Klobuchar's "response" to my question about why she hasn't signed

[dflprincess]

Bernie Sanders' pledge to protect Social Security:

Thank you very much for taking the time to send me your thoughts on the future of Social Security.

Social Security is a fundamental part of our nation's social and economic fabric. For generations, it has been a stable and secure retirement guarantee for all Americans. Social Security is our nation's most successful domestic program, providing an essential safety net and ensuring a decent retirement for Americans who've worked hard their whole lives. It also provides vital support for Americans with disabilities, the surviving spouses and children of deceased workers.

I believe it is important that we take the steps necessary to ensure the future solvency of our Social Security program. Our nation needs to plan ahead and work toward a bipartisan solution (roh-roh) to make Social Security more secure for the long term. I am confident that we can responsibly address any projected funding shortfalls and ensure that Social Security remains a vital part of retirement for future generations.

Please know that I will fight against risky schemes that would privatize Social Security and turn it from a guarantee of a secure retirement into a gamble where only the big financial companies on Wall Street would be the sure winners.

Again, thank you for sharing your views. Please continue to stay in touch on this and other matters of concern.

Well, at least she says she's agains "risky schemes" (weasel words? Like she'd support privatization if it wasn't risky?).

As always, her staff has written a well crafted non-response. No word on raising the retirement age, cutting benefits or why she hasn't signed Sanders' pledge. I guess I'll just have to call.

[myrna minx]

1. This is her classic non answer template.

Does she take a stand on anything?

[Angry Dragon]

2. NO

[Angry Dragon]

3. She is the "turtle" senator

She pulls her head back in when
a real issue comes up
Has to test the waters, see what
everyone else is doing
before she takes a stand.

[Mister Ed]

4. And we'll have to smile and support her in 2012 anyway, because...

If that Senate seat isn't warmed by her noncommittal, Blue-Dog butt, then it will be warmed by the butt of a Republican who will work to block President Obama's Supreme court nominees during his second term. And that will be a very, very big deal.

(sigh)

[Angry Dragon]

5. Then we need to figure out how to hold her feet to the fire

Make her do her job and represent the people of this state

[Mister Ed]

6. Aye. n/t

[dflprincess]

7. Or find an actual DFLer who can give her a run for the endorsement

even if the person didn't win, a good showing at the caucuses might get the message through to Amykins.

I hope this happens. Right now I'm wondering if there will any point to caucusing in 2012 - and I've attended every one of them since 1972.

[Mnpaul]

8. In my county

89 people showed up to caucus for Klobuchar. 487 showed up for Franken.

[ISUGRADIA]

10. Meaning What?

Most people at the caucus were there for the main event, Clinton v Obama.

[Mnpaul]

13. Main event?

It was a county caucus. The Obama/Clinton thing had been decided long before that. The only choice we had here was Senate candidates.

[ISUGRADIA]

16. When you said caucus I thought you meant the statewide caucuses

since Minnesota is not a primary state. We had senate district conventions, not caucuses, to choose state convention delegates in 2008 in the Twin Cities are at least. I thought smaller counties also held conventions.

[dflprincess]

11. Do you remember if any were there for Ford Bell?

He was the actual progressive running for endorsement, but the DSCC, DNC & the state party hierarchy decided to play it safe and go with the "centrist". Patty Wetterling was also in the race at that point but caved into the pressure and went for the 6th CD seat instead.

The state party actually violated its own rules by pushing Klobuchar long before there was an endorsement.

[mascarax]

15. Cool...

And not surprising!

[DFLforever]

9. She's saying she supports the present SS program.

She's saying she opposes privatization.


I'm not sure what else you want her to say at this point.

[dflprincess]

12. Sanders' pledge also includes

no cuts in benefits & no raise in the retirement age. I expect all Democrats to agree with those points. What worries me about Amykins is that she has already said she thinks the Catfood Commission's recommendations should be given and "up or down vote" - meaning she's all for no debate on the issue and, I'll bet, a voice vote so we won't be able to hold her accountable.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. I would have expected nothing else from Amy

but the usual blather by which she tries to make you think she agrees with you, while really she hasn't said anything one way or the other. She is a human windsock. If she feels the political wind is blowing in favor of a particular position she can then go ahead and support it without any risk. Likewise, if the wind blows the other way, she can point to her weasel-words to "prove" she never really did support the position. She is so totally chickenshit about anything that gives off the slightest odor of controversy. Honestly, I think I'd respect her more if she just flat-out disagreed with some position I wanted her to take. At least then you could have a fair argument instead of being handed a bowl of rhetorical goo.

[Love Bug]

17. Does she ever take an actual stand on anything?

Geeze-louise. x(