Obama Cuts Deal To Reduce Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid (HELLO. THIS is NOT a Democrat!)

[Triana]

I have to say, again, that Obama was NOT my first choice. And further, that we've been HAD. Hoodwinked. THIS is not the type of policies a DEMOCRAT - a REAL Democrat - by any definition of one I've ever seen, would promote:
_ _ _ _ _

"Hopes for any pretense of liberal change from the Obama administration collapsed yesterday, and not only because of the election in Massachusetts. While the Massachusetts voters were casting their ballots to install the upstart Republican Scott Brown to Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat, the White House was hammering out a closed-door deal to cut entitlements. Obama won the support of Democratic leaders for a plan to issue an executive order that would inevitably lead to reductions in Social Security, and especially Medicare and Medicaid.

The plan represents a capitulation to conservatives in both parties, and would leave Democratic liberals accepting unconditional surrender not only on health care, but on the most basic of all New Deal programs. As hopes of even a tepid health care reform wane, the effect of this plan, if accepted by Congress, will be to undermine the only single-payer health care programs this nation has ever known–Medicare for elders, and Medicaid for the poor. As an attack on entitlements, it has the potential to go beyond anything the Reagan and Bush administrations were able to achieve."

MORE...

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

[Tailormyst]

1. I don't even know what to say

I hope this is just a false rumor.

[peace frog]

6. Obama would be the perfect president

to undertake it. A Democratic president cutting entitlements? Well then, it must be necessary, right? Right?? Of course it must! A Democratic president would not cut entitlements unless it was absolutely necessary because his base would never allow it, never!11! Right?

Yeah right.

[KamaAina]

82. "Only Nixon could go to China"

:eyes:

[laughingliberal]

110. And it took Clinton to pass NAFTA nt

[elehhhhna]

117. Fauxbama

[elehhhhna]

118. Fauxbama

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

10. The article got its info from this Washington Post article

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011903310.html

Under the agreement, President Obama would issue an executive order to create an 18-member panel that would be granted broad authority to propose changes in the tax code and in the massive federal entitlement programs -- including Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security -- that threaten to drive the nation's debt to levels not seen since World War II.

The accord comes a week before Obama is scheduled to deliver his first State of the Union address to a nation increasingly concerned about his stewardship of the economy and the federal budget. After a year in which he advocated spending hundreds of billions of dollars on a huge economic stimulus package and a far-reaching overhaul of the health-care system, Obama has pledged to redouble his effort to rein in record budget deficits even as he has come under withering Republican attack.

[Junkdrawer]

26. Here's the part that pisses me off...

...

The commission would deliver its recommendations after this fall's congressional elections, postponing potentially painful decisions about the nation's fiscal future until after Democrats face the voters. But if the commission approves a deficit-reduction plan, Congress would have to act on it quickly under the agreement, forged late Tuesday in a meeting with Vice President Biden, White House budget director Peter R. Orszag, and Democratic lawmakers led by Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (Md.).

...


In other words, BY DESIGN, the voters will be locked out of the decision.

[happy_liberal]

91. Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security -- that threaten to drive the nation's debt to levels not see

"Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security -- that threaten to drive the nation's debt to levels not seen since World War II."

After all the money they have wasted on wars, trillions missing from the pentagon, trillion dollar giveaway to bankers...they are going to blame the debt on SS and medicare?!!

[MissDeeds]

108. Yep

Justification can always be made for spending trillions of dollars for killing, but providing for the wellbeing of elderly and/ or infirm...well, not so much.

Am I in the right country? This used to be the United States of America. I thought we were better than this.

[raccoon]

30. I do. "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." nt

[DrDan]

2. aaaaaaaaagh

time to begin a search in earnest for a 2012 candidate . . . .

[Lost4words]

9. Our system is broken, our choices are BAD or More BAD!

[AzDar]

3. My God... Is this for real?

:wtf:

[Junkdrawer]

21. Yes it's real. It may be the biggest thing Obama ever does....

And although everything about this has a "dead of night" quality, people are watching.

[izzybeans]

70. No.

The title of this thread is a lie. he is setting up a commission to deal with the foreseeable problems in these programs and we know little else. There is no source that said he'd reduce SS or Medicare.

[mzmolly]

85. NO.

It's bull.

[laughingliberal]

111. Do tell. What do you expect to see out of this stellar commission?

Cause Obama's choice to continue chairing the Federal Reserve has been talking 'entitlement reform' for a couple of months now.

[mzmolly]

120. Well given we're getting our crystal balls out

I hope to see the ability to negotiate drug prices, for starters.

[laughingliberal]

121. We can all hope but I fully expect we will see the privatization of Medicare and SS out of this

The financial institutions have been after our SS for a very long time and they will not be denied. If the Senate HCR bill that would have bailed out the unsustainable for-profit insurance companies goes down there will be an all out push to privatize Medicare. The Senate bill contained the seeds of Medicare privatization but now they'll likely do away with the tedious process of turning it over bit by bit and just gift wrap it for them.

