Soc Sec - GWB's "Ace Up His Sleeve"

[housewolf]

This past weekend, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the influential chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, seemed to throw cold water on President Bush's hopes for major Social Security change. And recent polls have shown that the public is also cool to the idea of private accounts, arguably the central element of President Bush's Social Security plan.

But as the Social Security debate continues to unfold, do not underestimate President Bush's ability to still get his ideas enacted. Indeed, even without broad Congressional or public support, President Bush just may have an ace up his sleeve. How might he enact his private accounts idea without such support, you may ask? By executive order.

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By the way, if President Bush uses the tool to change Social Security, it will be the fourth major arena in which he has meaningfully advanced policy using presidential directives. Indeed, he has almost single-handedly created his multi-billion dollar faith-based initiative through executive orders, allowing churches and religious institutions access to taxpayer money for drug treatment, mentoring and other social service programs.

Second, as The New Yorker's Seymour Hersh and others have reported, presidential directives have guided much of the covert war on terrorism. Third, President Bush has significantly relaxed regulations and oversight of a number of large business industries via executive order.

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more...
http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/03/29/ace.up.sleeve/index.html

[murielm99]

1. That might cause trouble, even among his supporters.

The repukes are divided on Soc. Security. And if something like this follows the Schiavo mess, he might not get away with it.

[Mojambo]

2. Well as he says, "It's easier if you're a dictatorship"

[Liberty Belle]

3. If he does that, the public would support impeaching the SOB.

[Selteri]

4. C'mon Bush, Do it! Do it! I dare you! Do it you flatuating chimp! NT