Make Me Retch: "Obama's 'try anything' bid to woo GOP moves from dinner to golf course"

[grahamhgreen]

41. His compromise on Social Security gives the REPUBLICANS an in to present themselves as the party

defending Social Security, even though they want to destroy it more quickly than Obama. This damages EVERY Democratic candidate.

Rep. Greg Walden, of Oregon, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the member in charge of getting other Republican members elected next year called CCPI "a shocking attack on seniors,' AND 'I think he's going to have a lot of pushback from some of the major senior organizations on this and Republicans, as well," Walden said.

Since Social Security does not add one nickel to the deficit, the attack is either insane, politically naive, or demonstrates a true desire to make seniors suffer so that the wealthy can hoard more.. or what? You're suggesting he offers cutting SS as a way to bring the R's to the bargaining table???? I don't buy it one bit. Offering them the Progressive caucus budget would have done the same thing - with one huge difference - it would have mobilized his base and the American people to be on his side. Now he has no one but the billionaires who secretly hate him even though they give him money.

R's are RW authoritarian they must be told, forced, or cajoled into action. Prosecuting them for their crimes under GWB would be a good start. Prosecuting for bank fraud, and robo signing another. Prosecuting for the BP oil spill another. Etc.

The proposed change in how to measure consumer prices, a so-called chained CPI, would result in significant cuts in benefits. The average 65-year-old retiree would lose $658 a year in Social Security benefits by their 75th birthday; $1,147 by their 85th birthday; and $1,622 by their 95th birthday. Permanently disabled veterans who started receiving disability benefits from the VA at age 30 would see their benefits cut by more than $1,400 a year at age 45, $2,300 a year at age 55 and $3,200 a year at age 65.

The chained CPI also would amount to an across-the-board tax increase on working families. More than three-quarters of the new revenue raised would come from Americans making less than $200,000 a year. Those making between $30,000 and $40,000 would be hit the hardest.