Face it: Simpson is doing just what the President wants him to do

[MannyGoldstein]

Given Simpson's long track record, one can only expect that he'll resort to lying, name calling, and other garbage.

Obama appointed Simpson. So either the President wanted this, or he's stupid. Obama's not stupid.

The fact that the White House immediately rushed to accept Simpson's apology, and reassure the crazy right that they have Simpson's back, is further evidence that Simpson is simply engaging in desired behavior.

[geek tragedy]

1. 11 dimensional chess! nt

[babylonsister]

2. LOL! Nice try, manny, but the Prez isn't responsible for whatever

comes out of anyone's mouth but his own. He has no control over what people think or say; and you must have missed Simpson's apology. Did Obama orchestrate that, too? :eyes:

[MannyGoldstein]

4. He sure is responsible

He can't stop them for saying stuff, but he must respond appropriately. The White House response speaks volumes as to what they consider to be appropriate.

Simpson has spun lie after lie, insult after insult and remains co-chairman, along with Bowles who also has tried to slash Social Security in the past.

[babylonsister]

6. Why do rethugs always get a pass for saying things and then

apologizing, yet Dems want to draw blood? I don't get the disconnect. He screwed up, his apology was accepted. Maybe Obama thinks that's the appropriate response, even if you don't. And it's well known you are not a fan, so you're biased to begin with.

[MannyGoldstein]

9. How do you feel about both co-chairmen having a track record

of trying to slash Social Security? They have just mentioned it they've both made active attempts to do it.

How do you feel that most members of the commission (14 of 18, if I recall correctly) have publicly said that they'r in favor of slashing Social Security>

[DURHAM D]

12. What Simpson has done is totally predictable.

Do you remember the way he treated Anita Hill?

Simpson was well known for being a total jerk while in the senate and constantly saying inappropriate things - particularly about women. Do you remember?

Some of us do if you don't. He is and always has been a misogynist pig.


Sadly, Obama picking Simpson says more about Obama than Simpson.

[frylock]

19. who, on this board, is giving republicans a free pass?

you're not entirely unbiased yourself. not as bad as some others around here, but hardly critical of the admin.

[great white snark]

27. It's not just the rethugs.

The far-left only overlooks idiotic statements when they come from people not associated with Obama, like Helen Thomas.

[sabrina 1]

43. Alan Simpson has a long, long record of hating SS.

He has said things that no public figure should say about the people he was a representative of. He has called Seniors 'old geezers' who he says, are too greedy to give up any of their SS. He has called all of us, 'the lesser people' demonstrating the elitist attitude these people have towards their bosses, the American people.

And that's just recently. Knowing his record, and knowing that at 79 years of age he is unlikely to change, it was either a grave mistake to drag him back out of the political gutter where we the people assigned him and his party, and give him powere we the people did not approve of. If it was a matter of not knowing who this guy was, then I seriously question the ability of this administration to lead. The only other possibility is that they agree with him.

I did not support putting Republicans in positions of power when I supported a Democrat for president. Yet, over and over again, that is what we got. From Pete Peterson to Simpson to Judd Gregg and Lindsey Graham.

If we had wanted Republicans in power, we would have voted for them. And if this had been known prior to the election, that 'bi-partisanship' actually meant placing Republicans in positions that we assumed would go to Democrats, I doubt many have supported this president.

[donheld]

48. Makes one ask where exactly does the buck stop?

[Hawkowl]

18. You are once again completely wrong!

The president IS responsible for every, single, policy statement by his staff, appointees, and military officers. Being responsible is the definition of being president.

The fact that the president accepts some lukewarm apology instead of firing Simpson does indeed send a powerful political/policy message.

Your failure to understand this is a failure to grasp basic fundamental tenets of responsibility and leadership.

[Carolina]

29. Touche! Excellent response

Obama's choices and, in fact, his executive order creating this commission speak VOLUMES about HIM!

[Skittles]

42. which I believe is why that DUer is so accepting of utter failure of leadership

[NorthCarolina]

24. So, you are totally comfortable with Alan Simpson being Obama's chosen champion for SS reform? eom

[Hell Hath No Fury]

25. But he IS responsible for appointing a man --

who has a very long history of being overtly hostile to government in general and "entitlement" programs like SS specifically. This is pure fox-in-the-henhosue stuff going on with Simpson. I find it impossible to believe that O couldn't have found ONE moderate Republican to work on his comission instead of nutbag Simpsom.

[TheKentuckian]

26. Apology?!? Are you serious? What possible difference does that make?

Do you think taking his foot out of his mouth has changed a lifetime of ideology?

He said he was sawdry that means he has turned over a new leaf, I reckon? This catfood commision is not defensible.

[Ignis]

31. The President certainly had the option of NOT accepting the apology.

[Enthusiast]

50. LOL! He is responsible for

appointing these anti-poor zealots.

[TBF]

51. He has control over he hires & fires.

His acceptance of the behavior will only encourage Simpson, and tells us exactly where Obama stands with Social Security (as if we didn't already know simply by the existence of this commission).

He will get voted out for this, it is a huge mistake on his part.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Self delete

Wrong spot

[Nite Owl]

5. Exactly my conclusion

Either Obama is a naive dummy (which I can't believe) or he is no where near being called a progressive. He is doing just what he intended to do all along, we were the ones that were scammed.
I never believed that he was some flaming liberal and what he wanted to do to me was rather centrist but I figured it would be a start at least and a huge change but I didn't know I was voting for a someone rather right of center. I didn't know that those who worked for him would be so totally abandoned and ridiculed.
Does he realize how many groups of people he has let down? He doesn't seem to want to win a second term or have Congress retain a majority.

[zipplewrath]

8. There's no doubt

Obama is achieving alot of what he wants to achieve. This talking point that somehow congress is constantly forcing his hand is ridiculous. He wants Simpson on the board, it's just a matter of figuring out why. It could be a bit of political cover on his right, or it could be to pull the whole committee to the right. We won't know for sure for some time.

[meow mix]

7. yup already seen this episode a couple times nt

[pnorman]

10. Agreed!

Obama wants all the entire nation to see the type of asshole who is trying so hard to destroy our Social Security!

[merbex]

13. What's it like looking through rose colored glasses

all the time when it comes to this White House and how they have stomped on the base and tried to cozy up to people who will never want to cozy up to them??

Doesn't it cause eye strain and a headache?

[great white snark]

15. "stomped on the base"

You mean the Liberal Dems whose approval has been around 80% since his election?

http://gallup.com/poll/124922/Presidential-Approval-Center.aspx

[merbex]

20. Isn't funny that Conservative support for Bush was at near 100%

Keep watching that number because if Simpson and the Catfood Commission get their way, Obama's support will be around 33%

I like to remeber that this is August and most people are either on vacation or loooking for work i.e. not paying close attention

[Dr.Phool]

39. Good peyote harvest this year?

[DURHAM D]

14. That's funny.

Obama appoints a raging sexist lesser people hater asshole who is no longer in public service or has a public forum of any kind (until Obama appointed him to the Commission) and you think it is to show "us" something.

It should show you something about Obama.

I just don't know how anyone keeps on believing that Obama cares about the folks beyond a 20 miles radius of the White House.

[atreides1]

17. He can stop now.

I think most people have a pretty good idea of the type of assholes trying to destroy Social Security. Now Mr. Obama should get rid of both Simpson and Bowles, and replace the entire commission who will look at cuts to all programs, to include massive military spending.

[merbex]

21. This is the perfect opportunity to do what you suggest

but the fact that the White House 'accepted' an apology that really wasn't intended for them speaks volumes if you care to really listen

[Donnachaidh]

46. that would require -- leadership. ACTUAL leadership.

hell, I'll bet the *bipartisan plans* on shredding the fund are already at the printers. After all, there's been plenty of time to have those closed door meetings they are so famous for.

Transparency? Remember THAT?

[TheKentuckian]

22. Don't bogart that! Puff, puff, pass!

[denimgirly]

33. Wanna bet?

If Obama wanted to show his support for SS he would have fired his ass...not accept his apology and hope the right doesnt get angry with him for not accepting the apology sooner. Obama shows that when a left gets out of line the admin will ignore or fire them instantly..when a right does the same nothing comes of it. There is a serious problem and the WH is clearly center-right.

[Dr.Phool]

38. Just pass out autographed pictures of himself.

That should accomplish it!

[merbex]

11. I have accepted that this White House likes Ronald Reagan a whole helluva

lot better than FDR and LBJ( Great Society programs)

Accepted it.....but hate it.

Not what I voted for, and can't defend it

[grasswire]

16. Obama might as well have appointed Cheney to that position.

Simpson and Cheney are BFF from way back. They are both mean-spirited and evildoers. Simpson has always been a Cheney stooge, covering for him and promoting him. We wouldn't be surprised at any scummy thing that Cheney would do -- so don't be surprised that Simpson is a jerk and a thug.

[area51]

23. +1 n/t

[phleshdef]

28. Do you really think the President wants Simpson pissing people off unnecessarily?

I'm not sure why Simpson was placed on the deficit commission really. But I highly doubt he was placed there to create political firestorms that do nothing to help the administration, politically or otherwise.

I can hardly wait till this damn commission comes out with its recommendations and Congress procedes to basically ignore it and do whatever the hell it wants to. This BS is going nowhere.

[Steely_Dan]

30. +1000 n/t

[slipslidingaway]

32. knr nt

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

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

[Barack2theFuture]

35. How could you expect Obama to control Simpson!?

Obama has only been in office for a little over a year and a half.

He inherited a really messy mess of a big mess.

Besides, if you had been paying attention, you'd know Obama never said he wouldn't use a right wing sack of shit to gut Social Security.

[xchrom]

36. Recommend

[ProSense]

37. What's clear is

this.

The President obviously can't control Simpson's mouth.

[martymar64]

40. Obama hired him so he speaks for obama

Now I dare you to defend what he said.

Since he is Obama's man, and Obama has refused to fire him, that means that you as a cheerleader have to support what Simpson said about SS.

Go ahead, defend his opinion on SS.


I dare you.

[ProSense]

41. "Obama hired him so he speaks for obama"

No, he doesn't.

Simpson is an asshole climbing into people's heads and tickling their brains.

[Donnachaidh]

47. 'What Is Required of Us Now Is a New Era of Responsibility'

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/20/AR2009012002114.html

Responsibility is under the bus now too?

[MannyGoldstein]

49. Are you saying that Simpson doesn't serve at the pleasure of the President?

Because if he is, then the President must gain pleasure from his actions - or else he'd be kicked to the curb like Howard Dean.

[slipslidingaway]

44. Obama set up the commission by executive order and appointed Simpson...

who has a long record of speaking out against SS and Medicare.

Why did Obama set up the commission and appoint Simpson, according to some people Obama has no power. What an excuse!

[jeanpalmer]

45. Simpson helped loot the system

along with many others in Congress. That he would be put in charge of a purported effort to strengthen the system is a complete farce.

[TBF]

52. K&R nt