"Not going to happen"? Guess what: It already fucking happened.

[WilliamPitt]

Whether or not Obama's budget ever sees the light of day, the fact of the offer is out there for all to see. THAT is the problem, period, end of file.

It *will* impact the '14 elections, especially when the GOP casts itself as the defenders of SS and Obama's people have to spend time arguing, "Yeah, it was in our budget, but we didn't mean it, trust us."

This is already happening, in fact...and it behooves you to remember 2010. I quote Bill Greider of The Nation on that particular election cycle: "The party got very little credit for enacting health care reform because the Republicans had already demonized the accomplishment as a threat to the much-beloved program of Medicare. The rightwingers promised to save Medicare from bloodthirsty Democrats by repealing Obama’s new reform program. This was all a ridiculous lie, of course, but the White House declined to call out the liars. Instead, Obama responded with flowers. This time, he is taking Republicans out to dinner."

Bone up on those coping skills. You live in a world where a Democratic President put Social Security on the table during a deficit debate, even though Social Security has nothing to do with the deficit...except for the fact that the SS fund was plundered for 30 years, and now the bastards don't want to pay back what they took, a fact Obama seems comfortable with given HIS OWN BUDGET.

He didn't have to do it, but he did it. Some here have claimed that we shouldn't sweat it because the Senate Democrats won't let anything like this pass. Fan-freaking-tastic. The fact that the proposal was in the budget in the first place is the catastrophe. Leaving other Democrats with the duty to block a SS-cut proposal offered by a Democratic president (who was elected on the promise to defend what he now proposes to cut) only augments the catastrophe.

"Not gonna happen"?

It already fucking happened.

(Greider: http://www.thenation.com/blog/173771/will-voters-forgive-obama-cutting-social-security# )

[myrna minx]

1. And now this horrible policy will be proposed over and over again until the cuts happen.

There's already trial balloon excuses for the cuts floating around here. This is now in the bloodstream.

[bvar22]

79. The TABOO has been lifted....by a DEMOCRATIC President.

What once was untouchably sacred has been violated.
Social Security will NOW be On-the-Table in EVERY Budget negotiation
until it is gone.


...and some here can't understand WHY Democrats are angry and feel betrayed?

You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their promises.
[font size=5 color=firebrick]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[SunSeeker]

108. Carter and Clinton cut SS. nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

127. But only Nixon could go to china, as the ancient romulan saying goes.

[Triana]

2. Yep. Thank you for saying it Will. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. That's what bugs me about this.

I do not think chained CPI will actually happen, but it bothers me a great deal that the offer was made. And I don't really understand why. Was Obama trying to make the point that if he is willing to touch his party's third rail, then the GOPers should, as part of a deal, be willing to touch theirs (tax increases on the wealthy)? Did he think that the offer of chained CPI (which Boehner wanted at one point) would make them relent on the tax issue? If so, why would he think that? The GOPer third rail is evidently much more highly electrified than the Dem third rail, and they are never, ever going to touch it. Ever. For anything. And nobody should touch ours, either, but he did, and there will be a price to be paid. It just remains to be seen what that is.

[PearliePoo2]

13. Great post and excellent questions you've asked.

Now, of course, the "Pugs" will scream the Democrats are screwing with Mom's Social Security!!!
'Course the filthy, lying rat-bastards will never admit they wanted to fuck grandpa out of it years ago by handing it over on a silver platter to Wall Street.
(and they will never stop in their attempts either)
Kick & R

[RedstDem]

40. social security can only be killed by a democratic president

Might not be this one.

[RKP5637]

4. This will go down in history as one of the biggest blunders when the next several elections are

analyzed. The republicans keep getting all of the ammunition they need while saying no, no, no which is a very viable negotiation tactic ... while others cave in trying to moderate the no, no, no ... giving the net effect of a republican win. 2014 and 2016 are going to be very bad years for democrats.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

71. More like life rafts.

They keep fucking themselves, and instead of tossing them an anchor, we toss them life rafts.

[sendero]

98. Exactly.

.... boy Obama must owe someone big time!

[bvar22]

80. One of the Biggest Blunders?

..or Mission Accomplished for the DLC,
and THEN,
turn the reins back over to the Republicans in 2016.

There are some things only a "Democrat" can do.

[RKP5637]

95. ... perhaps a wolf in sheep's clothing ... n/t

[stevenleser]

5. Horrific. And plotting strategy for here for 2014 and saving SS and Medicare going forward is

very difficult. He had the Repugs on the ropes with historically low approval levels.

Not sure whatever possessed them to do this. I dont get it.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

72. They WANTED it.

[Ninga]

6. I think we need a new forum here "Politicians who are tone deaf"

This can mean many things....tone deafness is not learned behavior, it is ingrained.

