39 Responses to MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan and Rep. Anthony Weiner Smack Down Betsy “Death Panels” McCaughey

1. cbl October 6th, 2009 at 11:15 am «

   thanks twolf! caught only the very end of this this am

   let the beat down commence !
• jayt October 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm «

  thanks twolf! caught only the very end of this this am

  me too – missed the first part.

  let the beat down commence !

  I think that that was accomplished. *g*

  By the end, I think she woulda shot somebody if she’d had a gun.
2. cbl October 6th, 2009 at 11:23 am «

   who is she shilling for since Cantel cut her loose ?
3. arob October 6th, 2009 at 11:53 am «

   Thanks twolf, that was awesome
4. Jo Fish October 6th, 2009 at 12:03 pm «

   I didn’t realize the Europe was a monolithic bloc when it came to health care. I guess I just learned something today. *s
5. Jason Rosenbaum October 6th, 2009 at 12:18 pm «

   Why is McCaughey still on TV???
• stritz44 October 7th, 2009 at 3:43 am «

  Better question, why does Dylan Ratigan still have a show?
6. PaulaT October 6th, 2009 at 12:38 pm «

   Love the phrase corporate communism and saying that he just wants capitalism back. We need more people who are willing to fight like the opposition fights and to put it in emotional terms that people can understand. I’m actually feeling good about the delays in the Finance Committee because from where I sit, the longer this goes, the more people are getting to know about the issue and realizing how horrible the system is. Who was even talking about antitrust provisions a month ago other than wonks and people who hang out places like FDL? I don’t recall hearing anything about it on TV.
• readerOfTeaLeaves October 6th, 2009 at 4:33 pm «

  I’m actually feeling good about the delays in the Finance Committee because from where I sit, the longer this goes, the more people are getting to know about the issue and realizing how horrible the system is. Who was even talking about antitrust provisions a month ago other than wonks and people who hang out places like FDL? I don’t recall hearing anything about it on TV.

  That makes at least two of us who are seeing this phenomenon. All the GOP’s foot-dragging is coming back to haunt it — ha!

  But I don’t think Ratigan and Weiner ’smacked her’ as much as they simply acted like business people who have to get through a large amount of information and simply don’t have time for someone to take things off track, or deal with butt-covering b.s.

  Not so much a ’smackdown’ as a management style, IMHO.
• Larue October 6th, 2009 at 7:29 pm «

  Respectfully disagree with you completely.
  Watched it twice, all 13+ minutes, at TMP, earlier today.
  She was smacked, sacked, rebutted, and shamed and humiliated.

  I loved it!!! *YAY*
7. dosido October 6th, 2009 at 1:26 pm «

   hahahaha! mandates and rules and state boards Oh my!
• cbl October 6th, 2009 at 1:33 pm «

  they’ve dispatched the flying monkeys, rapacious harpies division on those ‘weakened’ mandates:

  People will drop coverage and those who stay in would see rate shock,” Karen Ignagni, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans, the insurance industry trade group, said in an interview Monday.

  Alissa Fox, a top lobbyist for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, said the Senate Finance Committee had “severely weakened” the proposed requirement to buy health insurance.

  “It’s become an aspirational goal, because it’s a mandate with no penalty,

  Oh The Inanity !!!
8. cbl October 6th, 2009 at 1:27 pm «

   btw, apparently our televisions have gone crazzzzzy – or The One has made their worst nightmares come true and taken over everything:

   Fox News goes all Socialist on the PO – uses GOP Senator as Bitch

   that’s right, I said Fox News :D

   run for your fucking lives !!!!
• Jim White October 6th, 2009 at 1:43 pm «

  Wow! Shep “We don’t fucking torture” Smith speaks the truth again. I suspect he’s not going to work for Fox much longer…
• cbl October 6th, 2009 at 1:58 pm «

  often thought he has vid of Ailes actually humping Reagan’s corpse
• dosido October 6th, 2009 at 4:15 pm «

  sheesh. I could only watch half of the vid with that idiot lying through his teeth. Shep did a great job of articulating the issue. I can see consensus in that no one wants to get screwed!

  I notice that the GOP always cry about what’s going to happen when they talk about what needs to be fixed, v. how people are in bad shape RIGHT NOW. Mr. wyoming starts off saying we’re being rationed right now (yes) and then uses a fictional scenario to prove it. Ack!!!
• readerOfTeaLeaves October 6th, 2009 at 4:37 pm «

  Amazing, huh?
  But what I find even more intriguing is that Shep Smith seemed to synthesize the issues so well; I think he really does get it.

