Did anyone see Nightline destroy Bush's social security plan?

[CoffeeCat]

I just might have to reconsider my negative opinion of "Nightline."

The Tuesday, Jan 30 program featured Social Security reforms.

It made Bush look like a liar, and stopped just short of saying those words. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!!

To recap:

The show opened with Koppel asking, "Is Social Security in a Crisis?"
Immediately, Koppel said, "No, it's not in crisis". Then, they cut to a series of shots where Bush/Cheney repeatedly said, "crisis" and "bankrupt" in reference to Social Security.

Then Koppel said that elevating SS to crisis level was a tactic in selling his plan.

The show featured two economists, one from the Brookings Institute. Both agreed that there was no immediate crisis. One said Bush's comments were "exaggeration". Both agreed that the system needs fixing, but both scoffed at the suggestion of a crisis.

The show also pointedly highlighted that Bush's plans for private accounts do nothing to solve the problem of fewer workers paying for each retiree. This really made Bush look like a blatant charlatan! One economist said that Bush touted a crisis, but then offered a solution that wouldn't address the crisis that Bush is suggesting.

The two economists explained that in 2040--funds coming into SS would completely go to pay immediate benefits. However, we would have the SS trust fund--which would still be collecting interest--and could pay 70 percent of benefits. No crisis. No bankruptcy. They cut to a shot of Chris Bury asking one of the economists, "So why would the government say there was a crisis, when there is none?" The economist answered, "It's intended to scare people."

Ted's parting shot was about fear. He talked about fear fueling drug company profits and fear of 9/11 propping up the Iraq war. He ended with a quote, "Pessimism is a misuse of the imagination;" an obvious slam at the administration's small-minded tactics.

A great, truthful program tonight and a victory for the Dems!

[autorank]

1. Wow. I'm speechless. Thanks for this summary.

[Clark2008]

2. Stop framing it that way

It wasn't a victory for the "Dems."

It was a victory for The Truth.

OK?

[teakee]

Didn't they say Medicare was the real crisis?

But that was another show.....? How come Bushco. doesn't want to talk about that? After all, Big PHARMA made out like a bandit on those drug cards. We know which bed, Big PHARMA likes to sleep in, don't we Dubya?

Someone is always making money from one of President, Jr.'s crisises....usually his rich buds. :grr:

[Tigress DEM]

8. In some cases it's both. Dems fighting for truth..

Truth wins - so both win.

What's the deal about splitting hairs?

[Clark2008]

11. The big deal is to frame it so as to grow the party

If you frame it as and "either/or" debate, the cWHOREporate media sees to it that the Dems lose every time.

If you frame it as, "Well, that's the TRUTH, Jack." Then, it becomes about populism and the people. Not partisan.

The Dems DO win, but no sense in pushing that... YET.

[Tigress DEM]

18. Ah.. I see

[pacalo]

17. Appreciation of the truth & integrity is what draws most of us

to the Democratic party, so I'd look at it as a "Democratic" victory. :)

[Journeyman]

23. Yes, especially as there are both Dems and Republicans. . .

who now oppose this ill-considered scam.

[Gloria]

3. Wish I had seen this edition instead of the crap they put on the

air about the "election conspiracy theories" the night before the Inauguration....which basically poo-pooed any talk about Ohio irregularities, etc.

[Tigress DEM]

19. Wouldn't it be great to live in a Ken Blackwell world?

Gee, I just ran over that pedestrian, but since I'm in a car it doesn't matter.

(Being the AG - accountable to America for holding a fair election that he promised in writing, in advance to Bush didn't stop him from getting an injunction from having to show up and tell the truth.)

Ken "quit harrassing me" Blackwell

[Liberty Belle]

4. Koppel's granny must've slapped him upside of the head

before the show. You go, Granny!

[Clarkie1]

5. "pessimism is a misuse of the imagination" - love that one n/t

[gumby]

6. I don't like Ted Koppel or Nightline either, but

saw the program tonight and was surprised.

Someone in the Corporate Media actually called out one of Bush's lies! That's pretty amazing in itself.

Maybe Social Security really IS the Third Rail; kinda like "don't mess with Mother Nature?"

[Tigress DEM]

10. A lot of repubs see his financial mismanagement and his...

eye on the SS fund - that won't be in trouble unless Bush gets to mess with it.