[BP2]

4. There was once a time that "Liberal Democrat" meant something. Apparently not anymore. eom

[DrDan]

12. There once was a time that "Democrat" meant something. Apparently not anymore. eom

[golddigger]

5. And the hits

keep on coming!

[cali]

inaccurate. I dislike the commission but I don';t like lying pieces of crap either

The commission's purpose is to study ways to cut spending and/or raise taxes. In any case it won't happen because both pukes and many dems oppose it.

this kind of lying shit is contemptible.

[Lost4words]

16. Who are the lying pieces of crap you refer to?

All I get from your post is ANGER! Its not good for your health over the long run, and it takes away from any good point you make.

Chill chill chill!

[cali]

20. let's start with the title. Obama has not cut any deal to cut SS

or any other social program, and the proposed commission's purpose is to study deficit reduction.

Oh, and there are lots of angry people on this thread. are you going to go chide all of them?

[Lost4words]

37. I wasnt even chiding you cali.

disagreement does not = attack.

Were you using the intransitive verb CHIDE or the transitive use of the verb?

You have got to chill out.

I'll be willing to bet you yell at other drivers on the road. Its an indication,ignore me as I am sure you will, but you will make your point better ,whatever it is, without the hostility.

You have allot to say here and many who agree with you, you are not alone in this. Think about it.

thats all I have to say.

[tonysam]

97. He WILL do it because he thinks there is a "problem," which there is NOT.

This is neoliberalism at work, and Obama is a neoliberal to the nth degree.

I am sorry if you never saw this guy as anything OTHER than a neoliberal, but he is what he is.

And if we don't get him to act like a REAL Democrat, we are going to be fucked as a country.

[ipaint]

28. The commission is the brain child of the rich lying

piece of shit pete peterson.

"The deal is based on rickety interpretation of the country’s basic laws governing taxation. Normally, any change in taxes must be passed first by the House, with legislation wending its way through the Ways and Means Committee up to the floor. This proposed arrangement short cuts—indeed appears to bypass—this procedure. The appointed commission is to make a recommendation on the budget after the election and that recommendation then goes straight to the floor of both houses for an up or down binding vote. There are no hearings,no opportunity for the members of the House to weigh in on the proposals. To rub salt in the wounds, it was largely crafted not by members of the House, but by vice president and former Delaware senator Joe Biden along two senators–Kent Conrad, the North Dakota Democrat, once considered heir to the Great Plains progressive tradition, and conservative Judd Gregg, from New Hampshire. The man behind the commission plan is Pete Peterson."


More on the asshole who thought up this latest domestic attack on americans Obama has given his ok to-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_George_Peterson
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Blackstone_Group

Apparently Obama and dems in congress thinks these rich traitors have our best interests at heart and their ideas are good ones for the country.

[butterfly77]

58. You sound just fine to me..

keep on telling the truth Cali..

[tonysam]

93. It's isn't a "lie." You just never did your homework about Obama.

But then again with 24/7 media propaganda about this candidate, I can't blame you for not doing your homework.

A lot of us saw through the facade.

He's already privatizating public education--a downright RIGHTWING agenda--so what makes you think he won't completely dismantle SS and Medicare?

[Pool Hall Ace]

7. The bloom is off the rose, that is for sure.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

8. This is ridiculous. Budget is the purview of Congress and that's the end of it.

I call on every liberal, Progressive and Real Dem in Congress and the Senate to rise up and overthrow their leaders if they are actually thinking of agreeing to anything that subverts the intention of the Constitution for the budgetary arm of Congress.

[sabbat hunter]

14. umm not really

the commission merely has powers to SUGGEST changes not impose them.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

24. I've been googling a lot and I think you're correct. I will edit my post

until I find the article I read that concerned a commission, I thought it was social secuirty, but it may have been Medicare that was set up the way I described. But until I can authenticate that I will edit.

[Dr.Phool]

59. Yeah, but part of the suggesion is, accept or reject. Period.

No amendments. Take it or leave it.

That's the cowardly way congress does things, and ducks responsibility for specifics.

[sabbat hunter]

132. Or congress

can take part of the recommendations, reject other parts.

Congress is under no obligation to accept or reject the recommendations wholesale.

[RainDog]

22. Obama doesn't create health care legislation either, but he made sure the P.O. was off the table

before health care reform was even discussed.

while I'd like to believe Obama is not turning tricks for the oligarachy, my experiences tell me that's not a realistic pov.

[suffragette]

60. The info I've found on this is troubling

Like you, I've been searching to find more info about this and what I've found so far doesn't look good.

The idea for this panel seems to be getting pushed by Peter Peterson, who apparently has been pushing cuts to S.S. for awhile and has mounted a campaign to get such a commission in place to do this.