  Really heartening.
  Here’s hoping he keeps asking tough questions because he’s starting to ‘get’ how healthCo is symptomatic of underlying, corrupt aspects of our tax laws and economic structures.
• GDC707 October 6th, 2009 at 6:38 pm «

  wooo . .hoooo! And Shep had it exactly right. I seem to recall that Shep Smith went of the Fox reservation some time back on another issue. Can’t recall what it was though. Finally, a sliver of intellectual honesty – of fairness and ballance actually! from Fox. Whaddaya know.
9. cbl October 6th, 2009 at 2:03 pm «

   Congressman Weiner

   debating her was like “debating a pyromaniac in a straw man factory,”

   Monday Night’s Beat Down
10. Leen October 6th, 2009 at 5:40 pm «

    I am not a fan of Betsy but Dylan Ratigan did not allow her to get a word in..he really bullied in this interview

    all Betsy tried to do is scare seniors
• newtonusr October 6th, 2009 at 5:43 pm «

  I have now watched it 3 times, and while I agree that Radigan is tough on her, she:
  a) did not answer one question as asked – not one.
  b) lied with every breath.
• Leen October 6th, 2009 at 5:51 pm «

  I do not like this lady but when she was allowed to finish her statement about delaying peoples medicare coverage made sense to me.

  Ratigan was more than “tough” he was not acting as a moderator. He was “partisan” and barely allowed her to finish a sentence
• Larue October 6th, 2009 at 7:40 pm «

  So, you are FOR denying Medicare for anyone under 55, until they reach 70?

  You’d ensure that MORE people die, from a lack of coverage and care, than are dying now?

  Are you single handedly encouraging the genocide of our elderly?
  Yer FOR killin grandma, grandpa, and me and all of us boomers?

  Cuz, NOW, yer REALLY killin me.
  Glad to know, you are for elderly genocide.
  I ’spose you won’t be opting to USE Medicare, or take Social Security when YOUR time comes, right?

  *G*
• Leen October 7th, 2009 at 8:02 am «

  Get a fucking grip. Never said I supporter anything that Betsy says. Did say that her explanation about delaying medicare (we are living longer) made “sense”

  Betsy

  Betsy “put medicare on a more firm footing without cutting care for current medicare recipients so that the baby boomers soon to be in the program” “inching up the eligibility age one month a year until 2043 when the eligibility age reaches 70 that will restore medicare fiscal stability”

  Now do I agree with this no…but fiscally it makes sense

  Ratigan began the show with “what do you want to see” He then interrupts, never lets her finish a sentence and acts as a bully. During this interview Radigan was a bully and not a good moderator.

  Radigan “bingo, bingo, sure”

  Come on. Take your blinder off and listen…listen
  Betsy actually stayed cool and calm even though they were doing everything they could to rattle her.

  And I have never agreed to anything Betsy has to say. But her explanation of Medicare fiscal responsibility did make sense if that is your focus “fiscal responsibility”
• clymela October 7th, 2009 at 8:24 am «

  Dylan Ratigan does not have to be a fair moderator when dealing with the likes of Betty McCaughey. I am always amazed when we are urged to treat the likes of McCaughey with good regard when that person is lying and dissembling before us.
• dosido October 7th, 2009 at 8:50 am «

  I agree. Time and again we see full blown liars filibuster the entire segment saying all the while “let me finish”. Dylan wasn’t going to let her get away with that. He gave her many many opportunities to answer his question and each time she led with misdirection.

  She also trotted out the name calling and accusations. She is not professional in any sense of the word. Ridiculous.
• Leen October 7th, 2009 at 9:33 am «

  BS he allowed her to finish once. go back and listen. He endlessly interrupted her (and I generally do not like anything she has to say)
• dosido October 7th, 2009 at 12:23 pm «

  I did listen. I stand by my observation which doesn’t necessarily nullify yours.

  He interrupted her because she kept trying to change the topic or answer a question that wasn’t asked. She was blindsided by preparing for the usual interview of “tell us what you think” instead of “tell us what you would do”. That’s all. And she couldn’t deliver.

  She was a little toddler breaking the rules every time Daddy said “don’t go there, stay over here”. BTW they both did stop and listen to hear what she had to say When. She. Was. On. Topic.

  I’m glad she got spanked really hard.
• Leen October 7th, 2009 at 9:14 am «

  You folks sound as blind as when folks end up on Faux. I am not saying agree with her, or allow her to get away with false claims or misrepresentations. There is a way to call some one out on the carpet after they finish their fucking sentence. Hammer her statement..rip it apart. But allow her to finish.

  At least you admit Radigan was not “fair” not anywhere close. That sounded like a planned blind siding.

  And again I do not agree with Betsy
• Larue October 6th, 2009 at 7:34 pm «

  Thank you. That’s the segment I viewed, also. *G*
• GDC707 October 6th, 2009 at 6:24 pm «

  Mccaughey’s MO is ALWAYS trying to bully and dominate and sidetrack the discussion. I am so glad that Lying B**ch had somebody stand up to her.
• Larue October 6th, 2009 at 7:33 pm «

  She was lying thru her teeth from the get go.
  Ratigan didn’t bully her, he simply called her shit for what it was.
  That’s not bullying. That’s truth.

