President Obama's appointing a bi-partisan commission to cut Medicare and Social Security benefits!

[Better Believe It]

I believe that's exactly what that commission will wind up proposing and every political person who followed Reagan's commission and the recent debate and discussion regarding forming a new commission understands this truth. And that's why the AARP and every other organization that represents the elderly is opposed to the formation of this commission.

The lesson learned from Massachusetts seems to be .... Don't move left and go for that bi-partisanship!

Of course, this won't prevent President Obama from injecting a little populist rhetoric into his speeches .... after all, anyone can talk a good game .... just don't do anything that might actually upset Wall Street, corporate America and conservative Democrats too much.

----------------------------------------


Voinovich seeks president's support for panel on U.S. debt
Obama to bypass Congress, appoint board, Dems say
By Jonathan Riskind
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
January 20, 2010

Sen. George V. Voinovich personally asked President Barack Obama yesterday to support the creation of a commission to determine how to reduce the national debt.
Voinovich and Obama met in the Oval Office for about an hour to discuss a proposal for a bipartisan commission with powers similar to one used for military-base closings. It would be approved by Congress and charged with tackling the costs of programs such as Social Security.

Late yesterday, top Democrats said Obama is poised to name a bipartisan 18-member panel that would be asked to report a deficit-reduction blueprint after the November elections that would be voted on before the new Congress convenes next year.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., predicted that Obama would name the anti-deficit panel by a presidential order and that Congress at the same time would strengthen so-called pay-as-you-go budget rules designed to make it more difficult to pass legislation that would increase the deficit.

In an interview late yesterday, Voinovich acknowledged that although there is bipartisan support for his commission proposal, there also is too much ideological opposition from liberals and conservatives alike for it to pass.

Voinovich and other debt-commission proponents have vowed to make creating the commission a condition of the Senate raising the federal debt limit above $12.4 trillion in a vote expected this week. However, it appears they will have to accept a compromise.

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2010/01/20/copy/GVVObama.ART_ART_01-20-10_A3_LLGBTAP.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

---------------------------------------------------



White House, Congress Reach Deal on Debt Commission
By JONATHAN WEISMAN
January 19, 2010

White House and congressional leaders reached a tentative deal aimed at establishing a bipartisan commission to tackle the soaring federal budget deficit, in what is likely to be a central element of President Barack Obama's fiscal 2011 budget, people familiar with the talks said.

Meeting Tuesday night at the White House, Vice President Joe Biden, White House budget director Peter Orszag and Democratic leaders agreed the commission would report back at the end of 2010 with a path to bring this year's projected $1.4 trillion deficit from about 10% of gross domestic product to 3% by 2015.

The commission would also submit recommendations on taxes and spending on entitlements, such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. House and Senate Democratic leaders promised the recommendations would be submitted to Congress for an up-or-down vote after the midterm elections this year, these people said.

Under the deal, the commission will be created by an executive order and laid out in the fiscal 2011 budget that Mr. Obama will submit to Congress Feb. 1.

White House officials, including National Economic Council Director Larry Summers and Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Christine Romer, made the case Tuesday night that the Obama commission would have teeth.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703837004575013852530566476.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_PoliticsNCampaign_4

---------------------------------------------

US Sen. Voinovich: Obama Backs Debt Commission; Votes A Concern
January 20, 2010

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- A Republican senator says President Barack Obama would like Congress to create a bipartisan commission to address the federal deficit, but is worried there aren't enough votes for the idea.

Sen. George Voinovich (R., Ohio), a longtime proponent of the commission proposal, met Obama at the White House Tuesday to discuss budget issues.

Speaking to reporters after the session, Voinovich said Obama will have to act on his own if lawmakers don't form a commission. He didn't detail Obama's options, but one frequently-discussed idea would be to create a commission through an executive order.

"If we're unable to do it in the Congress, then he has to do what he has to do in order to deal with this problem," Voinovich said. "My observation is that politics is trumping what's in the best interest of our nation."

"There's no one who cares as much about this as our president," Voinovich said. "The real issue is how do we tackle the issue of extending the debt limit and at the same time address the issue of this unacceptable, nonsustainable growing national debt that we have and the budgets we have that are not being balanced."

Obama's "main concern is whether or not there is support for a bipartisan commission," said Voinovich, who is not running for re-election this year. "If he doesn't get some kind of consensus on a commission, then he's going to have to move forward to do something as an alternative to address the problem that I believe would not be as successful as if we could do it on a bipartisan basis."

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201001191330dowjonesdjonline000385&title=us-senvoinovichobama-backs-debt-commissionvotes-a-concern

-------------------------------------------

"House and Senate Democratic leaders promised the recommendations would be submitted to Congress for an up-or-down vote after the midterm elections this year"

After the elections! Well, isn't that great timing! Republicans will have more members in the Senate and House after those elections .... might even have a majority in the Senate and/or the House of Representatives. How convenient. The purpose of a presidential commission is to make it far easier for Congress to make cuts in social programs that benefit working people.

[Cleita]

1. I believe we elected an executive officer

not a speech writer. Time to make him turn left.

[Bitwit1234]

24. So the massive call in had not effect

We asked the senators to vote no on this commission. Of course I'm from Minnesota and Franken gets the message, but I wish we could recall Kolchbar she is the worst senator we have ever had, even Coleman was better. She has her nose up corporate butt big time. All the money she has accepted from the Health Insurance companies should tell us something.

I have come to believe that the rich are the only ones who should be Democratic candidates. Those without a lot of money are swept up in the money grabbing and never let go.

[sandnsea]

2. Gosh. The left lies about Obama - again -

and then wonders why there's animosity against Democrats.

Your subject line is complete crap - and the exact kind of shit that contributed to yesterday's loss.

The only ones who refuse to learn any lessons are the left - this crap has been going on since it was done to Al Gore.

[Leopolds Ghost]

5. If you dislike "the left" so much why do you want Democrats in power?

[sandnsea]

11. Greens, Naderites, & WSWS

The left. As you well know. Who work against Democrats just as vigorously as any republican.

[Hannah Bell]

30. lol. wsws = world socialist web site. it's a website published by a splinter trot faction.

your list of "the left" is idiotic.

[sandnsea]

35. That is the left

And there are a number of people who are confused about their political beliefs, they think they're Democrats but they're really Greens or Socialists. That's fine, but they need to go build their own party and win some elections with their ideas before they start telling everybody else how it's all supposed to be.

[Hannah Bell]

38. they may be left, but they're not "the left". nor are greens or naderites.

there's about five of them, with a wider reading audience, the majority of whom *aren't* trots, & mainly for lack of *anything* which could pass for left political commentary.

per your type, "the left" = fdr democrats who want such radical things as universal health care.

why don't you quit telling people how "it's all supposed to be" yourself.

[Better Believe It]

40. You're right. It's a tiny political sect that doesn't have any political influence on the left.

It probably has fewer than 100 members.

[TheWraith]

71. And yet people here love to regurgitate their nonsense.

Though sandnsea should have put it more specifically: the insane left.

[Hannah Bell]

73. seems to me they have a better predictive record than the dlc faction here.

[tblue]

12. +1

[Spazito]

27. +100 n/t

[Better Believe It]

17. Can't you refute anything in the articles? Just a flat assertion they are "lies" won't do it

with thinking DU'ers.

What points are you challenging in the articles and why?

We're listening!

[sandnsea]

37. They are not cutting Medicare and Social Security

I've posted the Medicare info to you, personally, and it does no good. We've been through the Social Security problems on this board repeatedly. Looking at the long-term solvency of those two programs doesn't in any way mean they're being "cut".

And creating a board to look at ways to reduce the deficit - you automatically knee jerk against that?

And then you say you think???

[Better Believe It]

41. Don't believe me? Read what the AARP has to say on this bi-partisan commission idea

[sandnsea]

48. AARP opposes Conrad-Gregg fast-track commission

That's not what Voinovich and Obama discussed. AARP also opposes pay-go, and support Medicare Part D. So they aren't always right anyway.

http://www.aarp.org/aarp/presscenter/pressrelease/articles/budget_amendment_senate_letter.html

But my point is, your subject line is bullshit. Why can you not post a nice orderly pro/con on the commission to engage a discussion - instead of a partisan attack against Obama that could have been ripped from freerepublic. How the fuck do you think that will help?

[Better Believe It]

52. You want me to write a post in support of the entitlement cuts commission???!!!

The best way to oppose a commission that will propose cuts in social security, Medicare and other vital programs is to oppose it!

You criticize me for not presenting the pro commission arguments. You know, fair and balanced like Fox News!

Well, I won't do that. Why? Because I don't want social security and Medicare benefits cut. I take a position that apparently got you all riled up because it's the opposite of your position.

So I'll leave it up to you to write a pro-commission post that clearly favors collaboration with conservative Republicans and Democrats in forming a bi-partisan commission to attack the elderly.

Such an article might find a very receptive audience on Free Republic .... certainly more than my post.

[sandnsea]

54. It is not an entitlement cuts commission

It's not even the Conrad-Gregg legislation that you're using to justify opposing a conversation with Voinovich.

Do you not think there is one thing in the entire US government that needs to be cut? NOTHING???

[Better Believe It]

55. That's exactly what the commission will do. It will make cutting benefits easier for Congress

Commission advocates have clearly indicated they believe such a commission is necessary in order to cut benefits. That's what they say! Listen to them! Read what they say! They aren't exactly hiding their objectives. Don't you believe them?

Do you really think the purpose of the commission is to increase and improve Medicare & Social Security benefits .....and perhaps cut military spending in half and tax the hell out of the rich?

You need to study the issue a lot more if you really want to understand how Washington politics works.

Now, do you want to cut Medicare and Social Security benefits or not?

I don't.

Where do you stand? No more evasions!

[sandnsea]

56. They may cut big ag subsidies

They may cut the funding for some statues and memorials. They may cut some weapons programs. Maybe they'll cu overseas advertising subsities. They may raise cattle grazing fees. Or maybe they will go ahead and put the taxes back to the Clinton era.

You don't know what they'll do. Voinovich is proposing a deficit reduction commission - NOT a Medicare and Social Security benefits cut commission.

And as I've said, there are no cuts to Medicare benefits. There are cuts to insurance companies and for profit hospitals and rich doctors. How do you let the right wing bamboozle you into believing those are benefit cuts?

Social Security is going to be a tough tough fight. They've already moved our retirement date back and a lot of people don't know it. The right has framed this issue for years. A good number of people who do understand they took our FICA, believe they took it to pay for welfare and medicaid, not war.

Now back to your evasions. Do you believe there is NOTHING in government that needs cutting, besides defense?

[Better Believe It]

57. Isn't calling it a "bi-partisan" a tip off to what they are planning? Don't be naive!

You really think conservative Republicans and Democrats appointed to such a commission have the interests of working people and the elderly in mind?

"You don't know what they'll do"

Yes I do. Read what the proponents of a bi-partisan budget commission have said. Do they really need to spell it out for you?
It's hardly any secret.

"Voinovich is proposing a deficit reduction commission - NOT a Medicare and Social Security benefits cut commission."

Of course they call it a deficit reduction commission. Do you really expect them to call it a commission to cut entitlement programs like social security and Medicare? They aren't fucking idiots! You don't have to be a fricken rocket scientist to figure out what they are up to.

" Social Security is going to be a tough tough fight. They've already moved our retirement date back and a lot of people don't know it."

And how do you think "they" managed to increase the social security retirement age and who is "they"? Do you know?

It was President Reagan's bi-partisan saving social security commission that accomplished that dirty deed Congress had an up and down vote on the legislation proposed by his commission.

So we've been down that road before and that's why the AARP, labor unions and other progressive organizations are 100% opposed to President Obama forming a presidential commission that will propose balancing the budget on the backs of working people and retired people.

[sandnsea]

58. No answer. Just partisan spew.

And then people wonder why we lose.

If all voters hear are lies about Democrats, you leave them no option.

And you still won't talk about the actual budget. Or governing.

Just NO. Just like the Republicans. All the left ever says is NO.

I hope Obama goes on vacation and puts Dennis Kucinich in charge. That would be a fucking riot.

[Better Believe It]

59. Only the Republicans are allowed to be partisan! It seems you believe

a political party, in this case the Democratic Party, should not be partisan and stand with the people.

This failure to stand with the people, the embracing of bi-partisanship and collaboration with Wall Street and corporate America is what caused yesterdays election loss.

[sandnsea]

61. Sure. The Democrats should sit down and say no too

That would be awesome. Everybody in Congress just has a big old sit-in. Woohoo.

:eyes:

And STILL no answer about actual governance.

[Better Believe It]

63. They should have said that to George W. Bush

[Hannah Bell]

43. unless you're a good buddy of the WH, you have no more inside info on what they will or won't do

than the poster, so quit pretending you do.

The history of such "deficit-reducing" efforts supports the OP's take, not yours.

[sandnsea]

44. So the poster is pulling shit out of his ass

That's what I said. Thank you.

[Hannah Bell]

46. poor reading skills as well, i see.

[sandnsea]

50. You said the poster doesn't know what they'll do

anymore than I do, unless I'm a good buddy of the WH, which I'm not - so clearly the poster was pulling shit out of his ass.

However, on several occasions I have posted that the Medicare cut shit came straight from the right, and yet it keeps getting shoveled out on a daily basis. But I'm supposed to believe the people shoveling it support a Democratic agenda. Yeah, okay, whatever.

[Hannah Bell]

53. i also said: The history of such "deficit-reducing" efforts supports the OP's take, not yours.

it's not exactly news that both parties want to cut social security & medicare benefits.

[Moochy]

29. That Damnable Left

Damn Lefty Lefties what with their specific policy demands!

[Hannah Bell]

31. hell, yes. the important thing is, the Dems are in the white house -- not what they do there.

damnable left lefty leftists.

[Leopolds Ghost]

3. Better believe it indeed... that sucks.

[bluestateguy]

4. I see that as a good thing

Why? Because these bi-partisan commission recommendations are always ignored. So that would be a good thing.

[Better Believe It]

21. The base closing commission recommendations and Reagan's social security commission recommendations

were hardly ignored.

[cali]

6. your op title is grossly inaccurate.

[Better Believe It]

33. If you read the numerous progressive articles on this subject you'll learn that's what

forming a commission on entitlements is all about and why that's favored by those who want to cut so-called entitlement programs.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. What I read in the above is Obama is considering it.

Not that the commission is a done deal.

Alas, I do fear it will be a done deal since politicians can hide behind the commission.
And, there are too many DINOS who will vote with the Repugs on conservative issues.

[Mari333]

8. where does it mention SS and medicare in the articles?

however, $52,000 a minute spent on the occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan would cut the deficit if they were ended.
I still dont see where SS and Medicare is mentioned.
they know they will be struck a severe blow if those are messed with.

[Better Believe It]

15. Here and Here:

"Voinovich and Obama met in the Oval Office for about an hour to discuss a proposal for a bipartisan commission with powers similar to one used for military-base closings. It would be approved by Congress and charged with tackling the costs of programs such as Social Security."

"The commission would also submit recommendations on taxes and spending on entitlements, such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security."

[Mari333]

16. thank you

they mess with SS and Medicare, they will lose . period. they should know that. if they dont, they are complete morons.

[TCJ70]

9. Cutting benefits and reducing unnecessary spending...

...are two different things. I don't see the latter as all that bad and could lead to those programs becoming more sustainable.

[Better Believe It]

20. Reagan cut social security benefits with a commission.

He increased the retirement age.

A new commission will certainly recommend further cuts via increasing the retirement age, changing the COLA formulation so that future automatic benefit increases will be reduced.

Every progressive organization in the nation that supports social security is opposed to a Presidential commission because they know the elderly will be targeted with cuts in both Medicare and Social Security.

[pscot]

22. One person's unnecessary spending

is another's life saving treatment. Those opposed will have no problem finding people to say the proposed cuts will kill my child, husband, wife whatever. This is the wrong move at the wrong time using the wrong people.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. ???

The deficit and debt have to be dealt with. This isn't just "healthcare" and "entitlements". It's across the board including making sure those Shrub tax cuts expire and even taking that highest rate even higher than proposed, etc. They supposedly want to share the "blame" for raising (income) taxes.

[laughingliberal]

19. It may not be just entitlements but I predict that's where the people will take it in the shorts

From the article:

"In both examples, if 14 panel members agree on matters such as how to overhaul the tax code and curtail the long-term growth of entitlement programs, those recommendations would have to be voted on by Congress. ."

Curtailing the growth of entitlements=cutting Medicare and SS. President Obama's nominee for Chairman of the Federal Reserve has already come out talking entitlement reform and anyone who doesn't think there's a push within the administration to start privatizing both SS and Medicare just isn't paying attention.

[BumRushDaShow]

32. The media has continued to purposely obfuscate

the actual origin and purpose of programs like the private-run "Medicare Advantage", by lumping it in with the existing single-payer, government-run "Medicare" system, and calling it all "Medicare". So when it comes to discussions about "cutting" something, much of what was recommended was to end the government subsidies of "Medicare Advantage". But that part never gets explained and it's reported as "cutting 'Medicare'".

[laughingliberal]

36. It's true $177 billion of the cuts to Medicare were from ending the MA subsidies

However, $323 billion of the cuts are not. Having worked for providers during the years of trying to cut waste, fraud, and abuse from Medicare I will express no small amount of skepticism that we will see these sorts of savings from stopping waste or instituting 'best practices.' In order to realize those sorts of savings they would have to go after the hospital corps where most of the waste and fraud occurs. Instead, I see them traveling the same road of hammering at the industries that actually save them money and are responsible for very little of the fraud and abuse like home health. Why? Obviously, these industries have not the money to lobby powerfully. Those doing the right thing rarely have the kind of profits that would allow them enough money to buy Congress. Medicare, following the laws and policies instituted by our lawmakers, strains out gnats while swallowing camels and, consistently shoot themselves in the foot.

[BumRushDaShow]

49. I agree that it is a systemic problem and a mindset that has evolved

and not something where costs can be indiscrimately hacked away. The "blame" of waste and fraud cuts across the entire supposed "healthcare" system to include the recent dirth of "for-profit" hospitals and "private practice" doctors on their staff who charge outside of hospital staff rates. It's interesting that my mother just told me the other day that she had heard a discussion on talk radio about how a number of doctors have started taking out loans to purchase sophisticated medical diagnostic equipment normally kept in hospitals, and then correspondingly charging patients what would be excessive costs for tests using that equipment (in order to pay off the loan for the equipment). And according to what she said was pointed out was that there were doctors out there who felt they were "forced" to buy this equipment because patients would allegedly tell them that they were leaving to go to a nearby doctor who already had such.... So buying their own was the only way they could "compete".

The whole '80s "business model" crap must be removed from public services - whether government, healthcare, or education. It is destroying this country. :banghead:

[laughingliberal]

51. "The whole '80s "business model" crap must be removed from public services..."

Agree 100% with that. Hell, I was a nurse before health care was a for-profit business and patient care was actually a priority. I often challenge people to let me know of one public service which has been privatized that got better and less expensive with the addition of the profit motive. I rarely have any one answer that question.

[dflprincess]

13. More "reform" from the DLC

Rahm and his pals have had SS and Medicare in their sites for quite some time now. I get nervous whenever I hear that crowd start talking about reform - it seems to mean we're about to get screwed again.

[OHdem10]

14. Typical.... Let all the Spineless Wimps hide behind a commission.

The Commission made me return Granny to Poverty.

They have Gutted Medicare already. And I thought it
was the GOP who hated FDR. Oh, those New Democrats.

The WH is politically tone deaf. What is happening.
People are up in arms over Health Care and here
they roll out the plan to completely destroy themselves.

I ain't no strategist but I do know everything in Politics
is timing. The Teabaggers will hang them in the Public
Square and they will deserve it. If just once, they
took time to listen to the people instead of some
"hi-fallutin poll" they just might find out a thing or
too.

At least the GOP know their constituents depend on Meicare
and SS. Rank and file GOPers do not see these as entitlements
in a negative sense. They figure they have paid all their
working life and earned it.

The Senate screwed up Health Care by undeerhandedly reforming
Medicare and calling it HIR. This is why people are angry.
Otherwise explain why it is going to take 10 years for
many of these uninsured today to get coverage. Pay taxes
for 10 years before they get coverage--do the math. Some
will die paying taxes.

I have to stop, I am so overcome with disbelief.

[Mari333]

18. The US public, if they get wind of this, will vote against Dems

with the banks making money hand over fist, no jobs, 2 insane expensive wars going on, and now they want to go after old people?
this wont wash, even a HINT of it wont wash.
man, they are sooo out of touch.
and then they wonder why they might lose.
knr

[spanone]

23. in today's climate there is no such thing as bi-partisanship

[Frustratedlady]

25. We could get a lot more done if they didn't schedule decisions around elections.

If we are in such dire need, then do it! Have your commissions now, not after the election. I'm so sick of hearing the word, election, I could scream. All they think about is THEIR jobs, not everyone elses.

[RB TexLa]

26. Gutting what medicare and medicaid pay providers is essential to reforming healthcare

the government has huge buying power and can drive costs down if they would just hang up the phone on the AARP.

[Hannah Bell]

28. 2 trillion of the US debt = social security trust fund. reduce it by paying it back.

[SoCalDem]

34. Been there-done that

Moyniham & crew spent much time & money on just such a panel..

