Posted on 03/09/2005 6:41:52 PM PST by Zack Nguyen
A GOP source close to the Social Security debate tells me, “the battle for personal accounts is over.”
“Even though the president will keep pushing it and no one is coming out to say it publicly, most Republicans are already resigned to believe that privatization won’t happen.”
“The president is going to take the compromise of add-on accounts, reduced benefits and a payroll tax cap increase and claim victory. Fiscal conservatives and party hard-liners are not going to be happy with this bill at all.”
The source believes there is still “some hope” that the House will pass a bill forcing Democrats in the Senate to filibuster and nationalizing the issue for 2006.
This insider is not a fatalist on most issues. However, while we hope the forecast does not come to fruition, there is likely some measure of truth to the sentiment.
If I wanted Social Security "reformed" by raising taxes, raising the retirement age and cutting benefits while claiming "victory", I wouldn't have voted straight Republican. This is a band-aid solution that doesn't address the fundamental flaws in the system, in my view.
If this report is true, this is an all-too familiar pattern. New, revolutionary ideas are trumpeted; plans are made; speeches are given and with a blast of trumpets we move forward. Then, quietly, the best ideas are gutted and dealt away. Something passes that was a shell of what was originally discussed. Victory is declared.
I realize that politics is the art of the possible. But I get the feeling we'll be seeing the same thing on tax reform. We've all read the careful leaks favoring a national sales tax or flat tax. This would change American politics forever. But now I worry that something like that will never be attempted. A few minor changes will be made, the progressive income tax will remain in all its hideousness, and we'll all move on to something else.
I have a hard time believing this. It sounds too out of character for GWB.
More likely this a trial balloon being floated by a gutless, spineless, good for nothing Republican senator.
Unfortunately, we have seen the Bush administration (and Republicans in Congress) surrender almost every tough battle that isn't the War on Terror.
Judges, Social Security, Tax Reform, Education Vouchers.......the list goes on and on.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I am truly afraid that we may look back at the eight years of Bush and wind up asking, "aside from the war on terror and tiny tax cuts, what did we get in eight years?"
Most everything he has accomplished can be immediately revoked by a Democratic President in their first 100 days.
What lasting changes are we going to get? It's time to fight for some of these things, dammit!
If the President actually tries this, his approval will tank overnight, and the Republicans could lose seats in the House and Senate in 2006.
No Republican will see caving in to the worst craven lying and distortion the Democrats have been guilty of in years as anything short of a complete disaster of the kind not seen since Hillary disbanded her Hillarycare Task Force.
Even if advisers to the President are willing to give up, I hope that the President is not. I believe he has better political instincts than that.
I had always assumed that this bizarre "add-on account" thing was just a cheap stalling tactic from (D)s opposed to partial privatization, a phony compromise by means of offering a nonsense alternative. "No let's not partially privatize, but we're willing to compromise, how about some kind of add-on account?" I never dreamed it was actually a real thing.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
I disagree. Bush has not gotten everything he wanted. His education bill did not include vouchers (this was dropped at the first sign of resistance. His tax cut was not as large as he wanted (if I remember correctly.)
Bush felt compelled to sign McCain-Feingold.
Bush also wants a Constitutional Amendment upholding traditional marriage, but does not appear to want to fight for it. He also wanted all of his judges, but he and the Senate shrunk back on many of them.
I'm not complaining that he "hasn't got everything he wants." I'm complaining because he promises too much, delivers too little, and often drops key parts of the agenda without a fight.
I do not know what an "add on" account isa. This is the first I have heard of it.
I agree - the War on Terror is an exception. President Bush has fought and suffered for his positions on the War. I think 9/11 impacted him so vicerally that he simply will not give in on the War.
Just another way of Big Brother taking more control, it is no comprimise at all. It's horsecrap.
this is nonsense
It's kind of like a IRA except that you have to contribute, the government will limit your investment choices, will hold your proxy vote for any shares you own and will probably put pressure on companies to "act correctly" if they want to be able to participate.
I certainly hope so!
I hope so!
we DID get the tax cuts and a win on the WOT, which was awesome.
I think the bill should be pushed through the house and let then just shut down the senate thorugh real philibusters.
You are exactly right! - And further this is nothing more than a back-handed attempt to try and knock President GWB from keeping to his demand for private accounts (either by a weak and spineless GOPer or simply a "made-up" source) -
The President is pushing for private accounts ....without them nothing is changed at all with the completely flawed Soc Sec system.
GWB is one hell of a man and one hell of a President. History will judge him incredibly kindly years from now.
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