I suspect that our dear President is tone deaf....tone deaf to the ripple affect his non-policies will elicit. You know, like when Dems lose big time Nov 2014 and the back slappers (women and men, both) chomping on their cigars blustering that it's just an off year election and course correction bullcrap.

[byeya]

10. Tone deafness is a generous reading. Look at the cabinent secretaries and his advisors and

with whom he wishes to dine ...And, why golf? Why not bowling or pool or basketball - he's good at that.
Good guy got in with the wrong crowd and turned renegade.

[maddiemom]

64. Golf is the game for "doing business." I've known several people

(men) over the years who preferred other sports, but found it necessary to play golf to get along (and get excused for outings) when working in middle to upper managerial/executive positions. Golf is the accepted game of American business. Why would government be any different? Most presidents have played golf.

[TransitJohn]

41. The way Obama's governed, I'm assuming he doesn't want a Dem majority in Congress. Eom

N/t

[RKP5637]

47. I fear our president is very bull headed and/or has extremely poor and unperceptive advisers. n/t

[whistler162]

52. Nah how about "Politicians who are big fat poopie heads!"

I think the President has better pitch than most of us could ever hope for and has proven it over and over again!

[iemitsu]

106. I think we need to recognize that we live in a single party state.

I liked the fantasy that we had choice but that doesn't seem to be the reality.
Until we accept that the elites, who run this county, are not on our side we will be unable to affect change. Electing either Democrats or Republicans promises only more of the same.
They both believe that America's role is to protect the financially successful or to guarantee the success of a few favored families and individuals.
They will never acknowledge that it was workers who created the wealth that they see as theirs.
Money does not create wealth, work does.

[byeya]

7. It's maddening. Whatever momentum may have been in play for our side is stopped dead

by this unforced error.
Social Security is loved to the extent that any program can be loved.
One of the best run programs on the planet - 1% overhead - and it's becoming lost as a Democratic Party strong point.

[sabrina 1]

8. Maybe this was the plan? It's hard to believe that anyone could have been this stupid that they

did not anticipate the Republicans positioning themselves as the saviors of SS once they got Democrats to walk into the trap.

[zeemike]

25. Or it could be the bait for the real trap...

And we compromise with them....no chained CPI in return for raising the retirement age to 70...or perhaps a nice little individual retirement account with part of the SS money...which is more what they want and would send a big wad of cash to Wall Street.

That is how they triangulate us every time.

[dreamnightwind]

34. I like your thinking

That is indeed how they triangulate us. We'll see what develops, but I sure don't like what I'm seeing so far, and my guess is it just gets worse.

[zeemike]

36. That would be my guess too.

But I am a cynical person.
I hope that I will be massively wrong.

[forestpath]

9. K&R

[quinnox]

11. sometimes the obvious needs to be said, I don't understand why some aren't getting this

The fact that a Democratic president is proposing cuts in these programs is an epic fail and a terrible precedent. PERIOD.

[sabrina 1]

69. They get it, they don't care. One good thing about this final betrayal, and I say final because a

line has been crossed that there is no going back from, but the good thing about this is what it is exposing and WHO it is exposing.

No Democrat would support cuts to SS especially as the WH stated, 'because Republicans asked for them'.

We've tolerated for far too long those who have made excuse after excuse for every bad policy, from the HC Bill to Offshore drilling, to the continuation of Bush's awful NCLB to the continuation of his anti-Constitutional legislation, to Drones to 'moving forward from War Crimes. Then there was his incredible claim that Wall St crimes were not crimes, they were 'immoral'.

Throughout all this there the small minority of defenders. But this time, we are talking about SS. ANYONE who defends this has exposed themselves for who they are without a doubt.

Now that we have confirmation, it really IS time to mover forward. To start working as hard as we worked to elect this president, to give him a majority in Congress and the Senate, a victory we were then told was 'not enough to implement liberal policies'.

But it was the Left who accomplished all of this. We can do it again only this time with eyes wide open, wiser as to who is a real Democrat and who is an imposter.

[sendero]

100. +1000

Down deep I believe that Obama was put into power by people with the power to do so. And he is dancing with those who really brought him.

And that it is going to be difficult, not impossible but difficult, to ever elect a president again that is not controlled in smoke-filled rooms.

To suggest that this proposal is even pragmatic is ludicrous. If the deficit is actually a problem there are a hundred things that could be done that are fairer and more sane to deal with it.

[alarimer]

99. Well for some people, it's because they have blind faith.

Instead of judging a politicians on his merits and policies, they've decided to hero-worship no matter what and then tie themselves in knots to justify it.