The Nation has a couple articles on that:
Looting Social Security, Parts 1 & 2

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100125/greider
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100111/greider

The first TFT "dispatch" to appear in the Post--"Support grows for tackling nation's debt"--made no mention of Peterson's crusade. But it featured the same devious gimmick the financier has been peddling around Washington. Congress should create a special commission of eighteen senators and representatives empowered to to make the "tough" budget decisions politicians are loathe to face--slashing benefits, raising payroll taxes or both. Other members of Congress would be prohibited from changing any of the particular measures, and would cast only an up-or-down vote on the entire package, no amendments allowed. Supposedly, this would give them political cover. Look, no hands. We just cut Social Security but it wasn't our fault.
This "reform" is profoundly antidemocratic because it would strip ordinary citizens of the only leverage they have in Washington--the ability to lean on their elected representatives and exact retribution if they get sold out. Peterson has two advocates in the Senate--Kent Conrad of South Dakota and Judd Gregg of New Hampshire--who are self-righteous fiscal hawks. The TFT story describes the rising federal deficits as a threat to the republic, yet fails to explain why deficits on rising. The billions have been devoted to bailing out major banks and Peterson's old chums in Wall Street or to turning around the failed economy or fighting two wars at once.
So why do the TFT reporters (Elaine Povich and Eric Pianin) zero in on old folks and Social Security or entitlements like Medicare and Medicaid? Because those are Pete Peterson's favorite targets. He has flogged Social Security as a blight on our future for at least twenty years. He is a nut on the subject. His "facts" are wildly distorted or simply not true. Never mind, the establishment press portrays him as a disinterested statesman.
Peterson's pouring money and PR into doing this:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-deficithawks_17bus.ART0.State.Edition1.3cf32ac.html

In 2008, Peterson put $1 billion into a campaign to raise awareness of the nation's economic folly. In December of that year, his Peter G. Peterson Foundation calculated that the nation's indebtedness and commitments to programs such as Social Security and Medicare exceeded the collective net worth of its citizens.

~snip~

Peterson has long warned that the retirement of the baby boom generation will break the finances of Social Security and Medicare and impose crippling burdens on future generations of Americans.

~snip~

The Peterson Foundation has poured money into media programs aimed at younger Americans, including films, MTV, Facebook, Twitter and a video game. Separately, Peterson has funded a news service called Fiscal Times to generate more stories about deficits, debt and international economics.

To Peterson's critics, his campaigns are threats to the pay-as-you-go economic model of Social Security and Medicare. These critics say private savings, whether invested on Wall Street or in a mattress, will never provide the elderly with sufficient levels of social insurance.


It looks to me like two different versions of this debt commission are being debated: the Conrad-Gregg one and the White House executive appointed one. (Please someone add or correct this if I'm not understanding it correctly). The C-G would have broader powers and the other would make recommendations. Both still are based on the Peterson model.

Krugman provides historical perspective:

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/errors-of-commission/

Errors Of Commission
I am not happy about plans to create an independent deficit-reduction commission. I’ll have more to say later on, but right now let me just remind you about what happened with the last serious effort to do this kind of independent-commission stuff, the Greenspan commission on Social Security. It was a game of three-card monte:

1. The Greenspan commission recommends tax increases on working-class Americans, plus some benefit cuts, even as Reagan is cutting taxes on the rich. But these tax increases, you see, are dedicated to Social Security.

2. In 2001, with the US budget in surplus — almost entirely because of the surplus in Social Security — Greenspan warns that we’re paying off our debt too fast, and calls for tax cuts (which mainly favor the rich, of course)

3. A few years later, with the budget back in deficit, Greenspan calls for, you guessed it, cuts in Social Security.

More broadly, you can’t solve big policy issues with an independent commission unless there is some kind of agreement among a wide range of people about general values, economic philosophy, etc.. And right now there isn’t.


Progressive groups are being rallied to oppose this and many have signed a petition doing that:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ashley-b-carson/say-no-to-the-fast-track_b_428490.html
http://capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=14446706


http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010010320/progressives-issue-warning-debt-commission

Progressives Issue "Warning" On Debt Commission

By Bill Scher
January 20, 2010 - 12:21pm ET

Earlier today, progressive leaders representing more than 50 organizations declared their opposition to the Conrad-Gregg debt commission proposal, which is expected to be introduced on the Senate floor soon as part of the bill to allow our federal government to meet its obligations by raising the debt ceiling.
The commission as originally envisioned -- with the power to prevent any amendments to its recommendations on the House and Senate floors -- is expected to be defeated by the full Senate. But the minority of pro-austerity, anti-Social Security/Medicare senators has threatened to force the entire US government into default if a compromise isn't reached that satisfies them.
Reports of a possible compromise were published today, but details were sketchy.

At today's press conference, Campaign for America's Future Co-director Roger Hickey said the united progressive front "can been taken as a warning" for any proposal that undemocratically subverts the normal legislative process and recklessly targets Social Security and Medicare.
Speakers at the conference were willing to wait and see what compromise is reached before passing judgment. Hickey drew a line, explaining that "a forum to talk about deficits is one thing," but "if it's undemocratic ... or focused on illegitimate targets like Social Security" which is not contributing to any long-term fiscal problem, then the White House and congressional leaders can expect tough criticism.

They have a link on "compromise" that goes to an article on the panel the White House proposes. From that, it looks to me like the panel Obama is proposing is a compromise of having a panel, but not giving it as much power.

Sounds better than the C-G one, but I'm leery of all this given the origins of the idea.

