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(Official White House photo by Pete Souza)
Obama is going to promote making “changes” to Social Security as part of his “getting serious” on the deficit, according to the Wall Street Journal. This move fills me with dread.
In a speech Wednesday, Mr. Obama will propose cuts to entitlement programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, and changes to Social Security, a discussion he has largely left to Democrats and Republicans in Congress. He also will call for tax increases for people making over $250,000 a year, a proposal contained in his 2012 budget, and changing parts of the tax code he thinks benefit the wealthy.
It is theoretically possible that Obama will only call for applying the payroll tax to incomes above $107,000–that being the only “fix” to Social Security supported by the American people and would give the program near infinite solvency–but I highly doubt it. Most likely, our deficit-hawk-in-chief is going to call for some form of cuts to Social Security benefits.
Dread at the policy level
If the Republican position is that Social Security needs to undergo huge cuts, and the Democratic position also becomes Social Security needs to be undergo cuts, but only modest ones combined with modest tax increases, the program is in real danger. The common gournd, default middle ground in the media, will then be that the program should undergo cuts, without the reference to any new taxes.
Dread at the political level
Republicans showed in 2010 as Democrats did in 2006 that a campaign directed at seniors with the message “the other party wants to cut your entitlements” is quite effective politically. If the Democratic leadership formed a united front around protecting Social Security and Medicare and then used Paul Ryan’s budget to hammer Republicans in 2012, it would likely have played out as a big political winner.
On the other hand, a campaign message of “dear senior citizens, vote for Democrats, we are desperate to cut your beloved Social Security and Medicare, but Republican want the cuts to be 15% larger” isn’t a path to victory.
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Jon you are right on target. I remember talking to my parents when the health care issue was being debated in congress. They were ok with Obamacare, but when they heard about Paul Ryan’s budget to get rid of medicare they were really pissed off.
I am pretty sure if Obama dropped a nuclear bomb on Canada, they could probably still support him, they would justify it as necessary. After all how can the Canadians be so nice. Although if Obama is seen as the one making cuts to medicare or social security, watch out, he may have a bigger problem than the deficit. He could find some really grumpy old people camped out on the Whitehouse lawn.
Why is the answer to deficits always to cut, cut, cut? As a business owner, it’s obvious that to pay debt down, one must sell more goods and services to bring in more revenue. To bring in more revenue, often one must invest capital in the business to start seeing a return. Why can’t our government see that cuts will *never* solve the problem alone? Invest if you want to see more revenue. Invest.
The majority of people actually think that the monetary policy of the nation should be run like their own check book. Most people don’t know the difference between a capital expenditure and an expense. The media has us believing that social security is causing our deficit. If you were to walk up to the average Joe the Plumber and tell them that social security had a surplus, they would probably think you were a fool.
That’s cuz it’s all just a bunch of IOUs/pieces of paper in a cabinet somewhere so it ain’t real money/surplus doncha know?
Does anyone else get the feeling that Obama’s plan is going to be a bunch of platitudes?
I mean it’s less than 48 hours away and there have been no leaks, trial balloons, etc.
How often does that happen when there’s a substantive policy proposal?
Well, as the WSJ article notes (including in Jon’s excerpt), Obama’s speech is going to endorse raising taxes on the wealthy as part of his approach.
And David Plouffe apparently was on TV Sunday saying not only that “”Revenues are going to have to be part of this,” but that Obama does not view Social Security as a program that is part of the deficit problem. (Which is probably why the WSJ article mentions “changes” rather than “cuts.”)
It may be the view of some progressives that Obama has let us down so often that there’s no point in supporting him even when he says things in line with our thinking. But to me, it seems more like the “hippies” are so used to being punched that sometimes they start pre-emptively punching themselves just because they can’t stand the suspense.
Whatever the Republicans want, Obama will give them. That’s his party.
I am already scared of what we will hear Wednesday.
Most likely, Obama will “propose” raising taxes on the rich, then throw that proposal out the first chance he gets. The cuts, however, will not only stay in, they’ll increase, in the name of “bipartisanship”.
Hey Swopa. This hippie is in hide and watch mode.
Thanks for the post, Jon.
Swopa –
I’d like to think you’re right, but just can’t. I think the truth is, here comes the Catfood.
And anybody who thinks that Obama and the Congress together are going to raise taxes on the top 1% is, I’m afraid to say, probably delusional in the extreme.
As Andrew Leonard says on Salon about these proposed tax increases, “And we should believe him why?”
We saw how well “We’re not as bad as the other guys” worked in ’10 but I guess ObamaCo wasn’t paying attention to that
OT: How do I recommend a book for the Book Salon? I’m interested in seeing the Book Salon feature Will Potter’s new book “Green is the New Red” about environmentalists being treated like terrorists.
I do appreciate the optimism. We can’t all be on the same page or otherwise the discussions would be pretty boring. Although I don’t think it is pre-emptive when the President has multiple times said he want’s to fix social securtiy and medicare, without mentioning raising taxes on these two items. Shouldn’t his only response to fixing medicare and Social securtiy be to increase revenues for these programs?
Well, the full faith and credit of the United States isn’t what it used to be.
Romney just announced
to quote Nancy Pelosi, when asked when she would have a Democratic plan to reform social security:
“Never. Is never good enough for you?”
That is the plan, unless it is to increase the FICA tax to cover all wages and not just those below 106k.
Perhaps, Nancy can ensure that if there are other changes, they come on ONLY gooper votes.
Progressives in the House getting Serious about JOBS
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/11/house-progressives-offer-budget-tax-the-rich-end-the-wars-slash-oil-subsidies-invest-in-jobs/
I predicted that OBAMA would lose control of the Dem Party.
Obama and his GOP buddies better hope all the Deficit talk and cuts = Great Jobs for Americans.
House Progressives are following the people of Wisconsin, like most of the Dem Base.
Obama talks about cutting Social Security and Medicare
House Progressives talk about taxing the rich more!
Which is going to play better with the USA masses?
Good luck! Obama,
Me Thinks OBAMA is going to find out that his only friend in DC is Clarence THomas.
House Progressives are taking their shot at the WH, basically saying, OBAMA you are on your on, with cutting Social Security.
from your lips to the goddess’s ears.
That’s a good point, wait until Trump becomes president, he declares bankruptcy faster than Sarah Palin changes colleges.
Oh, isn’t that cute… Nancy Pelosi acting like she has principles.
Raising revenues through raising taxes is a step in the right direction, but my larger point is that to raise the amount of revenue to pay down the debt, investments will need to be made in creating jobs. Investing is not where the austerity movement is headed, obviously. Now is the time to invest in a public works program to lower unemployment in order to establish a pool from which revenues can be susained over a prolonged period of time.
Get prepared FirePups.
The high priest of Pain and Bullshit is preparing to offer up some serfs at the sacrificial alter to appease the MOTU! This Prez is as frenetic and bloodthirsty as any Inca axeman ready to chop off some heads and satisfy the bloodlust of his masters.
Actually the Incas were probably more honest about their need to sacrifice than this sorry ass excuse for a human that our slithering tongued Prez has manifest himself as!
A pox on him and the rest of his slimy minions! Fuck you Obama!
I think we have learned that house progressives have no spine, especially the “most progressive” members. They will never get Obama to come campaign for them if they don’t go along with his policy. Can you name one meaningful issue in the last two years that the progressives have had any meaningful sway?
They will compromise: they’ll give Obama his cuts to social security benefits but won’t raise taxes on the wealthy.
Expect the rhetoric to sound like CAMPAIGN Obama and the behind the scenes more like the Republican wannabe he is.
How tragic that our first African-American president should turn out to be a corporatist stooge.
He only shows passion when lashing out at the “sanctimonious purists”
on the leftin the center.Gee I wish we had a Democrat in the White House.
x 2
I hope you’re right. As Cornel West says maybe this could start a “radical democratic awakening”.
Progressives voters have zero influence because they give away their votes. Therefore, progressive congressmen (of which there are–what?–two or three?) have no sway either.
But but but…
It seems so simple a marketing campaign, much simpler even than the whole Tbagger’s program:
- Social Security is essential, as we have no other way of taking care of Grandma–and we are all grandma’s just down the road.
- Social Security doesn’t contribute to the deficit–it’s PAID FOR NOW.
- Social Security is the best-run program in the country.
- The rich folks are getting away with murder, ’cause they aren’t contributing at the same level of the rest of us.
- The Republicans–and some of the Democrats–want to cut Social Security so they can cut the little contribution that the rich folks make today.
- Let’s just do it right–everyone pays some small percentage of what the make–every damned cent–and keep Grandma off of cat food.
I mean, what’s so hard about this? Why are we sitting around scared shitless that Obama is going to cave to the greedy bastards that want to kick Grandma into the gutter? I don’t get it. This is an easy theme and a winning position. We just need to rise up and shout these AH’s down.
draft REAGAN!!!
Reagan for Prez…..in 2012
thats brilliant ….ill put up my$$$$$$
they would shit a brick
Maybe I’m just punchdrunk. *heh*
call it the best chip off the old block campaign
Nancy would back him
Try this address FiredoglakeBookSalon@gmail.com
Maybe, but it was a proper response.
“Never. Is never good enough for you?”
Removing the cap and lock box really aren’t bad second choices for responses.
The solution to the deficit is to put all of the unemployed back to work at their former salaries, and make the rich pay their fair share. Both items would definitely add so much revenue that we would have – gasp! – a surplus!
I don’t think we should use salary as a means test for benefits in any government program since everyone paid in equally. It sounds good to say the rich won’t get unemployment or social security since they don’t need it, but isn’t that really just reverse discrimination?
As for Obama “compromising” on anything else, my grandmother who died in 1992 could “negotiate” a better deal on everything that Obama has and not sell out the majority of our citizens!
Swopa sounds like the WH hears their base leaving them.
See what goes around will come around!
Obama could have killed the BUSH taxs in 2010, BIG MISTAKE :)
No Dem or Rep will survive commercials showing them
giving tax cuts to rich people
and taking Social Security away from the elderly
House Progressives are throwing OBAMA under the BUS
the 23 Dem Senators up for election in 2012, will soon throw Obama under the Bus.
Obama has a BIG PROBLEM, Obama can not say 1 thing that he done, that made Progressives HAPPY!
Yesterday Obama attack Unions with coloumbian NAFTA Deal, this was a very STUPID idea.
Me thinks the painting of OBAMA as Clarence Thomas has begun.
See Hillary did not know how to attack OBAMA, you don’t make OBAMA a Black Panther, you make him Clarence Thomas.
ask Cornel West, he just did. :)
Cornel West: Obama is ‘another black mascot’ of ‘Wall Street oligarchs’
http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/04/cornel-west-obama-is-another-black-mascot-of-wall-street-oligarchs/
Obama your political team is not dealing with Hillary now? good luck
Q: Why does obama keep selling out the base?
A: Becoz he doesn’t want to run in 2012 and he is purposefully pissing off the base to give him an out.
My prediction is this: the raging narcissio-path obama will not run in 2012. While his ego demanded the world’s biggest stage to strut and preen upon, the whole experience has not been emotionally rewarding enough … it hasn’t been as nourishing to his ego as he had expected … for him to want another 4 years of it. He is being questioned with increasing frequency … which he doesn’t like; he finds it offensive … and he’s not going to enjoy trying to defend his absolutely horrendous record on the campaign trail in 2012. So he is angling to cash in his favors to the plutocrats and on the celebrity-hood of becoming the country’s first black president. But he’s not going to want to make it transparent that he is going off to cash in on 4 years of selling out the country and he’s also likely sensitive to criticism that he hasn’t stuck at anything for very long: community activist, law school professor, state senator, u.s. senator, and now president.
He would much rather have an excuse than out and out quit and his excuse is going to be that his candidacy became untenable: I couldn’t get elected so I stepped aside. And he’ll keep pissing off the base until that happens. And it’s not like this is unprecedented behavior from him. He very cynically did damn near everything he could to hurt the democrats in the mid-term elections, calling out the base for being ungrateful, calling them retards through emanuel, expressing his disappointment in them … not to mention selling their asses out blatantly and repeatedly. He wanted a strengthened republican hand in congress and he got it … better to compromise with to get to where he wants to: pro-corporate, pro-wall street, pro-plutocracy legislation. The republican congress makes the kabuki less complicated than trying to arrange the pieces on the democratic side, essentially calling in liebermann, nelson, baucus, etc. from the sleaze bullpen to give him the resistance he needs to sell out the vast majority of the people in this country’s interest. Now he has the tea party-infused republicans to use as toehold to posture from as the reasonable and responsible one, which is convenient for him becoz he doesn’t want to be known as the duplicitous bastard that he is.
Why would he want to serve another 4 year term? He’s gotten everything that he wanted from the platform: he became president, the first black president against very large odds … reached the top … had us join him in a celebration of himself. But though the trip was fun, he doesn’t like it once he got there and it’s time to move on to something else. He’s a lot like palin … and most politicians … in those regards: running is the funnest part of it … basking in the adoration of the crowds, doing speeches … but they’ve got no real ambition to actually govern.
