Did Alan Simpson call seniors "the greediest generation"? He should be fired.

[madfloridian]

This is ridiculous. Alan Simpson is upset over some of the letters he is receiving, and he starts some name-calling.

This should not be going on. That man should not be leading the commission that will decide the fate of so many seniors.

From TPM:

'Greediest Generation' Won't Leave Me Alone Over Debt Commission Report

"I've never had any nastier mail or (been in a) more difficult position in my life," Simpson told the Casper Star-Tribune in his homestate of Wyoming.

"Just vicious," Simpson said. "People I've known, relatives (saying), "'You son of a bitch. How could you do this?'"

True to form, Simpson gave his critics as good -- or better -- than he got.

He told the paper that "while every interest group that testified before his committee agreed that the mounting federal debt is a national tragedy, they would then talk about why government funding to their area of interest shouldn't be touched."

"We had the greatest generation," Simpson said. "I think this is the greediest generation."

Add that to the fact that a few days ago he said he was looking forward to the "blood bath" in April. What an uncaring, obnoxious person he is.

April's blood bath

The Republican co-chair of the White House's fiscal commission predicted this morning that his controversial recommendations for reducing long-term deficits will have a real opportunity to become enacted next year, when the nation brushes up against its debt ceiling, and newly elected Republicans threaten to send the country into default.

"I can't wait for the blood bath in April," said Alan Simpson at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast roundtable with reporters this morning. "It won't matter whether two of us have signed this or 14 or 18. When debt limit time comes, they're going to look around and say, 'What in the hell do we do now? We've got guys who will not approve the debt limit extension unless we give 'em a piece of meat, real meat, off of this package.' And boy the bloodbath will be extraordinary."

Obama was wrong to appoint such an unpleasant and divisive person to the deficit commission. It is having a chilling effect on seniors. Is the president not aware of this man's personality?

Or does he just not care.

[Tansy_Gold]

1. He doesn't care.

I can't say this often enough.

Simpson doesn't care.

Bowles doesn't care.

The pukes don't care.

Many/most of the Dems don't care.


They just plain don't give a rat's ass about us/US.



TG, NTY

[Vincardog]

4. Add Obama to the list

[inna]

6. clearly.

[flyarm]

118. ++++++ 1 million! eom

[MissDeeds]

144. Exactly right

[molly77]

148. If Obama followed a truly progressive agenda

Do you think he would live to see tomorrow? Don't forget he sat under Rev. Wright's ministry for 20 years. Rev. Wright's quote taken out of context "G-- ---- America". In context , he said that Iraq was being bombed and slaughtered , if I were an Iraqi I would be saying......

The wording was harsh. But I expect Iraqis (over a million dead from our liberation efforts) feel like the situation is harsh.

[Scruffy1]

202. Yes-it pains me every time the worthless US media

gives the US body count and ignores the Iraqi and Afghani dead. Talk about institutionalized racism and hypocrisy. Every time I see one of those damn yellow ribbons on a god dam SUV I think one buck sticker-$60,000.00 dollar gas guzzler.

[sarcasmo]

175. +1000

[madfloridian]

8. I think you are right. If he cared, Simpson would have been long gone.

I fear it might be deliberate. And that is scary.

[Hawkowl]

27. +1000 .nt.

[tpsbmam]

69. If he cared, Simpson would never have been appointed in the first place. His agenda

was common knowledge.

[Lasher]

111. If he cared there never would have been a commission

that was clearly set up to gut Social Security and renege on the trust fund bonds.

[flyarm]

121. he should never ever have been put in that position. But any real democrat who had experience

would never have made Simpson dog catcher..let alone anywhere near Social security!

It is absurd to think Obama didn't know that.

But then again, I think I am now living in the theater of the absurd as far as the Dem party goes these days!

[molly77]

146. madfloridian

I agree. Keep the outrage going for so long , the American people are exhausted.

The great part of this plan, WE have heard so much outrageous stupid s--- passing for news. Nobody believes the "news" anymore. This is a positive for freedom.

More and more people are turning to the internet for news. It has been said that you only get one side because you find what you are looking for on the "tubes". Nice back lash from the hysterically funny MSM. Both sides of any issue taken to such lengths it is totally irrelevant.

[femrap]

147. Austerity Programs:

brought to you by Simpson/Bowles.

Seems they're projecting....both are greedy wastes of human flesh.

[Marr]

71. And why should he?

Why should any of them? The worst thing anyone on the left can muster is a parade, or a comedy concert.

They don't care what we think because clearly, we can be ignored. They aren't afraid of us at all.

I know this is a bit off topic, but I recently had a conversation with someone who shares a lot of my political beliefs, and would probably fit in pretty well here on DU. He was complaining about government surveillance, the PATRIOT Act, etc. I just have to laugh when I hear that stuff, because it's so unconsciously self-aggrandizing. It implies that the government has this intense interest in controlling the dialogue and hiding the truth. They do not care what we think. That's the whole problem. It became extremely clear under the GW Bush administration, and it's continued on that path ever since. They don't even bother hiding this stuff anymore.

Personally, I think a huge part of the problem is the way we've canonized people like Ghandi and MLK. The left in general has come to embrace the belief that if we're sufficiently earnest, establishment sorts will eventually see our side of things and give a little ground. Or we believe that, if we just elect the right person from a collection of establishment-approved goons, they'll fix things for us. That's just not the case. Great moderators like Ghandi, MLK, and others never would've been given the time of day if they hadn't been the more appealing alternative to something much uglier. Power cedes nothing under ceding is the best option left.

[Little Star]

81. Your right. Most of them don't give one damn about us but

they sure know how to put on a show. Bunch of hypocrites and greedy bastids!

[emsimon33]

127. And Obama is merely their puppet.

[Lorien]

133. Or he's in agreement. Neither is what we voted for. nt

[Name removed]

167. Deleted message

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

[MineralMan]

182. Oh, no, you don't. Not here.

Feh!

[molly77]

170. Is Alan Simpson concerned US taxpayers payed off Bankster's gambling debts?

Somehow the vulnerable are always marginalized and minimized while the real thieves are appreciated in our culture.Or should I say MSM propaganda.

[molly77]

172. Someone should ask Mr. Simpson if he approved of TARP.

Paying off gambling debts of banksters as opposed to Social Security. People pay in all their working lives. How did that suddenly become an entitlement? Seems like it comes under the heading of honest govt.Honest govt. may be something that Mr. Simpson has no conception of. If a regular person did happen to get elected and go to Washington to represent US (LOL), it would not be long until regular person magically morphed into a multi millionaire.

[madfloridian]

2. He also mentions "Rachel Minnow". Compares Olbermann and her to Limbaugh.

""You don't want to listen to the right and the left -- the extremes," he said. "You don't want to listen to Keith Olbermann and Rush Babe (Limbaugh) and Rachel Minnow or whatever that is, and Glenn Beck. They're entertainers. They couldn't govern their way out of a paper sack -- from the right or the left. But they get paid a lot of money from you and advertisers -- thirty, fifty million a year -- to work you over and get you juiced up with emotion, fear, guilt, and racism. Emotion, fear, guilt, and racism."

[jillan]

18. He better not mess with Rachel Minnow - she will expose every little piece of slime in Simpson's

past - as only Rachel can do.

[madmax]

30. Play with the Minnow

get Jaws. Get'em Rachel!

[flyarm]

122. she has had plenty of time to do so , and has not. The only people fooled by Simpson is the young

people..us older folks know how evil the SOB is, and we know why Obama put him where he did.

Us older dems have no illusions about what is going on. Nor do we have any illusions left about Obama..consequently the election results.

[Cassandra]

155. Actually, the combo of Rachel Maddow and Nell Minnow...

would be beyond awesome.

[katandmoon]

3. K&R. And if Obama didn't know Simpson was a snake when he picked him up...

that's as bad as if he did know.

[stevedeshazer]

5. What a Scrooge.

"The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, made his eyes red, his thin lips blue, and he spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice ..."

He is quite deserving of this criticism, yet he seems to enjoy it and actually get off on it.

[laughingliberal]

20. "He is quite deserving of this criticism, yet he seems to enjoy it and actually get off on it".

He's like people who get off on pulling the legs off bugs.

[Angry Dragon]

7. I guess as a former congressperson he would know about greed

[Enthusiast]

9. Greedy? Seniors have already paid for

these benefits. Who in the hell is greedy? What a complete asshole!

[laughingliberal]

22. How dare we want them to use that money on us. We have tax cuts for the wealthy & wars to cover! nt

[ProfessionalLeftist]

37. Exactly. It's THEIR money, not the government's or Simpson's

Again he's projecting. Who's GREEDY? It's not my poor old mother who has to count pennies every month to make it, while the likes of Simpson call HER greedy. :wtf:

[Chulanowa]

135. Actually hte people he's talking about stole it from their own kids

He's contrasting the "Greatest generation" with their leech offspring, the Boomers.

