E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSFrom msnbc.com's Carrie Dann and NBC's Mark Murray
In his speech at today's CPAC Republican cattle call, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota urged perseverance in the contest to oust President Obama from the White House, but his remarks offered mixed signals about whether he wants to try to take on the role of presidential contender himself.
Quoting his wife Kimberly, Thune said his family recognized after his first defeat for the Senate seat -- he later won in 2004 -- that "It's important to be in the arena," but offered no hints if that arena -- for Thune -- is the White House or the Senate.
He also poked fun at a few presidential contenders. He noted that he's mostly visited first-in-the-nation caucus state Iowa "on my way home to South Dakota." And in what could be construed as a shot at both Sarah Palin and Donald Trump, who made a splash at the conference yesterday, he joked that "the closest I've ever come to being on a reality TV show is C-SPAN's live coverage of the Senate floor."
Thune, the only member of Congress considered to be seriously mulling a run for the White House, could see a clearer path to ascend up the Senate leadership ladder after GOP whip Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) announced Thursday that he won't run for re-election. (Although Texas Sen. John Cornyn has also expressed interest in the job.)
The South Dakota lawmaker argued in his remarks that programs like Social Security and Medicare are desperately in need of reforms that would only be executed by Republican leadership in the White House.
"If we're going to solve our entitlement problem," he said, "we're going to need to solve our White House problem by electing a conservative in 2012."
But whether or not he thinks he could be the solution? We'll have to stay tuned.
Leave a Comment:
Have I mentioned how thrilled I am that the events in Egypt are eclipsing the events at the crazy convention?
So let me see if I understand this...
The CPAC 'get together' is nothing more than 3 days of one crazy conservative attempting to out conservative the next?
Complete with a counterfeit Sarah Palin!
My, Doesn't that sound like tons of fun?
Let's see - it will take a Republican president to fix entitlements... How will a GOPer do that? Triple them, of course!!! Especially those to Halliburton, etc.
Right Feisty: and anyone who isn't completely bat@!$%#e crazy conservative has the label of liberal
And, the parade continues. Where'd I put my iced tea, lawn chair, sunscreen and shade?
I'm still trying to figure out how they hold on to the label "Conservative"
"And, the parade continues. Where'd I put my iced tea, lawn chair, sunscreen and shade?"
Might wanna add a few extra coats of sunscreen just incase the conservatives get back in charge.
Only the GOP can fix entitlements? Like they fixed Medicare with the prescription plan/subsidies for big pharma? Or like they tried to privitize Social Security which probably would have been wiped out by now if they had succeeded. Wall Street is rigged so the rich get richer while the rest of us lose our retirement.
I havent heard much about Egypt from Republican leaders, think they are sad to see him go. One less place to send people to be tortured.
"Thune, the only member of Congress considered to be seriously mulling a run for the White House"
A not-so-veiled shot at Michele Bachmann, perhaps....
A Governor with executive experience will be a better choice, in my opinion.
Maybe Thune could rein in the bonuses that are being paid to the Government Motors managers:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-10/gm-chrysler-salaried-workers-bonuses-said-to-reach-as-much-as-50-of-pay.html
Sorry JoAnna, Obama wasn't smart enough to set it up that way.....have to wait till the next time they fail and we have to bail them out again.
Judging from the auto world opinion - that shouldn't be too long. They used to laugh at GM for having finance guys in charge instead of car guys and engineers. Now they have a telecom / bureaucrat guy running it in Akerson.
He wants to double the production of Volts from 60,000 to 120,000 next year. This for a car that costs upwards of $40,000.00 to make and sells for $41,000.00.
Only the federal government would spend tens of billions of tax payer money producing a product that doesn't make any money and then pay unions bonuses for doing it.
But wait ....that's not all! We also win the requirement to pay with tax payer money - $7,500.00 to cronies and rich green dreamers for every one they buy.
Insanity.
So,
The Volt is the new Obamamobile?? Just what I want to do...spend $41,000 on a puddle-jumper that I have to re-charge every 40 miles. What about all the up-stream pollution caused by producing all that electricity??
Better off selling motorscooters. LOL
There were people that talked about another product just like they do the volt. They thought no consumer in the right mind would ever pay 1000's for this product. That product was called the personal computer.
