Do You Think Obama Is Using The SS Button To Entrap Boehner & The Repugs?......

[global1]

Just saying that maybe floating this as a trial balloon will give a false sense of security to Boehner & the Repugs so that on Sunday they come back with totally unreasonable terms with no willingness to compromise thinking they got Obama & the Dems over the barrel.

That's when Obama & the Dems come pouncing on Boehner & the Repugs (now that they got everyone's attention) and say that the American People overwhelmingly have spoken and they don't want any changes with SS, Medicare & Medicaid and that the American People support raising the taxes on the rich and closing the loopholes and raising the cap on SS. They say we're willing to make spending cuts - but their has to be revenue generation.

Then they say that the Repugs are 180 degrees opposite of the will of the American People and that if this debt ceiling doesn't get raised and the country goes into default because of the lack of cooperation by the Repugs because they want this sacrifice totally on the backs of the poor, sick and middle class and don't want the wealthy, the banksters and hedgefund managers to equally sacrifice - that any consequences are totally the blame of the Repugs.

This would seem to me that it would back Boehner into a corner both by the Dems and his own Repug base. This would in fact call their bluff and put Boehner in a position that if I don't cooperate and get the debt ceiling raised the blame will be solely on him and the Repugs and if he does cooperate - he will incur the wrath of the teabaggers and other crazy Repugs.

Does anyone thing that something like this may play out?

[movonne]

1. God I hope so...

[bemildred]

2. No. But if he is doing that, he's a fool. nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

3. The very fact that he would even PLAY with Medicare and SS makes Obama scary to me

Medicare and SS are untouchable. They shouldn't even be mentioned.

[vaberella]

6. They will always be mentioned for two reasons.

Republicans want them dead and own the house---thank the American people who voted (or did not vote at all) for these idiots in power. Secondly, they do need to face certain types of reform in order to handle the baby boomers (because well war fucked up their cushion).
So no...they aren't scared and will always be part of the political discourse---by both parties.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

18. The reason that the Repukes ever get into power, is that Dems play nice constantly

They don't know how to appeal to the masses without jobs, to the poor, to those who are truly suffering at the hands of the bloodthirsty shithead Repukes.

[Tx4obama]

4. The problem with your theory is that Obama has not said he will cut SS and/or Medicare

The White House has said that the Washington Post article was incorrect.
And it was the WaPo article that all the other newspapers used to write their articles.

So, bottom line everything that has been coming out the past few days from folks that have said about Obama proposing to make cuts in SS and Medicare are FALSE.

[vaberella]

8. Obama has said countless times he's contrary to cutting these measures.

But that won't stop the posters----they want him to do it. I've come to this conclusion---because they wall want to say..."I knew he hated America."

[whosinpower]

5. It will not play out that way

Obama will get his way - which means a cut to social security/medicare/medicaid in exchange of an increase in the debt limit - and he will probably throw in making the bush tax cuts permanent for good measure.

Just kidding on the last item.....the GOP will slaughter him in 2012 with him slashing social security. Even the GOP know that is no man's land, and they will happily use it like a sledgehammer to him.

On the other side of the fence - Obama may accept all the cuts to benefits, with no revenue increases in exchange for the debt limit extension - and the GOP patrons will be exceedingly happy - and Obama will get to keep his job - at the cost to all of the rest of you. Wall street will be happy too. The democratic party will cease to exist.

[vaberella]

7. You're post is ridiculous. You act like this is a plan by Obama to destroy America.

Basically everything you've said are right wing push points that republicans have always wanted but your selling this as Obama's plan---which I find to be a total crock.

[safeinOhio]

10. I'm not really a betting man, but,

I'd be more than willing to bet you are wrong.
I see see, perhaps a few changes to SS, but no changes to benefits in the long run. I see the repubs in the house sweating bullets right now. They will lose the house and Obama will win by a landslide. All the belly aching here at DU will change to solid support by next fall when the repub candidate is decided. You can take that to the bank.

[FreakinDJ]

13. Most likely the Wage Cap will be raised to $140K

of course in the short term it will produce an excess that will be used to pay down the deficit = Deficit Cut both sides can walk away with

[elleng]

9. Yes

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. He's Playing Chess!!!

I used to think he was playing a deep tiered strategy. Then I hoped he was playing a deep tiered strategy.

Then I decided he really is working for the other side.

“Whenever a fellow tells me he's bipartisan I know he's going to vote against me”

Harry S Truman

[FreakinDJ]

12. and using his Poker face

Even floating trial balloons allows the delusion to escape RW talking to back off the negotiations

[customerserviceguy]

16. I'm getting tired of watching 12th level chess

But then, I find no enjoyment in watching people play poker late at night, either...

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bowens43]

15. NO, I think he's giving in yet again....

breaking his word again.....

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

17. Like using a worm to catch a fish?

It might catch the fish.

But it's certainly no good for the worm.

The only changes I'd like to see for SS/Medicare:
Eliminate the ceiling on contributions.
Allow (demand) negotiation on prices of medical care and drugs.
Pin SS increases to something relevant to recipients. I don't know how SSA figures that there's no inflation, 'cause prices are rising in MY world.