But back to the stenographer's language:
Salazar said he would reverse his controversial policy issued in December...
Whew. Aren't we all glad a "controversial policy" was reversed? What the hell were Salazar and Obama thinking, anyway? It should be obvious to all of us that the stenographer never really justifies the use of "controversial", except in the tired use of he-said/he-said b.s. that tries to pass for journalism these days. Nor does the stenographer detail how Republican Teabaggers are for local control except for when they're against it. It's not as though they're actually committed to the principle of local control or national control. After all, that's not the job of a stenographer.
Onto Mr. Ryan's odious proposal to scrap Medicare in favor of throwing folks under 50 to the tender mercies of the corporate insurance industry when they reach the age of 65. Oddly, that proposal isn't characterized as "controversial" by a different stenographer, even though 80% of Americans think Ryan's plan is terrible.
Moreover, I take issue with how Democrats' are officially talking about this general topic. As usual, they're using far too many words to accomplish something.
He also made it clear that Obama has no intention of letting up on his assertion that Rep. Paul Ryan's plan to send future Medicare recipients into the private-insurance marketplace would change the face of Medicare.
Sending future recipients into the private market wouldn't simply change the face of Medicare. It would end Medicare. Period. End of story. Republican Teabaggers can call such an effort "Medicare" if they want, but it won't be that at all. Medicare is an incredibly successful government program that delivers health care to seniors. Any substantive change to that approach fundamentally changes what it is.
To add to this point, take Carney's next comment:
"He doesn't believe that we need to end Medicare as we know it," Carney said...
How about, "He doesn't believe that we need to end Medicare"? That's a far more powerful statement. The rest is waffling gibberish.
Lastly, Democrats need to swing back much harder against Republican Teabaggers trying to call Obama out on budget proposals.
"Unfortunately, what we did not hear from the president is a specific plan of his to deal with the debt crisis," Hensarling said.
If Boehner and the rest of his clownish Teabagger friends don't want to take responsibility for doing their jobs, they should quit their jobs. Spending plans and budgets originate in the House of Representatives, not the White House. I know the Constitution is long and complex and all, but basic functions of government operations really shouldn't be that difficult to understand. Again, if Teabaggers are that confused, they should do the correct thing and quit their jobs. I'm sure a more qualified applicant can be found to replace them.
It won't change a thing, but I'm tired of reading stenographed reports in the major media outlets. |