Amazing how so many keep wanting to blame Obama for the auto company bailouts, when it was Bush Jr. that signed the bailout legislation before he left office. Same goes for the TARP program.
BTW, it isn't necessary to "charge the Volt every 40 miles", it can run on gasoline like a hybrid as long as necessary if a charging outlet isn't available. You don't have to "plug it in", but with a cost equivalent to 70 cents a gallon gasoline, you sure would want to!
CM,
The thing to look at when considering any alternative energy source is something called the cost/benefit ratio. We all use this everyday in our buying decisions, and don't even realize that we are doing it. In the case of the Volt, what is the savings in using electricity over gasoline?? What is the towing capacity of this electric car?? What is the acceleration rate when using electricity?? What do the batteries cost to replace and how long can they be expected to last. What is the resale value of the Volt, and would it's value be diminished by far better technology in the near future??
The cardinal rule is...never buy some new technology right away. Let others buy it and let all the bugs be ironed out and the quality will go up. Once it's produced in India or China, the price will come way down. Then,......Maybe I would consider an electric vehicle.
He means take away entitlements. Republicans are determined to make us a third world country.
Well Patrick, lets see how we can make certain that the entitlement programs are not affected by any budget cuts.
In 2010, total spending by the budget presented by the President was $3.55 trillion. Of that, $2 trillion was "Mandatory spending", i.e., the entitlements. The other $1.55 trillion was "Discretionary spending", for things like all the departments, like Labor, HHS, Defense, etc., of the executive branch for the federal government. Looking at 2011, with deficit spending forecast to be $1.5 trillion, that number matches up well with last years discretionary spending. So to balance the budget, and to not affect the sacred entitlements, all discretionary spending must be stopped.
Bottom line, there is no longer any room for any discretionary spending by our federal government, at least without borrowing the money outright. The entitlement programs consume every dime of the taxes the Federal government collects.
And you, Patrick, don't want to reform the entitlement programs. Good luck with that.
JoAnnaSmith1:
Bottom line, with federal taxes (both revenues and rates) at their LOWEST levels in 60 years, they need to be raised, starting with the Wall Street big shots who caused the Great Recession (with the able assistance of G. W. Bush and his rubber-stamping Congressional Republicans).
JoAnnaSmith-
I don't think anyone here is trying to argue that entitlements don't need to be fixed, but Patrick has a point- the last time a Republican attempted to reform an entitlement program was when Bush tried to privatize Social Security- which would have been disasterous had it actually happened, given the huge hit the stock market took back in 2008. A lot of people would have seen their 'Social Security' evaporate overnight. And lest we forget that Bush also added billions upon billions in debt when he added the prescription drug plan to medicare. Medicare Part D cost more money than Obama's HCR, and went completely unfunded- an obvious bribe to elderly voters to get him reelected. Now they're saying that 'only a Conservative' can fix entitlement programs?!? PLEASE.
Looks like the Government needs to increase it's revenue intake also, there are countless ways to do just that, although the wealthy and corporate America may see it as an inconvenience everyone should be called upon to contribute something, even them. The guy who gets a weekly paycheck is the only one who actually pays what their marginal tax rate calls for, anyone that files anything other than a 1040EZ does not pay what their marginal rate is, do away with all the loopholes and deductions that have taken lobbyists years to bribe congress into littering the tax laws with, if everyone paid just their fair share the deficit problem would be solved, that is if you cut out the unneeded discretionary spending like Afghanistan (what are trying to do over there again?) and so forth, anyway the problem is correctable but everyone has to participate in the solution.
No one said you had to participate in the privatization. No one said you had to invest in the stock market. Aslo, if you chose to participate, it was only for a small portion of your SS. And the stock market is always going up and down, you diversify to smooth out the transition from growth to income producing investments as you come closer to retirement. Standard operating procedure.
Don't see any proposals on the table for entitlement reform coming from the Democrats. They in fact are defending the status quo, and bash any proposals coming from the Republicans.
In what way are federal taxes "at their lowest in 60 years"? By percentage of GDP? They are projected in the next 3 years to go to nearly their highest percentage of GDP, with most of it the increased taxes needed to support ObamaCare.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Federal_Tax_Receipts_as_a_Percentage_of_GDP_1945%E2%80%932015.jpg
Total tax revenue was at it's highest in 2008. and has since dropped to 2000 levels. So that doesn't exactly explain your "60 years" statement.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S.-income-taxes-out-of-total-taxes.JPG
So lets back up those numbers of yours before you talk about "lowest in 60 years".
