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Obama taps spending watchdog, eyes Social Security
AOL ^ | 1/7/09 | Jennifer Loven

Posted on 01/07/2009 3:20:29 PM PST by xtinct

Pointing with concern to "red ink as far as the eye can see," President-elect Barack Obama pledged Wednesday to tackle out-of-control Social Security and Medicare spending and named a special watchdog to clamp down on other federal programs — even as he campaigned anew to spend the largest pile of taxpayer money in history to revive the sinking economy.

The steepness of the fiscal mountain he'll face beginning Jan. 20 was underscored by stunning new figures: an estimate that the federal budget deficit will reach $1.2 trillion this year, by far the biggest ever, even without the new stimulus spending. The incoming president has walked this same tightrope each day this week — advocating fiscal discipline and taxpayer largesse together at nearly every turn, though in every case with little detail to back it up. With less than two weeks to go before taking the helm at the White House, he'll make the same pitch on Thursday, delivering a speech laying out why he wants Congress to quickly pass his still-evolving economic plan. Last year's U.S. deficit set its own record, but that $455 billion will be dwarfed by this year's. The new estimate, by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, represents more than 8 percent of the entire national economy.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.aol.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: disabled; elderly; jenniferloven; obama; obamatransitionfile; ossociatedpress; socialsecurity
Deval Patrick, MA threw the same people, elderly and disabled, under the bus last month. He closed and merged some facilities for the disabled. (reason for higher taxes?)

But, before WE the taxpayers buy in to any of these scare tactics... WE need to tell these people loud and clear that ALL non-citizens need to be off SS, SS Disability, Medicare and Medicaid.

Brighton section of Boston about 4 years ago it was discovered that Ted Kennedy brought in hundreds of elderly Russians. The got SS, housing, medicare, furniture, appliances, etc. ... all on the taxpayers dime.

And, about half the public housing residents or more now are illegal aliens.

1 posted on 01/07/2009 3:20:33 PM PST by xtinct
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To: xtinct

How is the MSM able to juggle the cognitive dissonance of presenting Obama as both a rigid belt-tightener and the engineer of a 700 billion dollar spending spree? It makes my head hurt just to skim through these wacky articles.


2 posted on 01/07/2009 3:24:03 PM PST by Tublecane
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To: xtinct

Hey, don’t worry about out of control spending. That’s the latest fad. Just throw MORE money at it.


3 posted on 01/07/2009 3:25:50 PM PST by Right Wing Assault (What's Obama's Secret?)
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To: xtinct

Watching to be sure all the dollars go to the all the ‘blue’ states. All the preferred constituencies.


4 posted on 01/07/2009 3:28:34 PM PST by Carley
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To: xtinct
Social Security spending was LBJ's method of financing the Viet Nam War!

I have a simple solution.

Keep your mittens off of my retirement kittens!

I put it in and I get it out! Case Closed.

5 posted on 01/07/2009 3:30:15 PM PST by Young Werther (Julius Caesar (Quae Cum Ita Sunt. Since these things are so.))
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To: xtinct

aol. now there’s a reputable news organization.


6 posted on 01/07/2009 3:31:33 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (revolution is in the air.)
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To: xtinct

We got a guy who wears a backassward baseball hat with a 65 trillion and growing bill to pay and no money to pay it. Oh Boy! I am so confident. Stick us with a fork.


7 posted on 01/07/2009 3:44:20 PM PST by screaminsunshine (.)
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To: xtinct
President-elect Barack Obama pledged Wednesday to tackle out-of-control Social Security and Medicare spending

That'd be his government-controlled health care system.. once the government controls who can get care then getting rid of the majority of the baby boomers will be easy.

Social Security and Medicare spending solved.

8 posted on 01/07/2009 3:45:26 PM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: xtinct

Gee, I thought it was the Republicans who were a threat to Social Security? Now, Obama is calling it “out of control”...interesting.

At the end of the day, however, I’m sure he will fix it by throwing even MORE $$ at it. Including free prescription drugs for seniors.


9 posted on 01/07/2009 3:46:24 PM PST by rbg81 (DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
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To: WilliamofCarmichael

Why do you think they passed assisted suicide in Washington state?


10 posted on 01/07/2009 3:49:21 PM PST by Eva (CHANGE- the post modern euphemism for Marxist revolution.)
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To: xtinct

Here it comes.

