MrPresident, want to know just how well your strategy is working out?

[99Forever]

I just called my Congressional Representative to ask her position on the CUT to Social Security aka: Chained CPI. Of course I only spoke with a staffer, I'll paraphrase what I was told, "Rep. Bachmann opposes the CUTS to Social Security and Medicare proposed by President Barack Obama and will fight to see that they don't happen..."

Think about that Mr. President, the Batshit Crazy Lady, self declared leader of the Tea Party Caucus is more mainstream and in touch with the American People than you are.

Are you proud of accomplishing that?

[quinnox]

1. When the president is making freaks like Bachmann look sane

and reasonable, you know he has fucked up. Big Time.

[demwing]

2. And Rand Paul supports them

Bat shit and bat shittier are on opposite ends of this game. What to do?

[99Forever]

6. Couldn't say what Rand Paul has to say...

... he is irrelevant to me.

[demwing]

19. But Bachmann IS relevant?

OKAY!

[sabrina 1]

25. Apparently she is his Representative. And apparently Rand Paul is not. So yes, that makes her

relevant like it or not. I have had Repubs as Reps and have called them also about issues. It's no use just calling Dems and letting Repubs think all their constituents agree with them. Normally when I have had to call my Repub Rep. they were on the wrong side. Things are bad when you can call your Repub Rep now and find them defending SS. Who would have thought that would ever happen? Talk about handing Repubs an issue to run on in 2014!

[99Forever]

32. Well bud,

Ask Patty Wetterling, Elwin Tinklenberg, and Tarryl Clark if Bachmann is relevant, and your "rock star" just handed the Batshit Crazy Lady a nice big present for the next go around. Thanks Mr President.

[demwing]

34. my rock star ?

What are you talking about ?

[99Forever]

35. You seemed to be giving the usual...

... 'true believer' attitude, if you weren't my sincere apologies, but I've had my fill of Turd Way bullshit and those that dispense it.

[demwing]

64. Don't get me wrong - I *want* to be a believer

But stunts like this SSN cut won't let me.

[99Forever]

70. I think we are in agreement.

[ProSense]

3. I love it.

[Cleita]

4. Let's hope a lot more of the Tea Party caucus feel the same way. n/t

[sharp_stick]

5. If Obama said the sky was blue

the staffer you spoke to would berate him for his stupidity and make sure you knew that Rep Bachmann supports the red sky theory all the way.

If Boehner proposed the complete elimination of SS and Medicare Bachman would be kissing his ass so hard that if he stopped short her head would become a permanent part of his appendix.

Don't pretend to equate her opposing Obama is anything like her being more mainstream and in touch, it's just looks dumb.

[Maraya1969]

14. Here Here!

She is just against it because he is for it. And he knows this.

I wish people were not so willing to rip our President up into pieces until we see the finished work. Remember he is working with a less evolved species i.e. the republican party.

[pscot]

52. So you favor cuts to social security

and federal retirement programs? Because Mr. Obama proposes them?

[treestar]

60. the poster did not say that

Your post is wrong and you should delete it.

[pscot]

67. My post was a question.

I'm trying to understand what the poster was saying. Is it the wrong question? Or is it just that I have no right to ask it

[treestar]

84. It is an obvious attempt to use emotionalism

to make the other poster look mean, by stretching what that post said beyond the limits of what is expressed. It would be like a right winger saying to you, so you think people who won't work should get money from people who do?

[pscot]

91. golly. We sure wouldn't want to let emotionalism

or hyperbole creep into this festival of sweet reason. The President's ardent defenders are a shining example to the rest of us in that regard. Lighten up. It isn't personal.

[bobduca]

92. LOL

emotion leads to empathy
empathy leads to compassion
compassion leads to the light side of the force!

#midichlorians

[Maraya1969]

103. No, I believe they will not pass through this anti-Obama rethug congress.

And then he will take them out of do something else but he has done this before and they rejected it and they ended up with nothing. Remember the Fiscal Cliff?

