Posted on 05/05/2005 1:29:08 PM PDT by RWR8189
DAY 7 AFTER PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES SOCIAL SECURITY
PROPOSAL; PRESIDENT CLINTON TO FELLOW
DEMOCRATS: GET A PLAN
"Bill Clinton's call to Democrats to stand up and address the issue of Social Security is a refreshing reminder that he and former Democrat Senators Moynihan, Kerrey and Breaux understood the importance of strengthening Social Security. The Pelosi-Reid Democrats of today should learn from their predecessors and set aside their agenda of obstruction. It's not only a losing political strategy, but Americans deserve leaders of both parties who lead with principle rather than partisan antics."
-Tracey Schmitt, RNC Press Secretary
President George W. Bush: "[H]ow Come You're Not Doing Anything About It? How Come You're Allowing Partisan Politics To Prevent Good People From Coming Together To Solve The Problem?" (President George W. Bush, Remarks At Latino Coalition Conference, Washington, DC, 5/4/05)
Former President Bill Clinton: "[I] Think [Democrats] Need To Come Up With A Plan Of Their Own." (ABC's "Saturday Good Morning America," 5/7/05, Via ABC News' "The Note," 5/5/05)
· President Clinton: "I Think The Democrats Should Say What They Are For On Social Security In The Next Couple Weeks ... The Democrats Should Have A Plan And They Should Talk To The President And The Congressional Republicans About It." (ABC's "Saturday Good Morning America," 5/7/05, Via ABC News' "The Note," 5/5/05)
Others Agree With The Former President:
Jason Furman, Former Economic Adviser To John Kerry, Called Doing Nothing "The Dumbest Possible Plan You Could Imagine." "'It's hardly impressive to show that a plan that solves only half the problem is better than the dumbest possible plan you could imagine -- doing nothing,' said Jason Furman, a former economic adviser to Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign who now is a visiting scholar at New York University." (John D. McKinnon, "White House Defends Reining in Pensions of Affluent," The Wall Street Journal, 5/5/05)
The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial: "Part Of The Blame Lies With Democrats, Who Never Pass Up An Opportunity To Demagogue The Issue Even Though They Haven't Bothered To Propose A Reform Plan Of Their Own." (Editorial, "Misguided Politics," The San Diego Union-Tribune, 5/4/04)
Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ): "Sadly, Most Democrats In Congress Will Not Openly Discuss How We Might Save Social Security Because They Could Be Sanctioned By Their Leadership." (Rep. Jim Kolbe, Op-Ed, "Social Security Requires Effort By Both Parties," Tucson Citizen, 5/5/05)
If he wanted to help, he'd endorse the President's plan.
Seems kinda late coming to that realization. When his own Blue Ribbon Social Security Reform Commission proposed privatization 7 years ago, he had no alternative plan. Instead, he simply left the problem for Bush to solve.
SS reform is as dead as the calls to bring back the draft.
There is a point were one needs to cut their losses in one area and continue on the battle in the many other areas that need to be fought right now.
Which is exactly the problem. The Democrats dont want President Bush to receive any credit for solving the problem. They know SS is in trouble , but they would rather wait for it to sink than help the President solve the problem. Right now a plan even they make would allow the Republicans to say the problem was solved during their watch and thats what they cant stand.
The President seem to me to be very fluid in what he wants, the Democrats could talk him into most anything that looked like a solution , but they are too busy demogoguing and for a fact they have no solution, nor even any good ideas.
The do-nothing democrats do nothing once again.
Why is AMERICA so in the dark...why can not most understand "OWNERSHIP" as an idea to prosperity and pride along with more respect for everything! URG!
I just can not believe investing a couple thousand a year of my own money and weaning me away from the crutches of socialism is a bad thing......?
They believe the Dems' lies. It's been pounded into their brains by the liberal media for decades.
After the promise of social security is proven to be a lie, there will be a great awakening, and retribution. I would not be surprised if some of the politicians who are now telling the lies end up losing their heads--literally.
No, it is not.
It is one of the 4 big issues that will define these times, and it must be addressed, and fought right now, all out, no holds barred.
The Dems don't need to get a plan the need to GET A CLUE!!!
Don't know about a French Revolution redux, but have any idea what a congressional pension plan, health plan, travel junkets, fringes, and other emoluments & gratuities are worth? Not including the graft.
With the ethics shakedown going on in DC, a lot of reps and senators are 'cooking the books' as fast as they can. You can trace this back to the Federalist Papers (number escapes me, Madison, I think) that warns about the danger of allowing men to establish their own salaries and benefits.
Absolutely right. Clinton, like most Democrats, doesn't actually want to solve problems. He just wants credit for wanting to solve them.
"Instead, he simply left the problem for Bush to solve."
*Social Security Reform
*Terrorism
*Open Borders
*The National Debt
*UN Scandals
*Saddam Hussein
*Healthcare/Medicare
*Nuclear weapons proliferation by nutcases (Iran, North Korea, etc.)
IMHO, Clinton left EVERY issue on his plate as he slunk out of office. He's USELESS. Why does anyone listen to him, no matter what their politics?
With the presidents approval on SS in the 30s and even into the 20s in some polls it doesn't have a chance, if his approval was in the 60s on SS it would be a very hard slog to get private accounts. But, it is impossible to do right now.
Polls matter only because both parties watch them and because of the current numbers it simply won't happen. The president has spoke to the nation twice in several months about SS and he has spent nearly all of his first 100 days stumping for SS reform and his approval on SS has dropped further and further. I remember a time when the president was polling in the 60s on SS, I will just be happy to see his numbers in the mid 40s again on the issue.
Basically, I am going to make this very clear cut, SS reform has zero chance.
I'm sure that Kerry has a plan...didn't he say he had a plan? ;-)
It does have a chance. The alternative is worse and the clock is ticking.
This issue is going to boomerang on the D's in a big way at the end of the year, the beginning of the next election cycle.
Clinton was warning the D's that if they don't come up with something credible, R's will at least get credit for having something.
Remember, SS is the EASIER of the two looming problems to fix. Medicare is far worse off economically at this point.
If he drops SS, if W says, "Fine, for the sake of argument, let's say you are right about the fact that for every one person retiring in the next twenty years, there will be only two people paying their benefits - that's not a problem that needs an immediate fix. Let's instead talk about reforming Medicare, and then you can tell me how we are OK there too."
That's why Hillary is going to run. She's insane.
At some point, the Constitution is going to be amended by the people, and all that is going to be vitiated. The pols will get what they deserve.
Approval polls be damned.
He isn't going to quit, and if the Senate Repubs want to ride with him through 06 they will come in line.
If not, they can lose and good riddance.
Basically, I am going to make this very clear cut:
Never quit on SS.
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