[Oilwellian]

12. K&R

[world wide wally]

14. Flip a coin... if it lands on heads or tails.... we're fucked

[Skraxx]

15. I Fail To See How Having The GOP Screaming to Protect SS From Cuts Is A Bad Thing

Obama's budget is not the Dem. budget, it's his budget. And a year and a half out from the election is a long way, most people will not even really know who suggested it and they won't care.

If the GOP decides to embrace cuts, and say "well Obama suggested it!", they're still embracing cuts, and their Dem opponent will almost certainly NOT embrace them.

If the GOP says "Let's protect SS!!" all his Dem opponents has to say is "Welcome aboard! Let's do that!" And challenge them to support legislation that does just that.

In addition, Boner is telling his people to shut the fuck up about SS. That doesn't sound like they've got a coherent message.

We're a year and a half out from the election. As far as I'm concerned I'm LOVING having this discussion all the way up to election day.

Don't you think discussing SS and what effect any cuts might have is a GOOD thing? Don't you think a public BETTER educated on this issue going into the election is a GOOD thing?

If we so choose, we can use this as an OPPORTUNITY to discuss, debate and educate.

Personally, I'm motivated to GET OUT AND VOTE for every Dem I can get my hands on who supports protecting SS.

Are you?

[daybranch]

84. Obama has made the choice clear

by doing so he has united progressives, more conservative dems, moderate republican voters, seniors who voted previously for Romney, independents, and many many evangelicals. Robbing the hard earned retirement contributions made over decades to continue tax breaks for the rich is going to be a very hard sell.
Lets see he has pulled away from republicans supporters of same sex marriage, he has pulled away immigrants and those who support immigration reform, he has pulled away those that previously fought gun control, he has pulled away those that support seniors and veterans. Not much of a big tent left for repubs?
By bringing this issue front and center, we dems can stand up and the GOP can either shut up or stand with us. Either way, the people are served by the transparency. As Grayson says we can primary those who do not stand up for social security. Thank the President for bringing choice back to the people. No President in our lifetime has stirred our emotions our dreams and our sense of fairness as much as Obama.

[Auntie Bush]

123. +100,000

Good point.

[Skraxx]

131. Well Said, The Transpareny Frame is Spot on! Thats Exactly What This

Does. It bring transparency, so there can be honest, meaningful debate.

[cliffordu]

90. What you said. Welcome to DU.

[grahamhgreen]

116. OMG another think tank cronie....

[grahamhgreen]

115. Because the R's will say we have to privatize it to save it. Eyes opened?

[Skraxx]

132. That Worked So Well The Last Time

Good plan, I hope.they pursue that strategy.

[badtoworse]

16. Spot on! It is truly amazing Obama did this.

[Rex]

17. So will the Always Right brigade blame the Left when the GOP

is showing commericals defending SS? Of course they will and then say something stupid like, 'well just wait for 2016, I know I am!'

[Cleita]

18. What are we going to do?

I get the uneasy feeling it's intentional. It doesn't matter much anymore if there is a D or R after our elected representatives' names. What's important is that the majority of them wear the invisible $. That makes the revolving door of politicians easy for the real government behind the scenes. It's the way they make the majority, I estimate 70% of Americans, look like they are on the radical fringe.

[Zorra]

28. Maybe run as many FDR Dems as we can in 2014, and hope for the best,

and then run a Warren/Grayson anti Bankster pro-equality FDR Dem team for Prez/VP in 2016. I'd also suggest the awesome Rep. Raul Grijalva for VP, but he's 65 yrs old right now.

The wealthy special interest DLC/Third Way and the GOP have been deliberately sabotaging the Democratic party and the people of the US for many years.

[dreamnightwind]

35. +1 - eom

[YOHABLO]

56. what does +1 eom mean? sorry for my stupidity

[IveWornAHundredPants]

60. Not stupid.

+1 is an approbation and "eom" means "end of message;" that is, nothing to read in the message text proper.

[dreamnightwind]

126. But what does approbation mean?

Just kidding, though I looked it up for fun, new word to me.

1. An expression of warm approval; praise. 2. Official approval.

Correctly used, IWAHP (i've worn a hundred pants, lol).

[RKP5637]

49. I fear the democratic party is full of Trojan horses! It's not the party I joined years ago. n/t

[maddiemom]

65. 65? God forbid!

[bvar22]

86. WE don't get to pick who runs.

The Democratic Party Power Brokers PICK who "wins" the Democratic Primaries,
and they don't take kindly to local grass roots upstarts who don't know their place.
They WILL slap you down, and then laugh at you.

The Grass Roots and Organized LABOR did EVERYTHING right to give President Obama
Progressive Democrats who would help "move his Liberal Agenda forward" in the Arkansas Primary 2010.