[Triana]

73. Thanks sufragette. I'm afraid with all the events of late, I don't recognize my own party...

...anymore (or the one I typically share my beliefs and priorities with at least), and after today, I also no longer recognize my country. It is now officially a fascist state.

No party. No country. I don't even know where to go from here. Though he wasn't my first choice, I supported O'Bomber more than I had ever supported any presidential candidate before in my life, financially and otherwise. And THIS is what I get. THIS is what I get?

Hooboy.

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. Any one that votes for this gets booted - (R) (D) (I), whatever.

[nightrain]

71. derail this crap.

[Odin2005]

13. Un-freaking-real.

I get SSI checks so I am extremely disturbed by this

[cali]

15. unfreakin' hyperbole.. unfreakin' dishonesty.

[Lost4words]

18. Who are you directing these posts to, We would all like to know?

[donco6]

23. She doesn't like the article. n/t

[Lost4words]

45. Silly Rabbit

[Romulox]

55. You could cut and paste her remarks randomly to any thread, and they'd be as meaningful. nt

[Lost4words]

76. You've noticed as well, too much hostility/anger bordering on hate

[Junkdrawer]

29. Speaking of dishonest, BY DESIGN, the voters will be locked out of the decision.

...

The commission would deliver its recommendations after this fall's congressional elections, postponing potentially painful decisions about the nation's fiscal future until after Democrats face the voters. But if the commission approves a deficit-reduction plan, Congress would have to act on it quickly under the agreement, forged late Tuesday in a meeting with Vice President Biden, White House budget director Peter R. Orszag, and Democratic lawmakers led by Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (Md.).

...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011903310.html

[ipaint]

32. Not only that opposing views where not even invited to the hearings

last Nov.

"In spite of all the talk in today’s Senate hearing about the need for a fair and balanced approach it’s interesting to note that every one of the 10 witnesses invited to testify supports the creation of a commission. Not a single witness opposed to the commission idea was even invited. It’s hard to have much faith in a process that ignores the opposing viewpoint from the get-go. We’ve seen these so-called “bi-partisan” commissions before; stacked with members who share the same view, regardless of their party affiliation. Remember President Bush’s bi-partisan Social Security Commission, filled with private account advocates, which not surprisingly came up with three privatization plans?"

http://www.ncpssm.org/entitledtoknow/?p=803

[onethatcares]

109. doesn't that sound a lot like "no one supporting the Public Option"

was invited to attend or offer testimony.

Get ready to live like 4th world people in the 21st century.

[dionysus]

83. people are just making shit up out of whole cloth to feed the poutrage machine.

it's gone beyond silly.

[mnhtnbb]

17. If this doesn't cause a storming of the Bastille, what will?

[dionysus]

80. it's a panel. there is no deal cut. people are now just making shit up to feed the poutrage machine.

[RainDog]

19. I can't organize the march, but I sure as hell will be there

because it seems like Obama needs to see the people who put him in office on the Washington Mall to remind him of why he was elected.

this is FUCKING INSANE.

there is NO REASON TO VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT who governs like a republican.

Obama, are you a neo-con? If you're not, what's the difference?

[flyarm]

38. we march we call we march we email, we march we call ..they don't give a rats ass!

how did it work out for the Docs and medical people who walked to DC and marched on the WH about Health care?

Each and everyone who gets to high office today ..is owned..and they are given the crown by the media elites, and the corporate elites.

There are no exceptions.

Everything is done to make sure they "win" and elections are a fraud..it is merely to let the American people believe we have a real process of electing anyone.

we do not.

See Florida and Michigan ..in primaries.

[RainDog]

43. maybe the american people have to engage in a general strike

maybe that's what's needed for the govt to remember that one of its reasons for being is to secure the general welfare of the poor, sick, the widowed...

As far as I'm concerned, Obama is a failure as a leader. He's great as a suck up to the rich and powerful, but a failure as a leader.

which is a shame, because he had the American people behind him.

emphasis on "had."

[peace frog]

48. Exacta-f*cking-mundo

:puke:

[DisgustedInMN]

25. Wrote Senator Klobuchar about this yesterday.. AS IF..

.. the fucking scoundrels in DC will even bother read what WE the People want, let alone lift a gawddamn finger to implement...

She calls herself a Democrat and co-sponsers this kind of crap?


Edited to keep the Spelling Cop off my ass.

[inna]

136. "Edited to keep the Spelling Cop off my ass."

:rofl:


Co-sponsors, not "co-sponsers".


LOL, just kidding! :toast:

[patrice]

27. That does it. As far as I am concerned, Obama's a 1 termer, but then maybe THIS is what he was HIRED

to do.

[flyarm]

39. ding ding ding!!..you get the golden ring!! eom

[patrice]

44. Well, I'm not taking it unless it means "Off with ALL, as in every last one, of their heads," figura

tively, of course . . .

Om namah Shivaya!

[SammyWinstonJack]

56. Oh I am sure it was what he was hired too do. Exactly!

x( Watch, he won't even run for re-election. Fine by me. x(

[MadHound]

31. Obama and the New Dems, doing more damage than the 'Pugs could even dream of.

It took a so called Democrat to destroy welfare and our manufacturing base. It takes another Dem to destroy Social Security and the middle class.