[sabrina 1]

137. What an ignorant statement. Did you mean that seriously or was it

snark? I ask because it's hard to believe any Democrat who knows anything about the SS program would use that rightwing, false statement seriously.

[Chulanowa]

224. Has nothing to do with Social Security, per se

Not their fault they were born, after all - though I maintain the world would be a better place is condom use had been more prevalent in the postwar years.

No.

Economically, politically, and environmentally, I'm set to inherit a wasteland. Why? because my parents' generation, after a few short years of claiming to have "expanded consciousness" decided, fuck you I've got mine. Melt down and sell off everything for a quick buck. Poison the world economy so you can furiously pound your skinny cock to the fantasy of one day being a star on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." Climate? Fuck that, you'll be dead before it's too big a bother, so why should you care? Politics? It all revolves around how to squeeze out the most juice for you while shitting on everyone who's not you now.

The boomers were born into a world that, while not perfect was at least livable. And what they're passing on (with their characteristic smug "fuck you" smile) is a corpse of a country that's been fucked to death.

It's going to be at least two more generations after me before labor - motherfucking labor, the most basic thing - makes a recovery from what the postwar locust generation did. Can't wait to see how long the rest of the damage takes to undo.

[sabrina 1]

229. You really are ignorant of the facts about SS and the 'boomers'

who paid for both THEIR parents SS benefits, AND their own paying enough into their retirement fund to completely pay for their retirement, and create a huge surplus in the fund, meaning YOU and I will never have to pay for their retirement, they paid for it in advance.

Whatever problems you have with your own parents, please do not assume that THEY represent other people's parents. Every boomer I know was and is a responsible member of this society, at least the Democratic ones.

Were your parents Republicans by any chance? Like boomer George Bush and his ilk? THEY sure have left a mess behind them, a mess Democratic boomers tried to prevent after providing a future for their children, now robbed by Rightwing Boomers and THEIR parents 'Bush Sr. et al, and the next generation are already helping to mess things up even more.

But thanks to FDR all boomers, even Republican boomers, have taken care of their own SS retirement fund.

Btw, were you assuming that all Boomers were lefties? I know a lot of people who are completely unaware of the fact that at least half the Boomer population consists of morons on the right like Bush and Limbaugh.

[Chulanowa]

233. "Whatever problems you have with your own parents" - how glib

Rather than address the arguments I pose, you just brush it off with an assumption that I hate my parents. Yes, 'cause that's gotta be it. Everything's really hunky-dory just fine and coming up roses, Chulanowa just has mommy issues.

:rofl:

I know you're not stupid, Sabrina. Though this gave me a moment of doubt on that score. don't keep it up.

Now, moving on.

who paid for both THEIR parents SS benefits, AND their own paying enough into their retirement fund to completely pay for their retirement, and create a huge surplus in the fund, meaning YOU and I will never have to pay for their retirement, they paid for it in advance.

Okay. I don't recall disputing this. Just as I don't recall mentioning my parents. However, this does not remove the truth that htye are in fact the most selfish pack of meat-popsicles in American history; paying a mandatory tax out of their paychecks isn't an example of altruism.

Every boomer I know was and is a responsible member of this society, at least the Democratic ones.

Well, isn't your existence a charmed one?

Were your parents Republicans by any chance?

What is it with you and my parents? Seriously, I could give you their phone numbers if you want to know them so bad. No, neither were Republicans; my mother was a flower child, my dad a hell's Angel who, as far as I can tell, was apolitical except in the usual "they're all the same" way up until I was 17 or so.

Like boomer George Bush and his ilk? THEY sure have left a mess behind them, a mess Democratic boomers tried to prevent after providing a future for their children, now robbed by Rightwing Boomers and THEIR parents 'Bush Sr. et al, and the next generation are already helping to mess things up even more.

Both teams have colluded quite closely to do their best to fill their own pockets at the expense of future generations. Don't delude yourself into thinking the problem is "just" the ones on the right. Both lefty and righty boomers have the same problem - they were born into an economy full of entitlements and safeguards that they never once had to lift a finger to create or safeguard. Like any spoiled child, they assumed the free ride really was free, and have left us in the current situation.

But thanks to FDR all boomers, even Republican boomers, have taken care of their own SS retirement fund.

On paper. In reality, the money from my paycheck is going towards them. Social Security isn't a bank, after all; it's not as if there's a vault labeled "Joe Bloe of Topeka" where all of Joe's SS taxes have been getting stored, waiting for him to hit age 65. Regardless, this is not the issue that gets my hackles up. I frankly don't expect to live to age 65, so it's not as if I'm buying into the "insolvency" bullshit anyway.

Btw, were you assuming that all Boomers were lefties?

No. As a matter of fact I consider the Teabaggers to be representative of the generation as a whole. Dunno where you would imagine I thought that the Boomers were "all lefties."

I know a lot of people who are completely unaware of the fact that at least half the Boomer population consists of morons on the right like Bush and Limbaugh.

Considerably more than half.

[bettyellen]

232. what is the younger generation doing these days exactly? not voting, not organizing they are less

active and have done very very little compared to boomers in terms of social and ecomonic justice. they will get off their asses and vote only when its too late. and then their kids, if they are lke you, will blame them too. the youth of america voted only in the presidential election, the nuts and bolts of it were not glamourous enoguh for them. they got distracted, and we are all getting a more conservative congess and senate because of it. keep fantasizing about how easy it is to fight the powers that be, keep blaming your parents and all the worng people. Because that;s really helpful. you are falling for the conservative BS, they have made you a pawn.

[Name removed]

234. Deleted message

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

[bettyellen]

236. the "greatest generation" voted Reagan in, and Im not wasting my time educating your rude lil self

I don't know which you need more, an education including some perusal if real hsitorical voting records, more excuses for the younger genration or some manners.
But all are good reasons to not waste any time on you until you get educated and figure out you were angry at the wrong people.
You go take your "bitch please" somewhere else now.

[bettyellen]

154. the Boomers who prepaid for their SS benefits vs the "Greatest" who reaped every benefit out of

the govt and then turned off the spigot when they were done, really? I almost wish there was a way for the younger generation to opt out, so they could screw themselves, and only themselves over, and leave the more mature people safe from their foolishness.

[Sherman A1]

161. I am a boomer who has worked all his life

and I have made my own way. I take considerable exception to your remark referring myself and my generation as leeches. I have paid into SS and I expect to receive the benefits for which I have paid when my turn comes. Just how is that being a leech?

My generation has been the one who has suffered 30+years of wage stagnation while our productivity in the workplace has skyrocketed, just how is that being a leech?

Since Ronald Reagan (of the alleged Greatest Generation) instituted trickle down economics we have seen a steady change of the distribution of wealth to the upper 1% while the lower (working) classes has been increasing left behind, just how is that being a leech?

[Generic Other]

209. Give me back every penny I invested in social security plus interest

I paid my way. I am no leech, but if your attitude represents GenX, then the word "shortsighted" best describes your generation. You will be eating the cat food along with the rest of us. Momento mori.

[Chulanowa]

235. "You will be eating the cat food along with the rest of us."

Quite possibly. Now the question you should ask is, of course, "why is anyone eating catfood?"

When you have the answer to that question, next ask yourself, "Who is responsible for this situation?"

I don't know who you'll find to answer the second question. But I do know that they'll have been born between 1944 and 1964.

Unless it's Dick Cheney, who was born in 1607 after a bitch dog sat on a toad, like the legendary cockatrice.

[Generic Other]

237. Blame is a two-way street buster!

I recycled. I lived within my means. I didn't waste resources. I refused to buy into mass consumer culture. I invested in my education. I lived within walking distance of work and never asked the citizens of my state to subsidize my mode of transportion as those of you who use state ferries have. I don't even use the state's highways to commute. I produced rather than consumed. I tried to be of service to others. I tried to be a good neighbor, a decent citizen. I paid my taxes believing it to be my patriotic duty. I opposed imperialism, wars of aggression fought in the name of corporate greed. I marched and protested to end conscription. I took in my aged mother when she could not afford to care for herself. I paid for my parents' benefits and paid for my own future needs in a social security system which has never provided me with any feeling of security due to the constant attacks against the system.

I opposed the neo-cons greed and destruction of the planet with every fiber of my being. I would still support a revolution to change the system.

I find it grossly piggish for someone who lives in 91% white Vashon Island where the median income is $76,000 a year, 4% living below the poverty line, median price of a home being $512,024, to lecture a working stiff from the Hilltop of Tacoma where the per capita income is $19,000 a year, the average price of a home is $256,00, and 20% of the children of the city living below the poverty line on why people are eating catfood. How many kids on Vashon Island qualify for reduced or free school lunches? 75% of Tacoma school children do.