We picked the RIGHT election.
DINO Senator Blanche Lincoln (the virulently Anti-LABOR wicked witch who killed the Public Option, and later bragged about it) had NO CHANCE of beating the Republican in the general Election.

We picked the right candidate, Lt Governor Bill Halter,
who was no flaming Liberal, but at least was Pro-LABOR and Pro Universal Healthcare.
He was popular in Arkansas, had an [up & running political machine,
and a track record of Winning Elections,
AND had the backing and funding from National Organized LABOR and the Grass Roots.

Halter was leading Lincoln in the polls,
and the odds favored him winning the Democratic Primary.

Guess what happened?
Our BIGGEST obstruction to "Giving Obama Progressives who would Work with Him" turned out NOT to be the Republicans,
or conservatives. NO!
Our BIGGEST enemy turned out to be the Obama White House!!
They pulled out ALL the stops to rescue Lincoln's failing campaign.

Obama gave Lincoln (Sen., Walmart) an Oval Office Endorsement
that played 24/7 on Arkansas TV, and he even sent the Old Blue Gog (Bill Clinton)
back to Arkansas to rally and raise funds for Lincoln.

You can read the rest here:
"The Arkansas primary fight illuminates some unpleasant though vital truths about the Democratic establishment "

"So what did the Democratic Party establishment do when a Senator who allegedly impedes their agenda faced a primary challenger who would be more supportive of that agenda? They engaged in full-scale efforts to support Blanche Lincoln. Bill Clinton traveled to Arkansas to urge loyal Democrats to vote for her, bashing liberal groups for good measure. Obama recorded an ad for Lincoln which, among other things, were used to tell African-American primary voters that they should vote for her because she works for their interests. The entire Party infrastructure lent its support and resources to Lincoln — a Senator who supposedly prevents Democrats from doing all sorts of Wonderful, Progressive Things which they so wish they could do but just don’t have the votes for.

<snip>

What happened in this race also gives the lie to the insufferable excuse we’ve been hearing for the last 18 months from countless Obama defenders: namely, if the Senate doesn’t have 60 votes to pass good legislation, it’s not Obama’s fault because he has no leverage over these conservative Senators. It was always obvious what an absurd joke that claim was; the very idea of The Impotent, Helpless President, presiding over a vast government and party apparatus, was laughable. But now, in light of Arkansas, nobody should ever be willing to utter that again with a straight face. Back when Lincoln was threatening to filibuster health care if it included a public option, the White House could obviously have said to her: if you don’t support a public option, not only will we not support your re-election bid, but we’ll support a primary challenger against you. Obama’s support for Lincoln did not merely help; it was arguably decisive, as The Washington Post documented today:"

<much more>

http://www.salon.com/2010/06/10/lincoln_6/

Ed Schultz on White House support for Anti-LABOR Lincoln
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/ed-schultz-if-it-wasnt-labor-barack-obama-


I was in Arkansas, and will testify that it was WORSE than the article above describes.
The only rational conclusion one can draw from this beat down of the people trying to help Obama implement his Liberal Agenda is too dismal to put on this website.

[dotymed]

105. The dlc controls who runs for d presidential candidate.

Our only hope is that we can unite and run our own FDR Democratic candidate. I don't care about the "spoiler" meme. That has become a dlc trick that is stale. We need people like Sanders, Grayson, Kucinich, Warren (so far I love her but I want to see how she plays in the long run). Obama was great while still untested. I am cynical and need to see a politician consistently, over the years, work for the people.
Change or die time is here for the soul of America.

[antigop]

19. but, but, but...THEY (the GOP) started it! It was THEIR idea!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022658999

[RKP5637]

50. It's certainly starting to look that way. It looks like a mercy killing of the poor and middle

class. And some of us thought it would be just the opposite with not having another election for another term. We're getting fucked again. As someone said in an earlier post, it doesn't matter which side ends up on the flip of a coin, we are fucked.

[Thinkingabout]

21. Well it has Changed the fact the Repubs are always saying, the Democrats will not put entitlements

On the table. Now we need to hear from Boehner he is putting revenues on the table. The repubs are already saying they gave on revenues but spending cuts have been there twice and Obama has performed a slam dunk in their face with putting tax reform and chained cpi on the table.

[colsohlibgal]

22. The Apologists Have Their Work Cut Out With This

John Fugelsang nailed it. No matter what happens this time around, republicans will use a dem supporting SS cuts to blunt criticism of them doing it down the road.

In the end Obama does talk kind of like a liberal in campaign mode, then tacks straight right after that, he's closer to a blue dog than people like Bernie Sanders or Alan Grayson.

I'm braced for more chess/checkers excuses.