It,'s OK JAS1. You can go ahead and work until your last day here on earth, no stinkin' 'entitlement' program for you, out of choice...but of course, you may be in the top 2%. Not to worry, if you are!
You want to do all you can....so that you won't add to the deficit!
Joanne- just because total tax revnue was at its highest in 2008 doesn't mean that taxes were higher- it simply means people were making more money, and thus paying more in taxes- it doesn't mean they were paying a higher percentage of their income to taxes.
Attached is a link to a file showing the tax rates for the lowst and highest tax brackets for the past nearly 100 years.
As you can see, they are near historic lows right now- especially for the highest income bracket.
Here is another link.
There was only a 5 year span (1998- through 1992) that tax rates were lower than they are now for those in the highest tax bracket.
In 2008, the "wealthy" (and we can define the "wealthy" as the top 10% of wage earners) paid nearly 70% of the federal tax burden. You apparently don't think that is enough. What percentage would you suggest they pay?
The bottom 50% of wage earner in contrast paid 2.7% of the burden.
Source: http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/250.html
You know C, the ways things are going, soon no one will be getting any entitlements. China will just refuse to bankroll them.
The trouble with raising taxes is that the more money going to Washington is just more money dumped into a huge black hole. Does anyone seriously think additional revenue would be used to pay down the National debt?? Come on. It's like giving more drugs to the addict.
Cutting spending is the only way to make a real difference. There are entire agencies that we could live without. The waste is unbelievable.
ok one more time. look at your paycheck. on that check is what you pay as social security taxes. it is separate from federal taxes. it has nothing to do with federal taxes. it says social security taxes. you pay 6.2 %. your employer pays 6.2%. that comes to 12.4%. it's what you pay to social security. that is why it's called an entltelment. somehow the GOP has manged to lump it into federal taxes and make you believe it's part of the spending budget. it's not. that was the way FDR set it up. to be separate. and medicare is the same. it is medicare taxes. and when you retire you pay a monthly premium. for me it's $ 96.00. so between the premium and the taxes it's all paid for. their is a 2.5 trillion dollar surlus in social security. go to socialsecurity.gov and read all about it. i'm sick of the GOP always attacking these program. touch them and you will be out of power untill the baby boomers die off. they never liked these programs and will lie about them untill they are gone.
Mr Thune can you save America from the iron grip the Koch brothers seems to have on this country? America is watching !!
To I must.... I believe they own him... They own most of the Republicans
What Mr. Thune really means is that only a republican president can destroy the safety nets and return the American people to the days of the Great Depression--Mr Thune's way to fix "entitlements" is give social security dollars to Wall Street to risk and lose and why bother caring for the sick, the elderly, the children, the poor. President Obama was correct when he said that with republicans--you're on your own if you get sick, if you lose your job, if you get old and can't work. Thanks, but no thanks Mr. Thune--you are as selfish and greedy as are far too many other conservatives--take from the poor and give more to the rich, burden the middle class by subsidizing big business.
And Jody- I BET he's pandering to the evangelilcals and other church-goers all the while, doing the OPPOSITE of what his 'saviour' would have him to do.
I suppose Red states don't have poor, elderly or disabled folks!......
...and if by chance, misfortune, or birth.....well, that's just too bad!
Of course it's only the GOP.... only they will cut aid to kids, mothers, the sick, the lame... while making sure that the billionaires get their tax cuts.... they have no shame....
Just the mention of gutting Social Security and Medicare should be reason enough for the American people to break out the torches and pitchforks, make no mistake they are "testing the waters" to see if they can go ahead and pull the rug completely out from under the American people without any resistance, now is the time for the people to act, after it's gone you won't get it back without bloodshed.
Now, now w Bush,
Let's not speak of bloodshed. Let's keep it civil. Ok???
The Republicans will fix entitlements, all right. They'll make sure their corporate masters get everything to which they think they are entitled -- like profits beyond the dreams of avarice at the expense of everyone else.
Yea, they will be entitled not to pay for the messes they create.
I get more than a little steamed to hear that social security and medicare are even called "entitlements". I have PAID into those systems my whole working life and "yes" I am entitled to them. If the government would keep their hands out of these funds and not 'borrow' from them, they would be solvent.
