Sunday, April 17, 2011

Dick Morris vs. Mitt Romney

I knock Dick Morris quite a bit, but it has a lot to do with the fact that I think he is representative of the kind of money-hungry pundit that I am at war with. His recent task is to make video clips of him waxing incoherent about a given topic. His latest video (below) on Paul Ryan's plan reveals that Morris is yet again confused.

First, let me say a few things about Ryan's plan.

I generally like it. It is in my view a conversation starter. It was the first plan put on the table. I don't expect it ever to pass in its original form. I hope that Republicans will have the courage to compromise and get some type of long-term plan put in place.

While there is a LOT to like about Ryan's plan, the big problem is that it doesn't account for rising health care prices. Ryan's plan is rationing at its greatest. It contributes what amounts to a voucher to future Medicare recipients. The problem is that the amount that those seniors will receive will be far less than what they will need to afford health insurance. Ryan's plan is a great way to solve our debt problem, but it will do so on the backs of senior citizens in the future.

There are no simple solutions in public policy and I am glad that at least Ryan is attempting to solve our huge debt problem. But Republicans need to support some type of plan that will lower health care costs in the United States, or else Ryan's plan simply will not work. Mitt Romney dealt with this subject extensively in his book and his analysis is spot on: the problem stems largely from the current pay-for-service system in the health care industry. We need to change the incentives in the health care field by transforming it into a single-fee system. Doctors would not get paid for each service they provide, but rather one fee for the patient. This would change the incentives of doctors, who often run excessive tests on their patients. If there is one idea in Mitt Romney's book that I would like to see implemented in American public policy, it is his single-fee system.

But until we deal with rising health care costs, Ryan's plan WILL NEVER BE A REALITY. We Republicans need to understand this. Let's support Ryan's plan, but let's also get serious about health care costs. Our debt cannot be solved unless we tackle health care costs.

Now back to Dick.

Unlike Ryan and Romney, who both care about public policy, Morris is most interested in enriching himself. You can always understand Dick, even when he is incoherent, by understanding his market. Dick sells a lot of books to senior citizens. Those senior citizens also happen to be very conservative and since Ryan's plan is the conservative plan at the moment, Morris must fall in line. So Dick makes the following argument: Paul Ryan's plan is great, because it doesn't cut Medicare. Of course, this is the exact opposite of reality and Dick knows this, so he explains more (my summary): Ryan's plan does not change Medicare until 2021 and we just don't know what will happen by then anyway, but either way, all of the Seniors that are interested in buying my books right now are safe. But I do want you to remain angry at Obama for cutting some of your Medicare now. Just don't get mad at Ryan, though, because he doesn't want to cut, er, I mean, change Medicare until after you and I have retired and I no longer need to sell books to you.

Morris then goes on to praise Ryan's idea of cutting Medicaid now. Note the contrast in the video. Morris doesn't sell books to poor people on Medicaid. He sells books to old people on Medicare. There is a difference.

The point of this post is to show you yet another example of the difference between Talk Radio Conservatives and Governance Republicans. Dick Morris doesn't offer anything substantive about our long term debt or our health care problems. Mitt Romney does.

The war continues.

21 comments:

BOSMAN said...

Pablo,

When I saw the title, The image that first popped into my head, small man vs BIG MAN.

John said...

Great post Pablo, though I disagree on the conclusion that Romney is the right guy for the job.

Noelle said...

You're right John, the better term would be Romney is the BEST man for the job. Or maybe Romney is the ONLY man for the job.

OhioJOE said...

"Dick Morris doesn't offer anything substantive about our long term debt or our health care problems." Yeah, just like some guy at Rightspeak.

Bill589 said...

Pablo: “. . . the courage to compromise.” You do realize that this sounds funny and actually might be part of a joke at any TPM gathering. Republicans usually have no problem compromising their stated values and principles.

How about: Have the courage to fight for what you believe is right and best for the people you serve, and then compromise only as much as needed to get anything done.

Anonymous said...

Pablo, what I don't get is who listens to Morris? Who buys the books? Stupid people, is all I can figure. He's not only annoying, he's a slimeball, and wrong most of the time.

He must come cheap, otherwise I have no idea why FOX tolerates him.

-Martha

Revolution 2012 said...

Martha,

"He must come cheap, otherwise I have no idea why FOX tolerates him."

You're probably right. He gets to push and and uses quotes what ever his latest book is, along with his website.

Pablo said...

"You do realize that this sounds funny and actually might be part of a joke at any TPM gathering"

You know one group that compromise would not have sounded funny to? The Founding Fathers. We will not solve our long term national debt problem without bipartisan support.

Pablo said...

"Yeah, just like some guy at Rightspeak."

Are you talking about yourself?

Pablo said...

Martha, there are a lot of people who think he is brilliant and a great analyst. It is the same people who listen to all of these talk radio hosts. This article pretty much sums it up.

http://www.frumforum.com/fox-geezer-syndrome

Anonymous said...

Dick Morris, thats why your named Dick.

Anonymous said...

Pablo, that article hit the nail on the head!

-Martha

OhioJOE said...

"Are you talking about yourself?" Hahaha, Am I a front page poster. I am talking about YOU, Generalismo. You are the guy who sees a racist and a bigot under every freaking rock and tree. You are the one who call it a victory when we get less than 1% of what we are promised. You are the one who call everybody crazy, but when asked how you would solve problems instead of giving us capitalism you give us crickets. The only sane thing about you is that you are not a Trig Birther.

To be blunt, you are are a disgrace to your camp.

Door # 1:
Hamaca and Noelle

Door # 2:
DanL & Doug

Door # 3:
Generalismo and Ellie.

So the reason that your camp is a NON-Starter (to use your term) is because I believe Door # 3 win the day. Just remember the other camps also have three doors and all 3 are capabile of fighting back against your war on Election Day.

Doug NYC GOP said...

Please explain the meanings of the Doors 1, 2 and 3. What does one have to do to get to be a 1er, a 2er or a 3er?

I gather #3 is the worst, since you blasted the General. I assume as DanL and I are placed in Door #2, we are perceived to be not as "bad" as Pablo and Ellie, but fall short of Hamaca and Noelle.

This could be a fun feature each week for the site:

"Tune in every Friday night at 8 folks, to see who is 'Behind OJ's Door!'"

People could vote and the winners get a prize.

Has possibilities.

OhioJOE said...

Well Doug, you are more perceptive than the Generalismo. He thinks I actually made his case, when I tried to sugguest that former Presidents were not as fiscally iresponsible as our current one.

BTW, you might get a prize if Door # 3 win, but somehow, I am not convinced that most parts of the country will feel that way when the dust settles.

Doug NYC GOP said...

I'm still confused as to the meanings of the doors.

What are they a reflection of?

Policy, areas of agreement, politness?

OhioJOE said...

"Policy, areas of agreement, politness?" You can take your pick, but I'd say the main facors would be policy and governance.

Anonymous said...

Oh man, OJ. You left me out! I must be door number 4.

-Martha

Doug NYC GOP said...

So why is palblo a 3, Hamaca a 1 and me a 2?

Is it base on how our agreement on the issues match up? For example you agree more with Hamaca so he is a one, and so on down the line?

Just trying to understand the guidelines.

OhioJOE said...

No, Martha, you are Door 2.7 if you want the answer.

I sorry Doug, but as much as you are in need of your daily entertainment right now, I am done with the doors for now.

Pablo said...

Doug,

Lol. I was a little confused on the doors thing as well. I just knew that door three was really bad because me and Ellie were behind it. That's okay. I will leave it unlocked for you OJ. You can come inside anytime you want.