The thing is Bush bankrupted 3 oil companies before he was elected. Why didn't repubs realize their prince was a crown fool then?

[Taragui Junkie]

7. Why stop short? Why not call it a lie?

A lie is a lie, and a liar is a liar. Why won't they call it what it is?

And why do the Repugs have to resort to fearmongering by calling everything a crisis? Can't they ram their agenda down America's throat without causing fear and panic?

[cry baby]

15. Agree totally...and Welcome to DU!

[Tigress DEM]

16. Progress not perfection, dude or dudette.

I wrote into Nightline [e-mail]

Told them that I heard what a great program it was and what a great job Koppel did. In fact, I went so far as to say, if Nightline is going to take the front line with the truth, I just may have to watch.

Everyone should send Kudos to Koppel, I think he's banking on the DEMS being starved for the truth in mainstream media putting him over the others who are still pumping out the propaganda.

If he gets the letters and the ratings, we could be seeing the start of the real liberal media rearing its head to bash horns with the lies we're all so sick of hearing.

[ebayfool]

21. You are right. I'm sending an e'mail doing just that & tomorrow ...

will send them a pen & ink to drive it home. We have to reward as well as spank!

[ultraist]

9. great summary!

Bush is toast on this one and hopefully a few RED voters will think twice next time they go to pull the trigger for a Repuke.

[Up2Late]

12. What do you mean, "It made Bush look like a liar..."

That ALL * ever does, is Lie.

:wtf:The only thing * ever says that is NOT a lie, is when he says, "My name is George W. Bush..." every thing after that IS a lie.

[President Jesus]

13. wait...I thought 'the media' was controlled by Bushco (nt)

[gumby]

14. I think it goes like this:

Big Corporations control both the media and Bush.

Didn't Clinton say something about the big secret in this country is that the *media* picks the president.

[Tigress DEM]

20. But when 1/2 the country realized BS doesn't stand for broadcast

And turned off the tube in search of truth elsewhere.... they got to worrying. What about our sponsors?

[elsiesummers]

22. Financial conservatives are against the Bush plan.

I read a lot of economic press and have noticed that the conservative stock market bears are against Bush's SS plan.

Fleckenstein, who writes "Contrarian Chronicles" for MSNmoney, said basically that you can cut the benefits or means test it but don't turn it into an IRA because SS is insurance against poverty. Also said sure we all put money into it but that doesn't mean we should all get money out of it because it is not an investment plan but an insurance plan.

Gary North, a Libertarian who absolutely hates social programs, wrote a recent email article on how Bush's numbers just don't add up and are more evidence that we should not trust the government or any politician to keep retirement promises.

John Mauldin, a Republican who writes an economics eletter at www.frontlinethoughts.com, said he thought the idea of private accounts is sound and should be funded with a tax increase - taxing income up to or beyond $160K rather than stopping at 90K to cover the transition costs.

Conservative right wing economists, Republicans, they think the Bush plan is flawed.

Also - the way Bush cites how Clinton looked at partial privitization - well sure he did - the stock market was returning 20% in a bad year - to not look at the possiblity would be inhuman. But lets face it, the stock market ain't what it used to be, and anyone can be forgiven for the temporary giddiness caused by the Clinton economy. To not take a lesson and reassess after recent market crashes, to assume that all presidents will be as successful economically as Clinton, that a president like Bush is capable of producing an economy where safety nets are not necessary, well that's just silly.

Social Security is an insurance plan against all economic eventualities including lackluster economies under presidents like Bush.

[Born_A_Truman]

24. W's plan is obvious...

He doesn't do anything that benefits the American people, he's there to do a job: enrich his base. What does he call them again?

Quote: "This is an impressive crowd -- the haves and the have-mores.
Some people call you the elite, I call you my base."

It amazes me that so many people have fallen for his BS. The man is a total business failure and an obvious puppet for his handlers' agenda.

He lied about Iraq and now he's doing the same thing with his new pet project, SS. His friends are salivating at getting their hands on a portion of every paycheck with their new scheme.

I didn't see Nightline, and I hope that other prime time programs, such as Dateline or 20/20, step up to expose this farce for what it is.

[moggie12]

25. that's great -- I may have to start watching the show again

[NewYorkerfromMass]

26. Bush's social security "plan" should be DOA

it better be.