumped ship on voting altogether in 2016).
But now the House Republicans passed a health bil WITHOUT EVEN READING IT IN ITS ENTIRETY! Yes, they care that little how it affects American citizens, that they were elected to represent, as long as it gives tax breaks to their lobbyists interests and trump's business.
If there is any silver lining in the debacle of the Presidency turned over to a would be dictator, its that it is galvanizing Independents, grassroots organizations, and Democrats. The House just ensured handing its reigns back over to Democratswho will have to do a serious gut check before 2018.
But now the House Republicans passed a health bil WITHOUT EVEN READING IT IN ITS ENTIRETY! Yes, they care that little how it affects American citizens, that they were elected to represent, as long as it gives tax breaks to their lobbyists interests and trump's business.
If there is any silver lining in the debacle of the Presidency turned over to a would be dictator, its that it is galvanizing Independents, grassroots organizations, and Democrats. The House just ensured handing its reigns back over to Democratswho will have to do a serious gut check before 2018.
4
Jon--The vision of drunken Republicrooks, dancing over the "graves" of vulnerable, disenfranchised citizens, will remain with me until my dying day. "Mission Accomplished?"
1
Only a scoundrel would vote for a bill alleged to help people, without knowing how many it will help, or won't, and what it will cost. For sure, a perfect example of stupid.
4
Trump's joyride in his stolen Presidency is about to plunge his cold-blooded, hard-hearted, swollen-headed bullyboys off a cliff and back into the swamp where they were hatched.
8
“He’s not a student of anything other than protecting his image. What he cares about is how he’s perceived, not the nuts and bolts of things. He is essentially a performance artist.”
Trump may want to check in on reality. Excluding the 35% blinding drinking the Kool-Aid, he is widely perceived as clueless, uncaring, unhinged, a liar, an obnoxious loudmouth, delusional, as well as an embarrassment and disgrace to our nation.
Trump may want to check in on reality. Excluding the 35% blinding drinking the Kool-Aid, he is widely perceived as clueless, uncaring, unhinged, a liar, an obnoxious loudmouth, delusional, as well as an embarrassment and disgrace to our nation.
6
Former congressman Joe Walsh summarized the GOP's incredibly insensitive motivation for opposing the ACA: "Why should I have to pay for someone else's healthcare?" Trump is only channeling what is driving his party's years-long battle to repeal Obamacare. Trump doesn't care about the details of any aspect of the powerful office he holds, except his ratings. As long as he can comfort himself with the cheers of the crowd at one of his rallies, he is the ideal pawn of people like the Mercers, Steve Bannon and others lurking behind the scenes. This situation is not only hazardous to our health(care), it is hazardous to the survival of our republic. Terrifying.
5
All Men. 1/2 face of a Woman. The right ratio represented in this decision.
2
All these men have mothers wives sisters aunts girl-friends daughters who cannot do anything but stand behind them invisible. That's what happens in Saudi Arabia the difference being women are outside but veiled head to toe. My mother in law tells us back when she was a young girl her father (in the 1930s) would tell her, go inside, be heard but not seen!
1
Republicans are against anything resembling universal healthcare because they are against entitlements in general. A higher death rate translates directly into less money spent on Social Security and Medicare, a much sought after result for them and their plutocratic patrons.
2
“He’s fundamentally lazy. He free-rides so many processes he doesn’t know anything about. He used to do it in the business world, and now he does it in the political world..."
When Trump helmed his enterprise, he had his family, his lawyers, his accountants there to do the heavy lifting for him. He could get by being the company's face and dabbling in what interested him.
Trump thought that all leadership roles were so agreeable. Little wonder he acknowledged that the presidency is a bigger, harder job than he imagined. No wonder that he misses his previous life. Or that he tries to preserve what he can of it.
Ultimately, when it came to his business, he had skin in the game. He could care to whom he delegated. But with the presidency, he has no such incentives. At a minimum, he can try to save face by blaming Congress, as he did with the first failed healthcare bill. He has no political future and would just as soon resume his life.
But we have everything to lose through what has already shaped up as a failed presidency.
When Trump helmed his enterprise, he had his family, his lawyers, his accountants there to do the heavy lifting for him. He could get by being the company's face and dabbling in what interested him.
Trump thought that all leadership roles were so agreeable. Little wonder he acknowledged that the presidency is a bigger, harder job than he imagined. No wonder that he misses his previous life. Or that he tries to preserve what he can of it.
Ultimately, when it came to his business, he had skin in the game. He could care to whom he delegated. But with the presidency, he has no such incentives. At a minimum, he can try to save face by blaming Congress, as he did with the first failed healthcare bill. He has no political future and would just as soon resume his life.
But we have everything to lose through what has already shaped up as a failed presidency.
5
Presently, putting aside the potential life/death impact of this bill, I'm personally horrified by the bizarre fact that Trump keeps winning. (And even appears to win when he doesn't.) And that one way or another he achieves his goal--to win, just to satisfy his ego needs to keep proving he's a winner. And that's regardless of consequences which he seems weirdly immune to. For example, he of course won the top prize, the presidency, despite his absurd childish tweets, his misogyny, and his favorite activity, character assassination. Thus, when it seemed as if Trumpcare was DOA a few days ago, I somehow knew he would rise up and pull it through by sheer determination and will. So I wasn't surprised when he did.
As he observed during the campaign, "I could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose supporters." That's scary. Anyone who has that amount of strange powers including an ability to turn many in congress into his own personal cult that will do his bidding (shown on the deliriously happy congratulatory faces in this photograph) in addition to his ability to accumulate thousands who would take a bullet for him, so to speak, and achieve all that despite his glaring ignorance about how things work, his mental instability, lack of knowledge and enormous lack of self awareness. Therefore, those of us who see through him, who aren't blinded by his Art of the Deal skills and who are aware of the dangers he poses to our country and the world must remain on alert.
As he observed during the campaign, "I could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose supporters." That's scary. Anyone who has that amount of strange powers including an ability to turn many in congress into his own personal cult that will do his bidding (shown on the deliriously happy congratulatory faces in this photograph) in addition to his ability to accumulate thousands who would take a bullet for him, so to speak, and achieve all that despite his glaring ignorance about how things work, his mental instability, lack of knowledge and enormous lack of self awareness. Therefore, those of us who see through him, who aren't blinded by his Art of the Deal skills and who are aware of the dangers he poses to our country and the world must remain on alert.
3
They (the GOP) voted for something that will cause them a lot of pain. In reality those that voted for it in the House and those that will vote for it in the Senate will never feel the pain as they exempted themselves for it. Republican legislator in the future (10, 20 100 years from now) may feel the pain but the current group are so incredulous to any form of health care reform that would truly benefit the common good of so many American citizens. Sadly by the times the winds of political elections may swing back to some form of normalcy the damage will have been done.
2
Still the diss on Hillary. I'm pretty sure no one has ever thought that Hillary "deserved" to be president, let alone that it was her turn.
If you look back, the idea that she even MIGHT run for president was a Republican thing. I know of not one single Democrat who even had conceived of the idea before Republicans were warning against it.
At the time I figured it was a ploy by Republicans to get the Democrats focused on a candidate who could not win. Huh! That seems to have worked.
If you look back, the idea that she even MIGHT run for president was a Republican thing. I know of not one single Democrat who even had conceived of the idea before Republicans were warning against it.
At the time I figured it was a ploy by Republicans to get the Democrats focused on a candidate who could not win. Huh! That seems to have worked.
16
" I know of not one single Democrat who even had conceived of the idea before Republicans were warning against it."
This is false. Every Democrat was waiting for her to declare, then no one challenged her afterwards.
This is false. Every Democrat was waiting for her to declare, then no one challenged her afterwards.
I vote for Hillary Clinton. That being said, someone who would actually want the job of president of the United States would out of necessity have to have a big ego. I imagine that Hillary thought she “deserved" to be president and certainly that it was her turn. I am also certain that our elected president didn’t have a clue as to what he was signing up for.
you're kidding, right? Most of Hollywood, and too many democratic women, assumed she'd run and insisted it was her turn, to the extent that Joe Biden was prevented from entering the race. And instead of telling "Bernie" to run on his own ticket because he's not a democrat in the first place, they gambled that he's be a minor annoyance, and they were wrong.
We could've had a Biden presidency. Instead, women may be paying the price in health care their standard bearer set.
We could've had a Biden presidency. Instead, women may be paying the price in health care their standard bearer set.
What Obama gave to the U.S. Taxpayers was an engineering model on par with our FREEWAYS, railroad system and space program that pulled it's people out of the mUCK and LIFTED tens of MILLIONS out of the grips of poverty from would be profiteers.
What Ryan and tRump want is to SELL FOR SCRAP the pieces left of a once great society...!
What Ryan and tRump want is to SELL FOR SCRAP the pieces left of a once great society...!
65
How pathetic to see the photo op of Trump and a bunch of old white men
laughing and smirking. Talk about a good old boys country club.
Seriously, all of you Republican women voters. These fat old white guys
are taking away most health issues that you should care about. When will
you begin to get this.
laughing and smirking. Talk about a good old boys country club.
Seriously, all of you Republican women voters. These fat old white guys
are taking away most health issues that you should care about. When will
you begin to get this.
132
That bunch of old white men ran for offices and won. If you think they were so awful you should have run against them. I respect them. They are making grave sacrifices for the good of our country and to help us remain the land of the free.
Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane .-Martin Luther King
The sad thing is that Donald trump had the opportunity to do what Hillary couldn't do, or even Bernie if he was elected. Donald trump had the opportunity to bring Universal Healthcare to America. Single payer. The democrats would vote for it of course, and if he could cobble up enough republicans to vote for this toxic piece of trash, then he could have easily got the republican votes needed to pass it. Trump the salesman that he is, could have sold higher taxes for unlimited healthcare to the American people, selling is his expertise. If Trump had brought Universal healthcare to America he would over night become popular with all Americans, and also secure himself a 2nd term. This is the true tragedy of the moment. Trump only cares about one thing and it isn't healthcare, it's securing the funding to give tax cuts to the rich, and he knows Universal Healthcare would raise taxes not lower them. Even his supporters will turn on him because there isn't one of them that doesn't need the protection of health insurance, or has a parent or a loved one that will not be harmed by a slash in medicaid. In one unfeeling, insensitive move, one of pure hubris, he has given the democrats a hammer to pound him and the republicans with.
And On the night he gave birth to a Monster, he had the gall to praise the Australian health care system : Universal healthcare free to all.
The sad thing is that Donald trump had the opportunity to do what Hillary couldn't do, or even Bernie if he was elected. Donald trump had the opportunity to bring Universal Healthcare to America. Single payer. The democrats would vote for it of course, and if he could cobble up enough republicans to vote for this toxic piece of trash, then he could have easily got the republican votes needed to pass it. Trump the salesman that he is, could have sold higher taxes for unlimited healthcare to the American people, selling is his expertise. If Trump had brought Universal healthcare to America he would over night become popular with all Americans, and also secure himself a 2nd term. This is the true tragedy of the moment. Trump only cares about one thing and it isn't healthcare, it's securing the funding to give tax cuts to the rich, and he knows Universal Healthcare would raise taxes not lower them. Even his supporters will turn on him because there isn't one of them that doesn't need the protection of health insurance, or has a parent or a loved one that will not be harmed by a slash in medicaid. In one unfeeling, insensitive move, one of pure hubris, he has given the democrats a hammer to pound him and the republicans with.
And On the night he gave birth to a Monster, he had the gall to praise the Australian health care system : Universal healthcare free to all.
65
My friend, an American with dual citizenship lives in Australia. She received a hip replacement a couple of years ago. Not only were all of the medical costs associated with the procedure covered, but the government also paid the bulk of a motel rental in the town where she lives for two weeks. Her share of the motel rental was $20.
And they provide health care to all at a lower cost than the hodge/podge system we have in the country.
And they provide health care to all at a lower cost than the hodge/podge system we have in the country.
Single payer is better, why?
I work in the trenches helping people that are disabled and in need of help. It's the loafers who think that everything is free and should be given to them that hurt the system. To keep our free country thriving you need to do your part. You need to be a responsible citizen of this great nation in order to keep it great.
So there was this group of white people in the Rose Garden, fist bumping and chest thumping and generally looking positively elated. What could this possibly be? A cure for a major disease had been found, perhaps? A peace deal had been reached in the Middle East? A global plan to end world hunger had been announced? No, a bill to take away healthcare for millions of people and give rich people a huge tax cut had been passed. And that, to Republicans, ranks as one of the best days ever.
138
It's time to hand over the Repubs to the dust bin of history before they push our country to the cemetry of the once mighty nations and empires of the past. It's time for the Democrats to go whole hog on universal health care with a single payer. It's time to decide our economic policies based on the need of our working people not the investors and the rich managers. It matters not anymore whether the new policies call for bilateral or multilateral trade agreements or no agreements with countries that do not play by the rules. It's time for free college education, even if we have to limit it to first 2 years only, as a starter. Finally,it's time to devise our taxation system that makes people at the higher end of incomes pay taxes at highter rates.
39
Sorry, no free lunches in this great and free country. There are countries we're everything is free. I do not want to live in one of those communist countries. Citizens need to be responsible and not loafers to keep our country the land of the free.
Now that we have the 2nd worst President in our history, & he could surpass even James Buchanan under whom the Union collapsed ("Union! I HATE unions!" -- DJT History lesson), & combined with that is a totally mad GOP House & nearly as mad GOP Senate, Mo-Do has FINALLY figured out 2016 was a catastrophic event in US history.
But not enough to keep her from getting some more digs in at Obama & Hillary. Despite his flaws, goofs, and flubs, Obama is clearly one of the two BEST Presidents we have had since Truman. The other is, surprisingly, Bill Clinton, but I see Obama as better. Scandal-free and getting health care done gives him the edge. Bush took a mildly down-turning economy and turned into a catastrophe that Obama had to fix. AND HE DID! So much got better under Obama, albeit slowly and gradually that when you look at the 8 years, it's hard to imagine a consistently better improvement.
But it's not just optics. Nobody wants to say this out loud, but we are in the midst of a palace coup, a la Putin, Erdogan, Duterte, etc. Trump is seeking to gather more and more power into his hands and Congress, with their near-sighted blinders on are giving it to him. He's attacking the courts, Congress' independence and virtually every civil liberty this nation is built on.
And for what? So he can be "worshiped and adored", accrue even more billions than Putin and more power, and to wreak vengeance on his perceived enemies, starting with the banks that wouldn't lend to him!
But not enough to keep her from getting some more digs in at Obama & Hillary. Despite his flaws, goofs, and flubs, Obama is clearly one of the two BEST Presidents we have had since Truman. The other is, surprisingly, Bill Clinton, but I see Obama as better. Scandal-free and getting health care done gives him the edge. Bush took a mildly down-turning economy and turned into a catastrophe that Obama had to fix. AND HE DID! So much got better under Obama, albeit slowly and gradually that when you look at the 8 years, it's hard to imagine a consistently better improvement.
But it's not just optics. Nobody wants to say this out loud, but we are in the midst of a palace coup, a la Putin, Erdogan, Duterte, etc. Trump is seeking to gather more and more power into his hands and Congress, with their near-sighted blinders on are giving it to him. He's attacking the courts, Congress' independence and virtually every civil liberty this nation is built on.
And for what? So he can be "worshiped and adored", accrue even more billions than Putin and more power, and to wreak vengeance on his perceived enemies, starting with the banks that wouldn't lend to him!
84
To Dad of 2:
You have made a really important point. I also believe that Trump is so avaricious and vain (as well as willfully uneducated about the US govt and US history) that he
thinks he can can play in the big leagues with the murderers (Putin and Duerte).
Repeat after me: 25th Amendment; Section 4. He hasn't read the Constitution and he is going to be in for a rude awakening. People actually care about this stuff.
You have made a really important point. I also believe that Trump is so avaricious and vain (as well as willfully uneducated about the US govt and US history) that he
thinks he can can play in the big leagues with the murderers (Putin and Duerte).
Repeat after me: 25th Amendment; Section 4. He hasn't read the Constitution and he is going to be in for a rude awakening. People actually care about this stuff.
The Republicans are just ridiculous, aren't they?
Barack Obama really wanted to help people. He wanted all Americans to have health care. Republicans like to bash Obama, saying stuff like: "the Democrats didn't want to listen to us. We had really great ideas!" Yup, we're now finding out, seven years later just how great those ideas were. Basically, their idea is "NoCare." That's always been their big idea, yet they just lie and tell people they'll get cheaper and better health care. Now the Senators have to figure out what to do with this putrid piece of trash they've been handed. Best answer: put it on the back burner and hope everybody forgets about it.
This president doesn't understand that running the country isn't a game show. We already have a game show called "Let's Make a Deal." Mostly it's about contestants winning a new car, while losers get zonked. Everybody has a little fun. When losing means the health care you came to depend on is taken away, the game isn't so much fun anymore.
Mr. Obama didn't do "optics." It's not that he thought salesmanship was beneath him, he just wasn't any good at it. He hoped people would think things through and see the truth for themselves. But the Republicans have a great talent for outright lying and hate mongering and now their constituents might possibly lose out big time. Sadly, rational Americans not so easily duped will be losing too.
Barack Obama really wanted to help people. He wanted all Americans to have health care. Republicans like to bash Obama, saying stuff like: "the Democrats didn't want to listen to us. We had really great ideas!" Yup, we're now finding out, seven years later just how great those ideas were. Basically, their idea is "NoCare." That's always been their big idea, yet they just lie and tell people they'll get cheaper and better health care. Now the Senators have to figure out what to do with this putrid piece of trash they've been handed. Best answer: put it on the back burner and hope everybody forgets about it.
This president doesn't understand that running the country isn't a game show. We already have a game show called "Let's Make a Deal." Mostly it's about contestants winning a new car, while losers get zonked. Everybody has a little fun. When losing means the health care you came to depend on is taken away, the game isn't so much fun anymore.
Mr. Obama didn't do "optics." It's not that he thought salesmanship was beneath him, he just wasn't any good at it. He hoped people would think things through and see the truth for themselves. But the Republicans have a great talent for outright lying and hate mongering and now their constituents might possibly lose out big time. Sadly, rational Americans not so easily duped will be losing too.
55
You'd think that for all the months of campaigning we Americans endured for almost two years that somehow Trump would have eventually been compelled to explain just what his health care plan was. There was, of course, the old line how the wonders of the free market will solve everything - except a free market is not a free lunch and Trump sold the snake oil that he would deliver milk and honey.
When will more folks wake up to the con? No doubt many Americans feel like they've been conned so long it doesn't matter any more. Two in three Americans have a home worth less than the 2008 peak. Wages remain stagnant. No wonder the anger at all the glowing globalists.
Hillary Clinton if polls be believed is still unpopular. Nancy Pelosi is still the failed standard bearer; Schumer is a bit better. Where is the new leadership of the Democratic party?
When will more folks wake up to the con? No doubt many Americans feel like they've been conned so long it doesn't matter any more. Two in three Americans have a home worth less than the 2008 peak. Wages remain stagnant. No wonder the anger at all the glowing globalists.
Hillary Clinton if polls be believed is still unpopular. Nancy Pelosi is still the failed standard bearer; Schumer is a bit better. Where is the new leadership of the Democratic party?
13
In California--Newsom, Harris, Betty Yee and Governor Brown.
Well this 75 year old(in a week) agrees, and keeps looking at people like Sherrod Brown!!!! We need more like him in leadership!!!!!
"But in delivering this win for Trump, they may well have delivered a way for Democrats to take the president down. The Democrats could win the House back and get their investigative machinery cranking."
Good. Actually, best news I've heard in a while. Let's hope the Republicans keep blowing their chance to govern and the Democrats don't blow their chances to win.
Good. Actually, best news I've heard in a while. Let's hope the Republicans keep blowing their chance to govern and the Democrats don't blow their chances to win.
23
Progressives don't take your eyes off the ball in play here. A ball in play since RR. Don't be suckered into running after every offensive move; way too many and many just distractions.
The game the Republicans play is existential. Their goal shot is implosion of the Federal Government for the People and an emergence of Federal and State protections for fascist like Corporatism, a Plutocracy; a concentration of wealth and power, the likes of which we've never seen.
And while that itself is super bad for this modern World, what's worse is that the R players must cater to the only base that will fuel and enable their journey.
A base committed to religious fundamentalism and hyper-nationalism out of place in 21st Century; a base that embraces christofascism, god-ordained genetic superiority, mythical rugged individualism. Often this base can be uncaring or willful ignorance of harm to others and THEMSELVES. Often they disdain most those who suffer as they do!
