Bush says those who are 55 and over don't have to worry about social security. Digby responds.

Grooviosity. Reform social security, man, because you can't trust anyone over 30. Cool.

These doughy, briefcase GOP baby boomer geeks have always had a case of arrested development. They started their "revolution" in their 40's. In their 50's they've discovered the "generation gap." The rest of us got over this intergenerational squabbling a couple of decades ago. It's never too late to act like a teen-age a*s.

Free associating for a moment (and then, there will be a relevant point):

Don't forget to visit the many (mostly) Democrat and liberal blogs live-blogging the speech. We'll leave an open thread here right before it begins so you can live blog even if you don't have a blog.

Here's a preview of some excerpts from tonight's speech, obtained at Blogs for Bush (who got it from a White House Press release we also received): Bush will hit three themes:

"First, we must be good stewards of this economy, and renew the great institutions on which millions of our fellow citizens rely.”

“One of America’s most important institutions – a symbol of the trust between generations – is also in need of wise and effective reform. Social Security… on its current path, is headed toward bankruptcy. And so we must join together to strengthen and save Social Security."

His second theme will be asking Americans to support community and faith-based institutions.

Yesterday the race for DNC Chair was down to three and now, with the endorsement today of the United Auto Workers, it may be all but a fait accompli that Howard Dean will get the position.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said Dean, a former Vermont governor and presidential candidate, has proven that he can bring new people into the party and energize activists.

"Governor Dean understands quite clearly that the Democratic Party cannot afford to write off voters in any region of the country, and we're convinced that he will work tirelessly to make Democratic ideas and candidates winners in local, state and national elections," Gettelfinger said in a statement.

Add in the Dean endorsement today by the United Steelworkers Union.

Democrats will question Homeland Security Nominee Michael Chertoff on former Ethics Office Counsel Jessalyn Radack during his confirmation hearing today:

...Senate staffers say he will face sharp questions bout his tenure at Justice, including the decision to order the detention of immigrants and his advice to the CIA on the line between harsh interrogation and tactics that might constitute torture. The incident with the ethics office reflects what several Justice Department lawyers described as pressure to toe a hard line after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. When Jesselyn Radack, a lawyer in the ethics office, gave advice that ran contrary to Chertoff's wishes, she says, her promising career foundered.

What's up with Colorado Senator Ken Salazar's continued support of Alberto Gonzales? As I wrote over at 5280 this morning, this is not a politically smart move. Granted, he's attacked Bush's social security plan, but his consitutents are more apt to remember this betrayal of party values.

by TChris

The Senate will not vote to confirm Alberto Gonzalez as attorney general today. Instead, the debate surrounding his fitness to serve in that position will continue, with a vote expected on Thursday.

Democratic opposition to Gonzales derives "from the nominee's involvement in the formulation of a number of policies that have tarnished our country's moral leadership in the world and put American soldiers and American citizens at greater risk," Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said during Senate debate Tuesday.

A confirmation hearing is also being held today regarding the nomination of Michael Chertoff to head Homeland Security.

Bush will try to sell social security reform tonight the same way he tried to sell us the War in Iraq--with lies. From a speech in early January appearing on the White House website here:

"By the time today's workers who are in their mid-20s begin to retire, the system will be bankrupt. So if you're 20 years old, in your mid-20s, and you're beginning to work, I want you to think about a Social Security system that will be flat bust, bankrupt, unless the United States Congress has got the willingness to act now."

Back to Salon:

Many economists would consider that statement very nearly an outright lie. If we do nothing at all, Social Security's accumulated trust fund will be depleted by about the middle of this century, at which point it will need to reduce, not discontinue, benefit payouts.

There is no crisis. But here is how Bush is going to spin it for you - straight from his playbook.

If you are watching Bush's SOTU on television tonight, here's something to get you through it.

Remember, there is no crisis.

Also check out MoveOn's ads throughout the day. Click here to watch Working Retirement. Here's the ad (pdf) appearing today's New York Times.

Shorter version: There were no WMD's and there is no social security crisis.

Here are some bloggers live-blogging tonight's SOTU:

• America Blog
• Suburban Guerrilla
• Common Sense
• Political Forecast
• Truthout

If you know of more, put them in the comments (in html format, please.)

Update: Burnt Orange Report got a phone call from Tim Roemer's office saying he's dropping out too. He didn't want to announce on the same day as Frost.

*****
original post

Martin Frost dropped out of the race for DNC Chair today. So did David Leland. Wellington Webb dropped out yesterday. Donnie Fowler got some bad press related to the Michigan Kerry campaign (he was its Director.)

Fowler says the AFL-CIO's decision not to endorse a candidate should be viewed as a statement against Dean. That may be a stretch. Tim Roemer's anti-abortion views have killed his bid, although he wouldn't agree and hasn't dropped out yet.

That leaves Howard Dean. If Dean does something to muck it up, Simon Rosenberg is still intact.

Right now it's Dean, Fowler, Rosenberg, with Dean in first place with a healthy lead. Any of those three is fine with us.

Determined to be controversial to the bitter end, Ashcroft delivered a final parting shot today during a speech at the Heritage Foundation:

In a stinging parting shot at administration critics, Attorney General John Ashcroft on Tuesday warned of serious threats to public safety and security if Congress fails to restore stiff sentencing guidelines and does not renew portions of the Patriot Act.

"Last month's Supreme Court ruling that federal judges are not bound by sentencing guidelines is a retreat from justice that may put the public's safety in jeopardy," Ashcroft declared. "Which of our daughters, wives and husbands -- are we willing to sacrifice to return to revolving door justice." Ashcroft demanded Congress "reinstitute tough sentences and certain justice for criminals".

Ashcroft's resignation is effective "the moment" Alberto Gonazales is confirmed as Attorney General, which should be no later Thursday.

Update: Law Prof Doug Berman of Sentencing Law and Policy weighs in on the Booker aspect of Ashcroft's speech.

If you oppose the confirmation of Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General, here's a current list of Senators with phone numbers. They like to hear from constituents. All you have to say is your name, that you are a constituent, and that you are asking the Senator to vote no on confirming Gonzales.

Need more reasons? Videos were released today of Guantanamo prisoner abuse that occurred at the hands of the "Immediate Reaction Forces." The videos are contained in a report by the U.S. Southern Command in Miami, which is responsible for oversight of Guantanamo. The Associated Press got ahold of the June, 2004 report. Check out what it says about "Romeo Block," where detainees were taken, stripped and held naked for days: