White House says making headway (on SS - Rovespin)

[UpInArms]

http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7BB6D933FB%2D8793%2D4E5C%2D8152%2D9DE36F83536C%7D&siteid=mktw

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Bush administration officials said Wednesday they are making good progress in persuading the American people that an overhaul of Social Security is urgently needed, even as opinion polls show a majority of Americans now reject private Social Security investment accounts.

"We're doing well," top Bush aide Karl Rove told MarketWatch. The latest Gallup Poll, he said, showed that the American people by a 4-to-1 margin believe Social Security is an important issue that must be addressed.

Left unsaid by Rove were other results from the poll, which showed that most Americans believe President Bush is not doing a good job on Social Security, with a clear majority against private accounts.

Fewer Americans now think Social Security is an extremely important issue than did in February, when the White House began its campaign, according to the USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll.

However, Treasury Secretary John Snow said he believes Bush will have a bill to sign by fall.

In the past two months, Bush, Snow and other officials have blanketed the nation in an unprecedented publicity tour for private accounts, which the administration insists should be referred to as "personal accounts."

...more...

The article goes on to pick the admin's crap to pieces :)

[4morewars]

1. Have I told you today....

how much I hate these people ?

[Wright Patman]

2. He can have an executive order

to sign tomorrow if his lawyers draft one for him and then read it to him.

As Paul Begala once said when advocating Clinton sign them, "Stroke of the pen. Law of the land. Kinda cool."

I didn't agree with the Democrats when they were in charge of the executive and in favor of rule by executive orders and I don't agree with Republicans using them now. The executive branch is way too imperial. Hell, all three branches are. The executive and legislative just stand out more because they are run by madmen.

[lancdem]

6. Executive orders can be invaluable

Teddy Roosevelt used them to create national parks.

[shanti]

3. watch them

ram this home whether we like it or not. polls, what polls!?

[Roland99]

4. Ken Mehlman must be concerned, though. He sent me this

;)

Call Congress! Tell Them To Act Now On Social Security

This week Members of Congress return to Washington after holding town hall meetings back home where they heard from their constituents about Social Security. These meetings left one clear impression -- Americans want Congress to work together to strengthen Social Security for future generations. Visit GOP.com and call your Member of Congress. Tell them the time to act on Social Security is now.

Consider the following points:


Polls show an increasing number of Americans understand the problems confronting Social Security because of the President's and Republican Congress' leadership on the issue.

According to a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll last week, 60 percent of Americans support the concept of allowing workers to have the choice of a voluntary personal retirement account and a recent Gallup poll shows Americans think Social Security is now the most important domestic issue, even more important than the economy.

President Bush has said he will not change benefits for Americans born before 1950. While nothing will change for current or near retirees and they will receive their benefits on time and in full, their involvement in this debate is about the kind of Social Security system they want their children and grandchildren to have.

Social Security faces very real demographic problems that cannot be solved with band-aid solutions like tax increases. In 1950, there were 16 workers paying for every one beneficiary. Today, there are about three, and when younger workers retire, there will only be two.

In 2017, Social Security will begin paying out more money than it receives in payroll taxes. The longer we wait to address the issue the more costly it becomes. Elected leaders have an obligation to address the issue today and not pass it on to our children and grandchildren.

This means we must act now. Go to GOP.com and call your Member of Congress. Tell them now is the time for Members from both sides of the aisle to come together and preserve Social Security.

Sincerely,

Ken Mehlman
RNC Chairman

P.S. Members of Congress are back in Washington this week, following two weeks of town hall meetings where they heard one message from the people -- the time to fix social security is now. To read a sample of what people are saying click here then visit GOP.com to write your representatives and tell them to work with President Bush to preserve Social Security.

[CoffeeCat]

5. "Everything is just dandy!" is the line I heard today....

...on a local radio program.

The most popular Iowa talk-radio personality (Jan Mickelson) did his show from Washington, DC. He interviewed at least 6 government officials who did their SocSec schtick. There was someone from the White House, a Bush-appointed economist, a number cruncher from the Treasury Sec office, etc.

It sounded Mickelson was one of many radio personalities in a large room. I'm guessing these 6 government officials did round-robin interviews with all of these stations.

It was such a scam!

They were all touting the line, "Things are great! We're getting the message out! America is beginning to understand that the pResident is right on Soc Sec."

One thing is obvious. BushCo is refusing to take no for an answer. He's going to keep pounding this propaganda into the American people until they buy it. They don't care that no one wants it. BushCo doesn't give a rip that America isn't buying his snake oil.

Junior figures that we just need to hear the same shit a zillion different ways--until one of those ways leads to enlightenment and acceptance of his grand plan.

[July]

7. "making progress" vs. "Fewer Americans now think SS is an extremely

important issue."

They really believe they can say anything and get away with it, don't they?

[swag]

8. 'We're doing well,' top Bush aide Karl Rove told MarketWatch.

Baghdad Bob much?