Can we trust President Obama?

[HoosierRadical]

I'm worried that President Obama is going to sell-out what's left of the New Deal programs, in an attempt to reach a so-called "grand bargain" with the Republicans, that will gut Social Security and Medicare & Medicaid. When Ryan's latest draconian proposal is being lauded as reasonable and sound by corporate media outlets. How can a person not be worried? Why can't "entitlement" reform result in raising the social security payroll cap or medicare & medicaid reform result in a public option or single-payer?

[DonCoquixote]

1. no, but

he has shown that he responds to pressure, just ask Janet Yellen. If we keep the pressure up, we can be sure we get what we want.

[lamp_shade]

2. So you're worried, eh?

[hooverville29]

3. Apparently they will shift attention from ACA to so-called 'entitlement programs.' Been there before

[The Magistrate]

4. I Am Of The 'Trust But Verify' School, Myself, Sir

He is mostly saying the right things, and doing the right things, so far, but the thing is not yet over....

They have to drop the gun and kick it over to the officer; they cannot just tuck it back into the waist-band and drape a shirt-tail over it.

The debt ceiling must be raised by an amount sufficient to ensure it the next Congress which must vote to raise it, and the continuing resolution must be for the full fiscal year --- neither can have any condition attached.

"I will fight it out on this line if it takes all summer long."

[Surya Gayatri]

12. Your picturesque prose is always a pure pleasure, Sir...

"They have to drop the gun and kick it over to the officer; they cannot just tuck it back into the waist-band and drape a shirt-tail over it."

[tridim]

5. Concern noted: Chained-CPI FUD post #3679.

The Admin has not and will never cut SS, ever. Period.

[PoliticAverse]

6. The only change it seems being seriously discussed for Social Security is the use of the chained-CPI

(which Nancy Pelosi indicated she considers a 'strengthening' of Social Security).

Some sort of means testing (making high-income earners pay more) has been repeatedly mentioned for Medicare.

Medicaid was just expanded greatly by the ACA.

The answer to your second question is because the Republicans control the House and
they wouldn't agree to those things.

[tularetom]

7. What are our alternatives?

When it comes to dealing from a position of strength he doesn't have a very good track record. But he's never been in such good shape before. He's holding all the cards. The entire Democratic party, about half of the republicans, 90% of the media, Wall Street, the Koch Brothers, all want the debt ceiling raised and the shutdown ended. He doesn't have to give up anything.

If he gives anymore away at this point, he risks losing a ginormous portion of his own party and becoming the lamest of lame ducks with three years left in his term. As well as going down in history as the Democratic president who shitcanned the most popular social programs in American history. He'd be a fool to back down now.

But even if he did the unthinkable and agreed to giving away the store, what's our choice?

[zappaman]

8. Thank you for your concern!

[Marrah_G]

9. To be frank I don't trust any politician

Best I can do is vote for the one I hope will govern in a way I agree with.

[TheKentuckian]

10. Why would anyone trust a politician? Of course not but at least he isn't on a campaign to destroy

the government beyond that we have to push him and our folks in Congress relentlessly and weed them with extreme prejudice.

[MineralMan]

11. Yah, I think so.

But, I'm concerned about your worries, for sure.

[rug]

13. We have plenty of confidence in this country

but we are a little short of good men to place our confidence in. - Will Rogers