Pay Back Time (tw will like this...)

[Hippikos]

GOP corporate allies in Congress's cross hairs.

WASHINGTON – When Republicans expanded their majority in 2004, their first target was the trial lawyers, virtual ATM dispensers for Democratic candidates. A new law curbing class-action lawsuits was on the president's desk by mid-February.

Now, Democrats are targeting some of the GOP's strongest corporate allies - Big Dic Oil, big dic pharmaceutical companies, and, in all likelihood, big dic defense contractors.

In their first 100 legislative hours, Democrats aim to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors, roll back subsidies for oil and gas companies, and reduce the cost of student loans. They're also quickly gearing up to investigate allegations of corruption in war contracting.

"Parties reward their constituency groups, and they go after the other party's constituency groups. Parties are never stronger than in the first few days, so they do it early," says Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Moreover, it's popular. "You can't find people supporting big drug and oil companies, except the people who work in them," Professor Sabato says. For example, some 85 percent of Americans say the government should negotiate prescription-drug prices for the Medicare program, according to a recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

When the GOP-controlled Congress passed the Medicare prescription-drug bill in 2003, it included a one-line provision that banned the government from negotiating directly with drug companies to lower prices for seniors, as it now does for veterans. Rep. Billy Tauzin (R) of Louisiana, who drafted that provision, left Congress to become the top lobbyist for the drug industry as president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) - a controversial move that Democrats say they will make less likely with new lobby-reform legislation.

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[piercehawkeye45]

This is why I hate politicians...

[tw]

Originally Posted by Hippikos

Now, Democrats are targeting some of the GOP's strongest corporate allies - Big Dic Oil, big dic pharmaceutical companies, and, in all likelihood, big dic defense contractors.

The term 'big dic' has been woefully misused. Among defense contractors, big oil, etc are / were some rather significant accomplishments. Painting each industry with a broad brush implies a misunderstanding of the term or a misunderstanding of some members in that industry.

I have no appreciation of a blanket 'go after them' attitude for political reasons. My contempt of politicians comes from these politically inspired decisions. It also reeks of 'big dic' type thinking. There is good reason to be distressed by big pharma's corporate welfare provided by the George Jr medicaid prescription plan. Welfare that makes illegal the purchase of same drugs from the same factory but 40% cheaper in Mexico or Canada. That is simply anti-free trade - enrich the few at the expense of America. Yes, big pharma bought and paid for it - legally. Just look at the GOP coffers. But the devil here was not big pharma. The devil was a corrupt and dumb George Jr - and people so much like him such as Abramhoff.

Meanwhile, those who so hate America are easily identified. Their solution to problems is 'big dic' thinking which is why they love the mental midget president and quietly love the massacre of American troops in "Mission Accomplished". 'Big dics' somehow know from their feelings - facts, reality, and America be damned. Even worse, those 'big dic' types wrap themselves in the flag as if that proves intelligence.

'Big oil' sometimes gets a bad rap simply because, again, too much 'big dic' thinking even foolishly thinks oil prices are too high and that 'big oil' has somehow conspired to keep them high.

Meanwhile, best place to find the 'devil' in all this are Democrats and (worse) Republicans) who conspire to enrich themselves at your expense. Among the devils are some who actually do work for us. They are called the centrists. One who has repeated done so is PA's Senator Specter. He has recently and repeatedly used intelligent thought to confront the scumbag president. You must have respect for someone in Congress who can do just that when others such as PA's Senator Santorum intended to 'screw' us all using their 'big dic' rationalizations.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by tw

But the devil here was not big pharma. The devil was a corrupt and dumb George Jr - and people so much like him such as Abramhoff.

Excellent point, for the drug company exects it was a logical business decision to maximize profits for their stockholders. That's what they are hired to do.
It's the politician scumbags that we hire, that are screwing us.

[Elspode]

Screwing, schmewing...as long as I get richer.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Originally Posted by tw

The term 'big dic' has been woefully misused.

It has certainly been woefully misspelt.

Yes, big pharma bought and paid for it - legally. Just look at the GOP coffers. But the devil here was not big pharma. The devil was a corrupt and dumb George Jr - and people so much like him such as Abramhoff.

This does not follow. The devil here would be the initiator of such action, no? Do not partisanly insist that one party pay for the sins, if any, of TWO. This is an example of your inveterate unfairness to Republicans, and we know it even if you can't, tw. So accept the real if you want to be smart like me.

I know you don't, hee hee; it's what keeps you so stupid and bloviational. Hemipygian, too; let's not forget your single-buttocked condition...

Meanwhile, those who so hate America are easily identified. Their solution to problems is . . .

To speak and act against the Republic's interest, and in the interest of any foreign non-democracy. in all matters foreign and domestic. This is characteristic of you, tw, and most of us, with the possible exception of Ibram, who is not yet old enough to be guileful nor have much experience of guile, treachery, and cupidity, see through you. Ann Coulter is right about your sort -- treason, essentially, is your habit, always clothed in high-sounding, fair words, but always with feet of slime. I am pure, you are not, and can't be until you quit Communism. Read Whittaker Chambers, man.

[Ibby]

Hahahhahahahahaha, not old enough to have experience of guile, treachery, or cupidity?


You never DID go to high school, did you?

[Hippikos]

Ann Coulter is right about your sort

I am amazed that anyone is resorting to Coulter these days. She repeatedly plagiarized, misinformed about her birth date, misinformed about her voters registration, harassing 9/11 widows. She's a paria even in Republican circles, except Limbaugh, of course. Are you sure you want to refer to her?

[wolf]

You haven't actually read any of her books, have you?

[yesman065]

I just got her latest one for Christmas - I think my dad is trying to tell me something, anyway so far I'm enjoying it.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Originally Posted by Ibram

Hahahhahahahahaha, not old enough to have experience of guile, treachery, or cupidity?


You never DID go to high school, did you?

Having gone to high school is why I can say that. That, and having lived nearly thrice your years, almost got in a war, and so on. Experience has this habit of piling up after a while. Not saying your experiences haven't been sufficient unto the day; I've just had a great many more days than you.

You'll get there, too -- just stay out from under the wheels of a bus.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

Having gone to high school is why I can say that. That, and having lived nearly thrice your years, almost got in a war, and so on.

If UG told us that he graduated, then he would have to kill us.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Originally Posted by Hippikos

I am amazed that anyone is resorting to Coulter these days. She repeatedly plagiarized, misinformed about her birth date, misinformed about her voters registration, harassing 9/11 widows. She's a paria even in Republican circles, except Limbaugh, of course. Are you sure you want to refer to her?

Repeated plagiarization? Really? Name at least two actual incidences, demonstrable by accurate quotation from primary, not secondary or tertiary sources. Coulter's foes can seldom cope with Coulter, AFAIK.

Having actually read a few of her books, I'm not persuaded that even those who go, "Oh she's not a good historian" have a leg to stand on. They do not, you see, get around to explaining just how she's so poor at it. Meanwhile, Coulter continues to footnote her paragraphs to primary sources, making a specialty of damning her targets with their own words.

Birthdate? Voter registration???? Are these here or there on any matter of consequence? Or are they mere excuses, intended to prop a very silly set of fools from the collapse they should rightfully undergo that the way may be clear of the obstacles they present? Fah -- away with the lot of these.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

I graduated, bubble nuts.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

I graduated, bubble nuts.

Watch your backs, folks.