IIRC, they decided that some "privatizing" would be a good thing, and then kicked the can down the road..

Funny how no "panel" ever figures out a way to REPAY all the bazillions of dollars they have "borrowed" for a half century..

Can you even imagine how solvent and wonderful SS would be today, if all the FICA money had been preserved ?

My EZ solution?

Lift the cap, and mandate payments on "investment" earnings for people with incomes over $250K a year.. also, for people over $250K, make their medicare share 2.45% instead of 1.45% for medicare and 7.2% instead of 6.2% for SS...

The stealing of all that money for all those years, is what "covered" for all their cushy tax cuts & tax loopholes..and created a lot of their current wealth..

[Better Believe It]

39. AARP Urges Defeat of Binding Debt-Reduction Proposals and Debt Commission

AARP Urges Defeat of Binding Debt-Reduction Proposals
CQ TODAY
January 14, 2010

The powerful AARP lobby on Thursday called on senators to defeat a proposal to create a debt-fighting commission, as well as any plan to put the “pay-as-you-go” budget rules into law.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad , D-N.D., and ranking Republican Judd Gregg of New Hampshire are championing the proposal to create a debt commission composed of members of Congress and administration officials. The commission would recommend spending cuts, tax increases or both to rein in the long-term growth in government debt, and Congress would have to vote on the recommendations, up or down without amendments.

Conrad and Gregg say such an approach is the only way to get Congress to pass politically dangerous cuts to programs such as Social Security, or equally unpopular tax increases.

AARP is just the latest organization to denounce the idea. Liberal groups have become increasingly vocal in their opposition to the commission, echoing AARP’s warning it would cut Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Read the full article at:

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=cqmidday-000003278955

[blues90]

42. They want to cut , end the damn insane wars .NT

[hayu_lol]

47. Let us all not forget that the AARP...

was an enthusiastic and shameless booster of Medicare Part D.

They lost thousands of members over that stance.

[BlueDemKev]

45. Good....

...I hope this "bi-partisan" commission eliminates both S.S. & Medicare effective immediately. Then, maybe these far-left loonies who dominate the party will realize that maybe they didn't have it QUITE as bad as they thought!

[newspeak]

64. and who are these far left loonies?

this country has continually been yanked to the right--Norquist wanted to drown government in a bathtub--actually he meant government that actually helps the people-drowning FDR's new deal. The industrialists have hated FDR for his regulation and pro-people policies since they were enacted. What we're heading for is a greedy sociopathic ruling class against the plebes.

So liberalism has been redefined by our media and those who want to maintain the status quo--now those who are pro-labor, pro-social structure and pro-regulation (especially on those who gave us this glorious FUBAR), are far left loonies?

[Better Believe It]

65. Good? So you hope the commission really sticks it to our elderly people.

Well, your wish will be granted.

[mzmolly]

60. The title of your post is highly misleading

I must say.

[Better Believe It]

62. That's exactly what the commission is being setup to do. Here's more confirmation

Obama Cuts Deal To Reduce Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid
January 20, 2010

http://unsilentgeneration.com/2010/01/20/obama-cuts-deal-that-will-reduce-social-securitymedicare-and-all-entitlements/

[pinto]

66. That article jumps to conclusions, assumes an end result of a commission that hasn't even been

established yet, nor made any recommendations.

Hyperbole doesn't always foster clear discussion. And, it often fuels inflamed discussion that further clouds an issue, especially in politics.

[Better Believe It]

68. The purpose and objectives of commission advocates has been made absolutely clear

Read what the AARP, labor unions and progressive organizations have said about this commission proposal.

In fact, read what the proponents of the commission have written and said. They haven't exactly hidden their agenda!

They want to cut those "costly" entitlements that can no longer be afforded because of the budget deficits.

[pinto]

70. I'm not a proponent of the commission, yet there's this -

The commission can't *do* anything. It can make recommendations. It can't make law.

That's far from what is implied in the article. It's hyperbole doesn't benefit anyone. That's the issue I have with this article, as well as others along the same lines.

[MilesColtrane]

67. Obama's stealing your granny's teeth!

Horseshit fear-mongering...

[Better Believe It]

72. Read the articles and what progressive organizations have to say on this benefit cut commission

[dajoki]

69. The repubs have been trying...

for over 70 years to destroy SS and now a fucking dem is going to do the job for them. This will be a one term president!!