Isn't it clear by now that President Obama has no intention of removing Simpson from the commission?

[ProSense]

Ex-Sen. Simpson apologizes for gaffe, will remain at post

By Elise Viebeck

Alan Simpson will continue to serve in his capacity as Republican co-chairman of President Obama's fiscal commission in spite of a controversial statement he made in an e-mail to a critic Monday.

Simpson, the gaffe-prone former GOP senator from Wyoming, on Wednesday apologized to Ashley Carson of the Older Women's League for sending her an e-mail Monday that sharply criticized Social Security and compared it to "a milk cow with 310 million tits."

In response to his original e-mail, several , saying his position undermined the credibility of the fiscal panel.

But the White House acknowledged Simpson's gesture and said he would remain in his post, The New York Times reported Thursday.

more

Simpson is a Republican, and he would have to be replaced by a Republican. Does anyone believe that any other Republican is going to be less critical of SS?

[DJ13]

1. Simpson is..... pleased

[NC_Nurse]

2. Yes, it's clear. He bends over backwards to appease the Right, but the rest of us

don't count.

[Junkdrawer]

3. Obama would indeed replace him with a Republican just as odious....

But there are less radical Republicans. It's just that a less radical Republican wouldn't provide the extreme view that Obama can triangulate from.

[pscot]

21. +1

There's some eleven dimensional chess we can believe in.

[QC]

22. +2

This is all theatre, and it's amazing how few can see that on a board filled with political junkies.

[ProSense]

23. Throw up some names.

Let's see how many less radical Republicans are out there whose views you'd be comfortable with enough to have on the commission.

"It's just that a less radical Republican wouldn't provide the extreme view that Obama can triangulate from."

Actually, a so-called moderate Republican would likely be able to make more sense than Simpson, and the media would likely hype that person's views, and could give blue dogs and Republicans cover.

[Junkdrawer]

29. I don't think there should be a commission to begin with....

so there are no "Republicans are out there whose views you'd be comfortable with enough to have on the commission."

However, there are many moderate Republicans that have been forced into retirement by the new extreme Republican party.

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=what_ever_happened_to_moderate_republicans

And Simpson is an ex-Senator.

[ProSense]

31. That's from 2007 and has nothing to do with Social Security. This

does, from the Republican Leadership Council site.

[Junkdrawer]

36. Alan Simpson last served in the Senate in 1997....

Obama had to reach WAY back to get him.

[dflprincess]

40. dupe/self delete

[dflprincess]

41. Candidate Obama also used to say there shouldn't be a commission

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9021996

...in the campaign in a debate with Hillary Clinton and John McCain both of whom favored a Commission on the deficit, that he opposed these kinds of commissions as they were really a 'stealth way to get around Congress debating and then voting on issues'.

And, as Olbermann (and many here) have pointed out. Why is the "Deficit Reduction" Commission discussing the one program that has a surplus? Could it be because it is so successful and benefits the working and middle classes more than the ruling elite?

Social Security shouldn't even be on the table.

[Tesha]

35. Michael Bloomberg. And what party is Warren Buffet enrolled in? (NT)

[librechik]

27. yes, but I don't believe he HAS too--there are no rules here except the ones he made

it's not a Congressional committee. In fact, he could have named all Dems and there would have been nothing the GOP could have done about it. Once again, he was just trying to pre-empt the inevitable objections by the right, which would have rained down on him even if he had appointed all Republicans.

[avaistheone1]

32. T R U E ! !

[Tesha]

33. Man, where's that "Recommend Reply" button when you need it??? (NT)

[gratuitous]

4. It's been clear for a day or so

If Alan Simpson had done something the White House disapproved of, he'd be gone like shot through a goose. As it is, he's apparently doing exactly what they want him to do: Badmouthing social security, insulting the base, handing out half-assed apologies and generally continuing a career as an odious creep.

Is the picture coming into focus?

[monmouth]

5. Maybe when POTUS comes back from vacation he will reverse Rahm's (?)

decision to keep him.....Bwahahahahaha, who am I kidding...

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

6. Confused... is this a call to stop calling for his removal?

Of course Obama was never going to remove him.

The purpose of calling for his removal is to 1) apply pressure on the commission and 2) pre-de-legitimize the recommendations.

Practical politics.

[ProSense]

9. "is this a call to stop calling for his removal?" Yes, that

is what this is. I expected this to happen within minutes of of posting this thread.

"Of course Obama was never going to remove him.

The purpose of calling for his removal is to 1) apply pressure on the commission and 2) pre-de-legitimize the recommendations."

Chess?

[donco6]

7. THAT'S going to be the talking point?

Lame.

[Junkdrawer]

10. They're still in search of one....

"The word 'tits' isn't so bad..."

If not Alan Simpson, the left would be outraged by something else...

Look, Simpson would be replaced by someone just as bad...

[ProSense]

12. What's going to be the talking point?

What talking point?

