GOP finger-pointing begins -The Hill

[Rose Siding]

Some congressional Republicans who have been trying to craft a Social Security reform package say their efforts have been undercut by an unlikely source: conservatives whose top priority is to restructure the program.

As President Bush has struggled to gain traction on Social Security reform, Republicans have repeatedly criticized Democrats for refusing to negotiate on changing the entitlement system.

But some say that Bush should look to his right for scapegoats if Congress does not pass a Social Security bill this year. They blame conservatives for drawing several lines in the sand and refusing to consider compromises.
...
A Senate Republican leadership aide expressed frustration with conservative groups’ rhetoric. While Bush and GOP congressional leaders say they are open to many ideas, conservatives have panned the everything-is-on-the-table approach.
...
“There is a splinter in the Republican Party on how this should be addressed,” another Senate Republican aide said.

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/042605/gop.html

[grytpype]

1. Hahahahahaha!!!

Way to lead, Duhbya!

You're sinking in the polls and your party is tearing itself apart!

Hahhahahahahahahahaha!

[grytpype]

3. Read the whole thing, it's hilarious:

"
Peter Ferrara, a senior fellow at the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) who is credited as the author of the Ryan-Sununu bill, wrote an op-ed in The Washington Times two months ago that mocked the White House for trying to send the president out to sell personal accounts with a message that they don’t really solve the problem.
Ferrara wrote, “Is it any wonder then that the more George W. Bush talks about personal accounts the lower they sink in the polls?”

Ferrara told The Hill he is trying to help Republicans get on track on Social Security. He accused top Bush administration officials — including Rove and White House Chief of Staff Andy Card — of urging people to tell him to “shut the hell up.”
Ferrara, who is scheduled to testify on Social Security before the Senate Finance Committee today, said Rove, Card and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Josh Bolten lack expertise on the entitlement system and mistakenly believe some Democrats are close to embracing the president’s plan.
"

[shanti]

11. it's true!

absolute power...

[benddem]

2. Interesting quote by Ferrara

"Rove thinks he's been beatified since the last election." Since they stole the election he could be a little humble.

[havocmom]

7. nice catch

that would make a good tee shirt.

[Pirate Smile]

4. So we have another issue where the Repubs are in a lose/lose situation. Ha

"In an interview with The Washington Post, Grassley likened a vote on Social Security reform to “walk the plank.”

-snip-
Conservative lawmakers are still bitter about being pressured to vote for the prescription-drug bill that deteriorated the financial future of Medicare. That experience has emboldened them to get a Social Security bill to their liking.

The bickering among Republicans on Social Security over the past several months is a clear indication that GOP leaders will have to worry about votes from conservatives when they are already struggling to attract support from centrists. "

Nominated.

[Frances]

5. Why do the reporters call it social security reform?

It seems to me that the goal of conservative Repubs is to eliminate social security. Private accounts will allow them to do so. That doesn't sound like reform to me. It sounds like replacing one plan with a different plan.

[Cha]

6. More Orwellian Speak..clear skies

initiative, no child left behind, ..whatever the hell they come up with that sounds just the opposite of what they are doing..and the fascist press goes along with it.

[stillcool]

8. Wouldn't it be nice.....

if awakenings were happening on a daily basis, and all americans regardless of their stripes joined together to defeat the monster that we all created?

[shanti]

12. i believe they are

notice how much crap is being flung at us daily.

[AspenRose]

9. Cannibalism, GOP style

How do you eat a whole elephant?

One bite at a time *chomp*

Works for me!

[confludemocrat]

10. Repub Plan A: destroy anything decent and equitable in society

Plan A-1 Get the Democrats to help us destroy these things. If no takers or only Joe Lieberman, institute Plan B
Plan B attack and eliminate any of our own who don't go along
Plan B-1 Renew the attack with whoever is left on our side as fully and commitedly crazy as we are, if any.

[deadparrot]

13. Gahdammit...I hate it when conservatives

act like conservatives.

Bastards.