I'm sure the GOP would love to cut those programs and that's why we need to keep a Democrat in the White House in the future.
Yes Lorna, So true.
Lorna- That actually isn't quite accurate. The CBO projects that this year will be the first in History where Social Security pays out more than it is taking in. And it is only going to get worse.
If that is true, then they need to lift the earnings maximum to $250,000 per year or more. The average working guy never reaches the max on social security per year but the CEO's reach the max on their first 2 paychecks. That would help the solvency of social security.
However, there is $2.5 Trillion in the Social Security Trust Fund.
Unemployment has added to the shortfall. This is not the first time when government pays out more in social security benefits than it receives but with baby boomers retiring it exacerbates the problem. One simple fix, raise the earned income on which social security is paid; there are other fixes that would solve this problem. Both parties can do it together but not if one party wants to dismantle and eliminate it which is what the GOP really has in mind--privatize it to benefit big business. Contrary to what republicans claim, it does not need a complete overhaul.
Amen, Lorna---I have long advocated raising the wage cap on social security. Or having a phase in----exempt wages from 100,000 to 250,000 and then everything over that is subject to FICA.
Perhaps those suggesting the wage cap should be raised should go back and read the original legislation, understand it's purpose and read the debates that framed the passage of the original law. If one takes the time to learn, one would find the the system was never intended to be a retirement program. It is insurance. It s not a garunteed retirement.
The real answer, and I think all know that there are no politicians that have the appetite to actually draft legislation that will do it, is cap the payout. The best way to fix a system that spends too much is to make sure no person can get more in benefits than they have paid in. Instant solvency and best of all, no excuses. You get back what you pay in, and all citizens are treated equal. Of course no politician has the intestinal fortitude to suggest those that are upset it is even called an entitlement will have to look at what they have paid in and manage their own future. One can be sure this approach will drive the redistributionist's crazy, but one cannot argue the fact that a spending problem needs cuts.
Remember FDR's now infamous rancor that Social Security would never need more than 1-2% of taxation on wages. Here we are just a few decades later needing 12.5% between the employer and employee contributions. Lesson learned. Never trust what a politician says a new program will cost. Just check defense programs for the last 30 years and Medicare as cases in point. We never get what we are promised from either the left or the right.
When Social Security started the average life span was around 55 years. Now it's more like 75. Add to that the giant bulge in our senior population known as the baby boomers, and you can see why the program is in trouble. It was never meant to be the sole retirement income of people. Companies are doing away with pension plans and if someone hasn't saved for retirement, social security ends up being all they have to live on.
Sad situation, and I don't even have any suggestions that would realistically fix the problem.
Where, praytell, do all you bleeding heart liberals think the money that you want to just give to every tom dick and harry with a sob story comes from?
You guys basically believe gov't is god. We should all bow down and be grateful that our "loving" gov't is "allowing" us to live the lives we live.
WE ARE NOT EUROPE. WE ARE NOT VENEZUALA OR CUBA OR ANY OTHER SOCIALIST COUNTRY. I know you guys want us to be come that butthe VAST majority of Americans are not lazy slobs that live of the gov't teet like you progressives are. Most Americans would rather EARN their keep. Not get it from the government.
This is why pregessivism may be the death of the last bation of freedom in the world. You liberals are out to destroy this country.... one entitlement program at a time.
You know what... yea it sucks that some people arent as well off as others.... Does that mean that we need to steal from the rich to give it to the poor? What incentive is there to be successful when its easier to be poor and let Uncle Barack pay for your house, give you money for food and money for NOT going to work....then you are able to claim that money on your taxes and GET money back even though you dont pay taxes and the money you get was stolen from those of us who try to make a living by actually working....
You guys are a disgrace..... The Founding Fathers would be sickened by what our once great country has been turned into by the liberals.
So, Larry- by your logic, since 'Uncle Barack' is paying for everything and handing out money for not working, you no longer have any incentive to work and be succesful because all of your pay check is going towards these entitlement programs, why in the hell are you still working?
Larry - 50% of Americans live in poverty at some time in their life.
How does that work in with your 'sob story' scenario?
Larry- You're paying less in taxes now than you ever have your adult life (assuming you're employed).
How does that work in with your 'socialism' scenario?