[KoKo]

17. New Poll: Seniors Of Both Parties Revile Chained CPI

I agree that Repugs always refuse anything a Dem Proposes...still look at this new Poll by ARP but in this case she probably said the truth to DU'er "99 Percent" because she's running scared herself from what this poll reveals:

---------------------

New poll: Seniors of both parties revile chained CPI
Two-thirds of respondents over 50 say they're less likely to support anyone who backs Obama's proposal

BY JOAN WALSH - Salon
FRIDAY, APR 5, 2013 09:53 AM PDT

<snip>

On the news that President Obama’s budget indeed contains a highly unpopular proposal for Social Security cuts known as “chained CPI,” a new poll by the American Association of Retired Persons shows us exactly how unpopular it is.

The AARP reveals that 70 percent of voters age 50-plus oppose the use of the chained CPI to cut benefits, and two-thirds of them – including 60 percent of Republicans — say they would be “considerably less likely” to support a congressional candidate if he or she backed a new way of calculating consumer prices. And 84 percent of voters over 50 say Social Security has no place in budget-deficit discussions, since it is self-financed.

On every single question, Republicans lag only a point or two behind Democrats in their opposition to Social Security cuts.

Michael Lind explains why it’s such a bad deal on policy terms here. I’ve written about it many times, including here. The AARP opposes it on policy terms. Now its new survey shows how risky it is politically.

“The chained CPI reduction snowballs over time and would increase taxes for most taxpayers — at the same time that it cuts benefits for children, veterans, widows, retirees, and people with disabilities,” said AARP executive vice president Nancy LeaMond in a statement. “As this survey shows, older Americans oppose the chained CPI and they’ve historically made their opinions known to their elected officials.”

<snip>

More: http://www.salon.com/2013/04/05/new_poll_shows_many_hate_chained_cpi/

[sabrina 1]

26. Well, let's hope Democrats in Congress don't just go along with the president because he is a Dem.

Many of them sure have in the past.

As citizens though, we have to look out for ourselves. And SS cuts are simply not going to get anyone elected which Rebubs found out when Bush tried to do it. Maybe she just knows that it is just plain stupid politically to even talk about cutting SS.

[pscot]

56. Write your congressperson, or call

Find out where they stand. They need to hear from us on this issue.

[treestar]

62. Bachmann?

Michelle Bachman?

Batshit crazy Bachman?

She would consider what is stupid to say politically?

[sabrina 1]

76. Yes that Bachman, the one who keeps getting elected no matter how many lies she tells.

She's playing chess. She will suddenly become the people's advocate, with promises of 'fighting for SS' now that she has been handed the opportunity to do so.

But she doesn't meant it. She's bluffing, she's lying, but she's good at getting herself elected. Once elected she will go back to supporting her Party on SS. She knows that even Republicans oppose cuts to SS. So they let a Democrat do the dirty work for them, now they will look like the party of the people. And millions of voters who only pay attention to what effects them personally, will fall for it.

In a way, she is doing what we have been told the President is doing. Bluffing, playing chess, trying to show the public that Democrats are not the party of the people.

It's politics, she's a politician so what did anyone expect when such a gem of an issue was handed to them?

[treestar]

83. The people who elect the likes of Bachmann

want social programs repealed.

[sabrina 1]

86. The people who elect the likes of Bachman are partisans. They don't think for themselves, they

their lead from their heroes. She is a hero to many of them, and there are Independents who will vote for anyone who promises to protect SS.

This was one of the worst mistakes ever made by the Democratic Party. Unless Senators and Congressmembers start distancing themselves right now from this WH.

[Dragonfli]

97. No, they don't, very very few in either party want this scam to cut SS let alone destroy it

It has been proven poll after poll after poll, a recent poll posted in this very thread proves it yet once again.

The AARP reveals that 70 percent of voters age 50-plus oppose the use of the chained CPI to cut benefits, and two-thirds of them – including 60 percent of Republicans — say they would be “considerably less likely” to support a congressional candidate if he or she backed a new way of calculating consumer prices. And 84 percent of voters over 50 say Social Security has no place in budget-deficit discussions, since it is self-financed.

I will assume you just posted that bit of dishonest spin out of ignorance.
Now that you KNOW how universally unpopular this third way, Pete Peterson purchased proposal is, I know you won't continue spreading disinformation.