So why do we vote for this party? Because we're masochists?

[Individualist]

86. +1

[ima_sinnic]

115. the democrats are dead to me

I'm a registered Independent now, and I'll "vote" for whomever--not that it'll do any good to write in Kucinich or Dean, but it will be my own tiny boycott of the whole failed system.

[JamesA1102]

33. Has any reputable site confirmed this.

I have to admit that I never heard of this website before so I take this with a grain of salt until a more reputable site confirms it.

[Junkdrawer]

34. Washington Post...

White House, Democratic lawmakers cut deal on deficit commission

Faced with growing alarm over the nation's soaring debt, the White House and congressional Democrats tentatively agreed Tuesday to create an independent budget commission and to put its recommendations for fiscal solvency to a vote in Congress by the end of this year.

Under the agreement, President Obama would issue an executive order to create an 18-member panel that would be granted broad authority to propose changes in the tax code and in the massive federal entitlement programs -- including Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security -- that threaten to drive the nation's debt to levels not seen since World War II.

The accord comes a week before Obama is scheduled to deliver his first State of the Union address to a nation increasingly concerned about his stewardship of the economy and the federal budget. After a year in which he advocated spending hundreds of billions of dollars on a huge economic stimulus package and a far-reaching overhaul of the health-care system, Obama has pledged to redouble his effort to rein in record budget deficits even as he has come under withering Republican attack.

The commission would deliver its recommendations after this fall's congressional elections, postponing potentially painful decisions about the nation's fiscal future until after Democrats face the voters. But if the commission approves a deficit-reduction plan, Congress would have to act on it quickly under the agreement, forged late Tuesday in a meeting with Vice President Biden, White House budget director Peter R. Orszag, and Democratic lawmakers led by Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (Md.).

...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011903310.html

[JamesA1102]

41. Doesn't say that any of those programs will be cut

Just that the so-called debt commission may make recommendations on way to reduce the deficit. And when was the last time Washington actually adopted the recommendations of a bi-partisan commission? They still haven't moved on recommendations made by the 9/11 commission years ago.

[Dr.Phool]

63. Military Base Closing Commission.

It's the cowards way out. They can deny voting for specific cuts. But, it's an all or nothing vote. No amendments allowed. No changes.

This is the brainchild of billionaire corporate pirate Peter Peterson.

[Better Believe It]

35. Yes

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7521214&mesg_id=7521214

[JamesA1102]

42. See above nt

[Dr.Phool]

62. William Greider has had a couple of articles in the Nation.

One last year, one this year.

Go to their site and search either Greider or "Looting Social Security" Parts 1 and 2.

[JamesA1102]

64. Thanks nt

[dionysus]

81. it's a panel to review costs. people are making shit up out of whole cloth.

[Better Believe It]

105. Always making excuses, always blind to the facts.

[Hannah Bell]

106. that line doesn't work anymore.

[Ganja Ninja]

36. If this happens you can put a fork in the Democratic party.

That is if you haven't already.

[ShortnFiery]

95. There's little left to mourn because we've been morphing into a corporate duopoly for

the past 40 years our so. Now we have almost reached a full realization what Economic FASCISM means for our nation. :shrug:

The little bit of monies that exist for the Middle and Working Class people can be drown out by big business and there's no way to get our message out when the mainstream media is OWNED by a corporate controlled government.

It's all over but the suffering and service to our corporate masters.

We've lost. The corporations have won.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

40. Here's What I Find Hilarious

I can't help but laugh when I see all these right-wing mouth-breathers complaining about how bad the country is right now. Every time I hear them moaning about how horrible things are, I always make sure to let them know that things are horrible because all the policies being used to govern the country are RIGHT-WING policies. They're seeing irrefutable evidence of just how bad right-wing policies are. Unfortunately, most of them don't have minds sophisticated enough to understand anything more than, "Democrat in power = bad."

This is why Obama needs to learn a lesson from Bill Clinton (not that he was any model of liberal policies either). When Clinton was President, he enacted policies the Republicans hated, and things in this country just got better and better. People could see the evidence that Clinton's policies WORKED, so when righties complained about them, they looked like they favored their ideology over the well-being of the country (which we all know is 100% true). Things aren't improving right now because Obama and the Democrats are trying to govern like Republicans.

Take my advice, Barack, govern from the left for a while. I mean, why not just TRY it? The Republicans will howl and hate you for it, but isn't that the way it is NOW anyway? If you envision a world where Republicans and Democrats join hands and work together, it's never gonna happen. You can give them everything they want and they will still hate you for it. So screw 'em and do what you know is right. And when the economy starts to roar back to life, and all the other things start improving, people will have NO CHOICE but to admit that you did a good job. It will be the same as when Clinton was President (the Republicans will bitch and moan about how well liberal policies are succeeding), but the haters will just be labelling themselves as the fools they are. Trust me. Just do it. Because what you're doing now ain't working.

[daa]

53. I disagree a little

I think he should govern like REAGAN, power to the people. Ronnie made a democratic congress do his bidding by going to TV and telling the people to call their congressperson. And it worked.

[theboss]

69. Clinton slashed the capital gains tax and loosened regulation of the financial markets

That fueled the tech boom and housing boom.

Neither of this policies are "liberal."

Outside of the 1993 Budget, there were very few policies that Clinton imposed that Republicans hated. Republicans just hated Clinton.

[closeupready]

46. If they so much as whisper about doing this, I am so done as a Democrat.

Will never ever ever again lift a finger for them.

[NorthCarolina]

47. So, it takes a New Democrat to accomplish what the GOP has been attempting to do for Decades. eom

[struggle4progress]

49. A bunch of Repubs are saying they won't go for the Conrad-Gregg commission. Hoyer

says the Dems don't have the votes because a bunch of Dems are saying they won't go for it either. All we have so far is a vague report about a tentative agreement, for which there might be legitimate constitutional issues -- and that scarcely qualifies as evidence Obama plans to cut Social Security and Medicare

[Triana]

67. I hope you're right S4P

For all those slamming the post, I'd rather be WRONG about it than right.

[struggle4progress]

128. Steny Hoyer: Democrats don’t have votes for deficit commission (Warning: Politico)

By JAMES HOHMANN | 1/19/10 2:57 PM EST

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says the votes aren’t there for the Senate or House to pass a measure that would require Congress to take an up-or-down vote on the recommendations of a proposed bipartisan commission that would make binding recommendations on deficit reduction ... http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31664.html

[struggle4progress]

130. Republicans blast fiscal commission

... Gregg and other GOP members have split with Conrad, who has been involved in discussions over the commission led by Vice President Joe Biden. Gregg dismissed the idea of creating the commission by executive order as a "nothing-burger," arguing that it wouldn't be as strong as the Conrad-Gregg plan and that it wouldn't be as bipartisan as they'd hoped ... http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/77147-gop-opposition-threatens-fiscal-commission-agreement

[struggle4progress]

131. I really don't know how to read this in any definitive way. It looks to me like lots

of folk didn't like Conrad-Gregg: I can find rightwingers like George Will and the Heritage Foundation opposing it as a way to raise taxes, and I can find progressive groups against it:

50 Progressive Groups Oppose Conrad-Gregg Deficit Commission, Calling It 'Dangerous and Undemocratic'
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/50-progressive-groups-oppose-conrad-gregg-deficit-commission-calling-it-dangerous-and-undemocratic-82161907.html

I have not followed this at all: I haven't read any legislative text. Here's an article from December:

Support grows for tackling nation's debt
By Elaine S. Povich and Eric Pianin
The Fiscal Times
Thursday, December 31, 2009
... 35 Democratic and Republican senators have signed on to legislation that would create a bipartisan commission with broad power to force painful spending cuts and tax increases through Congress ... The White House has been talking to Congress to try to craft a proposal that would not wholly relinquish congressional control over major decisions on taxes and spending ... Obama and Democratic and Republican leaders agree that .. spending and .. public debt are threatening .. the nation's economy and the U.S. credit rating abroad ... One alternative under consideration would be for Obama to appoint a task force by executive order that recommends budgetary and fiscal policy changes, but not dictate a schedule for congressional action ... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/30/AR2009123002576.html

The Republican strategy has been clear for decades: smash Federal power by bankrupting the Federal government and then slash social and regulatory programs. That's why the debt soared under Reagan and nearly doubled with W's tax cuts, off-budget wars, and huge hand-outs to the financial sector. We will have to deal with this issue, and the battle-lines are entirely predictable: the Republicans (for example) will push to lower taxes while increasing military spending and shouting that Dems stand for nothing but increased taxes and handouts to "welfare queens." So we should expect continuing efforts to assault Social Security and Medicare, and we need to organize to protect such programs in coming years: but it's not clear why I should regard the threat as coming directly from Obama. Of course, in the end, whatever Administration we have (when unavoidable crisis looms) will simply deal with whoever is organized -- and if that's not us, our side won't win

[FactsMatter]

142. Don't be Naive

If you just can't/won't believe that it's in the realm of possibility for a Democratic administration to consider massive cuts in Social Security and Medicare then you do not have a good feel for the political winds in Washington today. For example, the Washington Post article quoted here "Support grows for tacking debt" was written by Pete Peterson's new faux-news bureau called the Fiscal Times. This article was bought and paid for by a man who has promised to spend $1 billion dollars to pursuade the American people that Social Security and Medicare are to blame for our debt and deficits. There are literally hundreds of posts on the Fiscal Times and its new "relationship" with the Post. But you can start here. http://www.ncpssm.org/entitledtoknow/?p=871

When good Democrats are quoting Pete Peterson propoganda as evidence that everything's OK--that's a problem. When good Democrats have been convinced that somehow Social Security and Medicare must foot the bill for years of failed borrow and spend policies, tax cuts for the rich and two wars-- that's a problem. When grassroots Democrats refuse to accept that sometimes "bi-partisanship" is really anything but--that's a problem. But that is exactly what is happening on Capitol Hill. Ignore it at your own peril.

This commission, the Conrad/Gregg commission, has been called an entitlement commission since it's inception because that's IS it's focus. Cutting entitlements. Giving it a new name, Budget commission, Debt Commission, no one even knows for sure...has not changed its focus one bit. Why do Conrad/Gregg hate the idea of a Presidential Commission (by executive order rather than their bill?) because the executive commission does not absolutely guarantee that entitlements remain the focus. If debt/deficit reduction is the goal then there are many ways to do that but that is NOT what this is truly about. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/01/deficit_peacock.html

The Ridgeway piece is dead-on whether we want to believe it or not.

[struggle4progress]

144. Thanks for the useful NCPSSM link. But I don't appreciate your putting words in my mouth.

[struggle4progress]

127. delete

posted wrong place

[ecstatic]

50. Why does DU take a headline and run with it without gathering facts?

[DisgustedInMN]

52. I don't know...

... perhaps because some of us are tired of being lied to? And handed shit sandwiches.. then being told to "STFU and enjoy your lunch."

Perhaps we have lost faith that we have honest brokers, with OUR best interests at heart in control, and not those of the corporations that are paying them off....

Just sayin'

[Dr.Phool]

66. It's not a headline.

This is something the right (and conservadems) have been pushing for years. The information is out there, you just have to look for it. The two articles I mentioned upthread are a good place to start.

[olegramps]

51. I contacted both of my senators and my house representative:

This was brought to our attention a few days ago and I contacted my representatives and have only received a form e-mail. This is perhaps the most important thing that has taken place during Obama's first year. We have been sold out if this passes. This commission could result in the Republican's most cherished dream, total destruction of FDR's New Deal Legislation. Kiss your ass goodbye.

[RainDog]

54. Americans died to protect the elderly and infirm from corporate predators

if Obama aligns himself with the same, he, in turn, is a corporate predator.

a one-term corporate predator because, while I will not vote for a republican, I will not vote for a democrat who governs like one, either.

[Javaman]

57. First of all, the article from the Wash. Post states nothing about cutting SS...

That part is supposition on the part of the blogger.

if this were fact, don't you honestly believe that the repukes would scream, "this is hypocrisy!!!" from coast to coast?

I'm not going to get worked up into a lather over someone opinion.

[izzybeans]

61. Unrec for misinformation.

[AzDar]

65. Kick...

[L0oniX]

68. Oh pffft ...give him a chance. It's only been a year. Have a nice one term presidency.

Hope and change ...for the rich and the war mongers. Fuck this country and fuck this government and fuck the damned asshole repukes. I hate you all you fucking devils!

[boomerbust]

72. HELLO

This is complete snd utter BULLSHIT!!!!

[Better Believe It]

74. Kick

[Howler]

75. my head feels like its going to explode!!!!! n/t

n/t

[dajoki]

77. FUCK THIS!!

[bvar22]

78. Bill Clinton's Championship Title of "Best Republican President ever"...

...is in jeopardy.

Just say NO to "Centrism".

"When given the choice between a Republican, and a Democrat who acts like a Republican, the voters will choose the Republican every time." ---Harry Truman

QED



"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[dionysus]

79. more lies... more hyperbole.. more bullshit...

:shrug:

[mzmolly]

84. Bullshit.

There is no evidence to support the notion that cuts will be made to any of the programs noted.

[dionysus]

87. they've gone off the cliff. they hate him so much they've gone straight to;

"zomg he's going to destroy america and the middle class forever!!1!1!11"

they think he's worse than bush.

[mzmolly]

88. It's unbelievable.

People did not bother to find out how the health care bill would have actually helped Americans. Medicaid was expanded, the states had the funds and the leeway to create a "public option" or even single payer if they chose. Not good enough apparently. :(

[hileeopnyn8d]

89. Bullshit thread title

I love how quickly blatant fucking lies get on the greatest page.

This place is like FreeRepublic only with slightly less racism.

[mzmolly]

90. Hear hear.

Truth matters not, but a saucy bullshit, lie riddled, negative title ... to the greatest!

[tonysam]

92. What did people here expect? Obama was ALWAYS a neoliberal

Neoliberals have WRECKED this country with their discredited, debunked ideology.

We will have NOTHING left if we allow it.

[CreekDog]

94. If we're going to dismantle the welfare state, it would be nice to do it on our own terms

kind of like writing your own advance directive. :eyes:

[Egnever]

96. This is a perfect example of why brown won

So many on this thread and on this board are willing to buy into every single bullshit headline that comes along with no thought whatsoever. A large portion of the american public seems to have lost any semblance of independent thought.

This country is fucked.

[Hannah Bell]

107. nope, the failure of the democratic leadership to act like democrats & stand democratic candidates

is.

[bullwinkle428]

98. Any proposal this commission makes would require a 60% super-majority

in both houses of Congress before moving to Obama, so it's probably not "panic button time" yet; still something that we need to seriously keep an eye on.

[Better Believe It]

99. Not if Congressional leaders and Obama agree to an up and down vote

And that is the "guarantee" Democratic and Republican Senators are asking for in order for them to go along with an Obama executive order setting up a tax and entitlements commission.

