I’m writing for tomorrow, day 16 of the Republican Shutdown, with an ears on the news as House Republicans try yet again to snatch confrontation from the jaws of compromise. Agent Orange can’t even move his own legislation. Normally I would swap in a new poll, but as this one remains so relevant, I’ll let it ride for now.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 5:41 (average 5:30). To do it, click here. How did you do? ARGH!!
Fantasy Football Update:
Here’s the latest on our fantasy football league, Lefty Blog Friends.
Scores:
Patty Monster Mashed my butt! 
Standings:
Note that Lynn now has one in the plus column.
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: Bill Maher showed how Michele Bachmann and Antonin Scalia have the same deluded mindset about how the world works, and yet Scalia seems to have more credibility in his role as a Supreme Court justice…
The devil is alive and well in the 21st century. He’s wearing an elephant suit. 👿
From MSNBC: Go Go Goose-step is STILL crazy!
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
That’s what a call a Republican Solution. Impeach Obama for the House Republicans’ crime.
From Common Dreams: Next year’s benefit increase for Social Security recipients is projected to be one of the smallest increases ever, according to a new analysis by the Associated Press.
“I find it incomprehensible that any serious person would believe that a 1.5 percent COLA is too generous and would want to enact a chained CPI which would make these COLAs even lower,” said Sen. Sanders. (Photo: Dawn V Storm/cc/flickr) The AP projects that the cost of living adjustment (COLA) for the 58 million Americans who rely on Social Security will raise just 1.5 percent, meaning a $17-monthly increase. That would mark the second year in a row of "one of the lowest raises since automatic adjustments were adopted in 1975."
“This [COLA] is not enough to keep up with inflation, as it affects seniors,” the Washington Post quotes Max Richtman, who heads the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, as saying. “There are some things that become cheaper but they are not things that seniors buy.
Speaking as just one Senior, rent, food and health care make up more than 3/4 of my budget. My rent is up 4.95%, my groceries are up 11%, and my Medicare Advantage premium is up 4.5%. The paltry 1.5% increase won’t begin to cover that. Now Republicans claim that my COLA is too beg and demand chained CPI to reduce it more.
Cartoon:
26 Responses to “Open Thread–10/16/2013”
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4:52 My magnet didn't help me gather the nuts and bolts any faster.
4:03 I think I was screwed by the nuts and bolts of this puzzle.
4:18 Nuts…again!
Bigfooted and last!
I just got home from Baltimore last night after a long train ride. Today, I'm taking it easy. Will be back tomorrow with my nasty comments.
Welcome home!! 🙂
It has always been an extremist tactic to commit a crime and then yell that someone else did it – no wonder the GOP/TP are blaming the President – typical of those spineless, characterless, lily-livered cowards – they lack even the minimal character to admit their own misdeeds.
And even that's being kind to them.
Tom, there are zero premium Medicare Advantage plans. Check the Medicare site for options. Maybe you're stuck in a particular plan due to your various special needs. I, Jack, and my mom are all on a 0 premium plan. You could probably also get extra help (bless the government) on medications. My mom does and pays less than $2 for most of her meds. Some are below a buck for 30 days.
There was a lower COLA a few years back: 0%
Marva, I know of them, but I chose my plan, because I want Providence coverage. My three week hospital stay cost me less than $700. I make about $1,000 to much for Medicaid assistance.
I remenmer. That's because the Republican collapse of the housing market kn ocked home prices so low, that it took three years of $0 COLA to catch back up.
~ 8:44 – My cat's fault… 🙂
Bill Mayer is awesome…
BOOOO!! Blaminig it on pook kitty, kitty, kitty!! 🙁
Puzzle — 4:03 I think I was screwed by the nuts and bolts of this puzzle, just like the American people are being screwed by the "nuts and dolts" of the Republicanus/Teabagger party!
Fantasy Football — Damn! There goes my perfect 10! Oh well, I'm still the primo cellar dweller! I see that I play the Teabag Trashers next. Will I stomp the Teabag Trashers or will I get tea stains on my uniform?
Daily Kos — Love Bill Maher. I especially liked the New Rule: Rapture's Delight — If you think that the world is about to end, that's your right. But you don't get to vote on next year's budget because it doesn't concern you. Chris Matthews was killing himself laughing at the Antonin Scalia segment. Too funny!
MSNBC — In the puzzle I mentioned Republicanus/Teabagger "nuts and dolts" . . . well Goh-merde qualifies on both counts. He should understand this sentence since (horrors!) he is a lawyer and was a judge: Guilty as charged!
The man needs to go back to House Rules and Procedures 101 and pass a written exam to prove he understands what he is supposed to do. How this dolt made it to age 60 is beyond me! Too bad abortion was illegal when he was born.
Here is something from Wikipedia which I thought was amusing and proof that Goh-merde's elevator doesn't go all the way to the top!
Common Dreams — According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_territories_by_inflation_rate), the US inflation rate in 2012 was 2%. Leaving the COLA at 1.5% does not keep up with inflation, and a chained CPI does even more damage. What makes this so heinous is that this affects the people least able to cope with it. Seniors and the disabled cannot go out and "work a few more hours" to earn the extra cash to get get them through the month. To paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi:
Cartoon — The US under the Republicanus/Teabaggers is regressing back to 1900, before birth control. I remember reading some time back that early birth control pills had side effects and could be dangerous to some women. Seems the Republicanus/Teabaggers, being the science deniers they are, haven't entered the 21st century yet.
A win is still a win!!
I need to Trash your but after what that monster did to ,me!
Amen!
I hnow where he can put that asparagus!!
Amen again!
Make that the 20th century.
Asparagus? It wouldn't fit because his head is to far up, and he has a fat head and dumbo ears!
Put the asparagus between the ears. 🙂
I favor a change in the COLA formula, but not the one that is being bruited. The fact is, expenses that are particular to seniors are actually increasing FASTER than general inflation. As Tom can also testify. Social Security COLA should be a HIGHER percentage than general inflation
Not only that, but the inflation rate will vary considerably from one part of the country to another. Medical expenses, including prescription drug costs, generally increase as we age. It is not as if we can say no to life saving drug treatments, yet that is what some are forced into.
For my mother who is in 24/7 care with dementia, her drug costs are included in her provincial medical coverage. She pays 80% of her income in "rent" but it covers room, food, daily professional care, drugs, laundry, eye care, and a few other things that I have probably forgotten. To me, that is the way it should be. Seniors should never be made scapegoats for society's foibles. R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
I fully agree. But I would give up COLA if it mewant making the rich pay their fair share.
Oh, just one thing about the rapture. I have gone through all the Biblical passages purported to predict the Rapture, and the thing that stands out to me is that Saint Paul says "Therefore, brethren, comfort one another with these things." He does NOT say, "Therefore , brethren, scare the pants off the general public and blackmail them for everything you want with these things."
aMEN! jOANNE, aMEN!
What Lynn said, but without Caps Lock! 😉
Gohmert is a classic example of the dolts we have in Congress today. Ignorance abounds.
Birth Control seems to be on most Republican's minds these days. They should just make it illegal for white women so there would be more white babies born. That is their real bottom line.
I wish these people who are screaming about entitlements and wanting to cut Social Security had to live on it for a year. If my sister and I didn't help my mother, she would not be able to survive on what she receives.
If the Rapture is really coming, I hope all the REpublicans are picked up first, then the rest of us can try to manage what is left.
Amen!
Good point!
I hear you!
If they are picked up first, it will create a doctrine of eternal trash collection. 😉
YOur last point is a GOOD ONe.
Thanks Edie! 😈