You guys are a disgrace..... The Founding Fathers would be sickened by what our once great country has been turned into by the liberals.
Wow Larry..'once great country'........what happened, or is that the same as 'take our country back'....more talking points!
Oh, to return to the good old days! Slave ownership, no womens rights, no childrens rights, killing Native Americans, plague, famine....ya' know, the good old days!
Regressives are fun!
Larry Social Security and Medicare were paid for by the people, do think Wall Street is entitled to that money? This country takes from the poor and gives to the rich currently, it's not the other-way around, the American taxpayer is forced to subsidize corporate America, the banks, the financial industry and those entities invest those profits overseas instead of putting people to work here, but that's Ok, right Larry? Get the facts Larry things are not how some would have you believe.
Oh, man, Larry, that's a laugh right there, truly, a riot!!!! You ACTUALLY believe that the social programs that were put in place to protect low and middle income families are a drain on the taxpayer. Well, what do you say about outsourcing every job overseas, what do have to say about the two wars that went unfunded for so long, do you have any comment about the stimulus money that Bush gave out in 2001 and in 2004? I take it that you have "NO COMMENT" on the tax breaks the wealthy are receiving, NOR do you have anything to add on the subsidies these oil barrons are getting, and to hell with what Robert Gates stated that the Pentagon can trim $100 Billion off of their budget NOR do you have any quips or remark about the "Symbolic Vote" to re-peal HRC that has added another $230 Billion to the defecit by your House Republicans.
Asside form that, you are one funny guy!!!!!
Larry:
Why don't you just does us all a favor and move to another country, your not a true American anyway. All you do is complain here every day. Just takes all your stuff and family and get the he!! out. Problem solved.
Amen to that Navy.
So it seems that hate must fill your every waking moment Larry. As a "liberal" I take offense to your narrow minded view of our citizens. The founding fathers would take issue with you belief that our government should turn it's back on not only hard working Americans who need government assistance but also all of the Americans that have no other choice but to take this so called hand out. By your logic that means we should abandon our disabled vets, kids born with genetic defects, the elderly, etc. Is this the case or are you trying to tell us you subscribe to eugenics? And by the way as a person of Cuban decent its' a communist military dictatorship, get it right.
I saw this story about 1/2 hour ago, and between then and now I've been trying to come up with one piece of legislation directed toward the betterment of Americans that Sen. Thune has proposed.
1/2 hour later, still can't come up with one.
Â
Pres GWB created a medicare drug program, which is fine except he forgot to pay for it. Yup them Republicans do real good they don't pay for anyting they just charge it.
Wow. Those were some memorable quotes. Thumbs up (somewhere), Mr. Thune!
Your just being near the White house is an 'entitlement', and as far as I see - a 'problem'.
drpageiv
Allen - Omaha- He was elected if you can call what happened as a fair election to be our representative not leader. Americans do not have leaders we have representatives. The left has a problem with that concept because they see the people as the element that needs to be controled for their own good.
Whereas the new right wing (TEA Party Conservative) refuse to allow that control. Were going to win this fight because you folks follow the likes of Lanny Davis. Ha what a ride this is going to be. Remember at the end of Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb," Slim Pickens rides the bomb down to the target yelling Ye Ha.
=========
Since you're trying to be a smart-butt....you're incorrect when you state, "Americans do not have leaders we have representatives". Rather "Citizens do not have leaders..." I'm a Legal Resident of this Country and have been so for 30+ years, but the 3 things I cannot do are: hold public office, vote and not able to work for a vast part of the of the government. 38 of the 39 years of my life though have been spent in this Country and a I consider myself fully American but no one has my voice.
I mean really...you think you're "Right" representative has you in mind? They wipe their butts with your piddly campaign donations. Truth be told is that you've aligned your 'values' to the talking points of the day so that you could feel important and part of something bigger. You don't move the needle in life...no one is lining up behind you because they see something bigger in you and potential in your effort.
At the end of the day, your Representative nor anyone else is bothered by what you have to say...cause well, you've got nothing to say.
Larry. You are a walking cliche. Spouting meaningless right wing talking points.
Patrick:
He gets old pretty quick. Always complaining but offers no new ideas just GOP/TP talking points like you said. If he is so unhappy here he should pack up his stuff and move to another country. We need people who want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Do not like it here, then get the he!! on a plane and move to Europe or whatever. Just get sick and tired of the constant crap all the time.