He has no personal reason to stay … he’s got no magnanimous reason to stay, that’s for sure; he never does. He certainly didn’t take the job to help people out or improve the country … he’s fucked over 99% of the country by hijacking their hope for his own vanity and wealth. He certainly realizes that what he is doing is very damaging to hundreds of millions of people, but he doesn’t care at all. Becoz obama is all about himself, he is only serving the plutocracy becoz he feels it is in HIS best interest to: to position himself best for future payouts. But he doesn’t have any allegiance to them beyond that. And I don’t think that he’s inclined to carry their water for 4 more years after this term.
No, rather than risk the embarrassment … the humiliation … of losing, the head pr man for the establishment will decline to run in 2012 and express his disappointment in us all and the partisanship in our government. Though he was elected on his promises of delivering substantial change and hardly anyone gives a fuck about bi-partisanship, he’ll deceitfully posture that he was elected to end partisanship. But, unfortunately, the rest of the government is not as noble and well-intentioned as he so he wasn’t able to accomplish that and, again, it was we and dc that let this fine man down. He will try to portray himself as a brave man that was willing to risk re-election in order to make the tough decisions that were needed to position ourselves to “win the future”.
So, in summary, he is looking for a reason to exit, and probably anxious to cash in on his favors to the plutocracy and the celebrity-hood of being this country’s first black president. It would be too transparent to serve the plutocrats so loyally for 4 years and voluntarily leave and cash out, so he’s going to keep selling us out until his support erodes to the point that his candidacy becomes untenable. Though he’s going to go through the motions of beginning his run for a 2nd term, he will purposely piss of his base until it’s obvious that he doesn’t have enough support to win, and then bow out for the better of the party … which would be for the best, not that he really gives a shit … and blame the economic mess that he walked into and partisanship for his loss of support.
These sellouts to the republicans that piss off the liberal base not only serve his interests in taking care of the entities that will line his pockets in the future, they also lay the groundwork for his walking away in 2012.
Z
I dread seeing Obama’s stupid face on TV explaining why he continues to be a giant, middle class hating pussy.
Make of this what you will.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/poll-americans-strongly-support-budget-deal-and-credit-dems-for-averting-shutdown.php?ref=fpb
The results surprised me.
Goddammit, it’s NOT their money!!
I’m looking for my war paint.
If bankruptcy resulted in small lean military and an end to empire, might get some support for that. Could lead to those adult conversations where we discuss what it means for the top 1% to own more and more of the apple pie and what that means for our budget and to our people?
If he thinks Republifucks are going to let tax increases pass because Oilbomber will cut SS and Medicare/Medicaid, he’s fucking nuts.
I think he knows exactly what will happen. I’ll play it out for you guys :)
Obama will propose a budget of “shared sacrafice™(Are You In..thepoorhouseyet?) that includes 5-15% cuts to benefits in SS, M/M. It will also include a 3% tax increase on people making over 250k. Smoke and mirrors, because this is the increase that should have happened in December of 2010. Remember, they already increased millions of poor peoples’ taxes by getting rid of the Making Work Pay tax credit and slipping in FICA reductions.
The Republicans will gripe publicly about how Obama hasn’t gone far enough. Paying poor people hurts the country, but cutting taxes on the rich helps it. Because they create jobs, and stuff. Poor people don’t contribute, but rich people do. They keep the poor people poor.
Democrats will say things like “the Republicans are trying to shoot the hostage” and Harry Reid will put on a legislative bullet proof vest and stand in front of all poor people. But then, as the hour approaches, and time is running out on the debt ceiling, the Democrats will be forced to act or the Republicans will destroy the economy!
So the Dems will cave. Obama will give the Great Orange Boner a handy in the Oval Office, and just after midnight they’ll make a tear-filled anouncement…
Boner – “We raised taxes because the big bad Kenyan Muslim Socialist made us.”
OilBomber – “I reached across the aisle, which was difficult because I have short arms, and held Boner’s hand while he cried. Then we sat down and got to business.”
Boner – “I got SS, Medicare, and Medicaid cut. And a little rub-and-tug.”
OilBomber – “That reminds me, I need to wash my hands. But everyone that’s currently retired, or retiring in the next five years, will get their full benefits! That’s something, right?! Please like me.”
The end.
But at least we got those tax increases! Pay no attention to the fact that the tax increases will be 1/5 of the SS cuts.
Swopa:
“Well, as the WSJ article notes (including in Jon’s excerpt), Obama’s speech is going to endorse raising taxes on the wealthy as part of his approach.”
That’s the part that he’ll compromises.
Did you happen to pay attention to the kabuki that led to the bush tax cuts being extended for the rich?
Z
I’ve got some. You can borrow it.
many thanks, hugs and kisses, dakine01, i just sent her the request.
Where is Guy Fawkes when you need him
He still performs on Guy Fawkes Day.
Re: Rub and tug for Boehner from Obama. Some things can never be unseen, even if they’ve never been seen(by me). Blech.
pink slip Obie….bring him a pink slip to dee cee,all the neoliberals
oldgold?
how many people think congress and the WH should be focusing on JOBS? Poll that
By the way do you know how many people supported the Public Option?
Polls are a joke
if these Budgets don’t create jobs, OBAMA is done! Period
the only POLL that matters is the ECONOMY, nothing else
with gas on it’s way to $5.00 a gallon, Poll how people feel about that?
and with a GOP base, gearing up to destroy Obama on race,
and OBAMA hard core base piss off at him, not looking good for OBAMA
Yes? Obama is black, we all must face this reality
without hard core liberals OBAMA will not win anything. Wanna Bet?
do u think the conservatives are going to vote for OBAMA? ask Colin Powell
do u think the liberals are going to vote for a Clarence Thomas?
Polls are so yesterday.
NEVER underestimate the god damn STUPIDITY of the amerikan publik my friend!
There are so many citizens that have been trained and seduced by the ever-present propaganda, they willingly wear signs on their backs that say ‘KICK ME!’…
and the asswads in DC are happy to accommodate!
oldgold loves obie
The policy proposal is that they now call them entitlements without shifty eyes. Lack of “liberal” heads exploding over that is the trial balloon.
Making a substantial salary or other earnings isn’t guaranteed for life unless one is politically connected? There’s no guarantee wealthy people won’t be destitute at some point.
It makes sense for significant earners to pay in a percentage on whatever income because it’s shared responsibility toward each other.
There is no guarantee any particular someone lives to see those benefits either. That’s why it is shared. It’s a we versus me thing.
It has gotten to the point where Obama is splitting the handles of the old knives as he stabs us in the back.
You can bet that raising the retirement age and means-testing will be included in the proposed changes to SS.
As others have said, removing tax increases for the wealthy and corporations will be the first concessions he makes to the Repubs.
The SS channges will remain to the bitter end.
Dem pols will continue to remain on the sidelines, as irrelevant as ever.
Obama 2012 – “The Best Republican Democrats Can Buy”
Here’s my guess. Getting serious about Social Security means means-testing it. There might be some jiggling of the age of ‘retirement’, but the big attack will be on people who ‘don’t deserve’ to get their money back because they are too rich. This in effect puts a hundred percent tax rate on SS payments for incomes above a certain level. It is a libertarian wet dream, and one that is likely to appeal to Obama on the grounds of ‘fairness.’ The fact that people paid into the scheme thinking they would be taxed at the ordinary marginal rate doesn’t seem to matter.
He is a truly terrible Democratic President. The worst.
Actually, if the US declared bankruptcy, it could start all over again with a fresh slate, just like Nigeria. It isn’t like the Chinese, Japanese, Arabs and Europeans have anywhere else to put their money. Trump might just be the answer.
Dya think.
So duz Josh.
Don’t know why og doesn’t hang out in TPM all the time, rather than wasting time here.
Was the question “Which racist asshole has worse hair? Eric Cantor or Donald Trump?”
It isn’t my poll. It is from CNN.
I simply shared it to add context to this discussion. That context is that a lot of people, rightly or wrongly, see this differently than the majority here.
It’s pretty much like that song from ‘South Pacific,
“You’ve got to be carefully taught.”
They are simply repeating what they hear day in and day out from the MSM.
Seems like Obama would want to punk republicans at least once–just for fun. Must be awfully boring being nothing but a compromiser/sellout.
While Bubba was cut from the same neoliberal cloth, every so often he seemed to relish kicking some House repub ass. Yes, I know, it was just cheap theater, but still . . . . .
And means testing will be the end of Social Security because at that point it becomes “just another welfare program”
Or was the question who was late to the birther party?
he is a momentum hustler
Sure it’s boring. Lucrative, too, though. It’s like of those old Dick and Jane storybooks: “See Obama. See Obama laugh all the way to the bank. Laugh, Obama, laugh.
oh chicken noodle news
Obama made it clear in 2007 he was gunning for Social Security — see the Iowa debates.
If we can be mandated to buy private health insurance as a solution to the problem of access to health care, and then we can watch as all protection from the predations of the insurance companies are stripped away — well then, why can’t we be mandated to buy annuites from private investment companies to solve the problem of our lacking pension plans? THAT is the end game, and there will be all sorts of “public option” ideas floated in order to confuse the liberals/buy them in, but then that will disappear, and we’ll essentially be tithing to Wall Street.
Obama will have done what he was hired to do, what GWB failed to do.
bought my ticket today,how ya feelin? ya could come for a week,no?
yup
That is not true. I love no pol. I am not an Obamabot.
There are many things I disagree with Obama about. For starters: the size of the stimulus [too small]; Afghanistan [need to get out]; Geithner [should be fired]; and, HAMP {an embarrassment].
But, I am not an Obamabashbot. So sue me.
Great characterization.
That would fit, too.
i dont care anymore,i spent more than i could afford to get that prick elected,one of my puppies was stolen the day i did a fundraiser…….im DONE
Just like he supported the public option after he already traded it away.
Obama talks a good fight.
May I inquire what you do for a living?
The reason I ask is bc, even though I’m retired, I still don’t have the time to hang out in websites that so obviously are anathema to my political leanings, as FDL is to yours.
So, I’m wondering how you find the time, the energy, and the inclination, to spend so much effort in a place where your contribution is so little appreciated.
Guy Fawkes was the only person the enter the Houses of Parliament with honest intentions.
I’m just beginning to hobble about outside. So far, so good. But not tested enough to travel.
Have a great trip & let me know the outcome.
What’s the last promise he’s actually kept?
you have mail….i think that is wise,mebbe catch a deal at the end of the summer
Well whatever his proposal turns out to be, I feel pretty safe predicting that it will benefit the top 2% immensely, and will destroy the lives of millions of poor and middle class families.
And it’s just sad that a Democrat in the White House brings out that assumption in me.
Playing. With .Fucking. Fire.
The whole 400 and forty fucking volt thing.
Are you serious?
I pay more in taxes than PG and Fucking E and you want to cut entitlements I have paid into for over thirty motherfucking years?!
Really?
Suck my fucking dick you ignorant sonsabitches.
From 2007:
STEPHANOPOULOS: You’ve also said that with Social Security, everything should be on the table.
OBAMA: Yes.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Raising the retirement age?
OBAMA: Everything should be on the table.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Raising payroll taxes?
OBAMA: Everything should be on the table. I think we should approach it the same way Tip O’Neill and Ronald Reagan did back in 1983. They came together.
Billion dollar companies =0 taxes
middle class taxpayers=make up the difference
2x :)
Please, please everyone, don’t buy into their phraseology. Social security is not an “entitlement”, it’s a program financed by taxes withheld from OUR earnings.
bbl
we are entitled to it ,CAUSE we pay for it
Have you been promoted?
Yes. Wonderfully stated.
I just want to point out, this is really a horrible comment.
I used to see the same sentiment when I would make dissenting points on right-wing blogs, back in the day.
Do you really want FDL to be a website where no one ever disagrees with you, eCAHN? Really? Because the above comment comes across as the view of someone who is afraid of having his/her approved orthodoxy challenged.
Oh jesus christ.
Chris matthews considers The Frothy Mixture a serious candidate.
HOW THE FUCK IS “Frothy” Santorum a SERIOUS CANDIDATE!?
BUCK OFAMA!
BUCK OFAMA!
Oh great david ploufter is getting democrats to take credits for cutting taxes and cutting spending.
WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH AMERICA!?
I’d tell you what I’d like to see happen to bUCK oFama, paul ryan, boner the republicans and every blue bitch but I’d be perma banned from the site.
I’m filled with enough anger to make the sun go nova.
much too kind of a tag…
He is simply a fuckin vampire and a disgrace to anyone who has an inkling of humanity! A pox on him and those who surround him!
?
Bend over and grab you ankles, because you’re going to take it right up the ass. Hard. And often.
I’m really beside myself and having a hard time expressing the utter contempt and disgust I feel at the blatant corruption and lies. And it’s not all from one side. It’s the whole stinking, putrid system. It is utterly debased and rotten from top to bottom.
How this President, or any President or politician, can go into his private quarters and look at his beautiful children and know that he is completely fucking over millions of other children’s and adult’s lives is beyond my comprehension. I’m really glad I can’t comprehend it because then I’d be as thoroughly jaded and corrupted as they are.
Tip Oneil and Ray Gun came together while Matthews fapped in the corner.
But she does have principles. And they’re for sale to any bidder at the right price.
Correction acknowledged.
Does that change one fucking thing they are talking about?
No.
Reagan changed the retirement age for me from 65 to 67.
Prize for that one, my friend.
oldgold has a long record at FDL.
Can’t see a thing wrong about asking a simple Q about it.
