If Obama ended the 'Fiscal Responsibility Commission'...

[MannyGoldstein]

Poll question: If Obama ended the 'Fiscal Responsibility Commission'...

As most of us know, after Congress voted it down, Obama single-handedly formed the "National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform", which happens to be filled with folks who've publicly stated that they want to Slash Social Security. Some have even stated publicly that slashing Social Security is the Commission's preferred option.

If Obama were to dissolve his Commission, would you be more likely to vote, and to get out the vote?

[subterranean]

1. I'll vote either way.

Having said that, I'd vote more enthusiastically if Obama dissolved this commission. I'm not holding my breath, though.

[ThomCat]

2. I'd think he did a damned good thing,

and I'd think that it was about time. Pushing that commission against the better judgment of our party, and stacking it with conservatives, was a really fucked up thing to do.

This was one of those things that fueled the idea that he is just like Bush, because this is exactly something we could all see Bush doing. It was a fuck-up from the word go. At least correct the mistake, and do it with grace.

But I don't know that doing that would have anything directly to do with the elections. It would have more to do just with his reputation and legacy as President.

[vaberella]

4. He didn't stack it with Repubs. It has as many Repubs as Dems.

Any Congressional committee has as many Dems as Repubs.

[Radical Activist]

6. And it includes strong defenders of social security.

[jonnyblitz]

9. Thomcat didn't say anything about DEMS/Repubs, he said

CONSERVATIVES, which sadly includes the DEMS.

[vaberella]

10. Well that's still not true. Not one of the Dems on there are even on the Conservadem list.

Baucus is not on the list but does give into Republican ideas so he can bills passed. But he's still not a Conservadems. So again...

[vaberella]

3. I don' t know where you're going with this nonsense...

If you want to dissolve the commission then you should think about voting. Or at least if you wan to make it something else. The whole point of voting is so you can rid of that guy that's there. You don't like that guy, who's made up of that Paul Ryan guy who's on the commission----you get rid of him. You don't like what that commission is saying you remove the people and the way to do that is voting. And you're telling me that people are weighing their vote on this commission and if ti wasn't around they'd be happier. These people then don't have an f'in clue and are a waste of my time. What would happen if you removed all Repubs who are in the seats there---or majority of Repubs---and add a lot more progressive Dems. Well then. Not to mention, this group only suggests but can't do shit.

[Radical Activist]

5. The commission will be used to support cuts in defense spending

and it may get a Republican or two on board with a more progressive tax structure.
The hysterical fear-mongering about it from certain pundits doesn't persuade me.

[lamp_shade]

7. Keywords: Shall Propose Recommendations (capped for emphasis) > >

"Sec. 4. Mission. The Commission is charged with identifying policies to improve the fiscal situation in the medium term and to achieve fiscal sustainability over the long run. Specifically, the Commission SHALL PROPOSE RECOMMENDATIONS designed to balance the budget, excluding interest payments on the debt, by 2015. This result is projected to stabilize the debt-to-GDP ratio at an acceptable level once the economy recovers. The magnitude and timing of the policy measures necessary to achieve this goal are subject to considerable uncertainty and will depend on the evolution of the economy. In addition, the Commission SHALL PROPOSE RECOMMENDATIONS that meaningfully improve the long-run fiscal outlook, including changes to address the growth of entitlement spending and the gap between the projected revenues and expenditures of the Federal Government."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-national-commission-fiscal-responsibility-and-reform

[Ken Burch]

8. It would help...especially if he publicized it.

Obama was not elected to back the "government is the problem" meme.