You will instead join the rest of us and tell all the Reagan Democrats in the party leadership to walk back this disaster and avoid handing Republicans a victory in 2014 and 2016, by allowing them to lie and claim to be the defenders of Social Security, that is if it isn't already too late.

You guys just refuse to listen, this is not only bad policy but is also a tactical error of epic proportions.

[SidDithers]

39. Well said...nt

Sid

[treestar]

54. +1

There is no way she is "opposing" this now because she likes the SS program. Or any social program.

It's getting more and more insane. Like the impeachment thread, there is no logic in this. So we're to rely on Republicans to increase COLA amounts? They are the ones insisting on cuts somewhere, somehow, in order to pass a budget.

[Summer Hathaway]

66. Precisely!

[Skittles]

100. I AGREE

[Armstead]

113. Nooooo,you miss the political point

Even the batshit crazy republicans like Bachman and Ryan realize that it would be political suicide to actually say they want to reduce benefits....So they couch it in other terms of "protecting entitlements."

There is a message there for Democrats. There is great political cost for abandoning the party's long-held position as the defenders of Social Security.

[sharp_stick]

116. She's already signed onto the

Ryan budget hook line and sinker and by doing that has absolutely no political cover from this.

Anyone that doesn't see this as a blatant political ploy won't be able to learn anything different, honestly I doubt anyone that doesn't see this as a blatant political ploy is able to feed or dress themselves.

[bvar22]

114. And that makes a difference HOW?

Get Ready.
Its COMING to YOUR neighborhood in 2014 & 2016:

[font size=5][center]Vote Republican!
We SAVED America
from the Obama Social Security Cuts!

[/center][/font]

What was the last polling?
+80% of ALL Americans oppose ANY cuts to Social Security?


You can try to explain that President Obama wasn't really proposing cuts, but was, in all reality, just playing Super, Duper, 11th Dimensional Chess, but that is going to be a hard sell when The Republicans are playing Video Clips of the President proposing the cuts 24/7.





You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[spedtr90]

7. MIchelle Bachmann lies. Look at the budget her caucus wrote.

Her budget would be the Republican Study Committee Budget. The RSC membership is her and just about every far right conservative in the House..

Call back and ask if she supports the budget written by her caucus. She likely does not consider it a CUT if they propose it; only if Obama proposes it.

From the RSC budget:

• Transitions Medicare to a solvent premium-support system, as proposed by the Republican House Budget. The RSC budget proposes making this transition in 2019, for workers born in 1954 and later. This plan provides Medicare enrollees a greater menu of choices including staying with the current system, harnessing the power of competition among private insurance plans and improving the quality of care.

•Gradually realigns the Social Security full retirement age and the Medicare eligibility age with Americans’ increasing longevity. The threshold for eligibility would increase to 70 in increments of 2 months per year beginning in 2024. These reforms would be phased in over decades and neither reform would have any impact on individuals currently 55 or older.

•Further strengthens Social Security’s long-term finances by transitioning cost of living adjustments (COLAs) to be indexed to chained CPI-U, which more accurately tracks the impact of inflation.

The Social Security part used to be Paul Ryan's privatization plan. For the election it changed to not doing anything. After it became the CPI.


http://rsc.scalise.house.gov/solutions/rsc-back-to-basics-fy2014-budget.htm

[99Forever]

8. No kidding?

WOW! You are quite the private dick, aren't you?

"MIchelle Bachmann lies."

I'm freakin' floored!

Shocked I tell ya!

"Hold the presses..."

[sharp_stick]

10. So you think she's bullshitting

or is she so much more in touch with the American people and mainstream than Obama?

[sabrina 1]

29. Maybe she's just a political opportunist and just got a golden opportunity to pretend to be

on the side of the people because she knows that cutting SS is political death and she never expected to get that opportunity from a Democrat.

[L0oniX]

46. +1

[russspeakeasy]

68. Nailed it !!!!! As usual.

[spedtr90]

11. So what was the point...

of saying she was more in touch with people than Obama? Sounded like you believed her!

You're quite the actor!

Bravo!

[99Forever]

12. Run along now...

... this ride requires that you be able to think outside the Official Culture of Personality guidelines.

[spedtr90]

18. Actually it requires

the ability to read your mind and not just your post.