It has nothing to do with peeps disagreeing with me. It is related to my curiosity with why someone would continue to make similar points over & over again without making any converts. I cannot understand the futility of oldgold’s efforts, and was asking what motivated oldgold.
Right on!
Fucking poetic and hit them between the eyes with it!
Is the prize a replica Trump hairpiece? Please say it’s a replica Trump hairpiece.
BTW, Swopa, nice to see ya again.
Watch out, you get moderated!
“Please, please everyone, don’t buy into their phraseology. Social security is not an “entitlement”, it’s a program financed by taxes withheld from OUR earnings.”
Yes! an important point.
You are right. Obama is very good at the head fake, but he is really a republican with more allegience to the Koch brothers than most people realize. He never uses the bully pulpit for progressive ideas.
I often say “I hate those fuckers with the fiery passion of 1,000 burning suns.”
I’m with you.
Yep, changed it for me to 66. I turn 60 this year and just got lost my job today. The way things are, I’ll probably never work again.
Least I got health insurance through my spouse until medicare kicks in at 65. Oh, wait . . .
This finally explains it all.
“Using data from MRI scans, researchers at the University College London found that self-described liberals have a larger anterior cingulate cortex–a gray matter of the brain associated with understanding complexity. Meanwhile, self-described conservatives are more likely to have a larger amygdala, an almond-shaped area that is associated with fear and anxiety.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theticket/20110411/pl_yblog_theticket/will-president-obama-and-the-house-gop-ever-agree-science-suggests-no
yeah you did predict that.
starting to look like you are right.
Of course the Dims in Congress and the assholes that still support this Trojan Horse will say he’s a genius. That nine dimensional chess game he’s been playing was against the working and middle class.
“Phraseology” was key to that the importance of that request. Knowing the history of how the term devolved from “right” to “entitlement” and now it rolls off the tongues of “liberals” is pure linguistic proof that words matter in shifting social and ideological consciousness to the right.
Some would argue against.
Even if you pay in for many years, you’re not entitled.
And here I thought it was all those concussions.
I dunno. I’ve thought about this one, too, as another way to “attack” Soc Sec and punish those serfs who had the nerve to save a little cash. OTOH, might not the super wealthy bitch and moan almightily that they are being unfairly TAXED to the high heavens, should means testing be broached??
If my memory serves, I believe means-testing has been discussed in the past, but the millioniares whined and cried about that. The wealthy are listened to & obeyed… the serfs, not so much.
So not sure re means-testing.
He also said this in 2007
and
because this POTUS and other POTUS do not give a rats ass about yours or anybodies children. just say they do to get elected.
My prediction. raising taxes and cutting SS and medicare is a classic strawman set-up. Rebubs will want SS and medicare cut by x % and no tax hikes, dems by a lesser % and tax hikes.
Outcome: NO tax hikes and cuts in ss and medicare less than what repubs wanted. But here is what matters. The door to raping these programs will have been kicked open and over time they will be raped completely.
Simple and in the short term both sides can claim they did their best, and at the same time both sides know they have done their owners bidding and that the bell tolls for ss, medicare and any other program to help the people. which eaves the question why are we paying tax and where and whom is it benefitting. Because we the people through wage stagflaton, dollar devaluation, inflation, vat, and payroll taxes will stay pay tax
Umm, yes ,I am entitled.
I pay, I live long enough, checks start showing up in my mail box.
It is a significant sign of the times we are living in, when it is more important for discussions to focus on the temperature and color of the water to pacify our angst, then it is to scream out while we are fucking drowning!
There comes a time when you HAVE to put on the paint!
Despite some optimism put forward by a few here on this thread, my feeling is this: whatever is gonna happen is NOT gonna be pleasant for us commoners.
To be redundant: RushGlennSarah have been softening up the Tea Partiers to believe that Soc Sec & Medicare are sinful “entitlements” that no serf “deserves.” To be all patriotic-y ‘n stuff, serfs should never ever expect or want or demand back all the money they PAID INTO the Soc Sec & Medicare Insurance systems.
My take is: do NOT expect the Tea Party to protest the gutting of Soc Sec & Medicare. I think that they’ll clap, cheer, hoot & holler to see it being gutted and taken away from the serfs. That’ll show us dfhs!!!!!
You’re getting there, OG. Throw in some SS and Medicare cuts and you’ll be ready to march. Well, maybe not exactly march.
“It is theoretically possible that Obama will only call for applying the payroll tax to incomes above $107,000″
Even if that is what he says, we’ve learned that with him talk is cheap and it’s a matter of what he does…which usually he prefers to do things in back rooms.
The corporate media, the Republican Party, the Obama administration and the Democratic party are setting up the meme for the chumps to accept SS and Medicare cutbacks as being self evident. They’ll all jump on board but then one day find themselves eating cat food under a bridge and wonder “what went wrong????”
Jeez, I hope you’re wrong (but fear you could be right, and certainly your fear is justified.) Here’s hoping you find suitable work before you join Margaret and others in the ranks of the 99ers.
Obama lies and people die.
So what bank do you save your money in, and what is your bank account number? Just because you stuck your money in there, doesn’t mean you’re “entitled to it.” I want it. Give it me, please. I certainly must “deserve” YOUR money more than YOU do.
Amen.
Cue Ron Ziegler: “My previous statements are no longer operative”
I predict that the crimes perpetrated by seniors will rise in the future. It’s a matter of survival. Les Miserables and Dickens come to the United States.
Yep. Well put. My family members all rant & tirade right now about the eeevuls of socialistic Soc Sec & Medicare, all the while blissfully accepting my Dad’s Soc Sec & Medicare (for my dad).
I’m not “getting” why it’s “OK” for Dad to get these Insurance/Annuity payouts, but it’s somehow not “OK” for ME (or them) to get them.
I agree, and I think it’s coming soon.
Just as a hypothetical exercise in trying to figure out how a lefty massive resistance rebellion might occur I always come back to all those boomer VN vets who served their country, played by the rules, and are now getting ratfucked as their reward. There’s something like 12 million of them out there, and if they ever got pissed and mobilized…
Section 1104 of the 1935 Social Security Act Congress reserved to itself the power to amend and revise the schedule of benefits.
At any time for any reason.
It’s not what I say.
Eh? I think it’s quite likely that O will “will call” for something like this. And then, like Lucy, O will yank away the football. What else is new??
And the day will come in this shit hole of a country when the French Revolution will look like a mannered tea party.
Now was that 2007 quote before or after Bill Burton followed up the 2007 “everything is on the table” quote after Obama was called out for saying it:
“Barack Obama doesn’t want to cut benefits and doesn’t want to raise the retirement age. He views Social Security as a sacred compact with our workers and seniors. So rather than using it as a political wedge for the purposes of a campaign, President Obama will work with Democrats and Republicans to ensure Social Security is solvent and viable for the American people, now and in the future.”
