Of course he’ll demogouge it. The key is for the Republicans to KEEP QUIET, even though it could easily lead to the economy crashing. If the Republicans try ANY type of real reform, they will get their heads handed to them in 2012, and still not even get it reformed. I base that on the viceral reactions just on this site, whenever I bring up anything regarding reform.
The Republicans MUST make Obama lead on reform, and then join him if it makes sense. If Obama chooses to not reform...so be it - we defeat him in 2012 and drag everyone forward (including the ones on this site that just want THEIR money...regardless of it killing the economy).
But, almost certainly, Obama will not lead on reform...so the best thing to do is forget about and hope China and Japan don’t call their loans to us (and, unfortunately, Japan almost certainly will).
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI, has has promised a budget for next year that includes the reform of entitlements. It’s due this April, IIRC.
Yup. In the echo chamber of online forums and GOP/Tea Party gatherings many conservatives have convinced themselves that the American public has "grown up" and is ready for entitlement reforms. I don't believe that for one moment. Touch Social Security before Obama proposes anything and we fall right into the Democrat trap and are likely get annihilated in 2012. This is a dangerous game and if we are not extremely careful all our electoral gains could be wiped out in the blink of an eye.
I hope I am wrong, but virtually every poll shows people want budget cuts in the abstract, but once asked specifics the public generally comes down overwhelmingly against virtually any cut - especially SS and Medicare. The GOP is fighting a herculean effort as it is just to cut a few billion dollars of discretionary funding here and there around the margins. The Democrats roll out Big Bird props and the American public becomes impossible to even convince to cut something as insignificant as PBS/NPR.