Senator Mark Warner suggests cutting social security. Think he's the only Dem

[cali]

who will fuck us? Get real. Think the MSM will cover this? Only if it makes cuts the urgent, reasonable thing to do. Think I trust Hill dear to stand up against folks like Warner? Bwahaha. And Fuck no.

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia called on an audience of business and political elites to respond to public discontent by lobbying harder for the reduction of corporate taxes and the cutting of public programs like Social Security.

Warner spoke Monday at the Milken Institute’s 2016 Global Conference. The economic policy think tank gathers politicians, corporate executives and others annually.

Zaid Jilani writes at The Intercept:

Although a dominant populist sentiment is that the system is already rigged in favor of the rich, Warner suggested that the “business community” needs to get more involved in politics or face unpleasant repercussions.

“If you don’t think the frustration of Americans with our overall system — not just our political system, but our business system, our tax code — is at the boiling point, then Katy bar the door!,” he said. “The walls that are gonna have to be built, may not be at borders, they may be around neighborhoods the way they are in many Third World countries around the world,” Warner warned. …

Warner’s panel on tax reform and the federal debt also includes Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., Ernst & Young CEO Mark Weinberger, and Maya MacGuineas, who chairs the corporate-backed lobbying group Fix The Debt.

Warner bemoaned that his years of efforts to strike a congressional “Grand Bargain” based on the Bowles-Simpson deficit reduction plan had resulted in failure. …

<snip>
http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/democratic_sen_mark_warner_urges_the_rich_to_20160505

Excellent in-depth piece here:

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/5/6/1524091/-A-Democrat-wants-to-Cut-Social-Security

[kentuck]

1. Depressing.

Just change parties already.

[cali]

3. Yes it is. And so many people heresy they're liberals but insist on how dems would never do this

[puffy socks]

55. 9 Dems

and like I pointed out Dems are fighting for you. So please quit blanketing all Dems with this . Details matter.


During a last-minute budget session, the Massachusetts senator introduced an amendment to “expand and protect Social Security” by raising taxes to keep the program solvent and increasing benefits to better assist seniors. The resolution failed to pass the Republican-controlled Senate, but not before Warren won support from all but two of her Democratic colleagues. (The holdouts were Tom Carper of Delaware and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota.)

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/04/social_security_expansion_how_democrats_turned_around_on_an_essential_liberal.html

[Katashi_itto]

18. Why switch when you are pulling off RW agenda as a dem?

[Dragonfli]

37. Exactly why bother switching parties when ours is is going through a right wing realignment?

Last edited Mon May 9, 2016, 08:40 PM - Edit history (2)

And has successfully been doing so since the founding of the DLC?

The entire goal of the neoliberal, "new" Democrat movement, under Al From and the Clintons (and all the other "new Democrats" AKA "Third Way" Democrats) has been since at least the 80's, to court and bring into the fold moderate Republicans, replacing the working class voters with them.

They refer to the RW takeover of the party as an "intellectual leveraged buyout" And history shows they DID take over the party.

My suggested most current reading on the subject would be Thomas Frank's new book, Listen, Liberal – or – What Ever Happened to the Party of the People?


[center][font size="3"; color="B22222"]If Sanders does not bring the party back, one must realize they will complete the realignment[/font][/center]

It may well likely be too late to reclaim the party from within if he fails, so we must consider all viable options in order to keep a party of the people, not an easy task, which is why Bernie Sanders calls such a task a political revolution. That is not hyperbole but honesty.

If true liberal ideals, a moral economy, and an equal society that grows beyond bigotry in all it's forms is to ever be achievable again, let alone in time to stop the demise of many species including our own. It will be nearly impossible by the method we had hoped for, that is, by saving the party from it's complete makeover and thus reclaiming it because in a few years such will no longer be a viable option. Let me explain if I might.

Those that vote for hawkish Neo-Liberals such as Clinton are not in denial, they are simply not at all like the Democrats of the pre "intellectual leveraged buyout of the Party" by the Koch funded DLC, beginning before, but put actively into legislative practice by William J. Clinton and his DLC allies with the assist of Newt Gingrich beginning in 1992 (Welfare destruction, deregulation and tough on mostly minority crime bills) were passed with a purpose, one that continues unto our present day.

They are indeed not in denial or uneducated politically as some may assume, but rather they are like the candidates they support, neo-liberals. Some are also even neocons as well, much like Hillary Clinton.

Many of us call these sort of voters limousine liberals, or latte' liberals but they are something else (more accurate and less derogatory).

I have understood this a long time, most are comfortable financially (not necessarily rich yet many are) but able to always pay their bills, save for retirement, usually live in the 'burbs and own at least two cars (plus a starter car for their teenage child old enough to drive).

They like to consider themselves politically correct, believe in equality just enough to support it verbally and feel "evolved" (while thinking they deserve a badge for doing so) but would never put themselves in harms way for the rights and equality that sound as good to them coming out of their mouths as their own flatulence smells to them coming out of their own asses (they detect a whiff of roses when they breath it in). It becomes hard to ignore that such declarations, formed of methane as they are, are meaningless slogans, with little action to support such claims of "equal rights".