OH? Then what ARE you saying? Pray enlighten me?
What’s the difference between the money that you are putting into Soc Sec v. putting into your bank account??
And P.S. what’s your bank account number, please?
Obama in Wednesday’s speech:
I am altering the (New) Deal. Pray I do not alter it further.
Do you think you’re entitled to an answer?
/s (in case that’s needed *g*)
Well just go ahead and tilt your head mate, and let the ‘bloodsuckers’ be entitled to sucking you dry!
Some folks definition of facts are simply not!
I would love to agree with you, but I seriously doubt it. My take is that these foolish citizens will continue to just roll over and take it and take it and take it… I don’t see anyone ever “rising up.”
Hope I’m wrong, but…
You know you would miss me if I took my “so little appreciated” contributions elsewhere.
That message, along with NO cuts to Medicare, and NO other spending cuts until the economy revives is the moral high ground and wins the 2012 election, hands down. Let’s see if he does it.
It’s all karma. All the shit that’s been done around the world in the name of the U.S. people is going to come back to bite all the chumps in the ass and if anyone deserves a karmic payback it’s the American public.
snort!
Damn straight I’m entitled to a frackin’ answer, but you and I know that I’ll never get a real answer. It’ll just be more rightwing bullshit talking points that represents vapid meaningless crap. *g*
Why aren’t people of all political opinions screaming for “getting serious” about stopping the wasting of our money on aggression in foreign countries? I got “serious” long ago about not casting my vote for Barack Obama in the next election.
Your cited code mentions revising the “schedule” of benefits, not the retirement age or the level of benefits.
So per your citation, they can change the payment date from the 1st of the month to the 15th of the month, but that’s about it.
Yes you are. That makes absolutely no sense. Do you even know what entitled means?
Everytime you call a rightwing talking point meaningless, The Great Orange Boner sheds a tear. Shame on you.
By the time that Barry gets through with you, OG, you’re going to be a real “Firebagger” — as they say derogatorily over at Balloon Juice.
Your respiration is a waste of oxygen.
Well you ask a reasonable & reasoned question, but sadly the majority of the US populace are unreasonable and wouldn’t know how to “reason” if their lives depended on it (which it sort of does).
Most US citizens are all gung-ho, hurrah hurrah Team USA re War, Inc. And no, I don’t think they know how to connect the dots as to why there is no money anymore. Vapid dullards easily bamboozeled.
That bastard is stealing my oxygen.
He thinks he’s entitled to MY air.
DOESN’T HE KNOW THERE’S AN AIR DEFICIT!?
ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww…. now you made ME shed many tears!!! ICK!!!
If President Obama does what is expected he will do Wednesday, this man will cease to be a viable candidate for the Democratic party. At that point, should we not get another viable candidate to run against him and defeat him in the primaries, we will lose the White House and the Senate. If we do nothing but continue to cheer on this president as he continues his republican-style, conservative approach to governing, we will have no one to blame but ourselves when we have another completely run Republican government. If this President calls for cuts in entitlements, after giving away billions in tax cuts to the rich, after continuing the war in Iraq, and increasing the war effort in Afghanistan, after protecting the crooks on wall street who caused this crap in the first; then he will be unelectable. Because if this happens, what do Democrats who stand with this president take to the people for their votes. The Democratic party has aligend themselves with the wall street crooks, they’ve aligned themselves with multinational companies with the free trade pacts, they’ve allowed and assisted in the destruction of the unions and the working and middle class, Obama just traded away abortion rights in the District of Columbia, and the democrats are agreeing with the right that tax cuts are off the table. So, why would any voter believe a damned thing the Democrats say after Obama caves on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. What could the Democrats possibly say to earn the trust and votes of the American people, because at that point that party will absolutely be no different than the republicans.
Yes, it makes no sense.
No, he doesn’t know the true definition of the work “entitled.”
It’s what happens to people when they listen to RushGlenn constantly. Bamboozled is another word for it. Also: hogwash & bunkum come to mind.
There is no such thing as an “air deficit” in the air-brained, my friend.
Obama only ceases to be a viable candidate from the Democratic Party if the elected Dems in Congress choose to abandon him. And that ain’t a-gonna happen. They’re just as sociopathic and evil as he is, and they have the same lack of courage problem. Plus, like Barry, they have lucrative futures assured when they leave office.
It is what people are like when they are walled-in by their oppressors…Europe 1930′s. People spin around and argue, lose their homes, jobs, money, food. It is how fascists control the masses. It is the NWO in action. We are in deep impending doodoo. What to do? What to do?
If he were a true patriot he’d know what he should do.
Dunno the timeline
I gave a link @ 120 with much more documentation of his duplicitous ways
PS Mods? Hey Mods? I just have a little suggestion: Can you please send a note to the techies to change the css code to change the hyperlink colors? Or something? Because numerous times when I’ve given links people evidently have a hard time seeing them
With all due respect, please cease referring to Soc Sec & Medicare as “entitlements.” That is a rightwing talking point, and it incorrectly identifies these programs as something that is UNTRUE.
YOU and I PAID into these 2 programs on the promise that we’d get BACK from them upon retirement. Neither is an “entitlement.” It’s just like you and me putting money into our bank accounts and expecting to withdraw it when we need it.
Hear ya. What to do, indeed? Feel just how you do. Beside myself sometimes… and upset and angry and all the rest.
Let’s wait and see what happens in a couple of years when the economy has tanked and the states have all dropped their unemployment collection periods to 10 weeks. People who approve now may not be so happy then.
I wonder if they’ll issue checks to all those who will no longer be “entitled” to the money they have already paid into these programs…dream on…..Just more blatant thievery.
Yup.
Exactly.
These airheaded assholes are stealing air from the planet, then pollute the world with airborne fecal matter that they call talking points and “serious” policies.
They’re the cause of the air AND sanity deficit.
Yes, true. Time will tell if the world-wide masses rise up or not. We shall see, but I do agree that we are certainly reaping a whirlwind.
And now several other large earthquakes in Japan… and the radiation has been carried to these United States, even though the corp media will never report it. Go figure. Mother Earth may be the “one” to straighten this all out, whether we like it or not. At this point, I’m like: whatever. The USG has fully embraced being the nutbar fringe.
Yeah, mine went up to 66, but due to the economy and the fact that most people over 50 can’t find work if they’re unfortunate enough to find themselves looking for it, I’ve had to start collecting at 63 to supplement the income from part-time temporary work.
