I thought Bush tried that with Social Security. The Congress really jumped on that issue didn't they?
Bush tried to paint SS as bleak without admitting that Medicare was worse. Instead of being seen as restoring our fiscal house it was seen as a Wall Street scheme AND since he was the same guy who pushed through the Medicaire Presicription drug bill (which costs atleast as much as SS reform would have saved)...cynicism may have been merited.
And if the people really don't want SS privatized then we'll just wind up means testing it. That really doesn't bother me either.
Oh and more honesty:
We are running a war on terror with a peacetime sized military. This won't work either.
Ultimately somone is going to have to level with the American people. Either us or the Dims are going to have to do it.