I still say the GOP is holding a losing hand on Social Security

[Wisc Badger]

reform. Consider the following quote from a story in today's WP.

"Rep. Jack Kingston (Ga.), a member of the GOP leadership, said 15 to 20 House Republicans agree with Simmons, although others say the number is closer to 40. "Just convincing our guys not to be timid is going to be a big struggle," he said. "It's going to take a lot of convincing," which he said can be done.

"The politics of this are brutal," one senior GOP leadership aide said, adding that the White House has yet to convince most House members that the "third rail" of American politics is somehow safe"

As I have posted before, a large portion of the House (and to a lesser extent senate) GOP is not going to put their head on shrub's social security chopping block.

After we win this one, the dynamics of the game change and they change in our favor.

The GOP will have a bad 2006 election if they push this, and Bush is just stupid/stuborn enough to do so.


O8) :party:

[gWbush is Mabus]

1. GOP does not have losing hands, only Dems due (due to the media)

[StClone]

4. Americans have shown no immunity

To BushCo propaganda. They have shown great appetite to appease the investment class at their own expense.

[GOPBasher]

2. You're right about SS privatization. I think you're right about 2006, IF,

and this is a big IF, the voting machine problem is taken care of. However, you're right. This is a major losing issue for them. And Bush is most likely going to push it.

[BrainRants]

3. SS cuts are the third rail of politics indeed!

ZAP!

[Coastie for Truth]

5. The "Church Folks" may leave Bush out to dry on this one

Ed Schultz says that we lefties are forgetting our "Church" allies - not the Evangelical televangelists, but the small town folks in Red States, be they Progressives or Conservatives, who go to church on Sunday, and go to Rotary and Kiwanis and lead Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and coach Little League.

We Progressives brought in college kids from "out of town" to organize and run our campaigns. Rove used locals from Church and Rotary and Kiwanis, etc.

This time, on Social Security, we probably start out with Church, Rotary, Kiwanis, Little League, etc. on our side.

Remember, that "Community of Faith" is not the monolithic, red state, reactionary, evangelical, fundamentalist bloc that we credit Karl Rove with creating. It is us!

And while some evangelicals may disagree with some progressives on some issues, there is a thread of progressive values that runs through Scripture and much of the Community of Faith. (My granddad was a leftie preacher who really didn't believe that a rightie or a capitalist could enter the Kingdom of Heaven ;) ).

The battle to stop Bush's "Piratization" of Social Security is a battle where we must seek out and join with our natural allies in the "Community of Faith." Remember, they are us.

Our job is to win back our brothers and sisters who "shower after work."

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. "Piratization of SS" LOVE it!

----------------------------------------------------------
Save our country one town, county, and state at a time!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm#why

[Coastie for Truth]

10. I'm an Ed Schultz "Ed Head"

..originally from a Battle Ground state in the heartland, where the folks shower after work. :)

I' just a Rust Belt Leftie with solid AFL-CIO USWA-UMWA roots, grew up in a Steel Valley house on the hill side at eye level with the steel mill smoke stacks, I eat meat, tote a gun, and listen to Al Franken and Ed Schultz.

And, I know that the folks who shower after work and go to Church on Sunday are on our side on this one -- and that we are on their side :)

[vpigrad]

6. We don't really lose badly even if they win.

They're only asking for 4%. They can't really win either way. The 4% isn't that much, so if they're allowed to steal that amount, they'll get nailed in the elections when they get caught. It's a losing issue either way for them. I don't understand why people are so upset here about trying to prevent the repukes from shooting themselves in the foot.

[papau]

9. It is a 15 trillion borrowing plan per Krugman - and as we borrow for

this, we will borrow for more income tax cuts for the rich - current if made permanent a 96 trillion borrowing problem (over 75 years) -

So when we drop the income tax and go to the consumption tax, our sales tax will be over 100%..

But the rich will be happy.

[buddysmellgood]

8. What's the plan for people who bet their social security on some

piece of trash stock and lose it all? Are they just SOL? Do we really want to see all of these old people begging on the streets? Some will win, some will lose and then the mass of old people on the streets will create a great cry for reform. Then we will be taxed again to create a safety net for those who lost everything in the market.
I don't get it.

[Coastie for Truth]

11. Probably another FPBGC or FDIC insurance agency

with the premiums paid by the beneficiaries - which is a further reduction in the "yield" on Bushie's stocks.

BTW - the Bushies still haven't owned up to "Disability" or "Survivors" -- or is that Manna from televangelist heaven (and I am a "person of faith") ?