tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895164153505105997.post2702204016475275620..comments2024-01-17T00:45:37.075-08:00Comments on Bud Meyers: My Daily Rant (October 28, 2015)Bud Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02065020063363023395noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895164153505105997.post-46402002414022426582015-10-29T06:06:57.985-07:002015-10-29T06:06:57.985-07:00If you know a contact within Bernie Sanders’ campa...If you know a contact within Bernie Sanders’ campaign, can you pass this along?<br /> <br />Bloomberg reported that Clinton had already unofficially locked up commitments from 500 of the approximately 713 super-delegates who will cast ballots at next summer’s Democratic convention. (Now we can include Senator Sherrod Brown.)<br />http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-10-28/bill-clinton-rallies-superdelegates-as-hillary-s-campaign-hints-at-growing-roster<br /> <br />Salon reported: "Bernie Sanders does not have the base of support within the Democratic party — a party that Hillary Clinton has been building up since her husband was a popular governor in Arkansas thirty years ago. Were Bernie running as a Republican, that wouldn't matter. Sanders and his campaign have been counting on generating enthusiasm, particularly among the 18-29 year-old demographic from which he draws the majority of his support, to carry him through. There is nothing wrong with that if it is part of a larger strategy. The problem is that this seems to be Sanders’s strategy for everything."<br />http://www.salon.com/2015/10/28/bernie_sanders_is_in_big_trouble_you_dont_have_to_be_a_neoliberal_shill_to_see_the_cold_hard_facts/<br /><br />Gallop reported that in U.S., a record number of voters are Independents (43%, with 30% Democrat and 26% Republican). Maybe Bernie should tell the Democratic Party to fu*k off — and run as an Independent and split the vote. I'm guessing (based on online polls and everything else I've read in the news and on social media) that Bernie would get 39% of the votes, Hillary 35% and the Republican nominee 26% --- and then we'd have a President Sanders. That way, Hillary can finally retire from politics to have more time to spend with her granddaughter ;)<br />http://www.gallup.com/poll/180440/new-record-political-independents.aspx<br /> <br />Facebook “Likes” (2.3 million for Bernie and 1.6 million for Hillary) Bernie might win the popular vote, but would lose the nomination with super-delegates if he runs as a Democrat.Bud Meyershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02065020063363023395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895164153505105997.post-17542784211842993672015-10-28T12:03:23.380-07:002015-10-28T12:03:23.380-07:00The latest news from the media in explaining chang...The latest news from the media in explaining changes to Social Security and Medicare in the new budget --- mostly good news --- and the last link below is the best so far...<br /><br />Politico (Oct 28) Rep Paul Ryan (R-Wis) who is the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and will be the new Speaker of the House, said he'd support the new budget deal because it includes "meaningful reforms to strengthen our safety net programs, including significant changes to bolster Social Security ... and it would mean our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to carry out their mission." [Not very informative with any details.] Link below...<br /><br />http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/paul-ryan-support-budget-deal-215231<br /><br />NPR (Oct 28) "Democrats had to bend a bit ... on the Social Security Disability Trust Fund. They also did not get as much new domestic spending as they wanted, although they did get rough parity with the increases that defense hawks sought for the military. Steps were taken to avoid premium spikes next year for Medicare Part B recipients." [Not very informative with any details.] Link below...<br /><br />http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/10/28/452365512/boehners-budget-deal-caps-extraordinary-execution-of-an-exit-strategy<br /><br />NewsWeek (Oct 28) "It funds increased spending through increased revenues ... he deal attempts to stave off the shortfall in fraud-ridden Social Security Disability Insurance by plundering from the Social Security trust fund for retirees. One hundred and fifty billion dollars in funds will be siphoned from Americans’ payroll retirement contributions and redirected to the mismanaged disability program." Link below...<br /> <br />http://www.newsweek.com/boehnerobama-budget-deal-terrible-387961<br /><br />* My note: Sounds like right-wing propaganda. When NewsWeek says "fraud-ridden" and "mismanaged", this not accurate reporting. Two different reports show only 0.4% fraud in the program — far less than any other government program — and probably far less than employee theft in the private sector — and much less that's found in the defense industry. Link below...<br /><br />http://www.economicpopulist.org/content/accounting-gimmicks-social-security-5696<br /><br />The Washington Post: "The bill would transfer some funding from the main Social Security fund while also reforming the disability program. Those cost-saving measures include allowing some recipients who can still work to receive partial payments while earning outside income and expanding a program requiring a second medical expert to weigh in on whether an applicant is truly disabled. The deal also includes several other changes intended to root out waste and fraud in Social Security." [Not very informative with details.] Link below...<br /><br />https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/10/27/whats-in-the-budget-deal/<br /><br />Wall Street Journal (the best explanation) : "About 30% of seniors in Medicare Part B were facing a 52% increase in premiums. The deal would prevent that, and instead raise those premiums by 15%. It would also limit an expected increase in deductibles for all enrollees" [and] "The agreement would divert a slightly larger share of the payroll tax to the disability fund for three years, providing sufficient funding until 2022." Link below...<br /><br />http://www.wsj.com/articles/budget-deal-tackles-disability-halts-medicare-premium-increase-1445971987<br />Bud Meyershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02065020063363023395noreply@blogger.com