[laughingliberal]

113. That is 100% correct. It is what they have demanded. nt

[Faux pas]

100. IF this is true, then how do we stop ss and medicare deductions

from our paychecks? As it is, this government isn't getting any more payroll taxes beyond deductions taken from my check. Nada, nothing, zilch, bupkus, ZERO. Now, if they want to arrest me and put me away, it'll cost them more to house and feed me than what they'd be getting anyway. F them all.

[m_anders]

101. NEXT: Obama proposes Social Security privatization through Goldman Sachs

Just like the good ol' days

[Starbucks Anarchist]

102. Lot of hyperbole in this thread.

He's creating a commission to study deficit reduction which *may* include reductions to entitlement programs.

Somehow, that was translated into, "Obama Cuts Deal To Reduce Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid."

[Name removed]

103. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[patrice]

122. hmmmm . . . odd, that's real "gray" of you.

[Kaleva]

104. unrecced for bullshit title.

From the WP articel:

"Under the agreement, President Obama would issue an executive order to create an 18-member panel that would be granted broad authority to propose changes in the tax code and in the massive federal entitlement programs — including Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security — that threaten to drive the nation’s debt to levels not seen since World War II."

[Codeine]

112. This is complete bullshit. Lies this big

should earn a fucking pizza delivery.

You're all fucking starting to sound like unhinged Freetards. Seriously.

[Cant trust em]

114. A commission! Oh no!!!!!

Run for your lives! It's a commission!

[Better Believe It]

124. A bi-partisan one that will probably be stacked with conservative Democrats and Republicans

No. Don't run for your lives. Just watch your wallet and kiss your Medicare and Social Security goodbye!

Well, you'll still have Social Security .... if you live to be 90 to collect.

Not much of an exaggeration really.

[Cant trust em]

133. Call me when a proposal has been formalized.

Until then, this OP has jumped the gun.

We should make sure that our goals are heard and hold those leaders accountable, not make up stuff before anything really happens.

[Better Believe It]

140. You'll be a day late and a dollar short. The time to speak out against a commission is now!

Not after the horse has left the gate.

[Cant trust em]

141. You can't be against a commission.

You have to be against an issue.

[Better Believe It]

145. Yes I can. Because I and most others understand the economic objectives of the proposed commission

The reduce budget deficits on the backs of working people and the elderly.

[dmr]

116. Wouldn't Congress have to vote to relinquish their powers?

I read a few years ago that some in Congress wanted to do just that. Those in Congress know it would be political suicide if they screwed with Social Security or Medicare .

So the idea was to create a Commission, vote to give that Commission broad powers, and when the shit hits the fan, they can tell their constituents that their hands are clean. It's the Commission's fault. Mission Accomplished! (to quote ol' Dubya)

I have the sinking feeling that this might be where it's going, so I get antsy when I hear this. But I don't think Obama can arbitrarily do this himself - though he could start the ball rolling.

:shrug:

[Better Believe It]

123. They did that when Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush were President

[Junkdrawer]

119. The Perfect Storm:

1.) Obama creates the "Bipartisan Commission".

2.) Republicans, thanks to Democratic disenchantment and a big influx of Corporate money, win back Congress.

3.) Commission announces its findings (Lead pipe cinch to include big "entitlement" cutbacks.)

4.) Republicans vote to accept the findings and any blame goes back to Obama because he appointed the most seats on the commission.

[RainDog]

126. the truth of the matter is

that after seeing the Senate health care reform, a lot of people think the democrats are capable of what they see as very bad actions.

it is stunning to me, for instance, that abortion rights for poor women would be sacrificed on the altar of religious zealots...and this was done by democrats.

the entire hateful and misogynist thinking that gets to that point in legislation is something that no one with the most basic sense of justice and decency could let stand. yet.

Obama has made decision after decision that runs counter to his stated position.

those who believe he can do such a thing are merely looking at his actions since he took office and recognizing that giving wall street another ponzi scheme to play with grandma's social security is just business, just politics. getting things done. yeah.

[spanone]

125. wrong.

[vssmith]

129. Pete Peterson would rather not have a progressive income tax

He wants to balance the budget on the backs of workers. George Carlin warned they were coming after our Social Security.

[Go2Peace]

134. I don't trust this, but the IDEA of citizen and professionals on a commitee like this is a good idea

I would love to see "citizen's committees made of citizens, scientists, and professionals that could recommend approaches and legislation on many fronts. The idea itself is good.

The question is: How do they make sure that special interests or partisans don't gain control? What protections are in it?

[inna]

135. KR, and please see this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7536884

[johnaries]

137. It's a bullshit article. nt

[panzerfaust]

138. Change you ... Change you can ... ummm Change

Change?

Nope. Sorry. Ain't got none myself.

[DailyGrind51]

139. And "we" thought Hillary was a corporatist!

[jonathon]

143. Primary him in 2012 - or else it will be two republican candidates on the ballot

Corporate Republican

Versus

Wackjob Republican

Neither is a good choice and until we have the balls to stop voting for the lesser of two evils and start actually electing people who will represent us, we only have ourselves to blame.