It's time to start slapping that trial-balloon down!

[dawg]

The enthusiastic Obama supporters can deny it all they want. But President Obama has been floating a trial-balloon of raising the Medicare age to 67 for several months now.

We need to emphatically slap that trial balloon down.

This kind of crap coming from our own party spoils our brand and flies in the face of what we are supposed to stand for.

Not only that, it's a stupid idea which would actually increase the country's health costs rather than decreasing them.

He, and other like-minded Democrats, need to understand that this would be a bridge too far.

[Broderick]

1. The age shouild be lowered to

BIRTH

[dawg]

2. I understand that the Presedent may not be in a position to make things better.

But there is no need to start a discussion about making things worse.

[Broderick]

3. Single payer for all Americans would make it worse?

Ok, tell that to the tens of millions forgoing insurance.

:shrug:

[dawg]

4. No, single payer wouldn't make it worse.

Single payer is the "better" that the President is not in a political position to do right now.

I agree with you, I'm just saying I understand why we can't get coverage expanded right now. But Democrats need to stop talking about reducing coverage. It is a terrible idea.

[Broderick]

7. Capitulation never succeeds.

EVERY damn program, process, bill, and effort in this government is built from the foundation of Republican ideals anymore. And people cheer it.

[yurbud]

8. soon this whole thread will be declared the work of ''haters''

But of course you are exactly right.

[dawg]

12. Sadly, I'm getting used to being considered a "hater".

Me.

One of the hippies, now.

Go figure!

:)

[taught_me_patience]

5. It's going to be hard to find an individual policy at 66

without paying a lot of money.

[woo me with science]

6. K&R Slap it down HARD. nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Sacrificing pawns (in this case the elderly) is chessmaster's move.

The object of the game being to get the "centrists" to see him as neither a "let 'em die" right winger or a "bleeding heart" leftist. Then, he believes, (despite all evidence) that the "centrists" will vote for him.

[kctim]

13. Works for me

I will happily knock on doors for President Obama in 2012, just as I did in 2008.

[dawg]

14. Good.

I want him to get re-elected too.

And when you knock on those doors, I don't want there to be any confusion with voters about who is going to protect Medicare and who wants to cut it. I don't want anyone telling you they are voting Republican in order to protect their Medicare. Or that Medicare is going to be cut no matter who wins the election, so it doesn't matter who they vote for.

[kctim]

16. I don't want that either

Which is why I hope the far-left stops this nonsense of President Obama being no better and wanting to take away Medicare.

[dawg]

19. Maybe it would help if he would stop talking about it.

The more he puts this "on the table", the more he empowers those who would criticize him, both on the left and right.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. Didn't work for me in '08. Isn't working for me now.

His announced intention to escalate the lost war in Afghanistan was the deal breaker then for me. Now there are even more deal breakers.

[kctim]

18. Funny

His willingness to look at the intelligence gathered and adjust his position accordingly, was one the reasons why I supported him.

Respect your choice though, am going to pick up as much slack as I can. I am trying for at least twice as many doors as 08.

[Brickbat]

10. Oh, no -- no need to speculate or put words in his mouth. Just chill and wait until he actually

signs it into law -- then we'll know he's for sure, and not just making a move in his lovely game of magical chess. And THEN we can call him on it, OK, Chicken Little?

[dawg]

11. I'm surprised that no one is denying that this is even being floated.

I wonder how many would support raising the age if President Obama entuhusiatically told them it had to be done.

I still support the President, but I don't think he's infallible. And lately, he's been showing me every sign that he's considering making an epic mistake.

[DeSwiss]

17. K&R

I agree completely. I don't trust Republican Presidents. No matter what capital letters (D) they have after their names.

- I never have......