A closer look at the CNN poll shows there were 824 adults polled, all over the age of 35 (as evidenced by question 1 on page 8 of the research data). Of those, 50% “disapprove” of the way Barack Obama is handling the job of President. 63% of those responding to this CNN poll felt a government shutdown was either a major problem or a crisis. Therefore, it really isn’t surprising that they would approve of a budget agreement occurring. However, if 76% felt the Democrats did not give up too much during the budget negotiations, I have to question whether they are even AWARE of the $38 BILLION in spending cuts or have the Democrats in this country morphed into conservative spendthrifts for the “we the people”? Once again, keep in mind that respondents were all over the age of 35.
Yes. And when the choice is between shutting down the government and cutting benefits to “other” people, it’s not surprising that the majority choose the latter.
Tell him how you really feel! *g*
Hey dude. No need to get snarky. I’m with you on duplicitous. I was with my first response. No need for the mods to change the hyperlink color just for you.
The quoted text color is almost identical to the hyperlink color. If you link inside blockquotes it’s indistinguishable.
Some people watch and listen to Chris Matthews. He has a Very Important Microphone, and he’s very very famous.
Santorum will now be able to ask wealthy people to contribute to his campaign, having been blessed by TB. With $$ like that, Santorum will be able to ask schmucks and bubbies for more $$. With $$$, Santorum will be able to buy time & space on the Octopus, which includes NBC/CNBC/MSNBC largely.
That’s Tweety Bird’s job: he’s a fundraiser, and a very good one.
Being an old fart around here, seldom seen anymore,give anyone who wants to voice their opinion a chance, then jump their bones.
I got yer back old gold.
Straw men arguments and Trolls get theirs immediately.
Good analysis. I never really listened to Tweety. Why bother? He’s an annoying little jerkwad easily impressed & puffed up by his own self-serving importance.
Tweety endorses Frothy Mixture? whatever…
Perhaps you could try explaining to them that Social Security has nothing to do with the deficit or debt . SS is financed separately by it’s own tax and by law can’t add to the debt .
I shared the poll to add context to this discussion. I thought in considering this that it was important to understand that a considerable number of Democrats and Independents see this differently than the great majority here.
I did not share it to convince anyone here that their opinion was right or wrong. In fact, I commented that I was personally surprised by the poll results.
Now, as you point out, it is important to look at each poll carefully so as to make a judgment as to its informational value.
Most citizens were clueless about what the govt shutdown meant much less why it was possibly happening. I happened to catch some few min of CNN on a couple of mornings recently in a hotel room. To say that the coverage was completely inane, stupid, dull & devoid of anything approaching accuracy, insight or true information is being kind.
Plus the dim-witted airheads who were doing the – uh? I don’t even know how to characterize what these tv people are doing anymore; they’re all dumb effwits – “speaking” part (which means opening their eyes REAAAAALLLY WIDE and reading a Telepromtr) were so vapid and ridiculous that I had to turn the d*mn thing off.
It’s no wonder that citizens are clueless. And people *still* think CNN is this great “NEWS” organization. Used to be, but now it’s just Fox Part 2 (not even Fox Lite anymore). Too bad.
Just the opposite, the wealthy are pushing for means-testing.
They do not need the money and once it is in place, SS becomes a welfare system and much easier to attack.
BTW everything I have seen, means-testing (and the associated bureaucracy it would spawn) would cost much more then it saved.
You make a great point and one worth repeating. Just to be clear, though, that salient factual truth has been repeated here ad nauseum, and we still get those who insist on posting about how -really – Soc Sec is “causing” the debt.
Never hurts to say it again, though, bc I can see that far too many citizens are woefully uneducated about Soc Sec; I think far too many don’t even realize that they are contributing to it.
I can certainly believe that, and now that you bring that up, I DO remember that being highlighted.
You could be accurate in your other statements. I just thought I remembered rich people whining about not getting what they contributed to Soc Sec. It’s quite possible that I simply heard that in private conversations.
Thanks for your response; you raise some good points.
Sorry if it reads snarky. Not the intent. If you re-read the words in my comment to you, I think they’ll look pretty benign
And in my comment to the mods, there does seem to be a problem with people not seeing links, or maybe it’s just that they ignore them
Thanks.
I know you were here in the beginning. In the days of R.W. Cole, Raven, Lahoma, Crosstimbers and many more.
You should come by more often.
Giving Medicare over to private insurance companies is as stupid and evil as making a deal with Pharma to not negotiate on drug prices. Whoops!
I believe you. And as someone who has dealt with focus groups and research in product development, I know that it is important to look at demographic information, how questions are worded, etc. So, I just wanted to point out a few of the specifics on this particular CNN poll.
When shutting down the government means possibly not getting SS checks and tax refunds, a poll might show that the majority would trade free speech to prevent it — at least free speech for others. So the poll findings are not surprising.
When the president negotiates the entire country into a horrible corner — repeatedly — one can’t blame most Americans for wanting to get out of the corner.
I imagine the typical wealthy person would not want to give it up, why would they?
But when you see people like Peter Peterson pushing it, you can be sure they are not doing it out of generosity.
It’s hard to see them: it’s still bright daylight everywhere in North America, computer displays are light sensitive, the display’s angle tilt affects the contrast.
But if the links were any more prominent, they would be distracting instead of supplemental as secondary support.
And I agree completely that even some zillionaire should get back from Soc Sec what they put into it. Just bc they are rich doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t get back a return on their investment.
Pete Peterson is a blight on humanity. All the likes of the Petersons of this planet is more for them, and less for the “commoners”. The goals of the Elites is to gut Soc Sec and to force the younger generations to “invest” in it like a 401(k). And we ALL know how well 401(k)’s did during the crash. My private investments are only just now coming up to snuff, and I daresay that I’m more clued in than most.
It’s scandalous that these greed-heads wish to rip off “commoners” (I use that terminology bc I feel that’s how the Elites see us) as much as possible. Disgusting.
couldn’t agree more. It’s America’s savings account, the middle class’s piggy bank, in short: it’s OUR money.
x2 edve
I agree with you completely.
It literally nauseates me to think of voting for Obama again–especially if he makes the wrong moves on SS and Medicare.
BUT . . .
I feel boxed in by the fact that there will likely be at least one Supreme Court seat to be filled after 2012. As disgusted as I am with Obama & Co., I’m certain this country will not survive the appointment of another Roberts/Alito/Scalia/Thomas.
I don’t want to give Obama my vote, but I don’t want to give the right-wing, whack-job contingent another seat on the Supreme Court.
I feel as if I have no country.
Yeah, well I’m getting real tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. I used to think I’d have to vote for Obama because any Republican would be insane. But if any of these clowns fuck with Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security without raising taxes on the rich–or taxing them at all–you’re gonna see a ton of really pissed off elderly pushing their walkers down Pennsylvania Avenue.
I think you might be on to something Kris.
These bastards are almost salivating at the chance to reduce benefits. F@#$ ‘em.
277 volts to ground. My sentiments exactly Busted.