The R players will allow regression in so many areas - driven by this base - that society will seem from the 15th Century.
If course the very rich will play by their own rules
The repeal of imperfect but beneficial ACA and its so-called replacement by these vermin will have brutal consequences in itself but the much much much larger existential game can end in devastation
Our ONLY hope is that we vote these vermin out in 2018 and 2020! Vote every chance! And forget perfection - a lesser evil is a LESSER evil!
The game the Republicans play is existential. Their goal shot is implosion of the Federal Government for the People and an emergence of Federal and State protections for fascist like Corporatism, a Plutocracy; a concentration of wealth and power, the likes of which we've never seen.
And while that itself is super bad for this modern World, what's worse is that the R players must cater to the only base that will fuel and enable their journey.
A base committed to religious fundamentalism and hyper-nationalism out of place in 21st Century; a base that embraces christofascism, god-ordained genetic superiority, mythical rugged individualism. Often this base can be uncaring or willful ignorance of harm to others and THEMSELVES. Often they disdain most those who suffer as they do!
The R players will allow regression in so many areas - driven by this base - that society will seem from the 15th Century.
If course the very rich will play by their own rules
The repeal of imperfect but beneficial ACA and its so-called replacement by these vermin will have brutal consequences in itself but the much much much larger existential game can end in devastation
Our ONLY hope is that we vote these vermin out in 2018 and 2020! Vote every chance! And forget perfection - a lesser evil is a LESSER evil!
30
Junkyard healthcare to be dispensed behind the DUMPSTER FIRE
9
These are all just the last chances for power grab, along with gerrymandered districts and a final orgiastic 'session" against voting rights. When the emergency rooms fill up again and unreimbursed hospitals in rural area start going out of business, many will pine for the day they only had one choice for health insurance.
The massive tax cuts will most likely mimic GW Bush's record of zero job growth (with exploding deficits) and may cost Trump his presidency.
The final indignity may be the massive cuts in insurance payments may trigger a recession. Wouldn't that be apropos?
The massive tax cuts will most likely mimic GW Bush's record of zero job growth (with exploding deficits) and may cost Trump his presidency.
The final indignity may be the massive cuts in insurance payments may trigger a recession. Wouldn't that be apropos?
13
Congress has committed a breach so egregious with the American people that words to describe it are not nearly loathsome enough. Condemning millions of people to die, or suffer unnecessarily because of the greed of your donor puppet-masters has finally revealed the lot of sick souls in the Republican party.
The pictures of mostly old white men slapping each other on the back, yucking it up while condemning many Americans to painful unnecessary deaths, not to mention potential financial ruin is vomit inducing. But hey, in Republican world its time to open cold one and celebrate.
These pictures will come back to haunt these men. Did you ever see someone doing something you KNOW will push them off a cliff? That's the feeling I get when I look at these pictures. Clueless, heartless, greedy, entitled men thinking they are celebrating a major victory, too arrogant to understand they will look back upon this moment with painful regret as the earthquake it is. The realization the American people of just how unnecessarily cruel they have become will arc over their careers and fates for the foreseeable future.
The pictures of mostly old white men slapping each other on the back, yucking it up while condemning many Americans to painful unnecessary deaths, not to mention potential financial ruin is vomit inducing. But hey, in Republican world its time to open cold one and celebrate.
These pictures will come back to haunt these men. Did you ever see someone doing something you KNOW will push them off a cliff? That's the feeling I get when I look at these pictures. Clueless, heartless, greedy, entitled men thinking they are celebrating a major victory, too arrogant to understand they will look back upon this moment with painful regret as the earthquake it is. The realization the American people of just how unnecessarily cruel they have become will arc over their careers and fates for the foreseeable future.
30
Let's see. Job report. More new jobs than predicted. The unemployment down. Wages increasing. Number of full time jobs increasing. Number of part time jobs decreasing. Who is it that is opposed to buy American hire American. They want to hire buy foreign hire foreign. I want to like in a strong and free country and I realize I have a responsibility. All the loafers who think everything is free and they have no responsibility are the ones I worry about.
Maureen, I would feel better if you started one of your columns "I was wrong to be so harsh on Hillary Clinton." Because now you feel like a hypocrite pummeling Trump, who I partly blame on you because you really gave him a pass. Now do you realize healthcare would have been better off in HIllary's hands? It was the one issue Hillary she was passionate about and would have made it better for the average American. She was actually one of us growing up in middle class family in the Midwest with the stereotypical middle class upbringing and values - unlike Trump the son of privilege who has no idea what he is even talking about - and never wanted to be President anyway.
Now thanks to gutless journalism we are stuck with this buffoon for the future - so I suggest you start looking for subjects other than Trump.
Now thanks to gutless journalism we are stuck with this buffoon for the future - so I suggest you start looking for subjects other than Trump.
52
Here is the smell test: would Trump, Ryan, McConnell, Pence et al give up their generous coverage for what they want to foist on us? You can bet your life no. And don't bet your life on this half-cooked, hastily-pushed legislation, either. For no less is at stake.
23
Let's not forget the first act of House Republicans during the new Trump administration was to try to get rid of the Government Office of Ethics.