[Gin]

51. Kinda seems like he uses the "shrub" playbook.

The lesson for all of us is......watch what he does.....not what he says.

[ProSense]

23. Nothing has happened

This is already happening, in fact...and it behooves you to remember 2010. I quote Bill Greider of The Nation on that particular election cycle: "The party got very little credit for enacting health care reform because the Republicans had already demonized the accomplishment as a threat to the much-beloved program of Medicare. The rightwingers promised to save Medicare from bloodthirsty Democrats by repealing Obama’s new reform program. This was all a ridiculous lie, of course, but the White House declined to call out the liars. Instead, Obama responded with flowers. This time, he is taking Republicans out to dinner."

...besides a proposal. A lot of people on the left also "demonized" the health care law and misrepresented the Medicare savings as cuts to benefits. That was reversed in 2012, which is why anti-Obamacare efforts failed.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2662133

One can reject the President's proposal and not allow Republicans to demagogue the issue. They are not interested in saving Social Security so why even pretend they have any leverage?

Spot the question Boehner didn't answer
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022655701

[tomp]

94. thank you, Dense. nt

[ProSense]

107. You're welcome, Lame. n/t

[kentuck]

24. "The fact that the proposal was in the budget in the first place is the catastrophe. "

This is what so many have difficulty understanding.

[enough]

27. That is it, indeed. (nt)

[AndyA]

33. Agreed--putting SS on the table was a HUGE mistake, regardless of how it turns out

The fact is, President Obama put it there, after saying he wouldn't, and after acknowledging the very people who would be harmed by it have sacrificed enough.

What changed since the campaign? Are Americans who've been hurting suddenly dandy?

[840high]

26. truth

[beyurslf]

29. And now we will have to defend this terrible idea forever (until it happens) and we will

always be reminded that it was a Democratic idea since it was in our budget.

Disgruntled. Disgusted. Disillusioned. I didn't vote for this.

[antigop]

31. It was also in the NRCC budget that about half the House GOP voted for a month ago

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022658999

[hatrack]

42. People don't remember procedural budget votes - they tend to remember what presidents say/propose

Not disputing what you're saying, but saying that it won't matter in political terms come fall 2014.

[antigop]

63. I'm certainly going to make use of the info in my district. My Repug rep voted for it. nt

[SunSeeker]

109. Thanks for your post. nt

[myrna minx]

66. That's what's so wounding about this whole thing.

There's been a lot of good this President has done and for that I'm grateful, but this is deeply disturbing to me because it's like stomping over Democratic Party hallowed ground. Over the last 40 years, we've ceded so much the radical right, but we've still had SS and Medicare to be proud of because it protects our elderly and vulnerable. Now the pundits and the beltway "common wisdom" is all about cuts cuts cuts and more inevitable cuts because, well, a Democratic President went there. Well, release the hounds. Even if it doesn't pass, this will never go away until the 1%ers raid the last of our money. This is a bell you can't un-ring and it cuts deep.

[JDPriestly]

30. We simply cannot trust DLC types, and that includes Hillary Clinton.

In fact she may just be at the top of the list of those we should not trust.

[NorthCarolina]

37. ^^This^^ !! nt

[Marrah_G]

55. I agree

I wish I didn't, but I do.

[avaistheone1]

61. Afraid you are correct.

I don't think Hillary has shown she is that much different than her predecessors.

I would like to believe there is someone in the wings that deserves my trust. So far I don't see anyone.

[Marr]

104. Which is why the corporate media dubbed Clinton and Obama the only "viable" Democratic

candidates for the 2008 election, before a single state had even held a primary.

You get to choose between Coke and Pepsi in the primary, and then Coke and Pepsi again during the general election.

[bvar22]

111. The Party Power Brokers are already anointing her.

WIN/WIN for the Rich in Powerful in 2016 either way, and more of the same decline for the Middle Class
with MORE "Free Trade", Privatization of the Commons, Environmental Destruction, and DeRegulation or Faux-Regulation.

[antigop]

114. to which they will reply..."So what are you going to do? Vote Republican?" nt

[Doctor_J]

117. so are du feminists

I posted that they should set their sights higher than a neocon who happens to be female, and my advice was not well received. I think it's a done deal

[bvar22]

119. I like to point out that...

Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann are women,
and it would be "historic" if any of them became President too,
but gawdawful for the country.

That is also NOT well received.

[antigop]

120. +100 nt

[Auntie Bush]

125. Such stupid bologna!

I trust Hillary Clinton.

[woo me with science]

32. K&R

[markpkessinger]

38. Exactly. Thanks for stating it, Will n/t

[demmiblue]

39. K&R

[WillyT]

43. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[Whisp]

44. . . .