They ARE moderate Republicans (like the ones that no longer exist outside the Democratic party), I remember back when most Republicans were sane and many (certainly not the Goldwater or John Birch types though) believed in civil rights, choice and other equality issues, they were different in that they believed in Republican fiscal values, the old bootstrap philosophy made popular by Ayn Rand (even if the Democratic version would never admit it).

The party is going through a realignment, as parties do over the course of decades, (just as the Republican Party once was the anti-slavery party but have been quite the opposite for a long time now) - The Democratic party is changing into the moderate Republican party of my childhood (except they are far more hawkish than the old Rs used to be). There is no more room for the new Deal, The Great Society, or the working class in this newly realigning party.

The Republicans have also been going through a realignment during the same 35 year period as ours has. One of the reasons one no longer finds Moderate Republicans in the Republican Party, but only in ours, under their new (D) banner. Their realignment has already turned them into the modern equivalent of the John Birch Society wackos of old, but they are not finished yet, just as we are not finished yet.

Once the Realignments of the parties are complete, ours will be fully Republican, with no vestige of economic morality left, even in the "fringe" that was once the heart of the party. The Republicans in their completion will be the Fascist US party (they of course like the brand name they already have, Republican sounds so much like a "Republic" (a form of representative democracy this country was first created to be, and if one believes the bullshit group psychosis still is), so they will never call themselves Fascists.

I suppose the question to the average Citizen is, do you want to be-
A Republican (under a new brand name)?
A Fascist (under a new brand name)?

Or hope the worst of the newly realigned parties self destructs, leaving room in our two party system for some form of labor party like the Democratic party once was (perhaps the Democratic party itself), with a deep belief as well in full equality for all of us and a livable, for our type of mammal, biosphere. (personalty I hope the one turning fascist is the one that self destructs, but that is just me). If/when such, which now appears inevitable, happens, perhaps it will leave the Neoliberal/ Neocon coalition as the party occupying the newly opened space in our two party system to grow in greed and corporate acquiescence, while attempting to promote coups and wars worldwide.

If not, it will leave an open space for those that are not global corporatists and war seeking profiteers to reclaim a newly formed labor party, Those of us so much like the pre 80's Democratic party of Social Democracy made popular for and by the working class and which would again welcome a New Deal, Great Society, Civil Liberty, war on Poverty, and green initiative style of governance that used to hold the spot now held by these "New" Democrats, these "Moderate" Republicans that have taken to wearing those itchy Democratic suits ever since they took over the party of the people and turned it into the party of Corporations, Banks, And war that relies on poverty as the fuel for it's new gilded age dripping with the blood of innocents.

Ours has to be more than a labor party, but it must be that and more, it must also include equality and unity for moral reasons of course, but also for a very pragmatic reason. We need to repair a biosphere so terribly damaged that it will take (all hands on deck in unity) if it is to matter enough, and in time, so that it may continue supporting our form of life rather than succumbing to yet another series of ELEs That will leave our earth very, different and without our species - to have yet another go at continuing it's varying evolution experiments among the remaining species to suit the new environment.

I only ask that you give this perspective some thought, and come to your own conclusions

[hollowdweller]

39. The Corporate Dems are trying to steal the country club vote from the GOP rather than

Trying to get the populist vote Bernie and to a lesser degree Trump are gunning for.

[Dragonfli]

43. Of course, their goal is to change their constituents from the workers, to the country club set /nt

[pangaia]

87. Dragonfli for president !!!!!!!!!!!!

Third party...

[rhett o rick]

92. Are you advocating for a third party. Manny got PPR'd for less.

JK

[Dragonfli]

95. Naw, he is just asking about having too many beers with me after we settle our many travel expenses

(as one of the old more unusual posters used to talk about).

pangaia and I would only have a third party if/when our hangover allow it after seeing what happened to the last two "celebrations".

After drinking so much party laced kool-aid, the hangovers can get to one in a very profound and painful way. Leading to a pounding headache, and a what the fuck happened at our party during that trip to a high money casino in Vegas? Moment.

We will not likely attend another party unless the drinks aren't laced with whatever the fuck the drinks have been mickeyed with of late, the travel expenses don't leave the entire population broke, and the party is one where everybody leaves fed and healthy after much joy and celebration.

I like a good party, but it has to be a good one and not some fake party, used as an excuse to sell a time share property in the middle of an uninhabitable desert.

Nobody should or would attend a party like that, but if some invitations are sent out to a legit, decent party, the DJ has mad props and skills, and all will benefit from the experience, one may very well accept such an invitation.

Remember the first rule of partying is for everyone to share in the good time and no date rapes are allowed.

The last two invitations I received did not meet such requirements; so for now we are all a bit "straight edging it" and laying off the funky kool-aid.

