The conservative, free-market base in America is rightly in revolt over this bill.

This is a case where bad politics has produced a bad policy proposal. Conservatives would be smart, and right, to reject it. [Dick Armey, Majority Leader in Congress from 1995-2002, WSJ 11/21/03].

From the other side of the political spectrum, we hear:

A fraudulent Medicare bill, on the verge of congressional approval, is a testament to the skills and resourcefulness of Republican congressional leaders and to the lack of skills — and backbone — of a top Democrat, Max Baucus.

... at the behest of the drug industry, a provision that would have permitted the federal government, with its huge purchasing power, to negotiate cheaper drug prices for seniors was dropped.

... private insurers will "cherry pick" the most affluent and healthiest customers leaving Medicare with the high-cost elderly and disabled, and ultimately traditional Medicare will "become unaffordable."

This is an open invitation for rip-off by HMOs. The bill's apologists, led by the AARP, which has financial ties to the insurance and drug industries, spin that whatever the bill's imperfections it can be fixed. But a very unlevel playing field would be created and the poor and disabled elderly who would be hurt don't have political clout. [Al Hunt, WSJ 11/20/03]