[99Forever]

24. Funny thing, bud.

Nobody else seemed to have a problem understanding what I was driving at. Are you suggesting that they are all mindreaders?

[treestar]

59. You were caught in a logic trap there

And now refuse to admit it.

[sharp_stick]

15. There is no point

you will soon get a reply telling you that you obviously don't know what the hell you're talking about and will be summarily dismissed. Just ignore it.

on edit: shit I was just a bit too late, you already received said reply. That's kind of funny I didn't expect it this quickly.

[spedtr90]

20. Thank you.

[Dragonfli]

98. Because she can read polls or has them read to her by someone more literate.

She is "in touch with" their stated dislike of these or any other cuts to SS as shown by large margins. She is "in touch with" a gift of an issue.

She will lie just as as other Republicans that can read polls WILL and play the role of "protector of Social Security", Boner may even cry for the elderly sniffle sniffle.

Obama is either completely out of touch and unaware of how the voting public feels about this issue, or he just plain doesn't give a shit, I think it is the kinder interpretation that he is out of touch.

[JoeBlowToo]

9. Doesn't matter what the real position of the Republicans is, they can say they oppose OBAMA'S CUTS!

They will play clips in commercials for the next election of News People talking about Obama's cuts and rile up seniors who will be confused and possibly predisposed to blame Obama for the fact that their SS check covers less and less every month.

[99Forever]

13. Thanks Joe...

... could you explain that to spedtr90? That one seems a little slow on the uptake.

[KoKo]

16. Agree...This will hurt Democrats in 2014 and '16 because a Dem

Last edited Mon Apr 8, 2013, 05:24 PM - Edit history (1)

President is proposing cuts to SS/Medicare that people depend on and that they have paid into all their working lives.

Repugs can run around saying but the Democrats support Privatizing SS...and now they don't sound crazy.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

105. "This will hurt Democrats in ..." It will, IF the Senators, Representatives, and others in

leadership positions in the Democratic Party do not immediately speak out against this.

It's time for them to show us what they are made of.

[treestar]

57. So the real issue too is what most accurately tracks the rise in the cost of living

Nobody's arguing about that. What would be wrong with using the most accurate measure? Good grief!

[Rex]

21. It is embaressing to see politicans cater to the 'have everything' crowd.

But a plutocracy works that way no matter which party is in control...they all kowtow to the wealthy.

[99Forever]

23. Don't recollect FDR "kowtowing"...

... to anyone, not have I ever met anyone who was "embarrassed" to call themselves a FDR Democrat, so no my friend, it DOESN'T have to be this way.

[Rex]

27. Yes you are talking about an entirely different time period.

Way before mass communications and Commercialism. EVERYONE knows it doesn't have to be this way...but no one can stop it! NONE of us at least.

[99Forever]

38. A different time indeed.

A time when the leader of the Democratic Party knew better than betray and turn his back on the people who put him in office.

Oh yeah, and Democrats then actually had spines.

[Rex]

43. SPINES!

Yes those things that they seem to throw away when they enter Congress! I almost forgot about those! We don't have statesmen like FDR anymore. Just corporate suits that rotate between CEO and senate seat or house seat.

[Dragonfli]

28. FDR said, "kowtow to you? Bring it motherfucker, I welcome your punk ass bullshit!"

Paraphrasing of course...

[Dragonfli]

22. This is to be expected, one of two things are likely to happen, neither good for the party

L am still waiting for an answer to this response I made to a chess believer.

I don't want to appear insulting, but if this is a wedge issue to go after GOP voters who are retired or about to retire and he wants them to know that the GOP tea-nazis in the house are continuing to attempt to cut earned benefits, then his strategy is ill advised, counter productive and more than a little stupid.

His Strategy appears to be to propose these cuts himself and trick the GOP into not voting for cuts because he knows they hate taxes and tax increases would be part of the deal.

This strategy will not point out to the GOP retirees that the tea gopers want cuts (even tho I concede they do) but that HE does as HE is the one putting them on the table. It will show them instead that the house tea nazies hate taxes and will not vote to increase them, something GOP voters including those of retirement age agree with.

In addition, a problem is created by this strategy that would not be a problem If the President did not offer cuts to earned benefits as a Democrat. It will become a wedge issue that will work against HIM (and by extension our party). A wedge affecting BOTH party's retired or about to retire. They will see HIM offering cuts to their earned benefits, not the tea nozzles. Many of the NOW angry seniors in OUR party may even credit the GOP with stopping him from achieving these cuts by refusing the deal (they may not care why, that it is only to avoid tax increases, they will just be glad someone stopped it, that they were defended somehow), the GOP elderly will believe wholeheartedly that the GOP protected them almost unanimously.

This has no other possible outcome but to backfire against him and by extension against the Democratic party.

Unless, they call his bluff, then He will be known as a Democrat that achieved cuts to earned benefits with the help of bipartisan support and not just a Democrat that made the callous proposal.

That outcome may be slightly better politically but only because the GOP nuts don't get to act the heros that prevented cuts. It will still be a large net loss for the Democratic brand because it will cause a great deal of anger to be directed towards Obama and by extension the Democratic party by the elderly of both parties.

It is a really really bad strategy, that is why I do not think it is strategy, I think Obama's Ideology really sucks regarding entitlements, I think he really wants to cut them.

for original context: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2625636

[Marr]

30. I've been unable to get a coherent response to a similar point.

They'll either reject the offer or they'll accept it. If they take it, they achieve their long-time goal of slowly killing Social Security. If they reject it (for whatever reason), they can claim to have defended SS from Obama.

Only the willfully blind could see this as any kind of strategy to promote the Democratic Party's stated ideals.

[Dragonfli]

31. I just don't get how they can't see what the obvious negatives are

Nor do I get the positives they think will result.

[L0oniX]

33. "84 percent of voters over 50 say Social Security has no place in budget-deficit discussions"

Indeed.

[KoKo]

36. Indeed...n/t

[durablend]

40. But they're clearly not "serious people"

And don't understand how the program needs to be "strengthened"

[Spitfire of ATJ]

37. I wish to offer my heartfelt sympathies that she is your representative.

[99Forever]

41. Thank you...

... it isn't because we haven't worked our asses off trying to change it. I really thought Tarryl Clark had a good shot at winning, she is sharp as a tack.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

49. I watched her last victory party and was struck by how her supporters,...

....have that same lack of blinking.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

61. How do they do that?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

80. Ever see a deer in the headlights?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

89. For a short time.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

90. What was that thud?

[fredamae]

42. Only because the "Wind Shifted" and

Shes "Going With The Blow"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/12/1006344/-Bachmann-wants-to-cut-Social-Security-Medicare-now

http://www.examiner.com/article/michelle-bachmann-fueling-republican-drive-to-eliminate-social-security

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/01/28/141412/bachmann-veterans/

[99Forever]

47. Here's the thing friend.

You can put up a thousand links, each with a thousand solid "reasons" everything she says is bunk, and it won't mean jack. The damage is done. Obama has all but written her campaign ads for her.

People who vote for the likes of the Batshit Crazy Lady aren't exactly deep thinkers and they sure as heck don't bother with any research that doesn't fit on a bumpersticker.

So, keep right on posting links to stuff I ALREADY KNOW.

Can you say, "Preaching to the choir?"

[SidDithers]

44. So, you'll be voting for her next year?...nt

Sid

[L0oniX]

45. There ya go again ...trying to have a mature discussion with people. n/t

[99Forever]

48. You win.

You get the prize for the stupidest comment on the thread.

How many does that make for you?

[SidDithers]

50. Pretty sure the stupidest comments were made in the OP...

Sid

[99Forever]

72. Oh Sid...

.. ya cut me to the quick.


You're such a wit. Well, half of one anyway.

[sabrina 1]

73. You don't seem to understand how US politics works imo.

The OP is dead on. Republicans ARE liars, none worse that Bachman. But she is a very astute campaigner, no one should ever underestimate her ability to grab and issue when it lands in her lap and run with it.

This was so predictable to anyone who understands politics here. The first time a Democrat offers up publicly, SS as a bargaining chip. What is a Republican to do? Especially when they find themselves so unpopular?

Michelle Bachman is the first to figure that out. Of course she's lying, do you think the OP doesn't know that?

But the average American, a vast majority of whom are now frantic that the party they depend on to protect SS, has offered to cut benefits for the most vulnerable Americans.