Yet we are forced to subsidize Vashon Islanders' lifestyles through a regressive tax system. Maybe we are in poverty because YOU are greedy. But I refuse to generalize about you based on the demographics of your community, and I suggest you should not judge me based on the behavior of Dick Cheney. He no more represents me than the figures I googled represent you, right?

[Raksha]

221. Just what the HELL do you mean, "leech offspring"????

I am getting to really, REALLY resent the so-called "Greatest Generation," who were/are my mother's generation, and I NEVER use that expression about them myself. Just what the fuck makes THEM more "entitled" than my generation?

And where was THEIR Catfood Commission and their Alan Simpson to add insult to injury by calling them "the greediest generation"? I can just imagine how they would have reacted to that!

[PBS Poll-435]

10. This stuff just cracks me up.

FFS

[madfloridian]

13. Not me. It may be the final straw for me. Glad you are laughing.

When a Democratic president allows someone he appointed to talk like this so arrogantly....then there is a reason. He must not respect seniors anymore than Simpson does.


This is me...not laughing at all.

[PBS Poll-435]

15. Why do you give a flying f*ck?

This whole thing is a farce. Will not be codified into law.



DOES NOT MATTER


It is just a distraction.

[madfloridian]

19. So now I am being attacked for defending Social Security and seniors?

Amazing.

[PBS Poll-435]

21. I am not attacking you. And no.

Believing that rallying against the commission that will do absolutely nothing beyond make stupid 'recommendations' is silly.

[savannah43]

80. It does make Obama appear to be the good and reasonable

one, yet again. Simpson is his agent. Because of that fact, Obama is responsible for this, distraction or not. I believe it is an effort to soften up people so when SS is privatized, we'll think it was necessary. It is not. This is from Rove's playbook.

[PBS Poll-435]

83. Simpson is but one member on a large committee that was appointed by the President.

That would be like calling Ruth Bader Ginsburg an agent of Clinton.

[madfloridian]

86. The president chose him to co-chair that committee.

In that regard he speaks for the president.

I don't know this party anymore.

[laughingliberal]

107. He appointed this one, too:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9627169

[leftstreet]

25. A distraction? Why don't they 'distract' us with a commission on Iraq war crimes?

I'd watch that on the tube

:popcorn:

[pa28]

48. Why do you think that?

Boehner has called the initial recommendations "something we can say 'yes' to".

Obama appointed the commission and has remained silent on Simpson's antics as well as the initial recommendations so he'll likely sign whatever Congress eventually sends him. Simpson himself went on the record saying next year's budget showdown will be leverage for passing parts of the plan so we know they are already looking at strategies to move this through Congress.

Supposing America dodges that particular bullet we now have a ready made austerity plan that can be passed quickly in a climate of fear just as TARP was. The media is busy building consensus for Simpson's plan and framing it their way. Now is exactly the time to be talking about it because when the next crisis comes it will be too late.

[PBS Poll-435]

54. Simple politics

Setting up for the 2012 Elections.

"Rep. X voted to cut Social Security and Medicare for our fragile Seniors and Medicaid for the most vulnerable Americans during bad economic times. Rep. X and the rest of Washington are truly out of touch. Vote Candidate Y."

[madfloridian]

64. It doesn't work that way when he's the president's choice

and appointee.

Sorry, this is not good....

[PBS Poll-435]

75. I believe that this was by design. Simpson is simply the devil's advocate on this. nt

[madfloridian]

76. It's a very poorly designed plan. Perhaps Obama doesn't care...

about the anger it is causing in seniors. Maybe it is a political play with a big blind spot...forgetting a whole generation of Americans.

[PBS Poll-435]

82. Perhaps Obama doesn't know how this 'commission' is going to be manipulated by the 'new' media

In this way.

Who knows?

[madfloridian]

84. Those are the words of Simpson. He said them, he owns them.

He represents President Obama now as the co-chair of that commission.

Words that come from his mouth might as well come from Obama.

It is getting to where so many at DU think DADT repeal can wait, no problem. Too many here think it is fine to close public schools and turn them into privately run entities, no problem. It's fine also for women to lose the right to have an abortion in the late term, even if carrying full term might permanently harm her health, even if the family knows the child's brain and body will be permanently deformed needing constant care.

It's all okay now because a Democratic president says so.

[TheKentuckian]

94. You talk like these people don't have defined (and generally aligned) ideology

It sure as hell ain't all about the always loathsome Simpson. The whole crew basically sucks, Nancy and Reid both put up mostly anti-safety net "centrists" and a token or two but non-firebrand liberal.

Anyone that doesn't admit the conservative bent of this debacle is ill informed or willfully dishonest.

At this point you are forced into adding what you can't possibly know to justify this nonsense, when it is obvious he is quite serious.

[Alcibiades]

112. It's not a plan

Someone else on DU pointed this out, and they were right. It's simply a mishmash of everything brought up by the commission. That's why it includes things such as tax cuts for corporations and a real public option. Failing to reach any kind of consensus, the chairs just wrote it all up, because it seems unlikely any plan will be approved by the commission as a whole.

And if a cherry-picked commission of people willing to go along to get along cannot reach consensus, it has zero chance in a lame duck congress.

[madfloridian]

113. I am speaking of calling seniors the "greediest generation".

Do you see nothing out of line with that?

Mishmash, maybe. But he is going out of his way to insult seniors. In my mind he is speaking for Obama.

[Alcibiades]

206. Maybe in your mind he's speaking for Obama

In my mind he's speaking for himself. While some may have mistaken him for a charming eccentric, really he's a full-on loon who is reckless and irresponsible. He also has the political instincts of an obnoxious frat boy, a little like George Bush, but a little older, smarter and meaner. The good news is that he's about as appealing as a cup of warm vomit, so there's no way any of this stuff is going anywhere.

There are about three possible reasons for a blue-ribbon commission: one is to cover something up, two is to give you political cover, three is because you don't want to do anything. Either no better Republican wanted to serve on this commission, or Bowles and Simpson were picked precisely because it would not be likely they could get anything done.

I can see where you might think otherwise, but, in my opinion, someone like a Simpson is arrogant enough so that he speaks for himself, not anyone else.

[Raschel]

184. Bad design then. When I haggle, I always ask for a AND b so that I'm sure to get 'a'.

Having Simpson in there is a sure way that SS has to concede to something.

[daleanime]

117. Which is just as simple as...

"Rep. X wants to cut taxes on the wealthy while denying unemployment to millions of Americans."

[liberation]

131. Still trying to pass Parcheesi moves as n-dimensional chess strategy...

LOL

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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

[madfloridian]

16. Shame on you for that statement.

[bluestateguy]

12. The only seniors I am mad at are the "Keep the govt. out of my Medicare!" teabaggers

It's the hypocrisy that angers me, when you have mostly white conservative senior citizens bitching about the evils of socialized medicine and government run health care, but "don't touch my Medicare!". In other words, government run health care for me, but not for thee.

Simpson's remarks were (as usual) off the mark, but there is a fair argument to made that a good many seniors today are selfish, just not for the reasons that this fool says.

[iamjoy]

104. Bingo

Some seniors are quite selfish - the ones who don't want Medicare for every one in the US and bitch about how theirs isn't good enough. The ones who rant about not getting a COLA increase in their Social Security, but don't think we should extend unemployment benefits...

And that's not just selfish, it's hypocritical.

[katmondoo]

14. I am a senior citizen who worked for more than 45 years. I

paid into Social Security all those years. Many of us still have to work to keep up with the rising cost of living. Not everyone has 401k's or pensions to suppliment SS. For me I raised two children alone by working not by receiving assistance from anyone. Don't dare call me greedy. The greed lies within the Republican party not with the seniors unless that senior happens to be a die hard Republican.

[Enthusiast]

17. If things are as dire

as he says then get the fuck out of Afghanistan right now.

Wanting a roof over your head and food on a plate is greedy? In what fucking universe? This guy is truly a sociopath.

[laughingliberal]

26. Just another rich guy born with a silver spoon up his butt, mad. nt

[madfloridian]

23. To those who play this down and make cute remarks....

it is not funny anymore.

[leftstreet]

29. What's that about truth passing through 3 stages?

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. - Schopenhauer

Looks like some people are stuck on stage 1

:hi:

[Starry Messenger]

45. +1000

[pa28]

52. For some reason I think people stuck on stage one will skip straight to #3

When that moment arrives I'm sure we'll hear that Simpson is a serious person who is trying to save us and we must accept the results or get President Palin. You know the drill.

[awoke_in_2003]

126. yep, and these same people...

say getting a good groping at the airport will protect us (even though they would have screamed bloody murder had it happened under Bush)

[Enthusiast]

55. It's not a damn bit funny.

Many people currently receiving social security benefits are just scraping by.