I'd love to throw a good party, but I lack the DJ skills, just waiting for a good DJ and a party with a good buffet open to everyone that needs a bit of food and an open bar serving untainted drinks before I am in the mood to party again.

That is all ether of us are talking about, last I heard, a harmless, fun filled, rape free zone, fellowship of friends enoying their freedom over a HEALTHY cocktail has never been against the rules.

[pangaia]

112. god, you're over my head...

my brain is like a smoke-filled niche on the wall...

[pangaia]

98. ooppsss...... just kidding just kidding..

SUPORT ALL DEMOCRATDS.....

always...... onward to the fore...... or for or four or... vier,,,

[Dragonfli]

111. We are good soldiers! We will do well under Clinton while turning ever- rightward!

[Dragonfli]

97. Let's wait until after the hangover, I'm a crappy DJ anyway, and there wil be plenty of time for

partying soon by the looks of things, There may be a good rave coming, but not just yet.

[pangaia]

113. 3 parts Patron silver anejo, 2 parts hand-squeezed limes, 1 part Cointreau

and I'm ready to go....

[Dragonfli]

114. I'm game! (or is it gamy, I get the two confused)

[pangaia]

115. it's game.

Which may be the only time I know something you are unsure of.




Of course,,... you could be both......

[Dragonfli]

116. Likely both, my dog loves to smell me, but seas of people part when I approach.

[pangaia]

118. LOL....

[Blue_In_AK]

104. Excellent analysis.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

105. Excellent post.

[RiverLover]

2. And Trump is running on the promise never to cut SS. And bring back American manufacturing.

What a strange time in our politics. Twilight Zone.

[ViseGrip]

40. It's reversing once again. It was republicans wanting women to vote years ago,

while democrats tried to stop them. I have seen the archive pictures from the Million Women March in NYC. The signs...

"REMEMBER TO VOTE REPUBLICANS
DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT WOMEN TO VOTE!"

It's transitioning again, and that is why I watch policy, not purity.

[Downwinder]

4. Cut his retirement.

He is a millionaire, h doesn't need it.

[Bohunk68]

5. I'd cut his retirement by utilizing a certain

device that our friends the French used.

[Dragonfli]

45. .

[LongTomH]

80. Talk about yer severance packages.....

NEEEXXXT!!!!!

[In_The_Wind]

103. .

:

[Pakid]

6. What a dumb ass

What does he think will happen if he cuts taxes still more on the rich and also cuts SS. That the American people are going to say yea great idea lets give that man a cigar. I suspect that it will go over like a lead balloon. What the hell lets the senior eat cat food seem to be the #1 priority of a whole lot of our elected officials. Send the Senator some love email him and tell where he can put this idea

[Lazy Daisy]

11. Need to find a replacement for him

These so-called Democrats need to be replaced with real Democrats

[Vinca]

7. Let me guess. Hillary's short list?

[cali]

9. I don't think so. I hope neither he or Kaine are on that list

[underpants]

35. I've seen both their names mention in speculative "news" reports

Odd to me - Tim is in his first term and, aside from Mark's close call in an off year election, Virginia is getting BLUER by the day.

I knocked on about 1,200 doors for Tim in 2012 for him to be Senator not to bail for a VP spot.

[CentralMass]

8. This @$$hat barely won reelection in 2014. It's unfortunate that he did.

[corkhead]

10. don't let silly details like this get in the way of supporting Blue Team!

Blue Team!
Blue Team!
Rah! Rah! Rah!

[cali]

12. Man, I'm pissing every DU faction off. Fellow Bernie supporters are ripping into me for

saying that barring the cataclysmic, Hillary will be the nominee. Already this morning, hillites are accusing me of being a Freeperville.


Tough shit. I say what I think.

[erronis]

81. Then you are totally doing the right thing. Blind fanaticism leads us down cul-de-sacs.

[runaway hero]

83. I'm with you Cali

Say what YOU believe!

[gregcrawford]

13. Well, at least now we know...

... that Warner is a self-serving liar just like the rest of the 3rd Way DINOs. It's the Invasion of the Body Snatchers, only it's parasitic Republicans wearing Democrat skins, and there's no happy ending.

They're all hoping that no one learns that Social Security doesn't contribute a penny to the deficit, nor will slashing it reduce the deficit by a penny because it is a closed system, supposedly protected by the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990. Yeah. Right. The Weasels of Wall Street just want to get their grubby paws on the SS Trust Fund so they can squander all that money instead of their own.

Those people are irredeemably evil right down to their DNA, and few would mourn their demise.

[appalachiablue]

61. THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET, DEMOCRATS AND BILLIONAIRE PETE PETERSON.

TYT Cenk explains in 2011 BILL CLINTON Whispering to PAUL RYAN, GOP Budget Slasher about the recent election and CUTS TO MEDICARE at billionaire financier PETE PETERSON event. >Peterson, pictured with Clinton below, has been trying to get to the Social Security $2.3 Trillion Trust Fund for years.
- Ryan now wants to end Obamacare protections for people with *pre-existing conditions.