This gave liars and deceivers like Bachman a golden opportunity and she TOOK IT. Will she stick with that if she cons people into voting for her? NO, she won't, but Obama gave her an issue she and other lying Republicans can now use to get control of the Senate and the House IF they use it.

We were waiting to see if they would do it. And now we have the answer.

You could call it 'playing chess' if you will. They won't mean it of course. Oh wait, that's what the President is doing right? According to the apologists, he's just bluffing, well that is what Republicans are going to do now. Bachman is just the first and the awful danger is that it will work for them.

Which brings us back to the reason why no Democrat should ever, ever hand SS cuts to Republicans. Looks like the got what they wanted.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

63. Does he keep track anymore?

[Bluenorthwest]

55. Of course the OP worked hard to defeat Bachmann, the OP being an actual voting Democrat

on a board for and about Democrats. The Op discusses that in the thread you did not read prior to gracing us with your always fresh and original take on things.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

104. No, you are not alone.

[Puglover]

109. Trust me you are not alone.

[In_The_Wind]

112. !!!

[99Forever]

75. You sir,

.. just bought a one way ticket to ignored.

I actually was an Alternate to the Minnesota State Democratic Convention, not that I give a flying fark what you might think. You are just like Mitt Romney, irrelevant. Bub Bye.

[sabrina 1]

77. I think you misunderstood Blue's comment. Read it again, it was not directed to you but to Sid.

Seems he was defending you!

[treestar]

51. So what?

LOL, she opposes everything. And she is not going to sign off on an Obama budget no matter what it includes or does not include.

What is the strategy for getting a budget and not going over cliff after cliff? It should be electing more Democrats in 2014, but it seems that strategy is not yet being employed by anyone.

[broadcaster75201]

53. This move by Obama is wrong and an utter disaster. Pure and simple. nt

nt

[woo me with science]

58. It's Twilight Zone material. Two corporate parties masquerading as one,

taking turns to do the dirty work.

Yes, now Bachmann opposes chained CPI. Just as other Republican politicos were screaming about indefinite detention a couple of months ago. They abhor it....during this Democratic Presidential administration, anyway. And we are exhorted that Democrats are "poutragers" for opposing chained CPI; childish whiners throwing "hissy fits." Circle the wagons, and don't show disrespect!

This is the obscene, "take turns screwing them" carnival act of the bipartisan corporate government we all live under now. This is how deliberately sick, incoherent and personality-based the political rhetoric and propaganda has become, by design. The very same corporate/authoritarian policies persist and grow from administration to administration, but the partisan mouthpieces on each side work themselves to the point of disconnection from reality exhorting the teams to rally round when our team is doing it. It's all about party loyalty now, not the predatory policies and the legions of homeless and hungry.

So now we have Republican politicos twisting themselves into contortions to pretend that they are scandalized by cuts to vital social programs, pre-emptive war, indefinite detention, and the police state....completely denying history and reality in their astounding claims that Obama is the sole and only source of the corporate fascism we see being carefully constructed around us....and utterly ignoring the fact that they were cheering on the exact same policies four years ago.

....While on this side we have corporate Democrats pushing equal amounts of sick delusion.....feeding us the ludicrous fantasy that all of these outrages are somehow not as important or not as destructive under Obama, or that he is helpless to stop them and has not enabled them in any way. We are lectured as Democrats to minimize them and overlook them and completely wipe out of our consciousnesses that we opposed and screamed bloody murder about them under Bush.

This is political theater under corporate rule, in which the two parties take turns implementing the same predatory agenda, and demand that their respective sides rally around and defend them when they are the ones doing it. It's Twilight Zone, Orwellian propaganda, vile and offensive in its assumption that the lowly masses out in the country are all stupid and have memories and moral compasses that can be readjusted in an instant based on the letter after the politician's name. We have always been at war with Eastasia......I mean, Eurasia. We are lectured with jaw-dropping bile and condescension that to oppose this Democratic President's assaults on the elderly and the poor is equivalent to throwing "a hissy fit."