[Bluenorthwest]

24. Simpson gets a huge government pension of course

He is venomous slime and he should be made into a poster child for all that is wrong with Washington DC.

[laughingliberal]

28. +1000 nt

[madmax]

31. He looks like the character in The Simpson's

Don't know his name because I don't watch.

[stevedeshazer]

33. C. Montgomery Burns

[madmax]

67. Yes! That guy. I remember Alan Simpson well

(wow isn't that freaky) from the Clarence Thomas fiasco. I watched the hearings everyday. He and Spector need to be slapped along with Danford and a few others. A disgusting display.

Thanks - I'll be calling C. Monty Burns from now on ;)

[Samantha]

87. Geez, I guess he forgot to add cutting government pensions

by the same 70 percent as social security.... Should we send him a reminder note?

[Cassandra]

156. Since his father was a governor, I think...

Simpson's been on the dole for most of his life.

[laughingliberal]

32. "I've never had any nastier mail or (been in a) more difficult position in my life,"

Yeah, boo-fucking-hoo, you privileged old asshole. 'People are so mean when I propose starvation for them.'

[ProfessionalLeftist]

35. Let him live on SS and Medicare (and nothing else) and let him learn

what real life is like for those whom he proposes should live on cat food. Privileged old fart is so pampered he hasn't a clue what reality is for most people.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

36. Self-delete dupe-DU weirdness n/t

[Raschel]

181. Let them eat catfood.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

34. Who's vicious? Alan Simpson really ought to stop projecting

There is no one living on SS that is nearly as vicious as that sphincter (Simpson). This is rich coming from a pampered old fart who will never, ever need to rely on SS. Not only is he vicious, I believe he is a psychopath. Why in HELL did Obama appoint this royal a$$ to this commission? Has he ever explained that?

[Peregrine Took]

38. He should take that long, bony finger and turn it around to himself and his

cronies. Not at the hard working, good and decent people I know.

Shameless as is Obama for appointing him to that rotten commission.

[The Backlash Cometh]

39. Um. They are the greediest generation.

You should see what they do to their neighbors in Florida. Suck the life out of everyone, bitter because they're too old to enjoy life.

However, they earned their Social security and that's no way to get even with them.

[madfloridian]

41. I don't believe you said that.

I am stunned.

[The Backlash Cometh]

56. I know.

Someday, soon, you'll know what I mean. It's tough living in communities which are run by Seniors. They don't necessarily follow the rules. Make them up as they go along. Sorry if that shocks you, but, that's what it's like in parts of Central Florida.

On edit: I live in a Republican, suburban area. Not a Democratic urban one like Palm Beach county. It makes a difference.

[madfloridian]

65. I am a senior in a very Republican area. We respect each other.

I don't live in a senior community, but in our area even Republicans respect seniors.

[The Backlash Cometh]

98. Not like that here.

Very autocratic. They demand respect, but I don't see much regard for following legal protocol.

Listen, MadFloridian, this place just zoned a large area for a seniors-only place which will allow low income housing for older residents--enough to meet federal requirements so they don't have to allow high density, low income housing. They're not shy about saying that it's because they don't want to attract minority families to the area where they have to supply more public services.

The ones I know are activist, listen to Glen Beck, are very judgmental.

Let me restate. My area is not anything like you describe.

[Raschel]

183. That sounds more like bigotry than greed. And it's one area.

[The Backlash Cometh]

216. No. It's greed.

When it involves the taking of something tangible, because they think they have a right to it, it's greed.

[madrchsod]

42. really ? did you forget the sarcasm?

[madfloridian]

44. Sounded like a serious statement. Stunned me.

I guess the battle is on now between generations.

[madrchsod]

50. seems that way...

[The Backlash Cometh]

57. You just need to look at a harsh reality.

It's there, you just need to connect the facts. Most of the teabagger types are over 50. I live in a predominately Republican area. This area is teeming with that kind of convoluted thinking. I dare say that the mentality started here.

You want to pull out the Seniors you find in Democratic, urban areas that know how to get along with their neighbor, no problem. But Seniors in Republican areas are conservative and want things only one way: Their way. They don't care how many rules they have to break to get there.

[madfloridian]

59. You are doing some serious labeling there.

I find that upsetting.

[The Backlash Cometh]

88. I'm sorry you're upset.

I can only write it as I see it. Wish there was some other way.

[tomg]

68. Sorry, but I find most young right wing

- generally speaking - pretty much the same as elderly right wing. I find most young lefties - generally speaking - pretty much the same as older lefties. Look, it really is an ideological and class war; it is not about age, or race, or gender, or gender orientation. Those are the things that the right uses to divide us.

The pathetic thing about the rank and file tea party folk is that they are scared, generally economically screwed, not terribly educated, and they have been stoked in old hatreds by the Dick Armeys, the Fox News, the Glenn Becks and the Sister Sarahs of the world. Are many of them older (50 and above)? Probably. Stands to reason.

The broad brush about age? If we think of these people - the rank and file - as motivated in the same way as we think of the Koch brothers or the corporatists or the Roger Ailes' and Mitch McConnells - old, wealthy white guys "who want things only one way: Their way. They don't care how many rules they have to break to get there" - we are making a mistake.

[The Backlash Cometh]

89. The demographics in Florida are probably different than most other areas.

We have a high percentage of Seniors. They are pooled either in the urban areas, where they're mostly Democratic, or suburbs, where you'll find Republicans in some upscale neighborhoods. I've even had an attorney blame the "old men" for the terrible things he has done. As if that's an excuse.

I think you all have a sacred cow you need to get around. Especially here in Florida

[madfloridian]

93. That's it. Not sure what you mean by "sacred cow", but I am done.

I no longer intend to figure out what you mean.

[tpsbmam]

72. Maybe seniors in YOUR Republican area...don't generalize to all other areas about which

you know nothing. Example: my parents (Northeastern liberals) retired to a retirement community in very red South Carolina. The community was, indeed, majority Republican. They fortunately had a number of liberal buddies there but were also friends with many of the conservatives. People got along. The Republicans didn't dominate the community, nor did the admittedly minority of Democrats. They just plain got along and the community was well-run and, to this younger outsider, pretty damn cool. So, there's just one that doesn't fit your stereotype. I'm sure there are plenty that do fit your stereotype.....and plenty that don't.

(Edited to clarify meaning.)

[The Backlash Cometh]

90. I don't disagree with that.

Seniors in MY Republican area.

Happy?

[kurtzapril4]

105. The Backlash Cometh

My father lives in Central Fl., in Hernando County, in Brooksville. It is exactly as you describe. Conservative as hell, and a total "I got mine, F*ck you" attitude. Pathetic.

[The Backlash Cometh]

151. Thanks, kurtzapril4

I'm surprised that more people aren't aware how crazy things are around here. I know why these people don't like a regulatory government. Because it's harder for them to take over. Silence the press, keep the lawyers corrupted and you too can have a community of pretty houses, and the worst kind of humanity living in them for neighbors.

[Yurovsky]

227. I know what you're talking about...

I have a sister who lived in an area that was not 55+ but the average age was probably 60+. Her husband had a small truck that the neighbors didn't want sitting in her driveway, so they started parking it in the garage and parking her car outside. Then they changed the HOA bylaws so that you couldn't park ANY vehicles outside of your garage overnight. Then my sister & her husband had to find a place to keep their jet skis/trailer and their bikes. They found a storage rental place for the jet skis (inconvenient & expensive) and decided to build a shed to keep their bikes in (which cost a fortune because it had to match the house). It was just one thing after another, all brought up by a bunch of arrogant rich retired GOP pricks who all moved in from out of state to make life miserable for anyone they decided was "undesirable".

Eventually my sister & her husband moved their family to another town. Had they not done so when they did (2006), they'd be stuck in their old neighborhood forever (as the housing market here has completely collapsed). I've got nothing against older Americans in general, but there seems to be a large % of the over 65 crowd that are rich conservative bastards who got theres and believe everyone else can burn in hell. I say it's high time we started means-testing SS and Medicare so that these SOBs didn't gobble up the resources our country needs to provide services for working class & poor seniors today and for generations to come.

JMHO. Please feel free to flame away!

[The Backlash Cometh]

231. Thanks for the support.

It's not just that they do everything they can to control their environment and infringe on everybody's pursuit of happiness, but then you have to listen to how they worked hard to get where they got, nobody gave them a hand out, their reputations are impeccable, and all the while the lawyers have to run around behind them cleaning up their mess because in the end, they're nothing but bullies who break laws.

[anachro1]

165. +1

I agree.

