Comments on: Bush speechwriter: A “disaster” for Republicans http://www.dankennedy.net/2010/03/22/bush-speechwriter-a-disaster-for-republicans/ By Dan Kennedy • The press, politics, technology, culture and other passions Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:09:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dan Kennedy http://www.dankennedy.net/2010/03/22/bush-speechwriter-a-disaster-for-republicans/comment-page-1/#comment-55953 Dan Kennedy Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:54:45 +0000 http://www.dankennedy.net/?p=7528#comment-55953 @Michael: The only way a progressive could beat Lynch is if the netroots mobilized and raised millions of dollars. Given the way Lynch has succeeded in muddying the waters, that's not likely to happen. @Michael: The only way a progressive could beat Lynch is if the netroots mobilized and raised millions of dollars. Given the way Lynch has succeeded in muddying the waters, that’s not likely to happen.

]]> By: Michael Pahre http://www.dankennedy.net/2010/03/22/bush-speechwriter-a-disaster-for-republicans/comment-page-1/#comment-55952 Michael Pahre Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:45:07 +0000 http://www.dankennedy.net/?p=7528#comment-55952 Why did Lynch vote the way he did? He just <a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/allston/news/x1447152607/Rep-Lynch-column-Why-I-voted-no-on-the-health-care-bill" rel="nofollow">wrote a column</a> spelling it out. Answer: tax on "Cadillac plans." Actually, he gave three reasons why he voted in 2009 in favor of HCR (the House bill), and then Sunday against the Senate bill, and then Sunday in favor of the reconcilation fixes to the Senate bill: 1. Senate bill didn't have public option, while House bill did. 2. Senate bill <a href="http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/ushi_antitrust-exemption-not-part-of-us-health-reforms-866424.html" rel="nofollow">keeps</a> the antitrust exemption for health insurance providers, while House bill would strip it. 3. Senate bill's tax on Cadillac plans, while House bill's tax on the wealthy. Basically: the Senate bill was not liberal enough (#1 and #2) and was too anti-union (#3) for Lynch's tastes. Peculiarly enough, #1 and #2 aren't in the reconcilation bill, either, a point that he avoided mentioning in his column. #2 is the subject of <i>separate</i> legislation that has cleared the House and is now under consideration in the Senate. So why did he vote for the reconcilation bill fixes? All that's left is #3: a pro-union stance against the tax on Cadillac plans. Lynch is trying to position himself on the left and on the side of unions, even though he is often viewed as a moderate and the unions were mad at him last September. That'll make challenging him from the left more complicated. Why did Lynch vote the way he did? He just wrote a column spelling it out.

Answer: tax on “Cadillac plans.”

Actually, he gave three reasons why he voted in 2009 in favor of HCR (the House bill), and then Sunday against the Senate bill, and then Sunday in favor of the reconcilation fixes to the Senate bill: 1. Senate bill didn’t have public option, while House bill did. 2. Senate bill keeps the antitrust exemption for health insurance providers, while House bill would strip it. 3. Senate bill’s tax on Cadillac plans, while House bill’s tax on the wealthy.

Basically: the Senate bill was not liberal enough (#1 and #2) and was too anti-union (#3) for Lynch’s tastes.

Peculiarly enough, #1 and #2 aren’t in the reconcilation bill, either, a point that he avoided mentioning in his column. #2 is the subject of separate legislation that has cleared the House and is now under consideration in the Senate.

So why did he vote for the reconcilation bill fixes? All that’s left is #3: a pro-union stance against the tax on Cadillac plans.

Lynch is trying to position himself on the left and on the side of unions, even though he is often viewed as a moderate and the unions were mad at him last September. That’ll make challenging him from the left more complicated.

]]> By: Ben Rivard-Rapoza http://www.dankennedy.net/2010/03/22/bush-speechwriter-a-disaster-for-republicans/comment-page-1/#comment-55935 Ben Rivard-Rapoza Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:00:41 +0000 http://www.dankennedy.net/?p=7528#comment-55935 Dan: La Rouchies always run as Democrats. They’re not really Democrats? Ok, whatever you say. My point is just that it’s absurd to blame Republicans for the activities of people who clearly identify themselves as Democrats. Dan: La Rouchies always run as Democrats. They’re not really Democrats? Ok, whatever you say. My point is just that it’s absurd to blame Republicans for the activities of people who clearly identify themselves as Democrats.

]]> By: Dan Kennedy http://www.dankennedy.net/2010/03/22/bush-speechwriter-a-disaster-for-republicans/comment-page-1/#comment-55930 Dan Kennedy Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:23:54 +0000 http://www.dankennedy.net/?p=7528#comment-55930 @Ben: LaRouchies are not Democrats, although LaRouche has run for president on the Democratic line. For that matter, Ron Paul isn't really a Republican, though he has found it convenient to identify himself as such. @Ben: LaRouchies are not Democrats, although LaRouche has run for president on the Democratic line. For that matter, Ron Paul isn’t really a Republican, though he has found it convenient to identify himself as such.

]]> By: George Williams http://www.dankennedy.net/2010/03/22/bush-speechwriter-a-disaster-for-republicans/comment-page-1/#comment-55928 George Williams Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:58:37 +0000 http://www.dankennedy.net/?p=7528#comment-55928 It is understanding that employer based health insurance came about due to wage controls during WW II. Employers could not increase wages so perks were used to get around the wage controls. It is understanding that employer based health insurance came about due to wage controls during WW II. Employers could not increase wages so perks were used to get around the wage controls.

]]> By: Ben Rivard-Rapoza http://www.dankennedy.net/2010/03/22/bush-speechwriter-a-disaster-for-republicans/comment-page-1/#comment-55926 Ben Rivard-Rapoza Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:59:44 +0000 http://www.dankennedy.net/?p=7528#comment-55926 Tom: Personal experience – I recently saw them in downtown New Bedford and a Fall River Stop and Shop. I heard they were removed by Police from the Stop and Shop in Dartmouth. They made national news last summer at Barney Frank’s town hall meeting in Dartmouth, where they compared Obama to Hitler and displayed signs of Obama with a Hitler mustache. I saw the same signs in downtown New Bedford. They are trying to get people to sign nomination papers for Rachel Brown “to impeach Obama.” I might add that these are Democratic Primary nomination papers that Republicans are prohibited from signing. Don’t get me wrong, there are wacky Republicans too – but Hudak’s got nothing on the Democrats we have down here. Here’s something about Rachel Brown’s campaign: http://www.larouchepac.com/node/12380 Tom: Personal experience – I recently saw them in downtown New Bedford and a Fall River Stop and Shop. I heard they were removed by Police from the Stop and Shop in Dartmouth. They made national news last summer at Barney Frank’s town hall meeting in Dartmouth, where they compared Obama to Hitler and displayed signs of Obama with a Hitler mustache. I saw the same signs in downtown New Bedford. They are trying to get people to sign nomination papers for Rachel Brown “to impeach Obama.” I might add that these are Democratic Primary nomination papers that Republicans are prohibited from signing. Don’t get me wrong, there are wacky Republicans too – but Hudak’s got nothing on the Democrats we have down here.

Here’s something about Rachel Brown’s campaign:
http://www.larouchepac.com/node/12380

]]> By: Tom Underwood http://www.dankennedy.net/2010/03/22/bush-speechwriter-a-disaster-for-republicans/comment-page-1/#comment-55923 Tom Underwood Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:32:17 +0000 http://www.dankennedy.net/?p=7528#comment-55923 "The only people I’ve seen comparing Obama to Hitler are Democrats!" Where are you getting this from?!? “The only people I’ve seen comparing Obama to Hitler are Democrats!”

Where are you getting this from?!?

]]> By: Mike Benedict http://www.dankennedy.net/2010/03/22/bush-speechwriter-a-disaster-for-republicans/comment-page-1/#comment-55917 Mike Benedict Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:16:09 +0000 http://www.dankennedy.net/?p=7528#comment-55917 Has Rush left the country yet? Or is that just another bit of hypocrisy* from Al Franken's favority "Big Fat Idiot?" *Illegal drug use, etc. Has Rush left the country yet? Or is that just another bit of hypocrisy* from Al Franken’s favority “Big Fat Idiot?”

*Illegal drug use, etc.

]]> By: Ben Rivard-Rapoza http://www.dankennedy.net/2010/03/22/bush-speechwriter-a-disaster-for-republicans/comment-page-1/#comment-55909 Ben Rivard-Rapoza Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:13:17 +0000 http://www.dankennedy.net/?p=7528#comment-55909 Dan: Yes, I’m aware that Glen Beck has played “connect-the-dots” with Obama and every major tyrant in history. I’m just talking about what I’ve observed here in MA politics. I’ve actually met some of Glen Beck’s “9-12” followers. All I can say is that they’re not the ones hectoring me about impeaching Obama. Dan: Yes, I’m aware that Glen Beck has played “connect-the-dots” with Obama and every major tyrant in history. I’m just talking about what I’ve observed here in MA politics.

I’ve actually met some of Glen Beck’s “9-12” followers. All I can say is that they’re not the ones hectoring me about impeaching Obama.

]]> By: Dan Kennedy http://www.dankennedy.net/2010/03/22/bush-speechwriter-a-disaster-for-republicans/comment-page-1/#comment-55907 Dan Kennedy Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:27:15 +0000 http://www.dankennedy.net/?p=7528#comment-55907 @Ben: Please study up on Glenn Beck, OK? @Ben: Please study up on Glenn Beck, OK?

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