 Tax cuts for Millionaires who haven't paid for them becomes an entitlement. You see, an entitlement is when something is expected, and even demanded, for no cost. Yet, Social Security and Medicare is always referred to as an entitlement by Republicans; when it is not an enititlement. Americans purchase these service in advance by years of FICA deductions from their paychecks. After working their entire careers, those services for retirement are paid for. This is exactly why Republicans will always lose the entitlement argument concerning Social Security and Medicare. America will not allow Republicans to take away a service already purchased by their delusional thoughts believing it's an entitlement not paid....when it is exactly that.... Â
Man, the level of desperation of the GOTP to beat President Obama has reached a fevered pitch!!! The problem is that there are no viable front runners that will get the nod come 2012.
It's as if we are watching the GOTP self implode on itself.
"The suspense is terrifying!!! I hope it will last!"- Willy Wonka.
Wow! Really Mr. Thune? The GOP ideas of fixing entitlements is to get rid of them or privatizing them. To this I and the majority of Americans say no thank you!
The GOP has been against Social Security since it's inception and we all know how they feel about Medicare, Medicaid, the ACA, WIC, EBT, etc.
Sorry, but we just "can't be fooled again". The GOP has no viable plan to fix any of the entitlements.
The last GOP President who could be trusted on social programs was Eisenhower.
Yep I think Ike said it very well. Thank you Mr. Eisenhower.
Devie, you want to know what's the REALLY CRAZY THING given Ike's insights? Had he lived in this era, he would've been called a traitorous Left-Of-Center Republican OR a "Commie Sympathizing" Liberal by the Republican and Tea Parties.
kevin i don't know how old you are but the far right did call him a communist.
"50% of Americans live in poverty at some time in their life. How does that work in with your 'sob story' scenario?"
Of these 50% who live in poverty , a good 30% will work hard, take responsibility for themselves, succeed on their own, and become self reliant.
The other 20% sit around and mooch off the 30%, post on MSNBC blogs about how 'the rich' are greedy, and obsess about Sarah Palin.
Thanks for your touching insight. You are just to kind! BTW case closed! The GOTP just can't be trusted.
I can never figure out why the people on the far right don’t care about anyone else, but themselves and the super rich. They want to give welfare to big corporations, but for the people that need it; through no fault of their own, they call them bums.
Many care more about people, and so many care more about money.
These are the same bumper-sticker mentality liberals that expect to be taken care of by the nanny state from cradle to grave. They have a rude awakening coming soon. There isn't enough street corners for all those panhandlers to occupy at once with their little card-board signs. Guess they will have to mooch in shifts. LOL
The biggest problem with CPAC is that progressives have not countered them with an annual convention of their own. The free media coverage is tantamount to advertising and we progressives need to play it as 'smart' as conservatives do.
I agree people do enjoy a show and right now it seems they are the only ones talking.
I concur, Fancy. That's what got us in some of this mess right now, and this need to be ratified PDQ!!!!!
So it is the objective of the GOP to "relocate" the senior citizens on Social Security from their homes to living under bridges in cardboard boxes. Thank heavens only a conservative Republican can do this. Now we know who the enemies are. Funny - when confronted about the $25+ billion tax dollars being wasted on ethanol, and the $5 billion wasted on a plane the Defense Department doesn't want, Mr Conservative Boehner stodd there waffling like a 3rd grader in a spelling bee who couldn't spell "cat." 2012 will be the time to show these wealthy-protectors the door. Old Boehner is now falling back on the same rhetoric he mocked when the Democrats were in power. "Gee whiz - we just got here...boo-hoo."
He is exactly right- only the heartless Republicans are capable of gutting Social Security and Medicare for seniors
Only the GOP can reform entitlements?!? WHAT!?!? Is Thune so addled he doesn't think people remember the bald-faced play for votes that was the unfunded, deficit exploding, Medicare Prescription Act?!?
No wonder conservatives are so cavalier about torturing people, decades of torturing logic have made them utterly blind to the suffering they cause wherever they go.
Mr Thune has not taken a close look at how many entitlements have been received by way of members of his party. It is as simple as that. I suggest a close scrutiny of Mitch McConnell and his near larcenous ass for starters.