Republicans Are Chastened About Social Security Plan -- NYT

[Career Prole]

After a bruising weeklong recess, Congressional Republicans will return to work on Monday chastened by public skepticism over President Bush's plan for private accounts in Social Security. One leading Republican, Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, acknowledged that the opposition was better organized while another, Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, said bipartisan compromise was unlikely unless the president can change the public mood.

<snip>

The story was much the same throughout the country, as Republicans - some already skittish over Mr. Bush's plan - spent the week trying to assuage nervous constituents. Instead of building support for Mr. Bush's proposal to allow younger workers to divert payroll taxes into private retirement accounts, some of the events turned into fractious gripe sessions and others did not go nearly as well as their hosts had hoped.

Those listening sessions also forced Republicans to confront another reality: opposition to the spending cuts outlined in Mr. Bush's 2006 budget. The $2.57 trillion budget will dominate the Congressional agenda for the next three weeks. But instead of fighting Democrats, Republicans - many of whom campaigned on slashing spending and cutting the federal deficit - are at odds with themselves over which programs to cut and which to spare.

<snip>

Mr. Santorum complained that he was dogged all week by opponents of the White House plan who dominated news coverage. Mr. Santorum, who is the third-ranking Republican in the Senate leadership and chairman of the subcommittee on Social Security, was heckled by college students -the very audience the Bush administration was counting on- and peppered with questions from retirees.

"Clearly the other side is better organized," Mr. Santorum said. "They got people to all these events. They had seniors lined up to ask questions, they had staff people running up passing them notes."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/politics/27cong.html

Now there's some good news! Everybody give yourselves a well-deserved pat on the back and then redouble your efforts.
We're going to save Social Security!
:bounce:

[qanda]

1. Woo Hoo!

Score one for the people. :bounce: Step off Mr. Bush and leave our Social Security alone!

[goodboy]

2. I don't know why he doesn't just go out and fuck a dog...because

it'll be a cold day in hell before I let those greedy, dirty, slimey bastards touch my social security.

[Career Prole]

4. He may have already done the dog...

...but if they're all (including the media) doing the dog we'll never hear a thing about it.
A fella named JimmyJeff showed us that. :evilgrin:

[Rose Siding]

3. Meanwhile, the WP assures everyone that BOTH sides are lying

:grr:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1268440

[Cha]

5. I sure as hell hope so!

And PROPS to organizations like AARP, Moveon.org, Buzzflash, freakin' Democrats.com..and DU and all the others who have written letters and phone calls..

Not counting any chickens unless they're hatched but I hoping the repugs stay "chastened" and bush gets run over on his "3rd rail of politics"!!

[Atman]

6. "Clearly the other side is better organized" ??? WTF ???

Santorum, you sanctimonious pile of dog turds, get an effing clue! While you and Bush's jack boot thugs jump to attention to do der Bushler's bidding, America is finally, slowly waking up to the bullshit. This isn't about anyone getting "better organized," you whiny little faxed-talking-point-parroting chowderneck! This is the reaction you get from the REAL PEOPLE your sorry ass hasn't dirtied himself with in years, when you finally get caught red-handed ripping them off. Stop trying to brush it off as just partisan organizational abilities...someone in your party better get the balls up to march up to Bush's office and tell him and Karl that enough is e-fucking-nuff! YOUR JOB IS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE PEOPLE; THEY ARE CALLED YOUR CONSTITUENTS, YOU JACKASS! YOUR JOB IS NOT TO LOBBY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON BEHALF OF YOUR CORPORATE DONORS! ENOUGH!

[cally]

7. I had a different response to that

I understand your rant and I agree. My response was, "Finally. We are organized. Thanks be to the political gods. We finally got in front of an issue." :bounce:

[The Zanti Regent]

9. Is it too much to ask a brave patriot to pie Santorum?

Please, just ONE good shot with a custard pie would be priceless!

[cosmicdot]

14. ditto to Grassley, the sponsor of their major pro-corporate bills ...