Truth is, Republicans obstructed, complained + sabotaged from the sidelines since the start of Obamacare.
Not only have they wasted time and millions of dollars with over 60 repeal attempts, the roll out of their own health care bill on Thursday was stunningly exploitative + unrealistic.
They didn't even care enough to read the bill or consider how many Americans would be critically hurt by what was in the bill. What they did was pure malpractice.
They own the problems that embattled Obamacare because of their specific actions for the past several years to destroy it.
Journalists have documented their cynical attempts quite well:
https://thinkprogress.org/blow-by-blow-a-comprehensive-timeline-of-the-g...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/02/republican-alternative-to-obama...
Truth is, Republicans obstructed, complained + sabotaged from the sidelines since the start of Obamacare.
Not only have they wasted time and millions of dollars with over 60 repeal attempts, the roll out of their own health care bill on Thursday was stunningly exploitative + unrealistic.
They didn't even care enough to read the bill or consider how many Americans would be critically hurt by what was in the bill. What they did was pure malpractice.
They own the problems that embattled Obamacare because of their specific actions for the past several years to destroy it.
Journalists have documented their cynical attempts quite well:
https://thinkprogress.org/blow-by-blow-a-comprehensive-timeline-of-the-g...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/02/republican-alternative-to-obama...
15
As a marketing guy, who has lived in the world of 4Ps – product, price, placement and promotion – I have to agree with Ms. Dowd’s analysis of Trump. He probably “did care about his product” way back when, but following his success during his reality TV years and especially after turning politician, Trump became all about promotion and “ protecting his image.”
Trump made a lot of promises during the campaign regarding healthcare, which are too numerous to list here, but this “heartless” bill that he celebrated in such an “in your face” manner in the Rose Garden was a shocking betrayal of the needs of his base. For a few fleeting moments of pleasure, the Republicans have indeed “voted for something that will cause them a lot of pain in the future.”
As for Trump, he must remember what happened to another Republican president, who famously asked the American people to “read my lips” and then forgot what those lips had promised. So come November 4, 2020 – hindsight might just make Trump wonder why he focused so much on (self) promotion and less on product, but then it will be too late.
Trump made a lot of promises during the campaign regarding healthcare, which are too numerous to list here, but this “heartless” bill that he celebrated in such an “in your face” manner in the Rose Garden was a shocking betrayal of the needs of his base. For a few fleeting moments of pleasure, the Republicans have indeed “voted for something that will cause them a lot of pain in the future.”
As for Trump, he must remember what happened to another Republican president, who famously asked the American people to “read my lips” and then forgot what those lips had promised. So come November 4, 2020 – hindsight might just make Trump wonder why he focused so much on (self) promotion and less on product, but then it will be too late.
174
Excellent comments, but "Hindsight might just make Trump wonder why he focused so much on (self) promotion..."? He's shown no evidence he's capable of any real introspection or self-analysis. Fault always lies elsewhere. This is extremely unfortunate for the electorate now, but will be invaluable when it comes to defeating him then.
Considering gullibility, Trump's and the Public's, it may already be too late...........
Unfortunately, the Republicans in the senate and the Trump no nothings are about to miss a golden opportunity to improve our health care and save money doing it. That is to simply go to medicare for all. A single payer system already in place. A system that would provide corporations and small businesses a chance to rid themselves of the burden of providing health care to employees. This saving could be bigger than any corporate tax cut being discussed.
The inurance companies may even support it because of their history of profitable supplement plans they already offer seniors.
But the no nothing republicans will miss this obvious solutions in order to keep their 1920's free enterprise dream alive.
The inurance companies may even support it because of their history of profitable supplement plans they already offer seniors.
But the no nothing republicans will miss this obvious solutions in order to keep their 1920's free enterprise dream alive.
57
To the republicans- "Be careful what you pray for, you might get it"
21
The same applies to Democrats.
Most telling GOP comment: Yesterday morning, Idaho Republican Congressman Raul Labrador told a town hall: "Nobody dies because they don’t have access to health care.” Most surprising GOP comment: Charles Krauthammer on Fox News: U.S. will have single-payer health care ‘in less than seven years’. Obamacare has made health care for all an inalienable right, in the eyes of most Americans. In Canada Medicare was first fought as a socialist idea - now it is as enshrined as free education. Krauthammer is right, and the GOP will pay for its mean-spirited selfishness at the next elections.
57
I can beat that--- : "The haphazard and cruel Republican health care repeal plan has a perfect poster boy in Rep. Thomas Garrett (R-VA), who not only confessed he hasn't read the bill, but also dismissively responded to video of constituents whose lives were saved by Obamacare by noting that they probably didn't vote for him."
You may be right. It all depends on the Murdoch Propaganda Machine failing. Rupert talks to Trump daily and tells him what to do and say to hang on to the Iron Throne. Too many people are locked into and enthralled by every utterance of Fox News, ignoring all else as being a grand conspiracy of "fake news". Few of those people ever read a book and none have a clue as to what an evil scoundrel Rupert Murdoch has been all his adult life, going back through his adult years in Australia. Murdoch didn't grow up in America, probably never took an American history course or a civics course, probably never read our Constitution, may not even know the words to our pledge of allegiance, probably would never stoop to learning the words to or sing our national anthem, and could care less about anyone but himself and his offspring. Not exclude his wives.