[Doctor_J]

130. for once i agree with you

Will is what in Chicago is often called a wind sock. But this move by the prez was a train wreck.

[99Forever]

45. K&R

[winter is coming]

46. Bush tried, multiple times, to sell the privatization of Social Security and got

a frosty response from his base. Now Obama thinks he can go about undermining it some other way and it will be acceptable? He needs to stop getting his cunning plans from Baldrick.

[gateley]

53. I don't understand why the lesson wasn't learned -- by BOTH sides. Bush got away with

everything he wanted to do EXCEPT privatizing SS. The message loud and clear then, and will always be, don't fuck with our Social Security! Is that too difficult to get?

[SammyWinstonJack]

48. Yeah well, we're just all hatin' on the pres. He's just playing 3D chess or poker or ..........

[YOHABLO]

59. Oh really? Like he's got some masterful move up his sleeve? We're not that stupid

Obama is not a progressive .. he said himself that today he would be considered a moderate Republican .. I suppose he may be referring to Eisenhower .. no, maybe Nixon ..ha ha And what really scares me, is that he seems to lionize Ronald Reagan .. He says he wants to go after the loop holes that the rich use to hide their money and and not pay taxes, that he doesn't want to ''pay down the debt on the backs of the middle class and the poor" yet he wants to cut the very life-line that so many of us need in order to JUST SURVIVE. How about putting the money back into the SS trust fund that the government has borrowed over the last 30 years.

I don't hate Obama, I think his intentions are what he thinks is the best for U.S. citizens .. but wrongly so. One man, who is elected President of the United States, is not going to change the horrible state that this country is in. To the ignorant, those who only hear tid bits of information throughout their week, from other misinformed ignorant people, will be saying ''Obama's going to cut my Social Security, those damn Democrats .. can't trust them''. Now what will the Dems do before the 2014 elections, to reconcile his SS cut proposal? .. the Repugs are salivating!

Maybe Elizabeth Warren should run for president.

[bvar22]

83. Ronald Reagan?

Reagan was WELL to The Liberal Left of Obama on Social Security:

[Marrah_G]

54. Thank you for this Will

They have handed a bunch more seats to the Republicans in '14 and probably the Presidency in '16.

He didn't have to do this.

Once again, the people are on the losing end.

I'm fed up with all of it.

[slipslidingaway]

57. It is a general budget problem not a SS problem ...

"...In fact, there is an even bigger lie concealed by the fiscal scolds and ignored by witless media, too. Again and again, self-righteous critics have portrayed Social Security as the profligate monster borrowing from the Treasury and sucking the life out of federal government.

Guess what? It's the other way around. The federal government borrows from Social Security. The Treasury has been borrowing from the Social Security Trust Fund for 30 years, and the debt to Social Security beneficiaries now totals nearly $3 trillion. The day is approaching when that money will be needed for its original purpose: paying Social Security benefits to the working people who contributed to the fund.

That is the real crisis that makes the financial barons and their media collaborators so anxious to cut Social Security benefits. They would like to get out of repaying the debt—that is, giving the money back to the people who earned it. The only way to do this is cut the benefits—over and over again..."

http://www.thenation.com/blog/173771/will-voters-forgive-obama-cutting-social-security#

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

58. Will "We were just fuckin' with your heads" be the 2014 campaign slogan.

[bvar22]

122. I can't help it, I laughed my ass off at that comment,

and I'm still laughing,
but I have a very dark sense of humor.

The Democratic Campaign Slogan for 2014:
[font size=5][center]

Hey, Lighten UP!
We were just fucking with ya![/font][/center]

The sad thing is that there are already some trying to sell that Bag of Magic Beans here.

Thanks for the laughs on a dark day!

[ReRe]

62. *What wasn't going to happen already happened!

marking so I can come back to, Will... Thanks!

[gulliver]

67. Alert the media.

It so happened. It happened so much that it fucking happened. Someone should tell a journalist.

[steelmania75]

68. So behind in so many categories

Education, civil liberties, infrastructure, clean energy, poverty, healthcare, inequality, and yet at some point Social Security, the signature legislation of the New Deal era, is going to be on its way to privatization leading to its destruction.

At what point do we wake up?

[broadcaster75201]

70. Of course it will Obama is a disaster.

Obama is an unmitigated disaster and has been since election. HE IS A CONSERVATIVE.

While I don't think it will hurt too much in '14 (Americans will turn out in droves to kill Conservatism", '14 could be better than it will be Obama probably has ensured the GOP keeps the House.

I say again ... Obama is a disaster as President. He has set Progress back a good 20 years.

