Am I the only one sensing parallels between Bush's SS plan

[elperromagico]

and FDR's ill-fated court-packing plan?

I realize that we, as progressives/liberals/Democrats, are reluctant to make comparisons between the Boy King and perhaps our best Democratic president, Franklin Roosevelt. But the more I think about it, the more I see parallels between Bush's Social Security "reform" and FDR's court packing plan of 1937.

Think about it. Two reelected Presidents - Roosevelt in a landslide, Bush in a squeaker - with increased political capital and majorities in both houses of Congress.

Both declare their intentions to "reform" major government institutions - Roosevelt by adding at least six more members to the Supreme Court, Bush by partially privatizing Social Security.

Both claim the current system is antiquated and in need of reform, though it is clear that their true reasons are more political in nature.

Roosevelt's court packing plan is regarded as probably his biggest pre-war folly, the product of an election victory that gave him a sense of invincibility - something that seems to inevitably lead to hubris. It hurt his relations with Congress - even within his own party - and he had a harder time pushing a domestic agenda after that point.

To be fair to FDR, the parallels between he and Bush are otherwise slim. FDR was a popular President, elected with strong majorities each of the four times he ran. Bush is far from popular. And FDR's domestic agenda was greeted warmly by Congress throughout his first term. The same cannot be said for Bush's.

But has Bush, in attempting to dismantle a program spearheaded by FDR, made the same mistake FDR did?

Just food for thought.

[bush_is_wacko]

1. Need to research this court packing plan. I honestly don't recall

ever having heard of it. any information you could provide on it might be helpful. I'll google it when I get a chance too.

[elperromagico]

3. The Supreme Court was voting down a lot of FDR's New Deal.

FDR created a plan to swing the court more in his direction.

I'll attempt to sum it up as best I can recall. His plan, simply put, was this: Any justice over 70 would have an assistant justice appointed. IIRC, up to six could be appointed - all by Roosevelt, of course. As there were several justices over 70, this meant that FDR could make several appointments all at once, and sway the court.

FDR played up the need for reform by pointing out the advanced age of several Justices - he referred to them as "Nine Old Men." But the plan met with great resistance, and after the death of Senate majority leader Joe Robinson, the plan died altogether.

Roosevelt had even tried to "bring down" some conservative Democrats who opposed the plan, with very little success.

As it turned out, Roosevelt got his way in the long run. He wound up appointing nine justices to the Supreme Court.

[bush_is_wacko]

4. OK! It was the name "court packing plan" that threw me off! Sorry

I'm blond, what can I say! I'm terribly embarrassed!

I think bushitler has been working on setting the same plan up for decades. He has just packed the House and Senate so that he can confirm anyone he wants! In comparison I'd say bush is stupefied by his power, not that he wasn't already stupid, but sure I see the analogy to Social Security.

My belief is that SS is a diversion though! Try to keep the dumb citizens worrying about their retirement so I can sneak something really dastardly in, you know?

[bryant69]

2. Actually somebody was making that comparison a couple of

weeks ago, and I totally agree. He is drunk on his own power and is pushing a scheme not even his own party is reallyi in favor of. It's easy to see this scheme is not very popular, and really could creat problems for Bush and his cronies.

Bryant
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