They are really going to try to do it. Aren’t they...?

Take, literally take our 401Ks & IRAs.

I can’t be held responsible for what results...


11 posted on 01/07/2009 3:50:56 PM PST by EBH ( Directive 10-289)
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To: xtinct

Excuse me! But we PAID INTO Social Security and Medicare... LBJ took that money and rolled it into the general fund to pay for all his great society programs. I would have loved to invest all the money I paid into FICA over the years, there would be a heck of a lot more money than I will ever collect out of SS.


12 posted on 01/07/2009 3:52:13 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: xtinct
Obama has to give Congress in early February a budget request — at least the bare bones of one — covering spending for the next fiscal year. Because that's so soon after he takes over the executive branch of government, his submission won't be anything like the usual one that fills several volumes and hundreds of pages.

With the level of economic crisis going on you'd have thunk he would have been working on this already instead of vacationing in a multimillion dollar mansion/resort hot-spot or working out in the gym on his girly man physique. /rant.

13 posted on 01/07/2009 3:58:25 PM PST by EBH ( Directive 10-289)
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To: EBH
/i>

Good point, you thinking this is the set up for it?

14 posted on 01/07/2009 4:02:06 PM PST by Las Vegas Ron (The tree of liberty is getting mighty dry)
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To: xtinct
Scatter shooting while wondering when AARP will claim that the "O" is going to force senior citizens to start eating cat food... oh wait... the "O" is a democrap... so he can't be accused of taking food away from said senior citizens in their golden years.

The Republicans recognized SS is in a world of hurt and tried to do something about it (limited self-investment of one's own SS withholdings in choose-able safe investments), but are cut down as beeing evil.

I'm sure that since I'm actually saving for my future separate from SS that the O's plan is to make sure I'll never see a dime of my witholdings before I turn 100 years old.

15 posted on 01/07/2009 4:02:31 PM PST by Trajan88 (www.bullittclub.com)
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To: Young Werther

Messing with Social Security would not result in a pretty mood among senions in this country.


16 posted on 01/07/2009 4:02:55 PM PST by varina davis (Life is not a dress rehearsal)
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To: EBH
Ooops

Take, literally take our 401Ks & IRAs.

Good point, you thinking this is the set up for it?

17 posted on 01/07/2009 4:04:43 PM PST by Las Vegas Ron (The tree of liberty is getting mighty dry)
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To: Las Vegas Ron
Good point, you thinking this is the set up for it?

I know that the leadership in the senate wants this to happen. If they do it, it's going to be buried within a bill the size of the October bailout bill, and will be rushed through the congress. The republicans won't have a say in the House, and there will be enough socialist republicans to block the filibuster.

This is exactly why I'm not putting into it right now. It's scary what this group is about to do right off the bat. Everything they want that's on the extreme left wing side will have to be shoved through immediately, giving enough time to pass for the people to forget how horribly wrong it is.

18 posted on 01/07/2009 4:15:40 PM PST by GOPyouth ("Scientologists actually believe this." -South Park)
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To: Las Vegas Ron

By Karen McMahan

November 04, 2008

RALEIGH — Democrats in the U.S. House have been conducting hearings on proposals to confiscate workers’ personal retirement accounts — including 401(k)s and IRAs — and convert them to accounts managed by the Social Security Administration.

Triggered by the financial crisis the past two months, the hearings reportedly were meant to stem losses incurred by many workers and retirees whose 401(k) and IRA balances have been shrinking rapidly.

http://board.columbiatribune.com/lofiversion/index.php/t7601.html


19 posted on 01/07/2009 4:19:18 PM PST by EBH ( Directive 10-289)
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To: GOPyouth; Las Vegas Ron

This is exactly why a pulled my money. Pay taxes, take loses, pay penalties...but still walk away with MY retirement funds.

This is an entire setup to confiscate those funds.

It is all going to feel like it is happening in the twinkling of an eye. The truth is though we knew SS was in trouble. That is why many of us setup 401ks and IRAs.

Wrong isn’t the word for any of this. Evil doesn’t even come close.


20 posted on 01/07/2009 4:24:21 PM PST by EBH ( Directive 10-289)
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To: the invisib1e hand
aol. now there’s a reputable news organization.

It's an AP story. Not that AP is much to write home about.