[Bluebear]

77. Um. What a horrible thing to say. nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

99. As long as you recognize that I've identified a segment of the population

and don't apply it to all Seniors. Just the ones in my local area. They have a "We were here first," attitude, which leaves no room for doubt that they're entitled to certain privileges and considerations.

[Canuckistanian]

92. That's a broad-brush statement

So you know exactly what every senior everywhere in the country thinks.

It must be a great burden on you to have such a gift.

[The Backlash Cometh]

101. If you read the threads, you'll recognized that I've identified the

group to my local area. And, yes, it' a lot like being in a GOP convention.

[Canuckistanian]

109. But it's Florida

And it's amazing that physics even work according to theories there.

[inna]

95. what an incredibly ignorant and mean thing to say.

[The Backlash Cometh]

102. Unless I can back it up.

And I can back it up.

[madrchsod]

40. ya my 570 a month is going to break social security....

fuck him and anyone who agrees with this shit and that includes the president

[Scruffy1]

200. I hear you loud and clear

Listening to these corrupt multi-millionaires who have never done an honest days work in their entire lives is enough to peg out my rage meter. Been working since I was sixteen, paid my taxes, raised a family and paid for the last generations RV's, back before they cut the shit out of social security by way of phony COLA. Erskine Bowles is the spawn of a politician and has been on the take his whole life and Simpson is just an idiotic knee jerk Rethug. Neither has ever had a callus, but Bowles made lots of dough by being politically connected at Morgan Stanley.

Meanwhile I turn 62 in March have had a spinal fusion and am blind in one eye. I'll get all of about $1200.00 per month to live on in my dotage. It's time we took the country back from these cake eaters. Why are their no working people on this commission? Because it was set up from the start to screw the working people of America.

[Faygo Kid]

43. I think he DOES care. He cares about destroying Social Security - he's all for it.

My single greatest disappointment with Obama - and there are many - is this cat food commission and its creepy co-chairs, Simpson and Bowles.

What the hell was Obama thinking?

[starroute]

46. And he thinks the "greatest generation" was so modest and undemanding?

I don't begrudge my parents' generation what they received -- far from it. But it's becoming increasingly clear that after suffering through the Great Depression and World War II, they then had the best of everything for the next 50 or 60 years.

They benefited from the steady growth of the economy and the rise in middle-class wages in the 1950's and 60's. Many of them had strong union representation and defined-benefits pensions. They had money saved up to invest when the stock market really took off. They bought their houses cheap and were able to to sell them for enough to finance a comfortable retirement. As they grew older, Medicare was there to protect them. And they were already starting to retire when Reagan's Social Security withholding began to take a bigger pinch out of paychecks.

As a result, my parents and their friends and relations were able to enjoy their golden years -- to travel, to play golf, to seek out comfortable retirement communities. And they did so with a clear conscience, believing that their children and grandchildren would have it as good as they had.

The people Simpson is insulting aren't the current retirees. It's the boomers, and particularly those under 55, the ones who he's proposing to screw over. And he's calling them greedy simply because they believe they should have a right to the same kind of dignified old age that their parents or grandparents enjoyed and believed they were leaving behind as a permanent boon to the nation.

Simpson may pretend to be praising the "greatest generation" -- but in fact he's insulting those who suffered and died to create the system that he's now proposing to trash. My mother would have said that he ought to be ashamed of himself.

[xxqqqzme]

47. My grandmother would have called him a

horse's ass.

[Generic Other]

210. My father would have kicked his horse's ass

Simpson and the Cat Food Commission's money should set off those little red dye packets.

I think if they try and pull this crap, we storm every social security office in the country with walkers and canes and anything else we need to tear down the walls of this corrupt government.

[tpsbmam]

73. And they were the generation who made much of what you describe happen

through their votes and support of all of those incredibly wonderful programs that bettered the U.S.

My parents were of "the greatest generation" and they would have fought Simpson vigorously. Hell, they did vigorously fight tons of harebrained Republican (and sometimes Democrat) crap: the Vietnam War, attempts to curtail civil rights, attempts to fuck with Social Security, and many more.

Simpson, as usual, has his head firmly buried up his entitled ass.

[iamjoy]

106. No, What About The Baby Boomers

I'm not talking about the seniors who survived the Depression and fought World War II. I'm thinking about the ones who came after them. Think about the folks who are the 55 - 65 now. They were the Yuppies of the "Greed is Good" 1980s. They are not selfish because they want their Social Security and Medicare. They just are selfish and greedy because all those positive socio-economic factors mentioned gave them a sense of entitlement. And the children of Baby Boomers are even more indulged and spoiled and selfish.

We are indeed a greedy and selfish nation - as evidenced by corporations maximizing profits for CEOs while screwing the American worker. As evidenced by banks deceiving people into loans they couldn't afford in order for them to buy over-valued houses (all hyped by the real estate business). As evidenced by Wall Street financiers playing games with stocks and securities to benefits themselves and their friends while ruining the country.

that is greed. Wanting a little Social Security to keep from starving or being homeless in your later years, wanting to have medical care - that is not greed.

[laughingliberal]

110. The age group you disparage are the ones who paid double in FICA to support their parents AND...

create a surplus to prepay our own retirement. It's not greed to want it to now be there instead of being stolen to cover tax cuts for the rich and some fucking wars most of us were against.

BTW, the greatest generation were able to spend most their working lives in a country with strong labor protections, a GI bill to fund their college and all the other benefits of the New Deal. Then, they overwhelmingly voted for supply side Ronnie thus insuring their children (the baby boomers) would spend their working lives working their asses off for every declining wages and fighting with every breath to hang onto benefits they paid for.

[snappyturtle]

116. Amen. I couldn't agree more with your description of the greatest generation.

I am also a baby boomer, one of the first, who is working my ass off at age 63 when I should be looking forward to a comfortable retirement as my parents did at my age. My mother is a living example of the greatest generation who has government (SAMBA)health insurance and a generous part of my deceased father's government pension. I am happy about that because I couldn't help her much if she didn't. But, she doesn't 'get it' and was one of those ronnie supporters. I've paid and am paying into the system I had no choice about and demand that I get what was promised. You're right: end the wars and the tax cuts for the rich. Voila, problem solved.end of rant.

[diane in sf]

132. Thank you--you describe our situation most accurately!

[panzerfaust]

141. Well - Yes - there is truth in what you say

[Raksha]

223. +1000

[DrDan]

145. generalize much?

[iamjoy]

153. But, Of Course

I'm just saying if you're going to call Americans selfish and greedy, don't exclude younger generations and call them out for the right reasons

And look at our consumer culture - another evidence of greed in which most of us participate. Again, generalizing...

[RKP5637]

49. A sociopath with power and money ... It seems to me some of these folks are

not very well checked out before appointments. Just another WTF moment IMO.

[suffragette]

51. He should never have been put on that committee

since his long record is a strong indicator of exactly the positions he is taking now, which these previous quotes show:
http://socialsecurity-works.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Simpson-quotes.pdf

And yeah, he should be fired from it, now.

I'm with Krugman on this:
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/21/zombies-have-already-killed-the-deficit-commission/

OK, the immediate problem is the statements of Alan Simpson, the commission’s co-chairman. And what got reporters’ attention was the combination of incredible insensitivity – the “lesser people”??? — and flat errors of fact.

~~~
OK, so two views, both of some use. But here’s what you can’t do: you can’t have it both ways. You can’t say that for the last 25 years, when Social Security ran surpluses, well, that didn’t mean anything, because it’s just part of the federal government — but when payroll taxes fall short of benefits, even though there’s lots of money in the trust fund, Social Security is broke.

And bear in mind what happens when payroll receipts fall short of benefits: NOTHING. No new action is required; the checks just keep going out.

So what does it mean that the co-chair of the commission is resurrecting this zombie lie? It means that at even the most basic level of discussion, either (a) he isn’t willing to deal in good faith or (b) the zombies have eaten his brain. And in either case, there’s no point going on with this farce.

[madfloridian]

58. I feel now if Obama keeps him on, it has sent a message to seniors

that we don't count with him at all.

[suffragette]

66. I agree that will send that message

:hug: to you from the West Coast, my friend.

[BlueJac]

53. I worked hard my entire life.......

now to be told I am greedy, by some fucking asshole, is just outrageous. I guess I should just shut up and take it like everything else in the country. I have to walk through the airport with my pants down to my ankles and a x-ray burn on my butt just to satisfy some rich fuckers who make up these bullshit rules.

THIS COUNTRY IS OUT OF CONTROL, RAN BY FUCKING CORPORATE ASSHOLES!!!!!!

It's our own money and they don't want to pay it back!

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

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

[burnsei sensei]

61. A senior statesman he is not.

Frankly, I hope the SSA recipients, those retiring and those in other SSA programs will write to him and his catfood commission. They're entitled to our two cents.
This government invests heavily in efficiency and what reward for it?
Screw this commission and its Scroogy chair.

[lumberjack_jeff]

62. Yeah. You'd think so, huh? n/t

[devilgrrl]

63. As if he's one to talk? He's 120 years old!

:crazy:

BTW? What positive thing has this clown ever done for the country?

[SoCalDem]

70. "Greatest/Greediest/Luckiest"

One in the SAME generation, Bub.

Sure, the men of the era fought in a big war, BUT :

ANY group of war-fighting aged citizens of ANY era would have/could have done their duty also/as well.

When they returned en masse, 4-5 years later, they were given the "keys to the kingdom"

That group (and their slightly younger brothers/sisters...born 1930-35 ish) were lucky enough be small children during The Depression, start their working lives in a Boom-Time, and became the beneficiaries of being adults in a prosperous USA. They had union jobs, pensions, affordable housing, affordable college for their kids. They were the "worker-bees" in a society that had pent-up needs/wants, and were ready to "have it all". That society was not very concerned with rights-for-all, and most of the workforce was still white & male (except for the low paid menial labor, which was pretty much the same as it always had been)

That one small sliver of our population benefited from the best we had to offer, and naturally, they accepted it eagerly.

Their Boomer-children were plentiful enough to always be able to "pay-more" for the programs necessary to provide for the Grandparents/parents-of-Boomers...and we DID..over and over.

There were just so damned many of us... The amounts of money extracted from us over the years was bearable, because we were also sold the bill of goods that was presented to us..

We were told that because THEY had "won the Big One", and had
given" us all this wonderful stuff, we OWED it to them..and we paid happily so they could have their due. We were also told that we would also benefit, because we were PRE-paying our own.

The size of our generation should never have been a surprise.. I guess the ones who rose to power thought they could just extract wealth from us our whole lives, and think we would not notice that when it was "our turn", we would not mind being stiffed..

We DO mind..and we have been stiffed many times.

We emerged into the job market with mega-competition (because there were so many ..all after the same jobs), so were paid less wages than we probably should have been paid. We were told that we had to "wait", or "work harder", or "learn more"..

We were also so plentiful, that the ones at the levers of power could eliminate unions, introduce machinery that would/could replace us, and start skimming of profits for themselves....profit they no longer had to share with workers.

When people in our group complained, they were told that "there were more than enough just like us, who would gladly take our jobs"..

Societies build on what-came-before, and only work well when ALL parts of society participate fully, and plan for the needs of ALL parts of that society.. When ONE group (usually the elders) start skimming off, to the detriment of those whose needs can be deferred, the society becomes toxic.

Until very recently, the ones "in charge" have been the elders from a previous "era". They saw fit to add on costs for their own comfy retirements to the burdens of younger ones with less power. In past eras, these elders might have died in their 50s-60s-70s, leaving things to their progeny, but this particular "crop" of elders found themselves (as a group) very well tended-to, financially secure and able to benefit from medical breakthroughs. They HELD their power , concentrated it and found ways to grab as much money as possible.

To be fair, many rich/powerful people have emerged from within the Boomer community, but in such a large group, that would be expected.

If one examines the financial history of many/most of the Boomers you will have to notice that soon after we emerged into the jobs/family part of our lives, we were hit with one-after-another recession, and inflationary cycles of epic proportion. Those are the building years, the foundation years that set the tone for the rest of our lives. If you get behind then, you are pretty much screwed forever.

Most of us had no "extra" money to save...there was not safety net for most of us.. As a significant number of us marched through our 30's & 40's, the almighty "service economy" started up around us, and with it, the jobs started leaving too.

Generations sometimes "borrow" from each other, but when one steals from another and never plans to repay...well that's what we have going on here..

A generation, long ago, borrowed the brawn of the younger ones to fight a big bad war, and then asked the children of those warriors to repay the debt because they had come up in hard times & were unable to pay. Boomers paid that debt because we were in such numbers we could do it, but as we were repaying, we were also expecting to be able to count on the next generation to shoulder some societal responsibility...as we have done..

[laylah]

166. +1gazillion! nt

[nashville_brook]

169. +1 -- like most tyrants, Simpson hates those who he owes the most.

he hates them b/c they had the audacity to succeed -- and by god, he's going to punish them for it.

[newspeak]

238. I just love it!!! NOT

We bail out wallstreet, we bailed out the savings and loan debacle, we pay for bogus resource stealing wars and we have those that pit us against each other. We have corrupt greedheads, by their own thieving ways, should have been in prison for life for the misery they caused thousands of people. But, hey this generation or that generation, see, they're the blame--just because they want a stipend-they don't want to starve or they need medical attention.

My hubby and I were talking the other night and I mentioned that I believe that the US is the "new Rome", and like Rome who overextended it's military, with each conquest, relied on slave labor (outsourcing) and stuck it's nose up at the plebes--we will go the way of Rome. Those at the top, cared nothing for their fellow citizenry, except as soldiers for their conquests (and even then they enlisted those who they had conquered). Their craftsmen, artisans, (manufacturing base) were pushed to the wayside for cheap slave labor and goods coming from those conquered lands.

For most of the rich, cared nothing for the average citizenry--of course, they gave tidbits now and then to pacify the disconcerted masses, but it is the average Roman citizen who suffered from overextension.

And now, it is the plebes that again must take the brunt for previous administrations' greed, corruption, poor foreign policies and allowing their corporate friends to steal the Treasury. And, ya'll know, that's what they did. But, we must suffer the consequences--how very Roman.

So, I'm glad Simpson is taking heat. He deserves it--I have senior family members on SS-and they have enough time paying for that secondary insurance or their meds. I'm thinking what's it going to be like when hubby and I finally reach retirement age--as things are going, they'll probably hike the age, where no one will be retiring, just paying.

[laughingliberal]

225. Excellent! nt

[cornermouse]

74. k & r

[DeepModem Mom]

78. His bizarre statements make me wonder if there's senility involved. nt

[laughingliberal]

108. He does remind me of some early dementia patients whose inhibition centers are damanged

Course, I thought that 20 years ago.

[awoke_in_2003]

128. that is not senility...

that is just cold, hard "fuck you, I got mine" you are hearing.

[DeepModem Mom]

129. Oh, I think that's right. I just think the bizarre way he's expressing himself...

and his apparently seeing no need to couch his feelings in different words for public distribution might indicate a problem. Or maybe he's decided the Tea Partiers say whatever outrageous thing they want to say, and win elections, so he might as well let loose!

[sam sarrha]

219. all the hate propaganda from the Tea Party Handlers have desensitized people to others sufferings

:cry:

[eridani]

79. Bowles and Simpson should be put in prison for the rest of their lives

A non-violent alternative to being put up against the wall and shot.

[CLANG]

115. Diplomacy AND compassion!

:yourock:

[MsPithy]

85. Sounds like Simpson needs a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past

With Jacob Marley jangling chains in the background.

[Raschel]

186. Scrooge came to mind for me as well. And that's no coincidence. His behavior is that ugly.

[madfloridian]

91. In my mind Simpson is speaking for Obama. That's tragic.

You can talk about political games and all that stuff, but his voice represents Obama's voice to me.

Just like Arne Duncan represents Obama's views on education.

[flyarm]

123. he sure as hell is! This is and always was the Obama plan. eom

[geckosfeet]

96. hey stimpson -

what about the greedy banks