[alsame]

25. Reeks of desperation. I'm sure there is concern that a focus on

possible SS cuts will negatively impact Dem turnout in Nov.

[TheKentuckian]

8. That speaks for its self. Obama made his bed and won't get up so he can lie in it.

He wrote the order and effected it's design. He didn't have to do it at all and could have stacked as he pleased. It would still be bi-partisan if he made Mike Dukakis the other co-chair and there is no law requiring it be partisan, non-partisan, or bi-partisan.

Simpson is hugely anti-safety net. Obama could have selected an equally deeply in favor co-chair but chose not to. He could have appointed advocates for the elderly but stuck with corporate heads.

No, President Obama will be accountable for his choices no matter how many hyperlinks and spin is thrown out.

[ProSense]

16. "President Obama will be accountable...no matter how many hyperlinks and spin is thrown out." Here's

one

[Name removed]

Deleted message

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

[saracat]

11. Your kidding, right? That is just sad. There are better mannered Republicans out there.

There are even some who support SS.But I don't suppose they are in demand.The Potus gets what he wants.

[ProSense]

13. "There are better mannered Republicans out there."

Yeah, make a list and send it to him so he can continue the bipartisanship you so despise.

[saracat]

17. I think the entire commission should be abolished but as long as he feels he must have it there are

better people out there. I "could" make a list but no one would be interested. Let one of the highly paid politicals do it. That is what they are paid for.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. I haven't been so upset since he didn't fire Simon on American Idol.

He's so mean!

[Brickbat]

15. It's clear that it's the latest in a long line of things Obama's not doing.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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

[ProSense]

19. Oh brother.

I'm devastated.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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

[ProSense]

24. Now you made me

laugh.

[jgraz]

26. "he would have to be replaced by a Republican" ... why, exactly?

It's not like this commission is mandated by law. Obama can set up whatever he wants. If he really wanted to do the right thing, he'd disband the commission and just propose actual progressive reforms. We all know what they are: cut defense, raise taxes on the uber-rich. Obama just doesn't want to do that, so he has this bullshit commission to cover his ass.

[whatchamacallit]

28. If they're all equally douchetastic, why must we have any republicans on the commission?

Really.

[bvar22]

30. "he would have to be replaced by a Republican"

Did you just make that up?

or do you have a little Blue Link
that supports your claim?

[ProSense]

34. "Did you just make that up?" You mean you have no idea what the facts are?

12. Membership and Designation. The Commission shall be composed of 18 members who shall be selected as follows:

(1) six members appointed by the President, not more than four of whom shall be from the same political party and will serve as Special Government Employees;
(2) three members selected by the Majority Leader of the Senate, all of whom shall be current Members of the Senate and serve as regular Government Employees;
(3) three members selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, all of whom shall be current Members of the House of Representatives and serve as regular Government Employees ;
(4) three members selected by the Minority Leader of the Senate, all of whom shall be current Members of the Senate and serve as regular Government Employees; and
(5) three members selected by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, all of whom shall be current Members of the House of Representatives and serve as regular Government Employees.

From among his appointees, the President shall designate two members, who shall not be of the same political party, to serve as Co-Chairs of the Commission. The Commission shall be headed by an Executive Director, who will provide management and leadership for staff operations, and may also serve as the Designated Federal Officer.

" little Blue Link"

[slipslidingaway]

38. Under whose authority was the bipartisan commission established? n/t

[slipslidingaway]

37. It is clear to many of us, Obama set up this bipartisan commission ...

by executive order, he then deliberately chose Alan Simpson to be one of the chairs. Some say the commission means nothing, no power to legislate and it should be ignored, then why is Obama wasting everyone's time.

And if Obama wanted to be informed on the subject, why did he pick these "experts" and why are their recommendations getting an up or down vote.

http://ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010020717/bowles-simpson-commission-deck-stacked-against-social-security

"...Only Obama Can Pick Experts.

Only President Obama has the ability to pick outside experts. If there is going to be renowned economists on the panel who will defend retirement security and make the case against deficit hysteria -- such as Paul Krugman, James Galbraith, Larry Mishel or Dean Baker -- Obama has to make that pick.

The risk if he doesn't is that all the so-called "experts" will be deficit hysterics who will have an enhanced platform to deploy false scare rhetoric, forcing enough Democratic congresspeople to go along for the ride into the austerity abyss..."

[depakid]

39. The damage to the administration hasn't just "been done" -it's ongoing

and will continue.

Not sure who has respect for them anymore- certainly not the right, who just laughs at them for their grovelling and their knee jerk moves on Shirley Sherrod, et al.

And certainly not on the left, who realize that they're too weak kneed and frighted of Fox "news" to stand up and fight for anything.

The presidency is the Republicans for the taking in 2012. If they nominate an ostensibly competent and moderate candidate, Obama's out, and a lot of folks and groups who've been backstabbed and gratuitously insulted will think good riddance.