Republican #1: "There's good news and there's bad news about the election results."

Republican #2: "What's the good news?"

Republican #1: "We won some elections"

Republican #2: "What's the bad news?"

Republican #1: "The only ones we won were the ones where we ran moderates"

Link please?

quote:

Originally posted by scoutsout1:
Link please?

Sense of humor on the blink today, Scout?

quote:

Originally posted by scoutsout1:
Link please?

Unlike some, I am capable of independant thought.

Any other bad news:

Yes, we won when we ran against unpopular candidates (NJ and in a sense VA - he could not connect).

quote:

Originally posted by scoutsout1:
Link please?

Common sense doesn't need a link. Which candidate (NJ or VA) ran on opposition to the President's policies?

quote:

Originally posted by Fightdirector:
Republican #1: "There's good news and there's bad news about the election results."

Republican #2: "What's the good news?"

Republican #1: "We won some elections"

Republican #2: "What's the bad news?"

Republican #1: "The only ones we won were the ones where we ran moderates"

If that trend sticks, isn't it more of a problem for the Dems?

quote:

Originally posted by Tomcatt:

quote:

Originally posted by Fightdirector:
Republican #1: "There's good news and there's bad news about the election results."

Republican #2: "What's the good news?"

Republican #1: "We won some elections"

Republican #2: "What's the bad news?"

Republican #1: "The only ones we won were the ones where we ran moderates"

If that trend sticks, isn't it more of a problem for the Dems?

Not for those of us who'd vote for a moderate anything to keep the likes of Hoffman out of DC.

Here is the challenge that we saw in the Champlain region of New York. If the republicans run a conservative candidate against a moderate in the primary, the conservative will win the primary, but loose the general election in many competitive districts.

In NJ we had a Governor connected to Wall Street who did not keep promises and was very unpopular.

In VA, we had a Democrat from the rural western part of the state (a republican area) who could not connect with the suburban No. VA dems and independents, and minorities in the state.

Are these results repeatable - Up state NY is, NJ unlikely, and VA depends on a combination of many mistakes coming together. Also, off year elections often produce unusual results. If the Congress and Obama conclude favorably critical legislative business and the economy starts to recover, that is good for the dems. If not, I expect to see a lot of losses in Congress and the Statehouses.

Will the economy recover in the next 12 months - probably. Companies have cut too much staff and our now hurting their business. Employees spend money, investors for the most part do not (the retired an exception). Part of the problem is the perception that things are bad. When people think things are good, they spend. When they spend companies have to spend, and up we go.

Despite all the vitriol on Health Care Reform, it passage probably will create a positive spin for the economy. Add to this the extension of unemployment and the new home tax credit and we may have the psychology of a positive economic trend. I hope.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave_M:
Any other bad news:

Yes, we won when we ran against unpopular candidates (NJ and in a sense VA - he could not connect).

Good news the Repub candidates that won did not go negative in a big way while their Demo opponents did. This is a big deal for many independents.
Bad news the standard Repub tactic is to go negative earily and often (not necessarially the candidate and sometimes not even the party but many associated groups).

quote:

Add to this the extension of unemployment and the new home tax credit and we may have the psychology of a positive economic trend. I hope.

Astute observation, Dave. The perception drives the behaviour.

Personal saving is up. Good thing, right?
Not if you're in the retail business.

Worker productivity is up. Good thing, right?
Not if you're unemployed, until every last bit of productivity is wrung from the current workforce, management goes a step too far and cant' meet demand, and the hiring begins again in earnest--and probably beyond long-term/sustainable needs.

The economic pendulum never stops swinging, and it always swings past something sustainable. Our perceptions (optimistic or pessimistic) will guarantee that forever and ever Amen.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave_M:

Despite all the vitriol on Health Care Reform, it passage probably will create a positive spin for the economy. Add to this the extension of unemployment and the new home tax credit and we may have the psychology of a positive economic trend. I hope.

Where will the money come from for the health care plan to work? I can't see how it wouldcreate anything positive for the economy, especially in the current economic condition.

There is NOTHING humorous about a 10.2% unemployment bought and owned by the Dems in charge, there also is nothing humorous about pushing for a healthcare bill that only like 30% want while the majority thinks the economy should truly be the focus right now...If the Dems want to keep pizzing off America we will see who gets the last laugh even though our bills will skyrocket and what is left of our jobs leave the Country due to cap and trade combined with huge healthcare overheads and nothing really is funny at all!

Seems to me that....da 'cans AND da 'rats BOTH have similar problems. When either runs away from their respective base(s)....they got problems.

Ordinary Americans (like me) do better by NOT associating themselves with parties. Instead, decide whether you're bascially liberal or conservative by philosophy and cast yer vote for PEOPLE rather than party and be independent.

quote:

Originally posted by 21194237:
Seems to me that....da 'cans AND da 'rats BOTH have similar problems. When either runs away from their respective base(s)....they got problems.

Ordinary Americans (like me) do better by NOT associating themselves with parties. Instead, decide whether you're bascially liberal or conservative by philosophy and cast yer vote for PEOPLE rather than party and be independent.

All admit in a flash that I am a Conservative, I only am Republican due to the fact that out of the two party system the Republican Party closest fits the bill, but that does not mean I am a Rush Limbaugh/Anne Coulter type...As for the average Joe voter, many of my friends and family that are not political at all really are concerned over the big push as of late but they think they can do nothing as concerned citizens, I tell them to stand up for themselves and their views when they see things they do not like happening and to call their elected representatives to share their concerns.

If people stop standing up because they actually feel they can do nothing, freedom is as good as gone in America, since the people are the ultimate checks and balance!

quote:

Where will the money come from for the health care plan to work? I can't see how it wouldcreate anything positive for the economy, especially in the current economic condition.

Read the bill - $500 Billion in Medicare Cuts. ... while at the same time claining there will be no 'real loss' in healthcare coverage for the aged.
I figure I and many like me that require the program will be eliminated because it costs too much to maintain our health - I suppose as they seize all my assets to pay for my required medical treatment, I should be able to live a few more years.

quote:

Originally posted by 54D_Zippo:

quote:

Where will the money come from for the health care plan to work? I can't see how it wouldcreate anything positive for the economy, especially in the current economic condition.

Read the bill - $500 Billion in Medicare Cuts. ... while at the same time claining there will be no 'real loss' in healthcare coverage for the aged.
I figure I and many like me that require the program will be eliminated because it costs too much to maintain our health - I suppose as they seize all my assets to pay for my required medical treatment, I should be able to live a few more years.

I'm sure you'll share the page number where that little gem is found, right?

quote:

Read the bill - $500 Billion in Medicare Cuts. ...

2007 medicare costs were over $400 billion with costs doubling every 4 years. If the government cut out a little fraud here and little waste there they could easily come up with $50 billion a year in savings which would equal $500 billion over ten years. Now we should do that regardless if we pass a bill. Just plain common sense.

quote:

Originally posted by SenClaghorn:

quote:

Read the bill - $500 Billion in Medicare Cuts. ...

2007 medicare costs were over $400 billion with costs doubling every 4 years. If the government cut out a little fraud here and little waste there they could easily come up with $50 billion a year in savings which would equal $500 billion over ten years. Now we should do that regardless if we pass a bill. Just plain common sense.

You better not be talking about the MRI, CT and the ENT consult for his sore throat...

quote:

Originally posted by Yooper_tj:

quote:

Originally posted by SenClaghorn:

quote:

Read the bill - $500 Billion in Medicare Cuts. ...

2007 medicare costs were over $400 billion with costs doubling every 4 years. If the government cut out a little fraud here and little waste there they could easily come up with $50 billion a year in savings which would equal $500 billion over ten years. Now we should do that regardless if we pass a bill. Just plain common sense.

You better not be talking about the MRI, CT and the ENT consult for his sore throat...

Hoarse throat....

quote:

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today highlighted the irony of House Democratic Leaders holding a press conference to talk about “protecting Medicare” while pushing legislation that would cut Medicare by $500 billion. Boehner issued the following statement... Are you kidding me???

Wait John, I thought you were the leader of the party that knows the value of other peoples hard earned money and would willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone willing to cut wasteful spending?

My bad.

quote:

Originally posted by SenClaghorn:

quote:

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today highlighted the irony of House Democratic Leaders holding a press conference to talk about “protecting Medicare” while pushing legislation that would cut Medicare by $500 billion. Boehner issued the following statement... Are you kidding me???

Wait John, I thought you were the leader of the party that knows the value of other peoples hard earned money and would willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone willing to cut wasteful spending?

My bad.

John Bohner? The man that read from the preamble to the Declaration of Constitution...or was it the Constitution of Independence?

The cuts are from the Medicare Advantage program. This was a program that Republicans promoted as a way to privatize and cut cost of Medicare. The reality is that it cost the US more per Advantage member, than traditional Medicare. I think it is about 15%. The big insurers including Humana make some real money on these programs.

The cuts are aimed at removing the cost difference in the program. I can attest that Advantage programs save member between $2-3,000 per year over a supplement. I know, because I signed up my mother in law and got her Part D and cut her quarterly cost by $600 or $2,400 a year, plus the value of Part D.

Should some senior get extra for less than others at the cost of all. Those who do not have money, maybe. My mother in law is not one of them, but we looked at the best program for her. For all the moaning and groaning about the cost of this Democratic bill, Republicans had no problem giving government money to their friends in business.

And the Republic leader in the house is from the district just north of mine. I have a good view of him, and it is not one I like.