what about the greedy investment corpos

what about the greedy health insurance companies

what about the greedy mortgage lenders and mortgage securities industry

what about the greedy oil corpos

Oh, and by the way stimpson,

GO FUCK YOURSELF

[Bjorn Against]

97. Of course he thinks low income people are greedy, but he would never complain of greed from the rich

[asdjrocky]

100. Him and his whole family know greedy.

Rich bastards all. Remember, this is an Obama appointee.

[namahage]

142. "Remember, this is an Obama appointee."

Like this one?

[asdjrocky]

180. And that is relevant how?

It what way does that win an argument?

[defendandprotect]

103. Simpson is pretty much a mad man ....the Clarence Thomas hearings proved that ....

and Simpson was one of the dedicated witch hunters who demonized Prof. Anita Hill.

A disgusting man all around!!

Just his connection to the Thomas hearings should have prevented Obama from appointing

him .... but, rather, it looks like Obama saw Simpson's negatives as a recommendation

to use him???!!!!

[madfloridian]

114. Bowles: "As Alan said, we've laid that stink bomb out there now."

Really nice guys. They think it is all so funny. They think they are so cute.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/19/alan-simpson-fiscal-cocha_n_786003.html

"Simpson, along with fellow fiscal commission co-chair Erskine Bowles, was speaking to reporters at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.
Story continues below
Advertisement

The co-chairmen last week released their personal suggestions for cutting the federal budget deficit.

Both Simpson and Bowles seemed to delight in the howls that greeted their plan.

"It's a great place to be, because we have irritated hopefully everyone in the United States and especially the groups," Simpson said. He likened the attacks by interest groups to "harpies off the cliff" with "talons extended."

Bowles didn't disagree. "As Alan said, we've laid that stink bomb out there now."

Oh, hell, yes....they have irritated me for sure. And hubby whose health doesn't need this kind of stress.

How this is resolved will determine my future political activity.

There are some lines that can not be crossed.

[chill_wind]

119. The intelligent and decent thing for Pres Obama to do would be to

do the whole nation a favor-- by firmly dismissing his and Bowles' and the rest of the panel's services and throw their 6 months worth of obscenity in the nearest trash can. But no. It seems we_have_to_be subjected by this Democratic President to this ridiculous, misanthropic, raving lunatic FREAK SHOW of wealthy elites with their heads perpetually up their own aS##S.

Like we haven't had enough of it for the last ten years already.

[earthboundmisfit]

120. Hmmm

|

[McCamy Taylor]

124. Those greedy old folks! Why don't they get on the ice flow when they are told to?

[Jim Sagle]

125. Now that you've run this expose, I'm sure our President will fire Simpson right quick!!

"DAMN, I'm good. Trashed the whole Democratic party in less than two years and made the people lap up the same old Republican policy like ice cream. Two more years and I can go to Golden Sacks and REALLY cash in. Sweeeeet!!!"

[Raine]

130. Aw "nasty" mail and "vicious" treatment

tough shit! :rofl:

[avaistheone1]

134. I hate that old evil fucker.

That is the nicest thing this angel can say about him.

[tomp]

136. he was wrong to create the commission in the first place.

everything about this commission is on obama's head.

[madfloridian]

176. I agree.

Will do more harm than good.

[tomp]

218. will do no good.

it's not about the deficit, it's about cutting social security under the guise of addressing the deficit. and obama is the cause.

[Hubert Flottz]

138. Deported back to Nazi Germany where people like that belong.

[Waiting For Everyman]

139. As a boomer, it makes me feel GOOD that we're hated by Simpson.

He is as skeezy as a human can get. If we weren't a problem for him, he wouldn't be attacking us. So we must be effective at being a check on him. That puts us on the side of moral good.

Btw, it isn't smart attacking such a big voting group. He'd better be careful of waking up a sleeping giant. Of course I hope he keeps it up and does just that.

Go ahead Alan, you idiot, mouth off some more.



As to the "greatest generation", they were just fine with starting a phoney war for their kids to die in (google Gulf of Tonkin, just like Bush's WMDs), and not only did nothing to oppose it themselves but had the nerve to attack us while we had to put our own lives on the line out in the streets to stop it. They were ignorant old self-involved don't-rock-the-boat bastards even then. The "GGs" are the ones who profited the most from the nation's highwater mark. We got the gas cisis and sky-high interest rates. Half of us never got on our feet at all. But I don't give a damn who "believes" that. We know it. Because we lived it.

Neither Simpson nor Browkaw knows beans about the boomers. They're both much older than us, and both part of the problem (paragraph above, and now). Obama isn't one of us either, I don't care what the technical designation is. The post-boomers like him had a different experience set entirely - it's apples and oranges.

[Raksha]

222. "We know it. Because we lived it." You're damn right!

I'm 64 years old, and I lived it. You don't have to convince me.

Re "They were ignorant old self-involved don't-rock-the-boat bastards even then. The "GGs" are the ones who profited the most from the nation's highwater mark. We got the gas cisis and sky-high interest rates. Half of us never got on our feet at all. But I don't give a damn who "believes" that. We know it. Because we lived it."

[panzerfaust]

140. Heck of a Job Brownie

"I can't wait for the blood bath in April ..." One COULD hope that what he means by that is he is going to quit NOW.

[TBF]

143. Says the guy who retires on a government pension ... what an asshole. nt

[Tuesday Afternoon]

149. K&R

[Mosaic]

150. He's an animal.

"Add that to the fact that a few days ago he said he was looking forward to the "blood bath" in April. What an uncaring, obnoxious person he is."

He's an animal.

[RoccoR5955]

152. Isn't he one of them?

Perhaps someone should inform him of the concept of "projection." He seems to be projecting his own greed upon ALL seniors.

It's a ploy for the next election, and a distraction.

[fascisthunter]

157. He and most of them in the GOP are anti-social sociopaths

they have no responsibility towards the people they pretend to govern. This guy should dragged by his short hairs(if he has any), tarred and feathered, and placed on a soap box for public humiliation. One thing sociopaths hate is being humiliated...

PS for the right wingers reading this: those old people paid into the system, it is THERE FUCKING MONEY you sick fools.

[FailureToCommunicate]

158. Simpson reminds me of Old Man Potter. Or **he who should not be named**

[grahamhgreen]

159. Obama don't care. The guy is a Trojan Donkey, IMHO.

[Overseas]

160. I certainly wish he would be fired. Or start with the truly greediest-- the war profiteers.

Prosecute the war profiteers, encouraged by a man who, as Secretary of Defense pushed privatization of military services then headed Halliburton to reap the rewards of those contracts, then rejoined government to start a war on false pretenses to push more profits their way.

Fire any military contractor convicted of fraud.

Here's a link to the list of military contractors convicted of fraud: http://www.contractormisconduct.org/

[rasputin1952]

162. They don't call SS "the Third Rail" for nothing...

:D

Considering how he made his money, he should not be casting aspersions upon said kettle either. All I can think of when I see or hear this moron is ...asshole.

Now, to finish that letter to him , don't want that fire to cool down any...:evilgrin:

[SOS]

163. Suggestion for Simpson...

Attend a large gathering of Vietnam veterans.
Go up to the podium and deliver this line to the assembled crowd:
"We had the greatest generation, I think this is the greediest generation."

Or better yet, go to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in DC on Memorial Day and deliver that line to the friends and relatives of the dead.

Let's see how tough he really is.

[anachro1]

164. It does not matter

What any Obama appointee might say, so long as all Republicans will block ANYTHING coming from an African American Man.

[1776Forever]

168. Well now I guess Mr. Simpson wants us to go back to our "Grandparents" generation lifestyle....

When my Grandmother lost her husband in the early 40's she had to go to the county and transfer all her belongings to them, her home, her furniture, everything! She then was "given" the right to stay in her home until she died in 1955 when they (county)came in and sold everything she had out from under the family members and took the money from the sale. She lived with an outhouse, an ice box and little food on the table. My father helped some but with his own family it was hard. She had little but the clothes on her back! Is this what we want to go back to!!! I think not!

[LeFleur1]

173. People Like the Sexist Simpson and His Group

of Republicans know how to manipulate people. They have divided this country into teams, Right and Left. Now they are trying to divide the country further into young and old. Perhaps their object is to keep us so busy insulting one another and scuffling among ourselves that they can continue to put our government under corporate rule. The Progressives of this country must stick together to fight for a better government for all people. Don't let this narrowminded old codger and his ilk divide us.

Either Obama is not the man we thought he was or he is way in over his head. Why would he appoint such a flake to head the commission, and then allow him to insult seniors in this way? Is he afraid of the Republicans, OR does he agrees with them? Something is not right.

[sam sarrha]

171. we are Greedy because we want SSI ..AND ..Medicare, I'll show you Greedy..> Link >>

http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth....

this is what caused the Recession, the Richest 1% holds 42% of Financial wealth, top 19% holds 93% ..the bottom 80% holds only 7% of financial wealth.. top 1% holds 6 Times that the bottom 80% hold.

how is that for wealth redistribution.??

[amborin]

174. knr

[grahamhgreen]

177. Return to the taxes of the Greatest Generation and the deficit is gone in 2 years.

Eliminating the Bush tax cut on the super rich (4% increase) will raise 700 billion in revenues in 10 years according to the President.

Which means a 40% increase on the top tax rate to a rate similar to the pre-Reagan rate of 79.6% would yield 7 trillion in 10 years.

A 58% increase to 94% would yield over 10 trillion dollars over the next 10 years.

So our deficit of 1.3 trillion would be gone in a little over a year and our DEBT would be gone in under 10 years (as we pay it down).

Simple! Done and done - and we haven't added the critical taxes to investment income yet!

