They have us right where they want us

May 30, 2005

I’m fully aware of the fact that the fight over Social Security privatization is far from over. Nevertheless, this struck me as terribly amusing.

Social Security was supposed to be the focal point of the Bush domestic agenda this year, but passage of a plan to secure its long-term financing and add private investment accounts has grown more complicated in recent weeks as Republicans appear increasingly willing to challenge the White House on issues including expanded stem cell research and the reimportation of prescription drugs.

White House spokesman Trent Duffy said Washington is exactly where Bush strategists thought it would be right now on Social Security, with a rising awareness of the system’s problems and Congress entering a summertime legislative push. (emphasis added)

Riiiight. When Karl Rove and his lieutenants drew up the political game plan, I’m sure they expected, almost half-way through 2005, to have Bush’s popularity plummeting, widespread skepticism about the privatization plan from the president’s own party in Congress, and polls showing broad disapproval for Bush’s scheme nationwide — with support dropping the more the public learns of the details. Just on the Hill, there is still no formal Bush plan, the GOP chairmen of all the relevant committees have made no progress, and Dem opposition to the White House approach is unwavering and practically unanimous.

And Trent Duffy would have us believe that everything is going exactly according to plan. If you believe that, I have some swampland in Florida I’d love to sell you.

I am glad Bush is losing on this one, but I wish it was because the Democrats were better at the game, and not because Bush is an inarticulate and insufferable, lying moron.

I wish the Democrats would get their facts straight — and yes, I mean you, Nancy Pelosi. Liberal pundits and Democratic leaders get run over on television repeatedly, even now. Does no one read the Daily Howler and Talking Points Memo?

Democrats need to stop attributing Bush’s proposals on Social Security to “ideology.” They need to stop attributing any Bush screw-up to this cause. Everything Bush does — and this goes triple for Social Security — is about the money. Bush’s proposals on Social Security are about transferring risk to the poor and to the middle class, and wealth and power to the already very wealthy and powerful. “ideology” as an explanation for Republican incompetence, greed and corruption causes snores.

  • the most important thing that dems can learn from this is that the bush team never, ever, ever concedes anything. they are always winning in their version of events, and that gets reported. why is it so hard for dems to grasp this simple approach?

  • But of course they’re right where they thought they’d be…the public roars its approval of the president every time he makes an appearance at a town meeting. Don’t believe that liberal media. they ask trick questions on their polls.

    From the mirror universe…

  • Oh, and the insurgents/terrorists fight harder and kill more people in Iraq because they are desperate and losing…

  • Never underestimate these guys. They have a track record of getting pretty much everything they want. Look at the judges that were just approved last week. Bolton may be next. Bush/Rove/Cheney do not give up, and they play hardball with the congresscritters, Republicans and Democrat alike. They run this government like mafioso.

    It ain’t over yet. The criminals haven’t given up.

  • I can’t pay cash for that Florida land, I’m overinvested in New York bridges – how about a swap? 🙂

  • For all the power hungry socialist Democrats who think it is simply insufferable that a private citizen might actually be given the power to make a modest investment decision involving a small fraction of their social security (which by the way, was actually safe in a trust for decades until a certain Democratic president LBJ decided he’d have it accessible to Congess for the general budget) about what they want to do with THEIR OWN MONEY, FOR THEIR OWN RETIREMENT [Dear God!! The sheer unmitigated gall!!], I say this: the Bush plan investment accounts ARE OPTIONAL! No-one is going to take anyone’s social security and invest it anywhere if they don’t want it!! Hell, Social Security is the most inefficient, hopelessly inadequate retirement provision there is. A citizen would make far more by being allowed to take that money they shell out over a lifetime and buy government bonds (100% safe!) than stick it in the black hole known as Social Security.

  • C.Majure,

    A citizen would make far more by being allowed to take that money they shell out over a lifetime and buy government bonds (100% safe!) than stick it in the black hole known as Social Security.

    Got any numbers to back that up? Or are you just going to assert away?

  • I guess C.Majure would just say to hell with anybody else and yippee for himself. What about the additional national debt that will be created? Maybe CM doesn’t even have to pay taxes as it’s his VERY OWN MONEY and why should he share it with anyone. CM must be a fan of ” we don’t torture ” BUSH

  • C Majure & others supporting the Bush “plan” seem to have a problem accepting the fact that the whole idea behind social security is embodied in its very name — Social Security. Having a safety net to protect not only retirees but also various folks who can’t care for themselves ultimately helps to shore up the stability of society as a whole. If the system were yanked out from under the millions who already need it, or eventually will, the US would without doubt eventually see the vast poverty and joblessness of the Depression again, with its consequent social upheavals.

    We’ll probably see that anyway as the oil-based economy slowly collapses, but at least a functioning soc. sec. system will take some of the sting out of it.

  • 1. EDO- there’s not enough space to spell it all out, but take your annual social security statement and look at how much you’ve paid in thus far and what your calculated benefit is. Then take those payments you’ve made and calculate, based upon an average historical government rate (I think around 3.8%) for a term of thirty five years (if like me, you’re around thirty). Almost any way you cut it, it is significantly more.

    2. Cowboy, you know not of which you speak. If your hero LBJ hadn’t jeopardized the trust fund to begin with, there would be no debt issue with allowing investment, and even now it would have almost no bearing on the debt. It kills me how you democrats, who would vastly bankrupt us with head to toe cradle to grave national healthcare are going to cry about 5 percent or less of the benefits of citizens who make a CHOICE (Isn’t that youre favorite term?) to invest, while many also will likely leave it alone.

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