MEDICARE was enacted in 1965 during President Lyndon B. Johnson's Administration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_(United_States)

Wiki: Peter George "PETE" PETERSON (Peter Petropoulos) (born June 5, 1926) is an American businessman, investment banker, fiscal conservative, philanthropist, and author, who served as United States Secretary of Commerce from February 29, 1972 to February 1, 1973. He is also known as founder and principal funder of The Peter G. Peterson Foundation, which he established in 2008 with a $1 billion endowment.
*The group focuses on raising public awareness about U.S. fiscal-sustainability issues related to FEDERAL DEFICITS, ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS, and TAX POLICIES. In recognition of his support, the influential Peterson Institute for International Economics was named in his honor in 2006.
Before serving as Secretary of Commerce, Peterson was Chairman and CEO of Bell & Howell, from 1963 to 1971. From 1973 to 1984 he was Chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers. In 1985 he co-founded the private equity firm, the Blackstone Group, which went public in 2007. Peterson was Chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations until retiring in 2007, after being named chairman emeritus. In 2008, Peterson was ranked 149th on the "Forbes 400 Richest Americans" with a net worth of $2.8 billion.
*Peterson has been named the most influential billionaire in U.S. politics.
On August 4, 2010, it was announced that he had signed "The Giving Pledge." He was one of 40 billionaires, led by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, who agreed to give at least half their wealth to charity. Most of his giving has, however, been to his own foundation, dedicated to forwarding his political views rather than traditional charitable works.
WIKI, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_George_Peterson

MORE: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027787543 http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017366906
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017367598

[Enthusiast]

14. Even the Bowles-Simpson commission voted against their own recommendations.

There was a reason for appointing two anti New Deal zealots to head up the Catfood Commission. It was because the President and Pete Peterson had a desired outcome and that was the best way to achieve it.

The commission might have started by looking into the fact that there is massive ongoing waste and fraud in the military industrial complex. They might have considered that we could cut military spending in half and still remain the country with the highest military spending on earth.

Eat your peas!

[n2doc]

15. Well if he wan't the US to go totally 3rd world, cutting SS is the way to go

Bastard. And of course next time he is up for election our wonderful party leaders will make sure he has no opposition.

Is it any wonder that many of us have grown sick and tired of the modern Democratic Party?

When you give the People no real alternatives, they will go out and find them anyway.

[appalachiablue]

65. WARNER'S a tech multi millionaire. Almost all are mills in Congress esp. the Senate, House of Lords.

- Sen. Mark Warner Speaking at the Campaign for America's Future event by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.

Wiki. In the early 1980s, Warner served as a staff member to U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd, also a Democrat from Connecticut.[5] He later used his knowledge of federal telecommunication law and policies as a broker of mobile phone franchise licenses, making a significant fortune. As founder and managing director of Columbia Capital, a venture capital firm, he helped found or was an early investor in a number of technology companies. He was one of the early investors in Nextel, co-founded Capital Cellular Corporation, and built up an estimated net worth of more than $200 million.[6][7] *As of 2012, he is the wealthiest U.S. Senator.[8] WIKI, Mark Warner, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Warner

- PETE PETERSON, Wall Street Billionaire and Political Influence Empire.



_____

CALI, great post, thanks and huge K & R. I re-posted it a couple places. What a group, and so sad that many people don't know the truth.

[Chef Eric]

16. Ed Rendell is another prominent "Democrat" gunning for Social Security.

The Democratic Party is in sad shape.

[appalachiablue]

62. Lobbyist Fast Eddie works with the 'Fix the Debt' Campaign, Bankers, Fracking in PA, etc.

Wall Street Billionaire PETE PETERSON and "FIX THE DEBT" Campaign.

[Samantha]

126. Try not running huge trade imbalances -- that should help a lot more than cutting Social Security

[sulphurdunn]

17. $257,481,658

Mark Warner's estimated net worth. Putting a big D in front of it doesn't change a thing.

[appalachiablue]

68. Wealthiest US Senator as of 2012; tech multi millionaire.

[Katashi_itto]

19. We are looking at a future Hillary cabinet member.

[cali]

20. I worry about who she'd name to her cabinet

[Katashi_itto]

21. Yep...Jamie Dimon..sec of treasury...etc.

[mdbl]

22. Anyone who's been watching knows Warner is a huge DINO

Actually, I think he's just a Repuglican plant, the way he acts and votes. Would be nice of his state to get rid of him by electing a real Democrat.

[blondie58]

23. I like Bernies idea better

Expand Social Security.
They need to raise taxes on the Rich- not the poorest of this Country.

[cali]

24. It is sickening

[yeoman6987]

77. I don't understand what they think they can cut

SS average check is around 1200 dollars. What can they cut? Nothing left to cut.

[zalinda]

91. Mine is under $800 a month. eom

[Paka]

101. $775 here.

It's a real challenge to live on and still have a life.

[yeoman6987]

122. Disgusting that they think you have too much.

So disgusted!!!!!

[yeoman6987]

121. And they want to cut that. Ugh!!!!!

[FlaGranny]

133. I get $1000. n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

117. BINGO!

[QC]

25. Warner is worth over $250,000,000.

Easy for him to talk about cutting "entitlements."

[marble falls]

26. Hillary Clinton Refuses to Rule Out Any and All Benefit Cuts to Social Security

Huff Post: “Hillary Clinton Refuses to Rule Out Any and All Benefit Cuts to Social Security”

PCCC & Social Security Works Launch Online Ad Buy in NH

PCCC: “It is an absolute must for a Democratic nominee who claims to be progressive to take Social Security cuts off the table.”

WASHINGTON - Today, after Sec. Hillary Clinton’s campaign made clear for the first time that she will not commit to never cut Social Security, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Social Security Works have launched an online ad buy in New Hampshire to increase pressure on Clinton to make that explicit promise before Tuesday’s primary.

Minutes ago, the Clinton campaign told the Huffington Post, “She has no plans to cut benefits.” The Huffington Post accurately reported, “Hillary Clinton refuses to rule out any and all benefit cuts to Social Security.”

The PCCC and Social Security Works in response announced an online ad buy statewide across New Hampshire today. The Facebook and Google ads will target likely Democratic voters, including Clinton’s supporters.

[JDPriestly]

123. If you trust what she says, I have a bridge over the Mojave Desert that I would like to sell you.

[Broward]

27. Obama proposed cutting it as well, but the sheep pretended it wasn't happening

or he didn't mean it.

[Marr]

49. "He didn't mean it!".

God, that one still kills me. And they still say it, too. They'll tell you he was brilliantly baiting the Republicans to prove that they weren't negotiating in good faith... even though that had been obvious for years at that point. And of course, it would mean that he was negotiating in bad faith, too, since they insist he'd never have accepted their 'ok, that sounds good', if they'd been able to to muster one.

[Skittles]

109. they pretended it was part of his chess game

or some dumb-as-f*** crap like that

[Leontius]

119. I wonder why he gets a pass.

Could it be..... nah of course not.

[zentrum]

28. Both Bill and Hillary

……have said things at various times that indicate they are willing to "look at" reducing benefits as well. That's what New Democrats do. Yet, HRC supporters attack us for not falling into line. I just don't get it.

[TBF]

29. Primary him - we need to get rid of these conservatives. nt

[RATM435]

30. Neoliberals and neocons one in the same.

Last edited Sat May 7, 2016, 11:04 AM - Edit history (1)

[Scootaloo]

108. Well, given that neoconservativism is a sub-school of neoliberalism, yeah

Not all neoliberals are neoconservatives, but all neoconservatives are neoliberals, that sort of thing

[dicksmc3]

31. Well no more donations from me!!

I supported this prick for a long time. Now-- FORGET ABOUT ANY MONEY FROM ME WARNER!!! Why not change parties?? They could probably use a dick like you over on the Dark Side!! I didn't know he supports Simpson-Bowles the worst plan for doing anything with the debt and cutting the social safety net. These guys got theirs but refuse to help us get some of what they got! SHAMEFUL!!!

[TransitJohn]

32. Go Team Donkey!!

[LiberalFighter]

33. There needs to be a campaign within his state to highlight this.

Photos of elderly women eating cat food. Giving credit to Warner.

[Ferd Berfel]

34. With the Clintons at the Helm

The old democratic party will finish the RIGHT turn that it started in the 80's with the DLC.

The Neo-Dem party will emerge full-on by November. It will be the party of the Right wing, the disenfranchised republicans.
There will be no party on the Left for Progressive and Liberal thinkers.

With the installation of TPP, the corporate agenda will be completed and we won't have a need for Partys after that, or Government for that matter. We will have Corporate tribunals.

Where comes the New World Order

[cali]

41. It troubles me, but I believe many of her supporters would go along with whatever she proposes

[Ferd Berfel]

44. yep

they are mostly low information and disenfranchised republicans. They are prone to falling in line.

Have you notices that, in you life away from DU, that you are having most of the same arguments with your republican friends and acquaintances that you are having at DU with the Clinton supporters?


I've noticed it.

[JDPriestly]

124. Yes. I talked to one of those low information voters today. Her 11-year-old was a Bernie

supporter, but she wants a woman. That is the only reason she wants Hillary -- because she is a woman. I think her 11-year-old son whose class is studying the road to the White House will persuade her to vote for Bernie. They family was obviously having a really tough time economically.

The low information voters -- almost always synonymous with Hillary voters, I am sorry to say.

[bjo59]

128. You got right to the point. Exactly. No more parties. No more governments. Corporate tribunals.

Well, there will probably still be governments but their only job will be to police their populations.

[SammyWinstonJack]

36. DINOS, the lot of them including $Hillary.

[ViseGrip]

38. Mark Warner also killed the only jobs bill we had in YEARS! Voting NO.

Well aren't Democrats on a roll this cycle? Higher wages for workers, yet no COLA for Soc. Sec. recipients. Now, we have Joe Lieberman and Jon Huntsman lobbying in D.C., for cuts to Soc. Sec.!!!! Imagine that. Guess who their first cutter is? None other than Sen. Mark Warner, another DLC'er. Mark Warner was one of only FOUR democratic senators, to vote NO on our country's only jobs bill in years. This bill came to be when we first obtained the house and senate. Max Baucus, Ben Nelson and another DINO were the others. I called Warner's office back then to ask why. He stated it was a 'bold' bill. Well nothing short of bold, with do anything to reverse our direction when it comes to our trade policies. Nibbling around the edges of the edges, is not enough. I told him not to come around FLA with his 'exploratory committee' for president. I called it right. Now look what Democratic Senator Mark Warner is up to....looks like Joe and Jon knew exactly where to go for support. Why are Joe Lieberman and Jon Huntsman doing this anyway? Who put them up to this? They pop out of obscurity to do this?

[heaven05]

42. when the DINO

say that "walls may have to be built " around neighborhoods, "like third world countries do", what the fuck is this undercover fascist alluding to? A Warsaw Ghetto(s) type wall around minority and poor neighborhoods that have the potential to be a threat to the prevailing order that this democrat is working toward. No to Social Securuty cuts. No to building walls around neighborhoods. Who in the fuck do these rich people think they are? They are working on ways to limit the threat to their selfish and evil existence. I bet we ain't seen nothing yet. This Warner clown is a democrat? Just the kind that has been stabbing our POTUS in the back for 7+ years.

[cali]

47. Disgusting. Catfood Democrats suck.

[LongTomH]

78. They' need walls around their neighborhoods to keep out the people with the pitchforks and torches

[heaven05]

131. LOL

[ebayfool]

107. Oh dayum. I 1st thought gated communities like the rich have around my area. But your point ...

makes sense, too. Shit. I'm not too old to climb a wall and raise some hell. They might not like the responses if they keep it up and get their way. Just sayin'!

And yeah, I could totally see him on a Clinton ticket.

[heaven05]

132. ouch!!!

but a distinct possibility. We will see......

[Soxfan58]

46. Third party candidate?????????

[Marr]

48. I'll bet the DNC loves him. /nt

[PufPuf23]

50. Democrats should be for expanding the social safety net.

This is a major role of the Democratic party; to preserve the interests of those who are weak in political and economic power.

Democrats be they Warner or Clinton or POTUS Obama that suggest budget compromises that weaken or otherwise cut social security are following GOP not Democratic solutions to budget issues.

The monies can be found buy raising SS income caps, cutting military spending, raising taxes on the top 20% in wealth and income, less corporate tax loopholes, and a financial transaction tax on Wall Street.

Bowles-Simpson deficit reduction plan is failure and should never have been suggested much less supported by Democrats.

Democrats should seek to expand and strengthen social security where the elders are co0mfortable and the young are secure in their own future with social security.

Any talk of privatizing social security is also GOP policy and should never be considered a policy by a Democrat.

[lark]

51. Clinton isn't stupid, she knows SS is the 3rd rail and won't fuck with it.

Obama tried to use cutting SS increases as part of a deal with Repugs and it went exactly nowhere. Hillary won't do the same.

[closeupready]

75. She's not the brightest, sorry. And

she won't fuck with it ... until she changes her mind.

[lark]

134. Has HRC ever threatened to reduce SS?

We have evidence of her corportism and war tendencies, but have never heard her threaten to cut SS.

[closeupready]

136. Look at her campaign donors - Wall Street's greed for that SS Trust Fund

(by way of privatization) will NEVER end, and with her in office, there is no question she'll do what they tell her in order to make it easier to get to point B, if not while she's in office, then when a successor takes over.

[Fuddnik]

85. I'm sure she's still got some weasel words stashed in her bag of tricks.

[FreakinDJ]

52. Another Third Way Dem

“Warner’s efforts are in line with the prescriptions being urged by Third Way

http://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/compromise-on-tax-cuts

http://www.thirdway.org/report/a-better-end-of-life

[GreenPartyVoter]

53. Gee! With friends like these...

[hrmjustin]

54. Screw cutting SS. Warner needs to shut up.

[ljm2002]

56. OMFG...

...this anus thinks that the way to respond to "public discontent" is to lobby for "the reduction of corporate taxes and the cutting of public programs like Social Security"?????

And people here wonder why a very large contingent of us are SICK TO DEATH of Third Way so-called "Democrats"?????

FDR must be spinning in his grave.

I have been a Democrat my entire life. Well after this election, no more. Independent / decline to state. Fuck 'em. They've certainly been fucking us for a good long while now.

And BTW: I am a member of the professional class, had a 30+ year career in well paid positions. But I was raised in a blue collar family, and they will never, ever take the blue collar roots from this gal. Our party has sold out to corporate interests. I have worked for a number of corporations, I know how they operate, and: FUCK 'EM.

Also BTW: it is also quite evident at this time, that neither party has a credible plan for battling climate change. Short of a huge global effort, right now, we are well and truly fucked. And it may be too late anyway, even if we are somehow able to devise a way to reverse the effects -- it may already be too late. So in the larger scheme of things the issues, whether social or economic, that we all hold so dear, will probably be moot in the very near future. So most of my energies will be spent in that arena going forward.

[cali]

57. Thanks. Great post

[appalachiablue]

69. +5

[awoke_in_2003]

58. The businesses community needs to get more involved in politics????

They write the laws, and buy the policians that vote the laws into affect. How much more involved can they get?

[nini]

59. This is why the so called revolution cannot ignore local races

Anything less than that is just bluster.

[LongTomH]

79. Right on! If we can't trust Hillary on this subject......and we can't....

...we need people in Congress who will vote with the 99%.

[snort]

60. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK

Mark Warner!

[bullwinkle428]

63. EVERY FUCKING ELECTION CYCLE - this same loosely-knit cabal of assclowns

begins to make their Chicken Little noises about "OH NOES!! THE DEBT IS GOING TO KILL US ALL IN OUR BEDS TONIGHT IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING DRASTIC RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!1!"

[niyad]

64. "with friends like that, who needs enemies?"

[erlewyne]

66. He is a DNC, not a democrat and

DWS is a DINO and hillary is the skipper.

[still_one]

67. The Bowles-Simpson deficit plan was bullshit. It hurt the ones who needed the benefits the most

[yurbud]

70. this probably put him on Hillary's short list for VP (if he wasn't already there)

[mikehiggins]

71. Friend of the Revolution

People attacking Social Security are secretly revolutionaries: they know that wiping out the safety net will lead to violence in the streets.

The only difference between them and the "weathermen" type radicals is the belief that the oligarchs will end up the "last man standing."

[StarzGuy]

72. Who the f**k does the Warner assh**e think he is?

Who the f**k does he represent? Why is the assh**e in the Democratic party with views like this? That's all we need is another wolf in sheep clothing. I am one who depends on Social Security Disability to exist and any cut to my benefit would result in me being ousted of my apartment having then to live on the unsafe street. I am already having to live in a not so healthy community on the poor side of the town I live in. My options are limited as the apartments on the rich side of town are way too expensive. I get too much when my combined income of SSDI and a small Federal Employee Pension to qualify for reduced housing yet too little to afford a great apartment on the rich side of town.

I say f**k him and I'd like to see him turfed out of the Senate. Period.
What an assh**e...

[shadowmayor]

73. NO NO NO Goddamnit

Social Security is not running out of money. In fact it needs to be expanded. Warner and other like-minded dems should be tarred and feathered. This is a bullshit meme that should never be part of any democrat's message, and yet . . .

Social Security has been used to pay down the interest on our national debt to the tune of over $2.3 trillion dollars. That's right folks, SS has bailed out the general fund, not the other way around. Simply raise the ceiling on FICA to $250K and be done with it. Less government in business and more business in government was the motto put forth by the Chamber of Commerce. It's a move to let wall street assholes get their hands on money they should never be allowed to touch.

Warner is a typical rich asshole who has know compassion or empathy for people living below the median. SS is the only check a huge swath of retirees will be getting over the next 30 years. Warner is wrong wrong wrong and on this issue he can kiss my foot.

[dgibby]

74. This is one Virginian

who won't be voting for him, and he certainly won't be getting one red cent of my money. If I was going to vote for a Republican, I'd vote for one, not a pseudo-republican!

[saidsimplesimon]

76. I will never again mention the name of this traitor.

Send him to the dust pile of defeated Senatorial Candidates. I will work to fund anyone willing to take him on.

[Chan790]

82. This had BETTER kill his chances at being Clinton's VP pick.

I mean I have a lot of issues with Hillary but I believe even she'd find this suggestion beyond the pale.

[Lucky Luciano]

84. Crickets from the Hillary supporters here. They must support cutting SS. nt

[Tsiyu]

86. No, he is not alone in this dirty business

of trying to make us eat the same shit sandwich we've been eating for over 30 years.

"Cut taxes on the rich."

"Starve the people and make them sacrifice, so our beloved corporations can hoard even MORE wealth offshore! So even more people fall into poverty, die years before their time due to lack of proper nutrition and healthcare, and their kids get substandard educations and shitty air to breath. Oh, yeah, and some lead in their water, too! Yeah! That's the ticket!"

Warner and his Dem ilk can sell that crap burrito from the Repuke taco truck. How they even propose this evil continue, with a D next to their names and straight faces, is beyond me. Lobotomies? Xanax? What the fuck is wrong with them?

Oh, yeah. The most toxic asset in the US: GREED

[octoberlib]

88. This is despicable.

I just read David Dayen's article on this conference.


At the root, the Milken conference is an investor conference. Attendees want to know about national politics and global military campaigns, but only insofar as that intelligence produces new opportunities to make money. A panel called “Value in Turmoil” was as packed as any that I attended. “Opportunities in distress” was a recurring theme.

“There’s a lot more hope in emerging markets,” said Steve Tananbaum, a vulture fund investor with GoldenTree Asset Management during a panel in the International Ballroom, the same place where they hold the Golden Globes. “Argentina and Brazil, there’s a reaction that’s a positive, pro-market reaction,” he added, referring to the attempted coup on Dilma Roussef. Discussion of the effect on people living in these countries was outside the frame of reference.

At a different panel, Jim McCaughan of Principal Global Investors pronounced himself “a heretic on infrastructure,” because Uber and driverless cars were so efficient that we didn’t need to spend as much on building roads anymore

.
https://theintercept.com/2016/05/05/at-conference-of-elites-the-distress-of-others-is-an-investment-opportunity/


These fucks.

[Jopin Klobe]

89. "The $17 Trillion Delusion: The Absurdity of Cutting Social Security to Reduce the Debt" ...

... "In reality, the bonds in the Social Security Trust Fund are primarily a political accounting device to remind us that we as a society have promised a certain level of benefits to Social Security retirees. It is true that at some point the Trust Fund will most likely need to redeem the bonds in order to pay full benefits to retirees. And it is true that the government will need to raise the funds to do this, either by borrowing from the public (selling Treasury bonds) or through increased tax revenue. But this is the case because we promised benefits to these retirees, not because there is a certain level of bonds in the Trust Fund. The benefits would be due retirees whether or not there are bonds in the Trust Fund."

"So the real issue is whether or not society will keep its commitment to retirees. The agenda of those who say we have to cut benefits is really that they don’t want to meet this commitment. We should recognize that this is their agenda, and not let them hide behind the smokescreen of supposedly out-of-control federal debt." ...
[link:http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/21154-the-17-trillion-delusion-the-absurdity-of-cutting-social-security-to-reduce-the-federal-debt|

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

106. Exactly. This BS that way too many Dems are buying into has been disproven by a number

of other analysts as well.

[ViseGrip]

90. Here is some more history on Mark Warner.

Well aren't Democrats on a roll this cycle? Higher wages for workers, yet no COLA for Soc. Sec. recipients. Now, we have Joe Lieberman and Jon Huntsman lobbying in D.C., for cuts to Soc. Sec.!!!! Imagine that. Guess who their first cutter is? None other than Sen. Mark Warner, another DLC'er. Mark Warner was one of only FOUR democratic senators, to vote NO on our country's only jobs bill in years. This bill came to be when we first obtained the house and senate. Max Baucus, Ben Nelson and another DINO were the others. I called Warner's office back then to ask why. He stated it was a 'bold' bill. Well nothing short of bold, with do anything to reverse our direction when it comes to our trade policies. Nibbling around the edges of the edges, is not enough. I told him not to come around FLA with his 'exploratory committee' for president. I called it right. Now look what Democratic Senator Mark Warner is up to....looks like Joe and Jon knew exactly where to go for support. Why are Joe Lieberman and Jon Huntsman doing this anyway? Who put them up to this? They pop out of obscurity to do this?

[Vote2016]

93. This is how you get on the short list

[ConsiderThis_2016]

94. Mostly Dixiecrats from VA. / it's a sky daddy thing.

Go on Hillary... pick Tim Kaine.

[appalachiablue]

110. For what it's worth, Warner is from Indiana, Kaine from Minnesota, Dave Brat (R)

who took Cantor's seat is from Michigan--but yep, Virginians now. Cantor the only one originally from Va.

[Dont call me Shirley]

96. You are an immoral criminal, mark warner, a thief and a slumlord!

[pansypoo53219]

99. RICH people live on a different plane.

[CharlotteVale]

100. I live in VA. I've called his office before about his Republican position on SS and they

always play dumb about it. I get canned unresponsive replies to my emails.

I saw him introduce Obama at a rally in 2012 and all he did was brag about how great he was for business.

I am not voting for this DINO asshole ever again.

[pacalo]

102. One of those "new" Democrats & a Hillary superdelegate, taboot.

[YOHABLO]

120. This is shameful and we should expose all the Dems who march to the beat of that BS.

[bobGandolf]

125. His comments are downright scary.

SNIP:
“The walls that are gonna have to be built, may not be at borders, they may be around neighborhoods the way they are in many Third World countries around the world,” Warner warned."

I can not believe the above quote is from the U.S. Walled cities!!

[cali]

129. Quite revealing, that.

[emsimon33]

127. He needs to be targeted next election which is about 4 years away

He is really a Republican. I held my nose and voted for him but now he needs to be kicked from office and his office inundated with angry constituents.

[riderinthestorm]

130. K&R! This needs another day on the front page nt

[dembotoz]

135. start party convention coming up(not warners) is it bad form to boo dino reps?

you go to state convention and it is the dog and pony show for elected dems to get their moments on the podium and hopefully get some folks with checkbooks motivated to take them out

some are dreadful...perhaps this year i will boo some