[Timbuk3]

73. Yup n/t

[Jamastiene]

74. K&R

[littlewolf]

75. Wish Dr. Dean or Warren would run eom

[Fuddnik]

76. Kick and Rec!

[MannyGoldstein]

77. Mr. Pitt! Yikes!

I don't recall seeing you *this* riled up before, but perhaps I'm mistaken.

In any case, great piece of writing, thank you!

[blackspade]

78. As another DU poster said yesterday....

11th dimensional cluster fuck.

[bvar22]

82. No. This IS Chess.

Chess is a game where Pawns are sacrificed to protect the Royalty.
This IS Chess, and the Royalty WILL win.
.
.
.
.
It only sucks if you are a Working Class Pawn.

[blackspade]

85. In other words....

An 11th dimensional cluster fuck for the 99%.

[bvar22]

87. I'm afraid the game is rigged.

The only way to win is not to play,
but HOW does one "not play" ?

Selling everything,
cashing in all your chips,
Moving Off the Grid,
living on a poverty level "taxable" income,
and growing your own food is an option,
but thats not for everybody.

[blackspade]

88. You have to change the rules.

The big problem with Gen Xers is that they like everything to be fast.
Unfortunately systemic change needs foundations.
That is why we need to talk to our children about alternatives to what we have now.
It won't happen in our generation but maybe will in theirs if we do our work now.

[randome]

97. A pawn is sometimes the winning piece, you know.

Conversely, if you insist on seeing yourself as a pawn, you will always be one.

[bvar22]

113. A Pawn has never WON a game of Chess.

It is not uncommon for a Pawn to be USED to win a game of Chess for The King,
but no King has EVER been sacrificed to protect that Pawn.

Economic Status, ESPECIALLY in today's USA, is determined by one's INCOME and Holdings,
NOT by their fantasies. If you doubt that.
go down to your bank and apply for a loan.
The problem today is that too many peasants cling at the fantasy that they are rich, or soon-to-be RICH.

When the Working Class & The Poor realize WE have MORE in common with each other,
than we have in common with the ruling 1% and their lackeys in Washington,
then we can have "change".

[randome]

124. I meant 'winning piece' as in checkmating the King.

It requires more than just one pawn. It can be done with as little as two pawns but the pawns can definitely win the game.

[sabrina 1]

129. Just like it required more than a few pawns to sacrifice themselves to let the other side win. THEY

know how to play chess, our side sucks at the game.

[daybranch]

81. words have impact

It is not entitlement cuts, it is theft of retirement contributions. It is not redistricting, it is Gerrymandering.

[Mr.Pain]

89. Well known factoid about Obama is...

He turned the "Healthcare" issue into an insurance mandate. Please note that healthcare and insurance are two very distinct industries, we won't get better or cheaper healthcare, but we will have to line the pockets of insurance companies by an act of federal law. A law that the Supreme Court should have struck down, considering that in 1939,(not entirely sure of the date as when I learned this I was studying for an insurance exam back in the '90s), the Supreme Court ruled that insurance is not interstate commerce and therefore cannot be regulated by the federal government. This ruling is why individual states have what is called an insurance commissioner, this guys job is to keep the insurance companies in line within the states boundaries. Health care is also regulated by the state in the same manner, doctors have to have a state issued license.

[davidpdx]

91. Maybe we should just ask both Obama and Biden to resign

So Boner can be president.

[The Wizard]

92. Saturday morning rant.

As has happened throughout history, military expansion has bankrupted the United States like it has every empire. If you think this isn't an empire then question the number of American military installations around the world.
Very few question the defense budget for fear of being branded soft on the ism of the day that's threatening our freedom. By co opting the media, the military industrial complex can destroy any political leader of good faith and good will who challenges the greatest waste of resources, the Defense Department.
Shortly after WW II the Department of War (only fully funded in a declared war) became the Defense Department and since that time the military has been usurping every inch of government resources possible.
How did this happen in spite of Eisenhower's warning? Some speculate that bribes sent to secret off shore bank accounts have facilitated our downfall. By influencing key members of Congress, defense contractors get bills passed that fund projects that have more to do with their retirement plans than the safety of the American people. Remember when 19 guys with box cutters brought this nation to its knees. In that context, and spending more on defense that the rest of the world combined, it's safe to say we're being robbed. And much of this waste is paid for with money "borrowed" (soon to be stolen) from the Social Security trust fund.
We must put a stop to this madness and theft by challenging every legislator who supports and votes to continue the military boondoggle at the expense of the people who have contributed a part of their income to Social Security for their entire working lives.
The working class is a sleeping giant that's been lulled into a self defeating stupor by the mass media. The time has come to awaken the sleeping giant and take back our hard earned resources.

[TheAmbivalante]

93. Question to all: What is the goal?

Question: What is the goal of offering a scared cow for slaughter?