What brazen, vicious lies we are told, and then spat at and ridiculed when we express outrage at having been lied to. It's an obscene joke, a corporate LOLcat, that milions of seniors face more assaults, more hunger and homelessness, while fat, spoiled bankers purchase yet another private jet or island. Get with the program, suckers. Who else are you gonna vote for?

[spanone]

65. i wouldn't hold ms bachmann up as a shining example of anything, especially her 'support' for SS

what i imagine she calls socialist security

[sabrina 1]

78. She's not, she's just playing chess. She was handed a golden opportunity to

jump on what used to be the Democratic bandwagon as a savior of SS. Who can blame her, she's a politician, she wants to get elected. She knows that defending SS is a good way to ingratiate herself with voters who overwhelmingly oppose cuts to SS. She's bluffing of course, but what an opportunity Republicans now have to be the ones to paint themselves as the protectors of SS. This has never happened before.

AFTER the election, she will go back to her party's traditional position on SS. But this was very predictable.

By the next election, people will forget all this, meantime Repubs have a great issue to run on in 2014 and my prediction is she won't be the last Repub to pretend they love SS.

What a disaster, to hand such an issue to them and not realize what would happen.

[SamReynolds]

111. Bachmann..... Playing..... Chess......!

I just can't get over that one. I just watched a show that said 'laughing is good for you'. Today, you're the pharmacist!

[sabrina 1]

115. It is funny, isn't it? 'Obama ..... playing ...... chess! I always got a good laugh out of that

also. Briefly though, because anyone playing chess with the people's SS Fund really isn't all that funny, is it?

Funny in a 'you've got to be kidding me' kind of way is how I always viewed the 'chess' excuse.

Now you can see how ridiculous it is, I hope.

[SamReynolds]

119. Obama actually knows how to play Chess.

You're not good at the jokes. Or getting the point. At the risk of repeating myself: "Obama is a competent chess player. Michelle Bachmann would be lucky to name any three of the pieces. Therefore claiming that Bachmann is 'out-Chessing' Obama is hilarious right on its face."

I really hate having to spell things out for people. As for your comments, I've long since addressed the point when I said that "Tea Party Republicans are against ANYTHING Obama is for". That's the entire extent of their ability to 'play' against him. Therefore, logically, he isn't putting anything at risk because he knows damn well how limited his opposition is.

Is this really going over your head? Are you really convinced that Michelle Bachmann is smarter than and outplaying Obama? Because that would be hysterical indeed.

[SamReynolds]

69. This only proves what we've always known:

"If Obama is for it, the wingnuts are against it."

I have the sneaking suspicion that Obama knows this too.

[Cedric the Clam]

74. 3D Chess Again?

You still think that Obama is playing three dimensional chess with the Repukes?

I can only hope that he plays as welll as Mr. Spock.

[SamReynolds]

79. Ummm.... what?

So knowledge of the fact that they will vote against anything Obama 'wants' is somehow as complex as chess? Hint: If it's obvious to us, then it's obvious to Obama.

He's still beating them at tiddly-winks, why bother with chess or even checkers?

[sabrina 1]

88. Bachman is the one playing chess. And before long she will be joined by other Republicans

who will take this president's willingness to cut SS benefits and use as a campaign issue against Democrats. He thought he could bribe them with SS?? Or you trying to tell us he used SS as a gambling chip meant to achieve, exactly what???

It is utter nonsense to keep pushing this idiotic notion that he 'doesn't mean it, he just wants to show every one how the Republicans won't do anything he wants'. What an utter ridiculous piece of illogical nonsense that is. If he wanted to show that Republicans will never agree with him, then he should have picked something else, something that doesn't matter to people. He should have promised them the moon, or whatever.

But if you think he is not serious about this, then I have some stuff to sell you.

They led him into a corner. Now all they have to do is to pretend it is THEY who will protect SS, that the Dems are willing to cut benefits.

After the election, they will go right back to their original position on SS.

And if he really was playing the game you claim, he better look around before it's too late. It has failed spectacularly as the anger among people across the board is overwhelmingly. A majority of people believe he is trying to cut benefits. IF you decide to play a game with something like this, you better make it a good game. This is the most ridiculous excuse for what he did that I can imagine.