Thirty years ago Murdoch was not an American citizen and had to apply for an FCC waiver to purchase 6 tv stations from the late John Kluge's Metromedia. Thanks, Ronald Reagan. For nothing.
Trump may want to run Mexicans no Indian immigrants out of America. Sad. Those folks re far more loyal to our Constitution and patriotic to the ideals of the USA than one Rupert Murdoch and the USA.
I know, Times editors. No personal attacks. But it needs to be said. Just telling it like it is. Truth is a defense against libel.
Thirty years ago Murdoch was not an American citizen and had to apply for an FCC waiver to purchase 6 tv stations from the late John Kluge's Metromedia. Thanks, Ronald Reagan. For nothing.
Trump may want to run Mexicans no Indian immigrants out of America. Sad. Those folks re far more loyal to our Constitution and patriotic to the ideals of the USA than one Rupert Murdoch and the USA.
I know, Times editors. No personal attacks. But it needs to be said. Just telling it like it is. Truth is a defense against libel.
1
Let us not forget one thing, paramount over all others.....Under the House Bill people will die due to a lack of health care coverage. That is a reality....an ironic one. Here is why.
Remember the bald faced lies Republicans told about there being Death Panels under Obamacare....well keep a copy of that photo in the Rose Garden....that my fellow Americans,....that is actually the REAL Death Panel.
Remember the bald faced lies Republicans told about there being Death Panels under Obamacare....well keep a copy of that photo in the Rose Garden....that my fellow Americans,....that is actually the REAL Death Panel.
60
Insurance is not health care! Care for all was available before the ACA .
People are already dying because they can't afford the premiums and deductibles because instead of high risk pools, you've made everyone pay for contingencies that few need. As a result, because of the high deductible, when my son-who had his own insurance through work-crush his ankle in an accident at the age of 26, I had to put $5000 on a credit card before the hospital would admit him. What 26 year old has that kind of money? And that was only after I talked them down from the full $10K deductible. The fact is that when HMO's developed they created entire layers of paperwork bureaucracy that had to be funded. As a result costs for medical care rose. The cost of drugs can be pegged directly to Democrats making a deal behind closed doors with Big Pharma making it impossible to get any price competition from foreign manufacturers. Please don't think the Democrats are innocents and heroes, they put in plenty to fund their pet programs and get approval from the AMA over the objection of many of its members. This dilemma was created by bureaucrats that think they can tell others what is best for them. In reality they have made things much more costly for us all.
As president, Donnie, you're doing a heck of a job. Of course Bush was talking about Brownie, but Trump fits nicely. He and his smug, patronizing band of Republicans created another Katrina with their retrofitted health care bill. People with preexisting conditions will drown as a result of Trump's support of this bill. But as Oscar Wilde said, "the rich know the price of everything, and the value of nothing." These uncaring fools will pay the price come the next election.
34
Trump made a deal. It is not a good deal, but a deal nonetheless. I doubt he really cares if it passes the Senate. He just needs to be able to tell his base that he made a "terrific" deal and passed a health care bill.
22
I hope Trump will realize, one day, that his place in America history is at stake, and that these are "ratings" that really matter.
9
He could care less. By then, he'll be gone with all the money that he was able to steal from the people and the country. You assume that this fool has a conscience. He doesn't.
Don't hold your breath waiting.
I doubt that Trump even has clue that he will go down in history as The Russian Stooge - a treasonous buffoon who inflicted more damage on this country than 9/11, Pearl Harbor and GW Bush rolled into one.
The Republicans are momentarily are pleased, Trump got his best biggest ever in the history of biggest and best...win, bigly, but short lived. The Senate will basically squash it into Obama care lite, eliminating the most obvious reverse Robin Hood provisions. Then the House will refuse to regurgitate the Senate version over to Trump, unless a bigger pile of free money for rich guys is put back in. Trump will declare a win no matter what, and or blame everyone but himself, then ask why we had to have the Revolutionary War, again asking 'why did we have to to do that one.'
15
He is a salesman who sold a product he could not deliver: he is not the man he portrayed.
9
Republicans in the House voted for a tax cut for the wealthy and to make health insurance unaffordable for and unavailable to millions of Americans. This was their golden moment, their great achievement after 8 years of threats and bluster. And then they celebrated in the White House Rose Garden. Surreal. Like something out of a dark German fairy tale.
29
Trump can say he's president all he wants. He is not my president. I made a promise to myself that I will not use the upper-case letter "P" when using the word "president" in any Comment that references trump. (I just decided to omit the capital "T" as well.) A small-minded fool who has sired and led into adulthood a trio of like-minded mental midgets deserves the least amount of ink we can give him/them. Ivana may have passed on her physical attractiveness to Ivanka, but that is where it stops. Eric and Donny, Jr. got the short shrift all the way around.
So, here's to the trumps: May ignominy be your lifelong companion, so you won't have be alone.
So, here's to the trumps: May ignominy be your lifelong companion, so you won't have be alone.
21
I refuse to even use "president" when referencing the squatter in our White House.
1
Look at the history of of how insurance companies have dealt with individuals suffering from chronic illness. People die in high risk pools - just as the name warns.
