Can Social Programs like Medicare -- even BE Engineered?
If Paul Ryan's Plan of "Vouchers for Seniors" is NOT "radically changing" Medicare -- What would such Change look like?
Double-down Paul, has not taken too kindly to Newt's weekend assessment of the Ryan Voucher Plan "tweaks" ...
Paul Ryan defends Medicare plan in wake of Newt Gingrich's slam
by James Oliphant, LATimes -- May 16, 2011
Gingrich had called Ryan’s proposal “right-wing social engineering.” He said the effort imposed “radical change.”
And while Ryan didn’t mention the critique in his speech, earlier in the day, while on a radio show, he fired back. “With allies like that, who needs the left?” Ryan said on Laura Ingraham’s program.
And after seriously back-pedaling and then word-smithing his frank assessment of the 'Radical Right', for a day or two -- Gingrich decided to bow down to the inevitable. Newt ate his words.
Newt Gingrich apologizes to Paul Ryan
by Mike Allen, politico -- 5/17/11
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich apologized in a telephone call to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Tuesday afternoon for his remarks on “Meet the Press,” where the presidential candidate referred to Ryan’s Medicare proposal as “radical change.”
“Newt apologized,” said Rick Tyler, his press secretary and longtime aide. “The call went very well.”
Talk is cheap, eh Newt. Must be time to get with the Radical program ... instead of fight it.
What did the Newster say exactly, that has the Radical Right, in such a tizzy?
Meet the Press transcript for May 15, 2011
May 15: Gingrich
MR. GREGORY: What about entitlements? The Medicare trust fund, in stories that have come out over the weekend, is now going to be depleted by 2024, five years earlier than predicted. Do you think that Republicans ought to buck the public opposition and really move forward to completely change Medicare, turn it into a voucher program where you give seniors...
REP. GINGRICH: Right.
MR. GREGORY: ...some premium support and--so that they can go out and buy private insurance?
REP. GINGRICH: I don't think right-wing social engineering is any more desirable than left-wing social engineering. I don't think imposing radical change from the right or the left is a very good way for a free society to operate. I think we need a national conversation to get to a better Medicare system with more choices for seniors. [...] So there are things you can do to improve Medicare.
MR. GREGORY: But not what Paul Ryan is suggesting, which is completely changing Medicare.
REP. GINGRICH: I, I think that, I think, I think that that is too big a jump.
Wow. Newt Gingrich agrees with roughly 80% of Americans and he's immediately castigated, branded a renegade -- he gets thrown under the proverbial Tea Party Bus.
Apparently they have no room for opinions -- other than their own. Afterall they have a huge job before them -- if they are going to totally remake America in their Corporate Sponsors' image. No time for Moderation on that Koch Brothers Bus.
Here's a Newsflash for the Party of Privatization:
World English Dictionary
Social Engineering — noun
the manipulation of the social position and function of individuals in order to manage change in a society.
Sound like any Party you know?
Maybe the Reverse Robin Hood Party?
Maybe the Protect Medicare/Dismantle Medicare Party?
If they keep switching sides on which Social Programs -- they're really going after, the Gophers have some serious trouble in the next Election. Especially, if the current one in Upstate {Red} New York is any guide ...
NY-26 And The Retreat From Paul Ryan
Jonathan Chait, The New Republic -- May 17, 2011
[...] If Kathy Hochul can win in this heavily Republican district without a huge third-party boost, that's a hugely auspicious sign for Democrats.
Finally, it's interesting that, with their back to the wall, Republicans are closing with the message "Democrats want to cut Medicare." In conjunction with Paul Ryan's markedly different tone yesterday, it's a sign that Republicans are completely abandoning the theme of the Ryan budget and recognizing it as a pure electoral liability, and returning to the protect-Medicare-from-any-tiny-cuts theme that helped them win in 2010.
Yet they're not abandoning the liability of the Ryan budget, fast enough, to by-pass the opportunity to throw Newt into their 'Talking Point' Volcano. The Pundits have spoken.
How dare he speak anything resembling the truth about what the Ryan Budget is really about!?
-- It is better to let the GOP weasels, all slip away from it quietly -- no fuss, no muss. NO sense making the American People any madder than they already are about this.
Afterall, "Right Wing Social Engineering" a large chunk of the public to "Vote against their own best interests", takes cunning and finesse and forgetfulness
-- NOT speaking franking to What the people are actually thinking.
Sorry Newt. Nice try. Better luck next time. Better get a copy of that Engineering Playbook ... 'Fast Path to Poverty' ... I heard it's called.
Get with the Program, Dude. (The Sponsors are watching.)