[SamReynolds]

110. Bachmann..... Playing..... Chess......

I'm sorry dear, I just can't believe when someone scoffs at the idea that Barack Obama is playing a complex game, but then turns around and claims that The Republicans, especially the Tea Party loonies, are actually the ones playing '3 dimensional chess'. This takes 'laughable' straight off the chart, across the floor, and into the coffee shop across the street where it orders soup without a spoon, please. So I'm not buying what you're selling there.

The people have been conditioned to be in a constant state of outrage by Republicans, mostly. I know you haven't been paying attention (You couldn't possibly be if you don't know this already), but I'll fill you in anyway: The Democrats in Congress will shoot it down. If you don't think Obama is aware of this, then I can totally understand why you've bought into the hysterics and outrage.

[michigandem58]

81. No one is stupid enough to believe what Bachmann is saying

Oh wait.

[99Forever]

82. To quote my very favorite Robert A Heinlein...

... character, Lazarus Long, "Never underestimate the power of human stupidity."

BTW, the Batshit Crazy Lady is in her third term.

[Trailrider1951]

85. Thank you

What was it that Orwell said about the truth and the revolutionary act?

[99Forever]

87. Indeed my friend, indeed.

Judging from some of the responses I am getting, it hasn't sunk in for some. (That will be the same ones you'll see with the "wa' happened" look on their faces after the midterms.)

[jazzimov]

93. Oh, big surprise that Bachmann OPPOSED

anything that Obama proposed.

so, I guess we should all vote for Bachmann now? Is that what you're suggesting?

[99Forever]

94. Perhaps you should read the entire thread ...

.. before making any more ridiculous comments.




Mmmmmmmmmmkay?

[OwnedByCats]

107. The OP is of course not suggesting to

vote for Bachman or any other Republican. Neither does the OP actually believe she's being sincere. It's weird how that is the conclusion some come to when there is even the slightest opposition to Obama. It's not as black and white as you think. It is possible to not be completely in lock step with a President and nonetheless still support the party.

[Skittles]

95. that gal would oppose ANYTHING proposed by Obama

ANYTHING

[moondust]

99. +1

She's a simple contrarian idiot.

[OwnedByCats]

106. Doesn't really matter what she "opposes"

because it will be used in all the Republican re-election campaigns to make themselves appear against cuts when a Democrat proposed them. The effects of this kind of stunt could be catastrophic in the election campaigns - and it will be used, that you can take to the bank.

[Jamastiene]

96. That is pretty damn bad.

It is kind of hard to argue with that summation.

K&R

[Summer Hathaway]

101. STOP THE PRESSES!!!

A staffer for a Republican said that "Rep. Bachmann opposes the CUTS to Social Security and Medicare proposed by President Barack Obama and will fight to see that they don't happen..."

A Republican stated they oppose what was 'proposed' by President Obama?!?

I. AM. SHOCKED.

[sabrina 1]

117. And now they get to be the party that is protecting SS. How on earth did Democrats every

give them that oppurtunity? Is there anyone in authority in this party who could not predict what we ordinary, non-professional citizens predicted once a Dem offered up SS cuts as a bargaining chip, KNOWING Republicans would not accept it and in the process grab the opportunity to make Dems look like the ones who are trying to destroy SS. Knowing full well surely the capacity of Republicans to lie.

You surely didn't think that someone like Bachmann who manages to get herself elected over and again, no matter how many lies she tells, would not jump at this opportunity.

It's clear the Dem Party needs some experienced, intelligent professional political advisers. If this was their idea of good strategy, then we really are in more trouble than we thought.

[Summer Hathaway]

118. This notion that

the GOP, who have a very long history of wanting to gut, privatize and/or totally destroy the SS program, will now be seen as the party protecting it is - well, quite frankly, beyond laughable.

And the fact that this current discussion is based on a statement from a Bachman staffer - a statement which isn't even a direct quote but 'paraphrased' - is being offered as some kind of proof of same is too ridiculous for words.

[eridani]

102. We all know she doesn't give a shit about seniors and has voted against us at every opportunity

That she's politically smart enough to see that opposing wildly unpopular cuts is a good re-election move is scary.

[99Forever]

108. Whatever your opinion of..

.. of her is, and mine is about as low as it can get, it's foolish to underestimate her campaign ability.