Senator Dick Durbin's sudden betrayal on Social Security.

[Cyrano]

Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois has spent his entire career defending Social Security.

Suddenly, he's talking about making "adjustments" or "reforms" to SS.

Give me a break. No rationale human being makes a turnaround of this magnitude. So my question is who's blackmailing him and what have they got on him?

No one sells out to this degree unless there are embarrassing photos, or a total mental breakdown.

Does anyone have a clue as to what's going on with him?

[DJ13]

1. Maybe he's considering retirement, and doing a Dodd?

Getting on the good side of the greed merchants just before announcing a retirement seems to be the recent pattern for Clowngress members who want cushy high paying jobs out of office.

[madinmaryland]

2. What kind of adjustments or reforms is he talking about?

[babylonsister]

3. Grover Norquist doesn't see it that way...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=658993

[babylonsister]

4. "What’s Dick Durbin’s role in talks over fate of Social Security?"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/whats-dick-durbins-role-in-talks-over-fate-of-social-security/2011/03/03/AFmad4CE_blog.html


What’s Dick Durbin’s role in talks over fate of Social Security?
By Greg Sargent



snip//

My understanding of the dynamic here is that Dems like Durbin believe that the only conceivable way to keep Republicans at the table discussing increased revenues from the wealthy is to keep unspecified “changes” to Social Security on the table, too. Dems believe that if they rule out any changes at all to Social Security, it gives Republicans on the “Gang of Six” an easy opening to walk away from high end tax hikes. I’m not agreeing with that assessment, just reporting it.

The bottom line is we don’t yet know what Durbin will agree to on Social Security. As David Dayen notes, Obama is now saying the right things, insisting that the program is not a driver of deficits and shouldn’t be part of the budget debate, and suggesting he will only support minor changes, such as raising the payroll cap. And as I noted above, Durbin is vowing — in a general sense — to represent core liberal priorities at the “Gang of Six” table. You could, I suppose, read that as a sign that his role will ultimately be to put a liberal stamp of approval on changes to the program that are unacceptable to the left.

But you could also read it as a sign that Durbin sees his own role differently — he’s balancing the need to keep Republicans at the table with the need to keep the safety net fundamentally intact in a way that liberals can accept. At a minimum, Durbin’s vow gives us something to hold him to later.

UPDATE: It’s also worth noting that Durbin recently said: “Social Security does not add one penny to the deficit.”

[LiberalFighter]

11. Since everything is on the table that should mean

that applying a higher Social Security tax rate above the cap is included.

[defendandprotect]

5. Question is: "How much of the Dem Party do the Koch Bros. now own?" --

The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !!

:)

[bvar22]

6. How much do they own?

The DLC New Team

(Screen Capped from the DLC Website)

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=254886&kaid=86&subid=85

[golddigger]

8. You forgot the picture of the President.

[defendandprotect]

19. They're the long standing members --

perhaps in the new information re the DLC "going out of business" is also

the reality that they have completely taken over the party now?

Think there are better DLC waters here at DU than I am --

but think that question is still to be answered --

[MannyGoldstein]

7. Durbin voted to cut $56,000 from the average retiree lifetime beneft

That's what Obama's "Deficit Commission" voted to recommend.

[bluestate10]

9. Social Security and Medicare are going to be cut. Would you rather democrats do the

cutting, or republicans? Durbin sees 2012 elections coming up where democrats could very well end up in the minority in both parts of Congress, and if some here on the Left seem to want, lose the White House. Better to reform SS and Medicare now when democrats hold most power than take a chance on changes that will come after the 2012 elections.

[SoCalDem]

10. Don't you just love Briar Patch Politics?

Republicans & their media (MOST of the media) push & goad dems into doing the nasty stuff & we always fall for it, hoping to get some pats on the back..and all we get for it is dissatisfaction from our own, & a flaming tire around the neck when the next election rolls around & the media & republicans rightfully pin it on our donkeys

[WillyT]

12. And If The Democrats Help Cut Social Security And Medicare Now...

They will be allowing for the Republicans to cut or eliminate them in the future.

Because if the Democrats fall for this horse-shit, they will lose millions of votes, including mine.

:shrug:

[Autumn]

13. Any Democrat who cuts Social Security and Medicare

will never get my vote or support . I don't give a flying fuck if it does put a republican in charge. I expect republicans to fuck me over, I'm not going to vote for my party to fuck me over.

[dflprincess]

14. +1000

[Bluenorthwest]

16. I love the Kreskins who know the future!

They are never bright enough to understand that making such cuts would cost the Democrats the election and also do nothing to prevent the Republicans from cutting more later. The idea that 'if we do it now, they will be foiled' is stupid. Do half the work for them now, then they finish it later, after the Democrats are run out of town for the betrayal.

[sudopod]

18. NO. Just no. nt

[Martin Eden]

21. If the Democratic Party wants electoral success in 2012 ...

... they had better fight for Social Security and Medicare. The only "reform" SS needs is to lift the cap on contributions.

[annabanana]

15. Maybe Murdoch's spies have something on him.. . .n/t

[dennis4868]

17. It's obama's fault

Everything else the spineless dems in congress does is his fault, right?

[myrna minx]

20. Did the OP bring up the President? No. You're the one that brought the President into this thread.

:shrug: