Democrats try to alter Social Security debate

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- President Bush's strategy of saying that Social Security's "crisis is now" as a rationale for creating personal investment accounts has been offset by unanticipated attacks from Democratic leaders that the White House is manufacturing an excuse to boost support for private accounts.

The attacks have made the majority of Republicans uncharacteristically nervous that public discussion of benefit cuts by Bush's aides will backfire on the party. A memo by the Senate Republican Policy Committee warned this week that a plan under serious consideration by Bush "could be mislabeled as a benefit cut."

Bush envisioned a three-month postelection period in which he would portray Social Security in speeches and at conferences as facing a crisis that requires dramatic overhaul, after which he would unveil his plan as a necessary corrective. But by refusing to say whether he would cut benefits for younger workers, as his commission recommended three years ago, Bush has let a debate rage among his top staff about what shape the plan should take.

The debate has become increasingly public, leaving the impression that the White House staff is divided and that Bush is torn over the conflicting advice he is receiving. Bush aides said this week the president may not unveil details of his plan for another seven weeks or even longer. The long delay concerns even some who support Bush's goals.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/01/07/democrats_try_to_alter_social_security_debate/

[berni_mccoy]

1. Sure sure...

Iraq has WMD,
Iraq is responsible for 9/11,
Social Security is in crisis...

The lies and use of fear won't end until BushCo is gone.

[LynnTheDem]

2. In 1978 bush said SS, if not privatized, would be bankrupt by 1988 .

BUSH IS LYING. THERE IS NO CRISIS.

The Republican Party has been trying to kill social security off for SIXTY YEARS.

And NOW they think enough Americans are SO EASY TO DUPE (see Iraq war) that, as their own leaked memo says, "FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIXTY YEARS WE HAVE A CHANCE".

[Kolesar]

3. I heard bush is lying

and there is no crisis.

[canadianbeaver]

6. Well thats a givin......n/t

:eyes:

[expatriot]

7. I got it.

nt

[UpInArms]

9. this POS is into "crisis management"

as in managing to create a crisis in the minds of the propaganda fed masses.

:kick:

[nodictators]

10. The "Crisis" Is BUSH

First, the Social Security Trustees' Full Report (on the SS web site) has a bunch of simplistic assumptions that promote the "crisis" claim. The Trustees are mostly Repubs, including Snow and Chou.

Can anyone believe illegal immigration will stay constant? The Trustees do!

Can anyone believe, given our skyrocketing medical care prices and Medicare premiums, that seniors turning 65 in 2080, will have a life expectancy 4 years longer than seniors turning 65 this year? The Trustees do!

The Reality: Bush and his Repubs don't want to pay back all of those bonds in the SS Trust Fund, because it will put a crimp in their plans for more PNAC wars and more tax cuts for the rich.

And they'd be very happy to have SS go bankrupt. If fact, the Bush plan to borrow trillions of dollars for SS would be just the ticket for causing a bankruptcy of SS.

Furthermore, Bush's plans are far more costly and far more risky than doing NOTHING in the next 10 years for the "crisis" .

[Tweed]

14. Do you have that quote?

Could you post a link? I don't doubt you, but that's good information to have.

[MGKrebs]

4. "unanticipated attacks from Democratic leaders"?

Have we come to this? Resistance is unanticipated?

This is what happens when we fight back! We actually get a chance to win!
Not fighting back means losing!

We need our leaders to fight for what is right!

[underpants]

5. Isn't it odd that the headline is about Dem strategy not........

THERE IS NO CRISIS

but then that would be journalism.

[Dr Fate]

8. Talking point: "Yeah, and Bush lied to us about WMDs too..."

"...he also said those WMDs were an emminent threat- and we all know that turned out to be a lie. When Bush starts telling the truth, mabey we can get somthing meaningful done- until then, he has a credibility issue."

Of course, no DEM will say anything like this-they will pussy-foot around as usual and Bush will win in the end-like he always does & always will.

[wicket]

11. keep up the attacks!!!!

[maseman]

12. THIS IS GREAT NEWS...BUT WE MUST CONTINUE

this fight. We do have a voice. 49% of Americans don't like Bush and over 60% don't want changes to Social Security.

We really need to stay focused on this issue. Blast the media, call talk radio shows, write letters to the editors, call C-Span. The mantra must be "THERE IS NO CRISIS WITH SOCIAL SECURITY" and "BUSH WANTS TO CUT BENEFITS."

Look of we keep this mantra up with the media, in friendly dialogue with word of mouth discussions, in media polls online, etc. then we can beat the lies from Bush. Remember weapons of mass deception? That is the PR campaign these guys want to run. But this time we will stop them.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

13. attack, attack, attack!!!

[gardenista]

15. kick for Khephra

[LibertyorDeath]

16. kick for Khephra

:kick:

[susanna]

17. kick

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

18. Yes yes yes!

This is ENTIRELY a result of Dems showing some backbone and standing up! Now that the Repubs are down, this is when we kick 'em. If we don;t, say goodbye to social security, and everything else that makes this country great. . .

[koneko]

19. Kick!

:kick:

[miss_kitty]

20. kick for Khephra

[Misunderestimator]

21. kick

[Scout]

22. kick