"YOUR JOB IS NOT TO LOBBY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON BEHALF OF YOUR CORPORATE DONORS!"

Chastened????

not quite a word too many people use every day ...

why not just say 'defeated'?

[Career Prole]

16. Hey! Don't hold back...

...let him know what you really think of him! :D
:toast:

[SaveAmerica]

18. If only we could fit ALL of that on a bumper sticker!!

[pacalo]

36. It's not so much Democratic organization that is riling the people

against privatization -- it's common sense. Who wants to gamble away their retirement funds through a fluctuating stock market?

[Daphne08]

8. Somebody needs to write him and remind him

that WE pay his salary!!

[meti57b]

10. This gives us hope for the 2006 mid-term elections!

It may be finally getting through to voters what an all-republican government will do to them.

[slor]

11. Do not rest easy yet...

people. Keep spreading the truth about their scam, and do not count them out on this, until a Dem is back as the executive.

[Teaser]

13. A giant slor?

by any chance?

*contemplates roasting in the depths of the slor*

[EC]

12. Oh yeah, like senior citizens can't show up and complain on their own

it just has to be the opposition is organized! What a shit-head, that's a Rove tactic...say, people don't have a brain of their own, it's the other party fighting us....

[lovuian]

15. Because they are lying!!!

and Americans are tired of being screwed!!!

[Career Prole]

17. The chimperor deserves some credit for this.

This would have been an easier sell to republicans if he hadn't totally blown our economy out of the water!
And if they now realize the economy is a freakin' train wreck it may indeed bode well for us in 2006 as someone mentioned above.

[adigal]

19. Bastards

Fucking bastards - and I have never said that before on a website. These bastards want to hurt those among us who need protection the most, to put money in Wall Street's pockets. Bastards.

[llmart]

21. Don't apologize.......

I was never a swearing woman before Bush stole office, but I have sworn so much on this board that it's becoming second nature to me. I have called him every name in the book. I can't think of a president I have despised as much. I hated Reagan's policies but not the man, I thought Bush's father was just stupid and ineffectual, but this one is evil.

[JulieAnnJ]

20. Just an Observation on Rick Santorum

Privatization of Social Security has been an issue close to Santorum's heart(?) for a long time. I firmly believe that most PA residents have not a clue as to what this guy's really about. When he was last up for re-election, my husband's union was passing around video tape of ol' Rick blasting away at Social Security. His calls for privatization at that time were shocking. I remember thinking that the tape would just bury him. If I recall, he adamantly denied that he was trying to privatize social security and, sadly, coasted to victory over his democratic challenger. He is a rabid right-winger, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him back off if he senses that his own political future is in danger. Isn't he up for re-election in '06? I'm curious to see if we'll be witnessing the re-emergence of a more "moderate" Santorum. I'm just hoping PA. voters come to their senses on this guy this time!

[Career Prole]

23. Good info...

...and welcome to DU! :hi:

[cap]

33. can you send a copy of the tape to Pennachio

he's running against santorum

[LynnTheDem]

22. None of them could have been REPUBLICANS, eh Rick??? Too STUPID?

Coz you think all republicans are TOO STUPID to figure out what bullshit you're pouring on them? Do republicans know how little you think of them, Rickie-boy???

[tanyev]

24. "the opposition was better organized"

Oh, puh-lease. When the opposition is overwhelming, it doesn't even have to be organized. Rick is just spewing more Republican projection. THEY are the ones who obsessively organize events to manipulate public opinion.

[ignatius 2]

25. Ah,poor Santorum..want a little cheese with that wine? Maybe the other

side has finally helped awaken people to the schemes of the borrow and spend, give huge tax cuts to the rich while cutting benefits to the elderly,sickly and poor republican greedy pigs.

Social security has provided dignity and quality of life to many who would live in poor houses or with relatives who really don't want to care for them and now the greedy repugs want to dismantle it. It is what it is and people are not so stupid that they cannot see through the bs at last.

Now if they would only catch on to the rest of this administrations lies, one can always hope.

