The President finally found a Republican that will work with him !

[kentuck]

Alan Simpson! That flinty old bastard from Wyoming. How did they find him? I had not seen him in years.

But, if he is the example for "bi-partisanship", then we are in deep doo-doo. He talks a good game but he is as partisan as they come. Who can forget his rants during the Clinton impeachment? His first suggestion will be to cut the Social Security social net. He will announce that nothing can get done until we put the brake on these sky-rocketing social programs. That will be his mantra.

What does the President hope to accomplish? Is the heat getting too hot in the kitchen? Pass that hot potato over to a commission. That will get it out of the kitchen but it will accomplish very little. It only gives the Democrats and Republicans a pass for the upcoming election. Maybe that is what they hope to accomplish?

[stevedeshazer]

1. Honestly, I thought the guy was dead. n/t

[Captain Hilts]

5. He's looked that way for years. nt

[nimvg]

15. You're Thinking Of...

...Alan Cranston, who he looks very much like and died a number of years ago.

[Yupster]

2. I likede the way Obama talked about

being civil and agreeing to disagree without being disagreeable, and I'm thinking, alright Obama, admit you have no idea who Alan Simpson is. Just admit it and stop spewing the nonsense.

[lamp_shade]

3. I like Alan Simpson.

[Captain Hilts]

7. He and Nina Totenberg were dates at that big dinner after they got in the scuffle in the ABC News

parking garage over Clarence Thomas, I believe.

I would have LOVED to seen the scuffle between them. Neither has any bodyfat.

But they went as dates to some big dinner about six months later.

Dap to them both.

[kenny blankenship]

4. What does the President hope to accomplish? To gut Social Security.

I would have scoffed and hurled abuse at anyone saying this during the campaign. Now it's become too blatant to deny anymore.

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. Then he can say goodbye to 2012.

He might as well lick the third rail.

If he messes with SS, he is done.

[nimvg]

14. I Have A Feeling...

...he's done anyhow, knows it and just wants to put a few notches in his belt before heading back to Chicago.

[Yupster]

17. I think it's just cover until after the election

I don't think he expects the commission to ever do anything.

I think he wants to use it to demonstrate that the Republicans won't cooperate with him.

They'll talk out against the 11 Dems and 7 Reps on the commission, and pro-lifers will gripe because they hate Simpson, and Obama will say, "see - I want bipartisanship, and they just won't agree to anything."

[blogslut]

6. What?

No love for Erskine Bowles?

[kentuck]

8. Erskine is well-known for his liberal credentials...

Not!

[blogslut]

9. Okay

Just wanted to make sure folks here know there are two men heading up this committee. One Republican and one Democrat.

[FSogol]

10. D'oh. Wrong Simpson, nevermind. n/t

[olegramps]

11. The person must be dead.

[OHdem10]

13. Health Care on Steroids. The South and West chosen

to lead the effort. Remember HCIR and Baucus.

Does the President have an aversion to large states
with large Populations who have many issues that
will need to be considered????

HCIR turned out to be a gift to Business. Hold
your hat--and get ready for a rough ride.

Deficit reduction in a Great Recession will dig
the hole deeper.

[UTUSN]

16. K&R to undo the usual,inscrutable UnReKKK. n/t

[spanone]

18. it fucking boggles the mind

[Moochy]

19. Chock Full of Bipartisan Trustworthiness

Alan Simpson

Erskin Bowles

Double Plus Bipartisan!