21 posted on 01/07/2009 4:32:39 PM PST by FoxInSocks (B. Hussein Obama: The Paucity of Hope)
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To: EBH
There was a plan considered in the Clinton Administration -- backed I believe by the Clintons' chief economic adviser, Laura Tyson -- that proposed taking a certain percentage of all private retirement funds.

Fifteen percent was the amount, I believe, and it was to be a "one-time-only" act. I have not been able to find information but I swear I remember the efforts. I believe that Jesse Jackson was involved and the money was to be used to support inter-city renovation.

In the view of the Rat Party (formerly the traditional, patriotic Democratic Party) what is more "patriotic" than using the people's retirement funds (excluding SS) to "save" our country?

22 posted on 01/07/2009 4:32:39 PM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: GOPyouth; EBH
I got a feeling this is coming too.

Lots of folks are pulling out and are only going to hasten the inevitable.

Maybe this is just what it's going to take to lite a fire in this country.

23 posted on 01/07/2009 4:34:19 PM PST by Las Vegas Ron (The tree of liberty is getting mighty dry)
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To: xtinct

So - Obama is appointing someone to be a watchdog to tell us if the bailout money is being wasted. I wonder how much setting all that office up will cost.

How about I save the feds a whole bunch of money right now... here we go:

The Money WILL be wasted.

There - and it didn’t cost the Federal Government a penny.

Now Obama can call the whole thing off.


24 posted on 01/07/2009 4:34:45 PM PST by TheBattman (Pray for our country....)
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To: FoxInSocks

25 posted on 01/07/2009 4:38:22 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (revolution is in the air.)
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To: xtinct
Your comment bears repeating.
"But, before WE the taxpayers buy in to any of these scare tactics... WE need to tell these people loud and clear that ALL non-citizens need to be off SS, SS Disability, Medicare and Medicaid.".
26 posted on 01/07/2009 4:41:29 PM PST by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter was our best choice. Now once again please. Duncan Hunter in 2012.)
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To: xtinct

Oh, “The One” is going to kill the old and sick first. I guess that makes some sort of sense.


27 posted on 01/07/2009 4:47:25 PM PST by MichiganConservative (You are a slave. The government is your owner and master. For many slaves, it is also their god.)
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To: EBH
Take, literally take our 401Ks & IRAs.

At some point, the government is going to run out of money to service the ever increasing debt. We're not buying enough stuff from China and Japan anymore, so they are not as eager to finance our debt as their concerns will be to take care of their own financial messes.

Short of printing money, which will lead to hyperinflation, the government is running out of options to finance the debt. T-bills are practically worthless as an investment. The last BIG pot of money the government would love to get its hands on to finance the debt are 401K's and IRA's. I expect within a few months, they will try to make us "an offer we can't refuse" to get us to finance the debt with our 401K's and IRA's.

WE MUST FIGHT THIS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND WE MUST NOT GIVE IN TO THE TEMPTATION, NO MATTER HOW THEY TRY TO SWEETEN THE POT. IT WOULD BE LIKE GIVING a HEROIN ADDICT A FIX.

28 posted on 01/07/2009 4:48:09 PM PST by randita
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To: AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; george76; ...

Social Security readies for onslaught
AP via The Post and Courier, Charleston, SC | 2009-01-07 | Jim Abrams
Posted on 01/07/2009 11:35:02 AM PST by rabscuttle385
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2160408/posts

and thanks neverdem:

The End of White America?
The Atlantic | January 2009 | Hua Hsu
Posted on 01/06/2009 4:04:43 PM PST by WesA
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2159934/posts

In Search of Lost Principle
- The Republicans could benefit from rereading their two-page...
Reason | February 2009 | Tim Cavanaugh
Posted on 01/06/2009 9:28:26 PM PST by neverdem
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2160069/posts


29 posted on 01/07/2009 4:49:05 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/___________First 2009 Profile update Tuesday, January 6, 2009)
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To: Arizona Carolyn

You bet, I didn’t ask for SS, I fought against it most of my life, but the fact of the matter is I paid into SS for over 40 frickin’ years and I expect to get some of it back. I would have loved to invest that money or, at the least, to have them invest it for me, but no, they just spent the sh** out of it. Not my fault and I won’t stand still for being f***ked over.


30 posted on 01/07/2009 4:53:10 PM PST by calex59
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To: EBH
"This is an entire setup to confiscate those funds."

At that point, the federal government will have lost its moral and constitutional authority to govern. Any such action would justify a revolution and harsh punishment of those political thugs behind any such thievery.

31 posted on 01/07/2009 4:57:06 PM PST by Czar ((Still Fed Up to the Teeth with Washington))
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To: varina davis

yes, and thanks to the baby boomer generation, there are lots of us!


32 posted on 01/07/2009 5:24:23 PM PST by browniexyz
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To: Young Werther

lol - great line


33 posted on 01/07/2009 5:53:47 PM PST by Glacier Honey
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To: calex59

You and I are on the same page.


34 posted on 01/07/2009 6:11:22 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: xtinct

Seems to me that one of the messiahs’ relatives was living in one of these projects after her visa expired.


35 posted on 01/07/2009 6:30:18 PM PST by printhead
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To: xtinct
Brighton section of Boston about 4 years ago it was discovered that Ted Kennedy brought in hundreds of elderly Russians

How?

Got any more detail on it?

36 posted on 01/07/2009 6:45:48 PM PST by razorback-bert (Save the planet...it is the only known one with beer!)
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To: Eva
Why do you think they passed assisted suicide in Washington state?

I was a little surprised that Zero's pick for Surgeon General wasn't Jack Kevorkian!

37 posted on 01/07/2009 6:53:48 PM PST by hunter112 (We seem to be on an excrement river in a Native American watercraft without a propulsion device.)
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To: EBH

I read the article, but don’t understand it completely. Can you tell me exacatly how this would work. Is it that the Gov’t would transfer our private IRA’s to Gov’t controlled retirement accounts/SS?


38 posted on 01/07/2009 7:58:51 PM PST by HollyB
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To: Arizona Carolyn
You and I are on the same page.

Yes, we are.

39 posted on 01/07/2009 8:24:26 PM PST by calex59
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To: EBH

“This is exactly why a pulled my money. Pay taxes, take loses, pay penalties...but still walk away with MY retirement funds”

I lost my 401K when the telecom market burst in 2002 and have not started one at my new company - I’ve had a wait and see attitude


40 posted on 01/07/2009 9:06:33 PM PST by Glacier Honey
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To: hunter112

Assisted suicide aids in the delay and deny system of socialized medicine. Get rid of the old and infirm. If you don’t want to live, the state doesn’t want to pay for you. The truth is that assisted suicide has been the MO in hospitals around the country for along time, now, it’s legal. Sometimes, they use it when the patient doesn’t ask for it, I know from experience with my mother.

I don’t believe that the election in WA was legitimate in any sense. It has been stated in articles in the WSJ and NRO that once the election system is destroyed like it was here in 2004, it never goes back. Minnesota is finished now, too, and probably New Mexico.

In 2004, it was ACORN, this year, we had the SEIU. Both times it was in concert with the Indian tribes. It’s all a pay to play, and there were several initiatives on the ballot that were all about the leftist take over. The SEIU even had their own initiative, concerning day care workers and nursing home workers, which was really about getting the state to fund their organizing efforts. Heck, they elected the head of the SEIU Superintendent of Schools.


41 posted on 01/07/2009 9:16:43 PM PST by Eva (CHANGE- the post modern euphemism for Marxist revolution.)
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To: HollyB
If I could tell exactly how it would work, do you think they will get away with it? It is all going to happen for the good of the retirement investor. They are going to say they are removing all risk and giving you a guaranteed reward.
42 posted on 01/08/2009 3:42:56 AM PST by EBH ( Directive 10-289)
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To: Young Werther
Keep your mittens off of my retirement kittens!

Don't worry. The retirements of your two Senators and your congressman are safe.

I know the thought was probably keeping you up at night.

43 posted on 01/08/2009 5:14:37 AM PST by an amused spectator (Citizen Kenyan: The man who created The Sock-Puppet Constitution.)
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To: SunkenCiv

>The End of White America?
>The Atlantic | January 2009 | Hua Hsu
>Posted on 01/06/2009 4:04:43 PM PST by WesA
>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2159934/posts

Unfortunately that lively thread was pulled for reasons unknown


44 posted on 01/08/2009 5:24:24 AM PST by kanawa
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