Someone said we should say that Bush is trying to "dismantle" social security. I use that everytime I can now and it does say a lot with few words. It is catchy and people can and will remember it.

Why is Bush trying to "dismantle" social security? Ask it today, most won't have a response and it might make them think a bit.

[yellowcanine]

26. uh oh - little Ricky seems to have lost touch with the hoi polloi. Now

what, Ricky? And 2006 is suddenly getting very close. Heh.

[VegasWolf]

27. Yeah. we'll see if THIS clown, err Pretzeldent, can change public

perception. Fat chance.

[NashVegas]

28. "Other Side Is Better Organized" My Ass

People just don't like it, Einstein!

[0007]

52. The other side is like featherbrained Robot-like morans that are

controlled by a Hitler type fucker called junior.

[PA Democrat]

29. Santorum apparently didn't get the message that "town meetings"

are supposed to be rigged to exclude anyone who is not a fawning sycophant. Damn those pesky Democrats for showing up and... and... ASKING QUESTIONS!

Oh the horror, the horror.

[Career Prole]

30. The beauty part is, according to the article they're catching some $hit

from their own people too.
That's gotta be messing them up! They can't just insult them and turn their backs which is their usual debate style.

[Momof1]

34. Santorum was on tv all week here in PA in town meetings

Not one station showed hard questions, or heckling. I was beginning to get scared, but after reading this article.... the news must of cut out the best parts.

[liberalhistorian]

37. LOL!

Yeah, how dare they! What an ignorant, arrogant, smug, self-righteous, sanctimonious, judgmental, dumbass, hypocritical, idiotic POS SOB he is! What is it that one ranking senator (I forget which one) said when first working with Little Ricky? "Santorum? Is that Latin for dumbass?" God, I wish PA would finally get wise and DUMP HIS SORRY, WORTHLESS ASS!

[The_Casual_Observer]

31. Santorum, fuck you, you stupid ass. Stick to hating gay people,

advocating coat hangar abortions, and scaring people into killing Arabs. The things that republicans are good at.

[shanti]

32. they should be chastened

even the poor hardcore repugs need SS in their old age, and they WILL fight for it, just like us. for many people, that's ALL they will have for "retirement". does bushler honestly think that they will give it up willingly??

[ArnoldLayne]

35. Check out what the college Republicans were chanting at

the Rick "The Prick" Santorum meeting at link http://www.chuck2006.com/blogDetail.asp?id=65

[Buns_of_Fire]

38. So, how does that third rail feel, fellas?

Keep it up! No, really, I'm all for the repugs following their poorly-housebroken savior boosh** into the crapper. Perhaps seniors don't contribute as much to the almighty "bottom line" as they used to, but they DO do one thing very well and very consistently -- they VOTE!

[truthisfreedom]

39. one tiny step forward. i'm proud. woohoo!

YEAHHHHH! 8^)

[Melynn]

40. Looks like the left may win this one.

Could Bush political fortunes be on the down swing? I think so with Social Security Reform all but dead and public tiring of the Iraq war.

Keep the faith, the turning point may be coming soon.

[Career Prole]

41. Kicking for comparison to Sunday A.M. news shows

...or contrast, as the case may be. :eyes:
:kick:

[Disturbed]

42. Dems better not cave in on any of the Bush Junta agenda for..

Amerika.

The Right Wing Agenda

Abolish

Social Security
Medicare
Employer supplied health insurance
Unemployment Benefits
Welfare
Abortion Rights
Collective Bargaining
EPA
Public Education
Public Housing
IRS

[Career Prole]

43. Absolutely. A unified front has never been more important!

(Are you listening, Joe-mentum??)

[modrepub]

44. I reject your reality and insert my own

Typical of Rick. He always thinks he is right. I mailed him years ago when the Repubs were blocking Clinton nominees to the bench. He said there wasn't support for Clinton's bench nominees. What he meant was there weren't enough votes to close debate. Big difference, but not in his mind.

