March 24, 2004
Amy Sullivan summarizes the Bush administration’s signature domestic achivement, last year’s Medicare “reform,” which:
a) only passed after Republican leaders broke all institutional precedent, holding the vote open for three hours instead of fifteen minutes, allowing HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on the floor of the House during the vote to “convince” relcalitrant representatives who had already voted against the bill to change their vote, and possibly threatening and/or bribing at least one representative;Ms. Sullivan also directs us to this Daily Show clip on the same issue, further evidence that I have really got to start watching that program. I understand my terminal on the internetwork can be used to obtain schedules covering the wide variety of reportage and theatrical presentations available on my “television receiver.” Perhaps one day I’ll figure it all out. [09:16 AM]b) costs at least $150 billion more than the pricetag Republicans advertised — a fact they knew and covered up;
c) is so unpopular that the administration is spending upwards of $80 million on television commercials and fake recorded news spots to promote the law; and
d) accelerates the rate at which the program will go bankrupt by at least seven years.
That’s one doozy of a public policy accomplishment. Remember when Democrats were scared witless that Republicans would be able to capitalize on their Medicare “success” and cruise to easy election victories? Bring it on.
One year later: Electrolite has changed its name to TiVoBlog.
The Daily Show is on Comedy Central M-Th at 11pm; episodes are rebroadcast at 7pm the next day.
It's the only TV news we watch, besides ESPN.
Sigh.
Must go and bother SBS or ABC to try and import these again. Thought they were just taking a Christmas/New Year break, but there's no sign of 'The Weekly Daily Show' returning yet.
Sulk.
Hey, it’s what editors do: direct you to stuff by other people that’s worth reading.
Yep. Prezackly. No need to apologize for it, either. It's part of why we read your blog.
Okay, now I know I must start watching the Daily Show. Funny stuff. It also proves to me how shallow the Bush Administration is, as if I didn't already know.
A TiVo would solve that nasty "when is it on" problem for you.
Of course, then comes the "hey, easy to find good stuff is on TiVo; I think I'll ignore real work for awhile" problem.
Don't forget that the GOP leadership also offered a member of congress from MI a bribe of $100,000 (IIRC) in campaign funds to go along with them.
I love the theme song to The Daily Show. "Dog on Fire" -- the name of their theme appeals to me.
A laugh riot of a show.
Don't do it! Common sense tells us that television is physically impossible, and when I unveil my proof, there will be HUGE shake-ups in the industry.
--Napoleon
And another comment spam from CY.
Hard-Hitting Moderator: Teresa Nielsen Hayden.
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