10
I'm not "super rich". I barely make enough to not get an Obamacare subsidy. My network in Colorado did not allow me to choose my doctor. The premium for the bronze plan with the 6,000 dollar deductible was so high that I paid the penalty instead. I've yet to meet a single Obamacare insured who liked their policy or thought their premium was affordable. It's unclear to me what the effect of the new legislation will be. But it can't be any worse than Obamacare.
3
You are one of casualties of ACA, but there will far more of you under the AHA as currently conceived. However, as someone who for 15 years bought unaffordable individual health care insurance (pre-Obamacare) for herself, spouse and 2 kids, our $10,000 each deductible with no vision, dental, or prescription coverage was a terrible burden and resulted in our retirement years not being as financially secure as we would have liked. Especially, since for 3 years in a row in the late 90s, at least 2 family members came down with a major illness; we paid our deductible along with buying expensive drugs (do you know what chemo drugs cost?) and footed an additional $10k in out of pocket co-pays EACH before the insurance kicked in 100%. At one point I contemplated bankruptcy; instead I got a second part-time job in my 50s to pay off medical expenses. Took me 5 years. And we couldn't even shop insurance companies for a better deal--that little thing called pre-existing conditions meant there were no better deals to be had.
People have short memories. Life in the health insurance markets weren't so great pre-Obamacare either. So I'm not sure where these people were getting their insurance policies before 2006.
People have short memories. Life in the health insurance markets weren't so great pre-Obamacare either. So I'm not sure where these people were getting their insurance policies before 2006.
It's realities like yours and other Americans that were recognized as one of the difficulties with the Affordable Care Act. I'm hoping that both republicans and democrats can come together and craft a bill that fixes your problem without affecting pre-existing conditions and rewarding the wealthy with an unnecessary tax break. Health care for all should be a priority among all elected officials regardless of party affiliation.
Hi Morgan,
I'm sorry you had to pay more. I think there is a misconception that Obamacare or ACA ran the insurance programs, pharmaceuticals and medical industry. Unfortunately, the insurance companies, pharmaceuticals and medical industry operate an entirely inefficient market. For example, CAT scans in one geographic location are 10 times more expensive than another area. Or antibiotic use varies depending on geographic location but within the same age groups. Ultimately you had to pay for this inefficiency. ACA was an attempt to right the wrong, flatten out the accelerating costs. It did that but not without the pain some of the recipients felt. Unless we all share the risk pool and improve market efficiencies, healthcare will just be a money maker for corporate profiteers.
I'm sorry you had to pay more. I think there is a misconception that Obamacare or ACA ran the insurance programs, pharmaceuticals and medical industry. Unfortunately, the insurance companies, pharmaceuticals and medical industry operate an entirely inefficient market. For example, CAT scans in one geographic location are 10 times more expensive than another area. Or antibiotic use varies depending on geographic location but within the same age groups. Ultimately you had to pay for this inefficiency. ACA was an attempt to right the wrong, flatten out the accelerating costs. It did that but not without the pain some of the recipients felt. Unless we all share the risk pool and improve market efficiencies, healthcare will just be a money maker for corporate profiteers.
1
"But in delivering this win for Trump, they may well have delivered a way for Democrats to take the president down.". if this is true. the health care bill will end up improving the health of the nation after all.
16
As a lifelong Democrat I voted for Trump for several reasons: I thought Hillary was a continuation of Obama's administration; I believed Trump would give our Country something similar to what so many other civilized countries already have--Universal Health Care--and I hoped he would make massive Income and Corporate tax reductions to stimulate our economy.
Instead the proposed Health Care provisions are a total failure and the proposed tax cuts benefit only the very wealthy. I am so disappointed.
Instead the proposed Health Care provisions are a total failure and the proposed tax cuts benefit only the very wealthy. I am so disappointed.
7
Thank you for acknowledging your mistake.
What on earth made you think that?
Do you read? Do you observe human behavior? It has never been a secret what a film-flam artist Donald Trump has been in business. He has stiffed small business contractors by the thousands for well over 30 years. You have no excuse for what you and thousands like you have done to yourselves and the country you probably love. So. . .you didn't like Barack Obama. He as a lousy salesman. Wouldn't sell himself and justify what he was doing for America once he got into office. And Hillary Clinton doesn't have a clue how to sell. You just have the tendency to be suckered by a great salesman who is a con artist.
Literally, DT and his "sicko-pants" have created physical, mental, economic, environmental pre-existing conditions creating stress and hypertension and various diseases that will disqualify millions from coverage. Talk to any doctor today and they will tell you how the"stress" of the Trump Presidency is driving many patients to their offices. Insurance underwriters use many criteria to identify pre-existing conditions now they can add DT and ThePants.
7
Republican mismanagement of health care legislation, and health care itself, will be on full-frontal display all summer while tax reform and infrastructure will be stuck in the Trump swamp. Next year will be like the Hoover Republicans heading for the 1932 rendezvous with destiny.
4
I went to the same school as Donald Trump, Kew Forest in Forest Hills. Donald was expelled (even with Fred on the board) for extreme bullying and sent to NYMA. In the 60s, it was military school or reform school.
He became a business bully: Biff Tannen, so to speak, with the banks as a limiter.
Now? A bully with limitless power. Is our Constitution so flawed that it cannot address such an egregious dismissal of its power?