Answer: Winning in 2014.

Consider that we are foaming at the mouth that a re-elected Dem would dare to play marbles with Social Security.
It got the attention of many people who aren't regularly engaged in political comings and goings.

Consider that we are now moving to ensure it doesn't happen.
And those non-engaged folks are actually paying attention.

Understand that Chained CPI modification wont happen.
Yet more Dem-types are engaged.

How will they vote in 2014?
Our way.

Let the GOP triangulate. They're outclassed by a dude that plays 3D chess before his morning coffee.

[fasttense]

96. I find your analysis hard to believe.

Yes, more Dem-types are engaged but they are engaged in fighting other Dems.

All a RepubliCON has to do is wave around the Presidents budget proposal and say, "Here, are you really going to vote for more Democrats like this?"

This will seriously depress the Democratic voter turn out. Why should real Democrats bother to vote for Democrat party members who are clearly trying to sell out democratic ideals.

[Alkene]

101. Oh, good. Winning another DLC presidency.

Will that mean I can stop fretting about how I'm going to survive once I'm too old to work, assuming I make it that far?

And what exactly is this voting, "our way" to which you refer?

[Marr]

103. That excuse is absurd now as when I first read it months ago.

You don't stir up *support* by pissing off millions of people in an attempt to steal their SS money. And the only 3D chess Obama plays seems to be on behalf of Wall Street, and against us.

[TheAmbivalante]

110. Don't get me wrong, I was just as pissed

But I refuse to believe that anything will come of it. Hence, the long game.

President Obama wants to go down in the history books as the greatest. As transformational. He's institutionalized change in many areas and looks like he might even get more of it on gun control. Getting the big nut on anything is impossible unless all GOTea are rounded up and sent to Gitmo. He get his issues across the finish line and that's where they can be built up and refashioned. Again, he plays the long game.

And he has surprised me at every turn. I've thrown my hands in the air as much as anyone here but in the end, he gets SOMETHING done. Is everything perfect? No. But they are starting points where none existed before.

Oh, I don't care if you don't buy my "excuse" because it's not one. I can tell you that I've manipulated millions of people in my advertising career in similar ways. You want to create demand for something that's taken for granted? Tell everyone it's going bye-bye. BOOM! Instant demand. Don't buy that? Did you get yourself a Twinkie?

I'm pleased as punch that everyone is up in arms. I know I'll be fighting to get more Progressive Dems in office in my red state. What will I be saying? How 'bout this: "These Repubs are forcing the President to serve up YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY in exchange for stabilizing the economy. We need them and moderate Dems OUT. Get off your butt. It's. Your. Last. Chance."

So please, rally everyone you know to be as pissed at PBO as possible. He doesn't care. He doesn't have to run again. Get the couch potatoes off their asses. Numbers are the only thing that will take down gerrymandering. Get them involved. Get them ready to battle.

This one matters. 2014 or bust. Literally.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

128. "These Repubs are forcing the President to serve up YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY..."

Aww, poor Obama. Poor, weak Obama. The Rs didn't force him to do anything. He allowed himself to be played by them, and that genie *ain't* going back in the bottle.

[Progressive dog]

102. You are right and it makes me sick

I feel betrayed and while I still would have voted for BO over R'Money, if the President had submitted this budget before the election, he might have lost.

I've noticed a lot of posters claiming that 2010 losses were due to moderates and not the liberal base staying home.
These posters do mot recognize that the sense of betrayal felt by liberals toward the Democrats over imaginary cuts to Medicare will be much worse over a real attempt to cut to SS.

As one of the liberal base of the Democratic party, as a consistent Democratic voter, as a contributor to many Democratic candidates, I am close to having had enough. I may have to ask myself in 2014 whether it is better to support Democratic candidates who might follow their leader and cut Medicare and SS or vote for RW thugs who at least will rabidly oppose cuts because of who proposed them. Or should I just not vote?

[Babel_17]

112. Support for the Chained CPI "goes on your permanent record"

Might be as fun to explain away as misguided votes for aggression, or votes that permitted discrimination for no good reason.

[CountAllVotes]

118. Sadly, Obama has opened Pandora's box

And the rest of the tricks in Pandora's box have yet to be seen.

You are very right Will, the damage has been done and it cannot be repaired.

That will be BO legacy, the president that sold out the American people for his rich pals on Wall Street.

btw Will, congratulations on the birth of your new daughter!

[GeorgeGist]

121. Obameh!

Tic. Tac. Toe.

[WilliamPitt]

133. Up

[ProSense]

134. Dems fear Obama Social Security cut will haunt them in 2014 races

Dems fear Obama Social Security cut will haunt them in 2014 races
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022670890

Interesting piece.