Bush Presses Medicare Case in Missouri

[Judi Lynn]

Bush Presses Medicare Case in Missouri

23 minutes ago

By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer

LIBERTY, Mo. - Tied with rival John Kerry (news - web sites) in the crucial swing state of Missouri, President Bush (news - web sites) is defending his new Medicare prescription drug discount cards that are coming under increasing criticism from Democrats.

In the 18th trip of his presidency to Missouri and the fifth this year, Bush says the program that started June 1 marks a major step forward in ensuring affordable medicine vital to the health of the elderly. He takes that message Monday to an audience of 500 health care professionals and senior citizens in the Kansas City suburb of Liberty.

On his way to the community center, Bush stopped with Wanda Blackmore of Kansas City, Mo., to pick up a prescription at a pharmacy. She saved $17 by using her discount card, which she received on June 5. Before getting the card, Blackmore said she paid about $125 to $150 a month for her prescriptions.

Some Democrats say the program has major problems. The number of seniors signing up for the cards has been lower than expected. The sign-up process is "hopelessly confusing," said Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota. Kerry's campaign says 20 of the 73 companies selected by the Bush administration to provide the cards have been involved in allegations of fraud, 11 of them for defrauding Medicare.
(snip/...)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=696&e=1&u=/ap/20040614/ap_on_el_pr/bush


U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) takes part in a conversation on the new Medicare-approved prescription drug discount card at the Liberty Community Center, in Missouri, June 14, 2004. Bush outlined the benefits of the new card for cheaper prescription drugs for senior citizens. REUTERS/Jason Reed

[lovedems]

1. I am sure that it is a hand picked audience of senior citizens

who are probably rich enough to afford medication without sacrificing food or rent. So they will all clap because it "sounds like a good idea for poor people".

I am so sick of this administration and their propaganda.

[crossroads]

26. Yep, like the audience of non english speaking workers who clapped...

for him at some rally a couple of months back...
it is insane...
:eyes:

[fdr_hst_fan]

2. The thing is,

Dubya will NEVER have to worry about it; all his drugs (except his cocaine) will be provided to him at TAXPAYER expense for the rest of his execrable life!

[tom_paine]

4. His cocaine, too.

Emeperors don;t buy recreational drugs with their own meny.

He'll just pull it from the last $87,000,000,000 installment. At least 30% of that money has found it's way into Imperial Coffers, I think. Probably more.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[NMDemDist2]

5. $17 out of a monthly bill of $150 is like

11-12%??? woohoo big deal!

[Richardo]

6. What the...?

I'd say the $17 was prorated over about 100 million taxpayers.

Or maybe it's MY turn to cover her $17 next month! :scared:

It's a crappy program, but your 'logic' leaves a lot to be desired, "Joe freedom" :eyes:

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[Richardo]

14. How about from the friggin' drug companies?

Anyone with even the slightest knowledge of what we like to call "market forces" would say that a fundamental aspect of this program should be to leverage the purchasing power of millions of Medicare recipients to lower unit drug costs through negotiations with the drug companies. That lets out those anti-capitalist Republicans, I guess, who wrote that bit of Purchasing 101 OUT of this bill (why do they hate America so?). Instead of making billions and billion of dollars the drug companies would only make billions of dollars.

OR you can raise taxes on non-wage income...Or divert funds from idiotic defense programs like a missile shield. OR have competitive bids for Iraqi reconstruction.

It's not a zero-sum game, despite what Grover Norquist would tell you.

[FleshCartoon]

25. You are insane.

Most elderly people do not have enough to live on anymore than the working poor, homeless, disabled, and unemployed have enough to live on.

You, and your fucked-up logic, are despicable.

[Malva Zebrina]

27. and if anyone cared, they would find out that it is mainly women

who are in that position. The men have died. The husbands have died.

Women did NOT pursue careers like they do today because they, socially, were not expected to. They were, in fact, expected to stay home, run the home and care for their children. That is what they did.

The husband was expected to support the entire family.

Believe it or not--that was the role of the husband.

And it worked for a while. He had benefits from the job, including health care, and there was a mutual respect between the employer and the employee. There was a relationship that is not present today. The job could have lasted a lifetime.

Anyway, it is mostly elderly women who are in the predicament today.

[Name removed]

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[argyl]

9. I'd better get this in quick,"Welcome to DU'. n/t

[happynewyear]

7. what a total waste

<< She saved $17 by using her discount card, which she received on June 5. >>

Doesn't bother to say she pays $35.00 for the card or does she yet? If she's paying already than she is already minus $18.00 for the month! Big deal! What a rip-off and a scam this is!

I don't know of one single person that is going for this. This 84 year old person I know said there were 59 choices! Forget it!

What a waste of money and time and effort.

[Malva Zebrina]

8. 18th trip to Missouri?

err--does he think he needs to do something else about running the country oither than travel to states in order to get re-elected?

I am going to say this about that picture of the stupid prick.

This guy is drinking up a storm imo.

He is bloated and looks inappropriate. He looks like a man that is in deep conflict and not sure of himself at all. I am sure his daddy and his mummy see him as an embarrassment that could never stop drinking. They must be totally embarrassed by their stupid son whom they actually promoted.

I hope he goes down as the worst president ever.

I hope he goes down as the stupid asshole he is.

He is way over his head here and we the people are suffering under his delusional regime.

May he go down as the idiot prick that he is.

May the entire Bush family go down with him.

[happynewyear]

10. looks like he's out on a drunk to me

you got that one right. :beer:

whew ......

[Malva Zebrina]

13. Yup

:beer:

He looks awful

Sooner or later this will be leaked.

I hope.

[happynewyear]

12. thats right, you go damnit!!

Go, you are a great rant! I love it!! :D

[Neecy]

15. take heart

The nasty little dick isn't fooling anyone - after showing a clip of him slumped in a chair, looking sloppy and disinterested to his hand-picked audience, the local Faux affiliate in Kansas City actually did some REPORTING and spoke to some seniors at a retirement complex here.

Guess what? REAL people don't like the program. One guy saved more with his current discount card, another said the program was too confusing to fool with. Sort of took the air out of Rove's balloon before AF1 left the ground.

[happynewyear]

17. FAUX sure trys and so does CNN though

I noted last night the very quick flash of a poll of young voters - it was something like 30% Bush; 47% Kerry. It was so fast it was gone, never seen it after that ... *poof*

What kind of a dangerous game is being played? That is what I would like to know.

The people KNOW what is going on. The lies aren't working anymore.

[Mountainman]

18. Drug companies are free to raise the cost of the drugs so net gain = 0

There is nothing to cap the cost of drugs. She may save $17 but the cost will rise soon to eat that away. Also the drug companies will get tax breaks and they will not pass the savings on to consumers.

The only ones to win here are the owners of the drug companies and pharmacies. With the cards they are assured a customer.

[happynewyear]

19. yeah and mail order drug companies

that sell old drugs ... and they aren't cheap either! :grr:

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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[Jazzgirl]

21. Why are his teeth so brown looking??

n/t

[Jazzgirl]

22. Oops...dupe.

n/t

[crossroads]

23. My aunt Ruthie saved 17 cents on her prescription...

She was a mite dissapointed, yet considering how many times this administration has lied to her, she's getting used to the BS by now...
:wtf:

[crossroads]

24. Bush - walking away from 'seniors' and laughing at them in your image...

Must be hard for him to keep a straight face in front of them...
:eyes:

[Skip Intro]

28. This kinda slimy repub crap just pisses me the **** off

These pharm industry people and these insanely rich people getting richer by the minute while they're supposed to be seeing to OUR wellfare sending this moron out amongst the people to tell us all what he's done for us, chimping about a savings of $17 a month to our older people why can barely get by on SS as it is - its damn disgusting. The bastards are rolling in money and making those barely able to survive jump thru hoops for crumbs. I mean damn, if we can run the largest deficit in history, we should be able to see to it that our older people (and ALL people) have the food and medicine they need. Make a few less cluster bombs, suspend Halliburton's bonuses this month, you know?

I wonder how much the dumbass moron pays for his meds?

(do we pay for bush's meds?)