It sure isn’t the same America I grew up in, I don’t even recognize it anymore.
Sorry for not responding.
I went out for a bite. Catch you on the next thread I can get to.
The corporate media will report radiation reaching the U.S. but they will imply that excessive levels of radiation will transform every man, womoan and child into a Super Hero. The “public” will be thrilled at the prospect.
I used to work for Gallup, and believe me, most of these polls are only as reliable as the wording of the questions and the actual sample of persons polled. Both of these criteria are usually crap if (1) the wording is designed to elicit a biased response (push polls are the best example, i.e “if you were to learn that Rep Smith kicks little puppies, would you have a favorable , more favorable, or less favorable opinion of him/her”), and (2) most folks nowadays DO NOT PARTICIPATE in polls by either blocking unknown numbers calling in or using cell phones instead of a landline. As a result the under sample was huge, and results tend to skew more towards the elderly. (Who’s willing to waste up to 15 minutes of cell phone minutes on repetitive questions that ask an almost identical series of questions?)
One of the reasons the Public Option/ and the Medicaire buy-in polled so well in the national polls was because (a) everyone already knew what these ideas were from the 2008 election, and (b) most of the national polls’ wording did not try to equate them to a biased ideological stance, like “death panels”… one of the few times recently that the pollsters actually played one straight.
It does seem a lot like “No Country for Old Men”, and just like Tommy Lee Jones… we’re always two steps behind the psycho with the air compressor.
as for as the Supreme Court, it all boils down to this: if we ever get a POTUS with the balls to play hardball then the Supremes and courts will change. I responded on another thread that FDR had balls and threatened to pack the court if the current 6-3 majority of conservatives didn’t get with the New Deal – they got with it after he threatened them and stopped ruling each program unconstitutional. In the case of the current court, at least two sitting justices (Thomas and Scalia) should be impeached, and I’m quite certain dozens more of the federalist Society apparatchics in the lower courts would not survive even modest DOJ investigations. Of course, this assumes that we find a few politicians who actually believe in Liberalism/Progressivism and the values of the New Deal and have the stones to be willing to fight for them.
We are looking at Germany of the 1930s when the masses believed all of the crap Hitler threw at them. We all know how that turned out.
If I were a “progressive,” or even a “liberal,” I wouldn’t want the Son-of-a-Bitch In Chief to come “campaign” for me.
Forget about long explanation, Social Security is THE Social Contract. Medicare is THE Social Contract. If you want to violate the social contract, then pay me back (with interest) all of the money that I paid into it.
Excellent post.
I agree. Good post. Perhaps the opening of his re-election campaign is merely window dressing to get Dems to follow him off the cliff on SS and Medicare. Once those issues are “disposed of” (or in CIA parlance, “terminated with extreme prejudice”) then he came bow out just exactly as your scenario describes.
It appears the Republicans are now trying to force an immediate Greek style debt crisis with a resulting package of severe austerity in the USA by playing chicken with the debt limit. This is criminally irresponsible, but worse, I’m guessing they’ll lose control over their game, and crash the world economy.
The Democrats lack the cajones to stop this attack, so the people had better look out for their own interests here …
Here comes the Grand Bargin we have been told is coming! Here is my Grand Bargin for you Mr President…if you take Pete Peterson, The GOP, all of Wall st and your CEO pals and shove them up your ass I will buy the vaseline..let the BS game begin…If I see that rat faced David Pluffee on TV again smiling away about how much they cut… I’ll throw up
But Lanny Davis sed…but…what about…there was always Tipp Oneil and Ray Gun who came together…
I can haz biparyzanshyp naw?
Oldgold says
“I shared the poll to add context to this discussion. I thought in considering this that it was important to understand that a considerable number of Democrats and Independents see this differently than the great majority here.”
Wrong again Oldgold!
the majority of USA citizens want Obama and the Dems to focus on the Economy and Good Jobs. Period
If all of OBAMA budget cuts don’t result in good jobs and a super economy he will be done. ie “ONE TERMER”
Oldgold? U have always been a WH insider, tell us all about the Poll that says the GOP base will come out big time to beat OBAMA because he is Black.
Oldgold? then tell us about the POLL that says real liberals and progressives are not going to support OBAMA?
OLDgold ? knows what David Plouffe and David Axelrod just figured out, OBAMA is black, and without hard core liberals votes OBAMA loses.
How is the project of making OBAMA Clarence Thomas working? Oldgold :)
Me thinks OBAMA will start screaming like Liberal very, very, soon :)
Hillary did not know how to hurt OBAMA, others do! :)
Oldgold? the only poll OBAMA better care about is Economy Poll
$5.00 per gallon gas hurts OBAMA more than GOPERS
I’m going to propose something pretty radical, but I’m also deadly serious.
If Obama cuts one red cent from Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, I will vote for the Republican for the White House. My radical suggestion is that we vote Democratic for the House and Senate, and Republican for the White House.
Obama is dangerous, and we need him out of office asap. AND if we get large enough majorities in Congress, we don’t need the White House. In fact, Republicans have proven to us just how unimportant the While House can be.
Thanks for your kind words. I’m not in bad shape–have a wife who has a good salary and good family health insurance, so I’ll be ok, just demoralized.
But after 11 years at the same job, here is the one sentence firing letter:
“At the end of the spring semester, your services will no longer be required.”
Nothing I did, just a reshuffling.
But still, a letter with all the aplomb of a character from a Dickens novel.
Generally speaking, I agree with you. Barring a large black swan appearing, the presidential election will be decided by the state of the economy in the autumn of 2012.
Why are we accepting the cruel fate that Obama portends? Let’s find a candidate who will fight for the people .
For once, I am speechless. You are absolutely correct.
You could be right Zeabow. Obama has to realize that he is not going to make it in 2012…..everyone else knows. Yesterday Obama made a statement that he misses taking his girls for walks, watching people, and doing the things he could do before his presidency. I think he has begun his exit strategy. And where is Axelrod? He was tripping over his own feet to get back to Chicago after the 1st of the year. He is suppose to get the campaign off the ground in Chicago but you never hear anything. I think he is now surrounding himself with the exit people. Zeabow is right. He has too much of an ego to lose an election. He will bow out first. Watch Airforce one really get fired up now with family vacations from now until he leaves. In the meantime what other asshole are we going to get saddled with?
You are right on!!! This has been a conversation in my house for a long time. We need to concentrate on the House and the Senate. Yes. Obama has shown me that the WH does not matter. (I know, I Know someone is going to bring up the Supreme Court) We need a movement to get those pricks on the ballotalso. No more life appointments for the Justices. I believe that a Republican President (puke its even hard to say) but I think if a new Pres gets the message that they got elected because of Obamas Social Security screw up , the new Pres just migght lay low on that issue.