Some Repubs looking for "compromise" on Social Security..

[kentuck]

I say, NO COMPROMISE! on this issue. Kick their asses all the way back to Sunday. Just my humble opinion.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56464-2005Feb26.html

<snip>
President Bush is still in the opening phase of a campaign to sell the public and Congress on his ambitious plans for Social Security, but some Republicans on Capitol Hill have decided it is not too early to begin pondering an exit strategy.

With polls showing widespread skepticism of Bush's proposed individual investment accounts and Democratic lawmakers expressing nearly uniform opposition, some allies of the president are focused on possible split-the-difference deals.

As described in interviews, most of these compromises would involve Bush significantly scaling back his proposals for restructuring the popular benefits program. In exchange, he could still claim an incremental victory on what he has described as his core principles: enhancing the long-term solvency of Social Security and giving younger Americans options to invest more of their retirement money.

In one example, Rep. E. Clay Shaw Jr. (R-Fla.) said, a compromise might involve merging Bush's proposal with plans -- some backed by Democrats -- that create government-subsidized savings plans outside Social Security. Under this scenario, Bush's proposal to divert 4 percent of an individual's Social Security payroll tax would become 2 percent or less

[Cary]

1. No compromise.

His "reforms" are a bad idea.

[Gloria]

2. If this is the Dems idea, they should preempt Bush on it or else

we will be royally screwed in upcoming elections over this.

And what about keeping their mouths shut and sticking to the "the President has no plan, we'll talk when he presents one" thing? Seems like there is still NO message discipline either on domestic or foreign affairs issues.

I'm calling Reid tomorrow. Who the hell is running the show??

[indianablue]

3. Dem's have people behind them on this one NO COMPROMISE!

One of the few times i recent memeory where Dem's have to majority of the people behind them even Bush voters and they want to COMPROMISE god these freaks are hepless NO COMPROMISE

[PurityOfEssence]

4. They want to destroy Social Security; they must be forced to take a stand

Junior himself admits that his half-baked little scheme (with no real plan, mind you) won't fix the fiscal shortfall. They should be publicly confronted with lying to the American people in order to destroy Social Security for the benefit of the rich and the investment community.

It should be a litmus test, and politicians should be demanded to completely repudiate the very idea or be held accountable as economic monarchists who will use any lie they see fit to benefit the powerful.

There should be no "niceness" on this subject. They're frauds. There's not even a whiff of possibility to "fix" the diminishing revenue to payout gap under their plan, yet they continually carp as if that's what they're doing. They are OBVIOUSLY trying to destroy Social Security, and it should be stated precisely as that.

If they complain or wince at the characterization, they should be asked: "Then why, even with more than 2 trillion dollars to be spent enacting it, will this leave the system in worse shape than it is now? You have no intention of fixing it, it's a knife in the back of the American People, and it's not even subtle."

The harshest, most brutal terminology should be used: cheating the weak, stealing from the old, lying to the public, defrauding the young with ridiculous expectations and embezzling people's money through broker fees and other concoctions. Hoist the black flag on this one: no quarter.

I really want to see some embattled Representatives twist and dodge on TV and splutter things like: "we're not that mean", at which point it is countered: "yes, you are."

One of the worst things about Democratic politicking of late is that everybody's so scared of Junior's "likeability" that no one will stand up and say: you guys are economic bullies. You're greedheads and thugs of the worst kind. Yes, this is precisely what you're doing; there's not a scrap of concern for the poor, weak or old, this is nothing but cynical harvesting of what little resources these people have. You're bad. You're mean, selfish and deeply unprincipled.

[Coastie for Truth]

5. NO COMPROMISE

If anything - the Dems should come out with their own plan---->

1. "Add On" (not a Bushie "Carve Out") Personal Savings Accounts for low income taxpayers -- partially subsidized by a REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT.

2. Where will the money come from to:

-to pay for the refundable tax credit, and
-to "save" SS

By rolling back the tax cuts for the wealthiest 2%.

[applegrove]

6. TszzzzzzzzzzzT tszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt Afraid of the third rail?

[kentuck]

7. Frist may present this "compromise"...

Agree with us on one little item so we do not look like fools and we will withdraw the "nuclear option" on judges. Otherwise....

[zbdent]

8. This, from the party that claims that a compromise is a sign of

weakness? F*ck them!

[Zorro]

9. We must raise the level of fear on the Social Security issue

Let's keep our rational arguments in our hip pocket, but I say the Democrats need to take this to the emotional level and give the Republicans a taste of their own medicine.

I say get the AARP and all retired people riled up with the threat of losing their social security benefits.

I think the public Dem message should be "The Republicans want to destroy Social Security! They want to give your Social Security money to Enron-trained accountants! They want to pick your pockets, steal your money, wreck your future, and impoverish the nation! They can't balance a budget, find Osama, or improve this economy, so how can they be trusted to develop a plan to "save" social security? A vote to support the Republican plan is a vote to cut your own throat!"

It's one thing for us to say these things here in DU, but we need a politico to blare forth these themes and to keep hammering the Republicans and force them on the defensive. They've already raised the "Social Security is in crisis" meme, so let's ratchet up the rhetoric and take it to a greater emotional level.

[DearAbby]

10. NO Compromise...Never give up...never surrender!

They are being shown for the greedy bastids they are...Shine the light. NO COMPROMISE!

[napi21]

11. NO. Nothing should come out of the SS taxes at all!

There are already opportunities like IRA's, Health Savings Accounts, etc, for those who wish to put more $$ into savings. The only thing we should even consider is something similar to the Trust Savings accts that the Fed. employees now have the opportunity to join. I question even if that is necessary since I think they were created because most civilian employees can join 401K plans, and this was to be similar for Fed Employees.