2010 Y1: 14T - 3T (2T normal revenues plus additional 1T from tax on ultra-rich) = 11T debt
2011 Y2: 11T(debt) + 1T(deficit) - 3T = 9T debt
2012 Y3: 9T(debt) + 600B(deficit) - 3T = 6.6T debt
2013 Y4: 6.6T(debt) + 700T(deficit) - 3T = 4.3T debt
2014 Y4: 4.3T(debt) + 800T(deficit) - 3T = 2.1T debt
2015 Y5: 2.1T(debt) + 800T(deficit) - 3T = .1T debt
2016 Y6: .1T(debt) + 900T(deficit) - 3T = +2 Trillion SURPLUS!!!

2017 and beyond - we are building the greatest, cleanest, greenest, most egalitarian society the world has ever seen! We have eliminated poverty, everyone has HC, everyone gets as much higher ed as they would like, etc.

[valerief]

178. He's a POS, a waste of oxygen. nt

[madfloridian]

179. I just did a search to see if any Democratic leaders defended seniors

I saw nothing at all.

[syberlion]

190. Delivered on Aug 14th 1935 signing the Social Security Act...

"This social security measure gives at least some protection to 50 millions of our citizens who will reap direct benefits through unemployment compensation, through old-age pensions, and through increased services for the protection of children and the prevention of ill health. "

Sounds like a defense of Seniors to me...

Here is the link for the entire speech. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrsocialsecurityact.htm">FDR Signing Social Security Act 1935

Granted, it took me awhile to find this, but it is out there.

As for the Senator, I believe we should build dormitories for both the Senate and the House, reduce their pay to only cover the cost of meals, transportation to and from their districts (coach), and eliminate their pension plan, period. Serving was never intended to be a full-time profession, it was to be a part-time privilege much like jury duty. Besides, with the fact that most of them are worth over 1 million dollars, they can afford to buy their own health insurance, set up their own pension plans, etc. Talk about Greedy...

The dormitories would eliminate the argument of "it costs SO much to find housing in the DC area", and for those with families, um where were the families living before? And for the argument of "I can't leave my family behind", tell that to all the military families living without THEIR Father or Mother for years at a time...

It's time to lay down the law, speaking of law, this country was founded on the rule of law, it's time to get back to it and not allow ANYONE to be above the law, period. When Obama stated he was not going to pursue criminal investigations on the previous administration, he basically gave a "get out of jail" card to anyone associated with the overt criminal behavior. By doing so, he stated, in actions not in words, the previous administration was above the law, violating his oath to protect the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic.

I don't know where this country is headed, all I know is it isn't going in a good direction and as one person all I can do is fight for what is right. All this bickering between ourselves only strengthens the enemy, because they don't have to lift a finger to destroy us, we're doing all their heavy lifting. AND they're laughing all the way to the bank, which we paid for!

ok I'm done for now. Thank you for allowing me to rant.

[madfloridian]

195. I don't see present day Democrats defending us.

You said: "All this bickering between ourselves only strengthens the enemy, because they don't have to lift a finger to destroy us, we're doing all their heavy lifting. AND they're laughing all the way to the bank, which we paid for!"


The only option to speaking out is taking it silently.

I refuse to do that.

[syberlion]

204. I agree

Only, we have to stand up together. As long as we remain fractionalized, they win, divide and conquer. I am tired of being conquered by a group of people that have no business and no idea about governing. Protesting is great, it get's the message out there, I remember the wall-to-wall coverage of all those protests, some of which I was in, against the Iraq war. :sarcasm:

I am finding that going to my neighbors, walking the block, getting people to register, working as a poll watcher, doing something other than just bitching about it is the best way to get things going in the right direction in this country. There are more of us then there are of them and if we are out there talking to people, knocking on doors, getting people registered, getting people to the polls on election day, that will negate the billions of dollars they will pour into the media machine. You know, the same one that showed all of America the millions of people protesting the Iraq war?

Protests are great and when we had journalist in the media, it got the message out there, but with corporations owning 99% of the media, we have to physically mobilize to save this country from the naked fascism we are evolving into. Or, evolved into, depending on your point of view.

[jaxx]

185. Fortunately, for all the rhetoric, there has to be a 14 vote majority

to get anything out of the committee. All this is just hype, and I'm surprised at how many people are taking is as gospel. Once again, the rumors have become truth and the facts are not even mentioned.

[SidDithers]

187. But the wailing and gnashing of teeth about Simpson and Bowle is ridiculously entertaining...

so at least something good will come out of the "Catfood Commission".

Sid

[madfloridian]

189. Yes, all us silly seniors, right SD? We are so damn entertaining.

And we just are whiners and haters also, I guess.

[SidDithers]

205. Not all seniors are silly, but some are...

not all seniors are entertaining, but some are freakin' hilarious.

Sid

[madfloridian]

188. Democrats allowing seniors to be insulted time after time.

Yes, I take it very seriously.

And the more people make fun of me, the more seriously I take it.

It is far more than rhetoric. It is dangerous for our party to let this go on.

[jaxx]

191. I'm 64 and have more to do than worry about what some old repub

has to say about me. What could possibly be dangerous for our party concerning his ignorance?

[madfloridian]

193. Now that is really hiding your head in the sand.

[jaxx]

196. Absolutely not.

It's saying why would I take personally the ranting of some old man? I don't go around with my toes stuck out just waiting for someone to step on them so that I can be a victim. Don't group all people of this age. I can speak for myself.

[madfloridian]

198. So yet another outrageous thing excused because...

he is an Obama appointee.

Seems anything goes when Democrats do it.

[jaxx]

201. It has nothing to do with Obama and I wonder why

that tactic was used as an argument. It has to do with allowing someone the power to make you a victim of their ignorance. I don't let them. If others choose to do so, it's their problem.

[madfloridian]

207. It has everything to do with Obama. He appointed Simpson.

He never speaks up no matter what outrageous Simpson lets fly toward seniors.

[jaxx]

211. The President is an adult.

Think about it.

[madfloridian]

212. Insulting seniors is childish.

Think about it.

[jaxx]

213. Then why get all upset about a childish remark?

[madfloridian]

214. Because our president enabled such stuff by appointing Simpson.

He had to know the kind of guy he was.

[jaxx]

215. LOL enjoy the misery.

[madfloridian]

217. The deliberate scorning of seniors (and teachers)...

will have consequences. Laugh away.

[laughingliberal]

226. Doesn't help much that Obama's 'Democratic' appointee agrees with the asshole. More politely...

but still after our money. Obama appoints 2 haters of the New Deal and I'm supposed to believe cutting our benefits wasn't his intention all along. It's a stretch.

" Last February, Bowles, who made his fortune on Wall Street and served as a top aide in the Clinton White House, boasted in a speech to bankers, "We're going to mess with Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security."

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/22/opinion/la-oe-altman-social-security-20101122

[gulliver]

192. If you are going to group seniors as a political bloc...

...then, frankly, that bloc deserves to suffer under Republican rule. They voted Republican in this last election. I say let them eat cat food (after the cat has had its fill). I realize that not all seniors voted Republican and therefore don't deserve the same punishment as those who did. But should Dem leaders fight for a "voting bloc" that doesn't vote Democratic? You don't buy the cow; you don't get the milk.

I think Dem leaders should put defense of Senior issues on the back burner, right where the Senior voters in 2010 told us those issues belong. And young voters deserve to have a huge chunk of any budgetary reforms taken right out of their non-voting hides. Elections have consequences.

[madfloridian]

194. So you are saying seniors deserve that scorn?

[gulliver]

197. No. That's just a typical Simpson "witticism."

He was going to say it no matter how seniors voted. He's such a card. But seniors do deserve to get the representation they voted for, and they voted for Simpson's party--not the seniors on DU, but seniors as a general voting bloc.

[madfloridian]

199. Did our party make a play for seniors? No, it did not.

When election day came no one had been out there really clarifying the importance of SS. Instead we got to see lots of Bowles and Simpson in our faces. Who appointed them? A Democratic president.

[gulliver]

203. We definitely did not make a play for seniors.

And it was stupid in my opinion. But that doesn't mean that seniors should have been stupid too. They know who they are married to if they want to keep senior programs front-burnered. They know who Republicans are and what they stand for. Dems eliminated the donut hole, lifetime health care benefit limits, and exclusions based on pre-existing conditions. They had the seniors' baby, so to speak, but the seniors still just went out to the honky-tonk after some tail. Why did they vote Republican? Seniors are old enough to know better, by definition.

[laughingliberal]

228. Yeah, see, that's the problem. The over 65's who voted for the pigs won't see their benefits cut...

by much. This is the same bunch who has been putting the supply siders in charge all along so those coming after them had to support them and would see their benefits stolen when they got older.

BTW, young voters won't benefit, either. Whatever promise they might make you will be stolen when you get just before retirement, too. These politicians don't care if we starve and they don't care if you do, either.

Just another lame & transparent attempt to turn the class war into a generational war.

[somone]

208. Greedier than Wall Street financial engineers?

[Orsino]

220. Well, since he wasn't speaking particularly about any one generation...

...it's clear he was addressing a class--specifically, the class of people who can't afford to get on his calendar.

[freedom fighter jh]

230. delete

[earth mom]

239. F*ck Simpson and his greedy cat food commission!

:grr: