Are Bush and Rove making a mistake if they propose Social Security reform?

[kentuck]

At the Convention? I think his proposed Medicare reform was a negative for him. And why would they piss off a group of people, the older folks, if it is not necessary?? That doesn't seem too bright ot me? But we know they are geniuses, right?

I doubt that Social Security has become as neutral of an issue as they may think. Perhaps I am wrong? But to me, this seems like a possible blunder from the Bush campaign?

[Inland]

1. It was the exact same reform he proposed four years ago

How can you propose the same agenda after doing nothing for four years? Moreover, SS "reform" requires about a trillion bucks of new money, and Bush spent our surplus.

[David Dunham]

2. A huge mistake for Bush. Unline 2000, there's no surplus now.

Partial privatization of Social Security will have to be paid for by significant cuts in SS benefits. It will cost $1 trillion just to implement Bush's plan. Kerry-Edwards and Dems generally should hammer Bush on this issue throughout the fall.

[David Dunham]

4. Some younger voters might like SS changes, but older voters will HATE it

[Inland]

5. Right, Bush would just be reminding us of how he missed an

opportunity by frittering away our surplus on tax cuts and Iraq. A trillion dollar opportunity.

[Cha]

8. I know Kerry has already spoken about it..

in answer to greenspan little speech. Whether it will get much coverage is another thing.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. chimp somehow doesn't understand that he has no credibility

A president could only dare a move like this if he was in solid.
This is like the ANWR thing, he is being forced to keep some kind of a promise to someone/something about this issue.

[Kierkegaard]

6. I think it is a dangerous topic to be screwing around with...

People have a vested interest in SS and will be scared by the mere mention of it in a campaign speech no matter the language. People assume bad things as soon as any politician mentions touching the SS system because any time they do, bad things seem to happen to it. So I say, go for it Bugsy! Feel free to alienate some more voters.

[Cha]

7. It's been pissing me off for four years but

he never had me.

I sure as heck hope it wakes up people and make them realize that their little nest egg such as it was would not be there for them no matter what if bush & rove have their way.

[barb162]

9. I hope this is a giant blunder

SS does not need reform now or anytime soon. But the more often Bush says it, the more people believe it and it simply is not true.

[PurityOfEssence]

10. Apparently, they think they could reinstitute slavery and get away with it

They've just taken away sacred time-and-a-half overtime from people like nurses, and it's hardly even a blip on the radar.

If they can do things like that, they'll take out Syria, eliminate all suits against corporations, kill Social Security, destroy cute cuddly kittens and make Jesusmania the mandated national delusion.

[kentuck]

11. Yes, the overtime issue disappeared when the Swift Boat vets arrived...

And it's not all coincidence...

[Cha]

13. I would definetly be moving to another Country.

But I think the People will persevere and we will get our Country back.

[DemBones DemBones]

12. Democrats need to be SCREAMING about this.

I'm sure these bastards would do away with Social Security and Medicare entirely if they could. They follow Grover Norquist's economic "thinking" and he says to starve the government (by creating huge deficits, as they've been doing) until it's small enough to drown it in the bathtub.

[salin]

14. They are confident they will win

and by trotting this out now - they will claim their win is a mandate to DO it... in the most draconian way possible. This is the set for a later spike.

[snyder]

15. It's Only A Mistake If Kerry Pounces On It

[eleny]

16. Mistake

Things they touch turn to crap. The seniors, and I'm 57, will turn on him in droves. So, let him propose it. He can be my guest!