  She all but broke down and cried like a baby, from the onslaught of truth.

  That wasn’t bullying. Beck bullies, Rush bullies, Michelle bullies, Ann bullies.
  Morning Joe, who can’t shut HIS mouth for a moment (see Max Blumenthal clips from today), is a bully.

  Ratigan didn’t bully her He called her on her shit, and she was unable to defend.

  She wasn’t bullied, as much as she was branded. Outed. Taken to task, for the truth.
11. Leen October 6th, 2009 at 5:47 pm «

    One thing that Betsy said which was true Dylan Ratigan was not a fair moderator…he was being a partisan and I like what he had to say…but he was not a moderator
• Larue October 6th, 2009 at 7:36 pm «

  Please, he gave admonishments to BOTH speakers to ensure fair play.

  And when McC couldn’t further the discussion at hand, or answer the questions posed, he moved it along and called her out for what she is, a liar and bullshitter.

  Ratigan did a GREAT job. It was HIS stage, not theirs. They play by HIS rules.

  Rule #1. Answer the fucking question or STFU!!!

  Good rule, that Rule #1.

  *G*
• kgb999 October 7th, 2009 at 10:57 am «

  I don’t think he was acting in the role of moderator. He was acting in the role of inquisitor – you know a journalist. As a journalist if you ask question “A” and interviewee ignores the question and attempts to go on a screed about topic “B” they are literally stealing air time for their own purpose that would otherwise cost considerable money to secure. She was there was to answer questions, not to be given X amount of air time to say what ever the hell she wanted. Wiener had zero problem clearly expressing his ideas within the context of the exact topic and issue that the interviewer asked about, and if you notice he actually had FAR less time to speak than ‘ole Betsy.

  Ratigan put it best: “Maybe you’ll learn to go on TV and answer the question being asked.” If not, there’s no point in letting her talk nor requirement to do so. Every time he cut her off, she was totally off topic and/or trying to do her “100 random scary facts” shtick.

  But she did finally answer a question. She said that to fix medicare we should change nothing systemically, that I should continue to pick up $2 with my taxes for every $1 today’s seniors paid into the system and then forgo benefits myself until I am 70 years old (which theoretically I’ve been paying for myself at the same time I cover the shortfall greedy-ass boomers have created by giving themselves a lifetime of taxcuts instead of ensuring retirement benefits were secure). That makes sense to you???
12. Leen October 6th, 2009 at 6:17 pm «

    check this out..best thing I have heard all day. Micheal Moore could not have said it better
    http://firedoglake.com/
13. Larue October 6th, 2009 at 7:44 pm «

    I guess things are heating up! I almost feel hope, again, for reform!!!

    Rep. Grayson tells it like it is.
    Apoliges, and repeats the truth.

    Shep Smith goes postal for the truth.

    Max Blumenthal calls out Morning Joe on HIS shit!

    Weiner smacks McC one night.

    Next morning, Ratigan and Weiner call shit for what it is on McC, AGAIN!

    FRESH SMELLS IN THE MEDIUMS!!!!

    *G*

    Good week!!!!
14. ProgressiveObserver October 7th, 2009 at 2:55 am «

    Betsy McCaughey, a Director of Cantel Medical Corp from 2005 to August 2009, wants to gradually cut Medicare for everyone between 65 and 70. If they are lucky these citizens won’t be working anymore, how exactly are they going to pay for their private health care?

    There are two possibilities here. The first is those who want raise the age for Medicare and raise the age for social security and applaud big businesses shedding pensions and other benefits –are planning for Americans to be destitute particularly when they are at their most vulnerable and the country to be even more bankrupt with upwards of 20% of the economy spent on health care. The second is that these people are so busy protecting the profits of their corporate patrons they haven’t thought about what will happen to the American people at all.
• james October 7th, 2009 at 7:05 am «

  The plan is to gradually extend the retirement age so that people cannot retire and won’t be able to collect Medicare. They will force undocumented aliens outta this country so that there will be jobs for seniors who won’t be able to afford to retire and the states will have to provide Medicaid for them since the jobs will be along the lines of Wal-Mart minmium wage, no benefit, shit jobs.

  The age at which you’re eligible for social security will be extended out til around 72. This way they’ll be able to continue pillaging the trust fund while scaring the younger workers into believing social security won’t be there for them so that they’ll agree to those fucking private savings accounts Wall Street is drooling over.

  It’s all in place. Continue bankrupting what’s left of the middle class, take their homes, make them debt slaves to the credit card companies/banks, and let wingnuts with their rifles and handguns terrorize anyone who even hints that socialism should be looked at as a viable alternative to the hell that unbridled capitalism has been since Marx first started writing about it back in the 1840s.