Did anyone catch Rick say that the Bonds in the SS Trust fund were worthless? I've been trying to find a transcript to confirm this statement. I wonder what all the foreign banks would do if they found out we weren't going to pay off "certain" types of bonds?

[Moderator]

45. Kick

[papau]

46. Republicans Are Chastened About Social Security Plan

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/politics/27cong.html
Republicans Are Chastened About Social Security Plan
by SHERYL GAY STOLBERG and ROBIN TONER
The New York Times
February 27, 2005

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 - After a bruising weeklong recess, Congressional Republicans will return to work on Monday chastened by public skepticism over President Bush's plan for private accounts in Social Security. One leading Republican, Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, acknowledged that the opposition was better organized while another, Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, said bipartisan compromise was unlikely unless the president can change the public mood.

"It's a heavy lift," Mr. Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said Friday, after a week spent crisscrossing his home state to play host to 17 town-hall-style meetings. He said the sessions ended "without my getting much of a consensus of where people are, except general confusion," and with the president still facing "a major job of educating people."

The story was much the same throughout the country, as Republicans - some already skittish over Mr. Bush's plan - spent the week trying to assuage nervous constituents. Instead of building support for Mr. Bush's proposal to allow younger workers to divert payroll taxes into private retirement accounts, some of the events turned into fractious gripe sessions and others did not go nearly as well as their hosts had hoped.

Those listening sessions also forced Republicans to confront another reality: opposition to the spending cuts outlined in Mr. Bush's 2006 budget. The $2.57 trillion budget will dominate the Congressional agenda for the next three weeks. But instead of fighting Democrats, Republicans - many of whom campaigned on slashing spending and cutting the federal deficit - are at odds with themselves over which programs to cut and which to spare.
<snip>

[aquart]

47. Republican "education" is telling lies.

I'm not skeptical. I'm openly contemptuous.

[papau]

48. I believe the GOP refers to those like yourself as "too educated"

:-)

[stepnw1f]

49. Education? Ohhhh that kind

Propaganda hasn't worked this time. The RepubliCons need more time to repeat their lies enough for the re-education process to be effective.

Hey Grassley? F*ck You!

[Skittles]

50. beware of "chastened republicans"

chastened my ass, they are ruthless bastards; watch out

[Career Prole]

54. No doubt the operatives are out feverishly digging for a Democratic

scandal...any scandal!

[LeaderlessResistance]

51. No change in US torture policy

The United States has failed to change its policies meaningfully on the treatment of prisoners, opening the door to repeats of abuses like those at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison and making an independent probe into torture by the US military essential, says a leading human-rights group.

London-based Amnesty International (AI) stressed that without such an investigation and the clear, unequivocal rejection by US officials of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners, "the conditions remain for further abuses to occur".


Full story:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FJ29Ak02.html

[Career Prole]

53. DebJ posted this Santorum SS anecdote from MyDD in the PA forum

and I thought it would ride well here...

First, I would like to thank everyone today for the work they did in contacting Senator Lieberman's office. Keeping our caucus in line when it comes to opposing Bush's plan is one of, if not the, key to success in this fight. Good work everyone, and a big thank you goes to user Teaser, who came up with the idea.
Second, I'd like to talk a little about the Santorum Social security event that I attended today. It was quite eventful and well attended, although I am pretty sure it was well attended because around six or seven different activist organizations had turned out in force. Outside the hall before the event, Philly DFA began chanting "Hey-hey, ho-ho, Riock Santorum has got to go!" Local college Republicans, who are just about the only Republicans in West Philly, responded with a chant that beautifully was captured live by CNN: "hey-hey, ho-ho, Social Security has got to go!" I love it when the other side does your campaigning for you!

Inside the hall, the biggest applause line of the event was generated early on when Santorum asked a rhetorical question about demographics and funding: "what happens in 2008?" Before he could answer his own question, someone shouted "Bush leaves office," and the room went wild.

more at http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/2/22/173612/540

Good find, DebJ!

Tough crowd, Santorum! :evilgrin: