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There He Goes Again

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 09:50:27 AM EST
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Obama:

You know, Senator Clinton says that she's concerned about Social Security but is not willing to say how she would solve the Social Security crisis, then I think voters aren't going to feel real confident that this is a priority for her. And that's the kind of leadership I think that the Democratic Party has to offer in the years to come.

High Broderism as Democratic leadership? As others have said, THERE IS NO SOCIAL SECURITY CRISIS!

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    There He Goes Again | 21 comments (21 topical)

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    Not his best moment. (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Geekesque on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 10:41:03 AM EST
    He should have a dog around him that barks angrily whenever it hears "social security crisis."

    We need to beat the Broderism out of him (none / 0) (#4)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 10:52:02 AM EST
    Rhetorically speaking of course.

    On the other hand, I think he gave a beautiful answer on how he will campaign against Hillary in stark contrast to the ugly press release from the Dodd campaign.

    I am going to make it official later but I am withdrawing my support for Dodd.

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    Two parts of this comment are (none / 0) (#6)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 10:57:00 AM EST
    shocking:  "We" in the subject line and the last sentence.  

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    Dodd has abandoned his campaign (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 11:02:04 AM EST
    of leadership on issues and has adopted, no doubt thanks to the "Wisdom" of DC Beltway consultants, a campaign of enabling bigotry (the DL issue) and character attacks on Hillary Clinton.

    I can not support that.

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    You are proving your point that (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 11:09:25 AM EST
    idolizing a candidate and ignoring the candidate's flaws are bad ideas.

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    Flip Flip! (none / 0) (#11)
    by andgarden on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 11:22:10 AM EST
    heh

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    Got to earn it. (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 11:24:46 AM EST


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    I think the phrase 'social security crisis' (none / 0) (#16)
    by Geekesque on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 02:51:04 PM EST
    has been so drummed into folks' heads by the media and RW that it people say it without thinking about it.

    If you dance around the Third Rail, you need to watch every step.

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    Plug the Ears (1.00 / 1) (#3)
    by jarober on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 10:48:14 AM EST
    That's right, just plug your ears, and ignore the fact that Social Security is a long haul Ponzi scheme.  

    Sure, the drop dead date is decades off - but between now and then, the program will eat more and more of the budget available for discretionary spending.

    Denials merely point to poor math skills.

    Even Alan Greenspan does espouse that view. (none / 0) (#7)
    by Molly Bloom on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 10:58:35 AM EST
    When interviewed by Little Russ:

    MR. RUSSERT: Do you believe either political party has stepped up to the crisis we face with Social Security and Medicare in the coming years?
    MR. GREENSPAN: I do not.

    MR. RUSSERT: How big a crisis will that be?

    MR. GREENSPAN: Social Security is not a big crisis. We're approximately 2 percentage points of payroll short over the very long run. It's a significant closing of the gap, but it's doable, and doable in any number of ways.




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    Should read DOES NOT espouse. (none / 0) (#8)
    by Molly Bloom on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 10:59:10 AM EST
    PREVIEW DANG IT!

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    Crisis does not mean insoluble. (none / 0) (#17)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 03:22:00 PM EST

    It's a significant closing of the gap, but it's doable, and doable in any number of ways.

    When a fed chairman speaks of "significant" it ain't chump change.  Cutting benefits across the board by 30% may be doable in his eyes, but most would call that a crisis response.  SO BTW would raising the payroll rax from 15% to 30%.

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    I had held out high hopes for Obama. (none / 0) (#1)
    by kindness on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 10:20:58 AM EST
    I don't feel that way any more.  He seems to be a poser.  Nothing more.  I'm not saying he might not be a good man.  I'm saying I don't have faith in him enacting policies I like any more.

    But he does love the photo op.

    Instead of responding to the substantive point (none / 0) (#5)
    by Molly Bloom on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 10:56:13 AM EST
    That what ever a Democratic candidate says don't step into that frame, you are going to get responses of you are a closet HRC fan etc.

    Just once, I wish people would address the point about Obama. Don't whine about what the other candidates said or did which is worse. If there is a Democratic litmus test, this is it (IMO).

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    Semantics game (1.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Jgarza on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 11:57:24 AM EST
    The point of this post that BTD is horrified Obama used the term "crisis."

    I love the ever changing definition of what is fair game to criticize, some times its only positions on issues, in this case it's the words you use to describe your position.

    Don't whine about what the other candidates said or did which is worse.

    I think it's fair to point out that a front runners position is worse.

    So once again lets go over BTD "philosophy." He has an issues based approach, for everyone except for Clinton.   According to him she is exempt from having to take a position.  Underdog candidates(BTD routes against the underdog) are only allowed to criticize her on her position on issues.  According to BTD her refusal to take a position, is off limits, the words she uses to describe her position, off limits.

    Then we get to today.  Obama used the word crisis to criticize Hillary.
    Yeah makes perfect sense to me.  Only awful republicans use the word crisis.  gosh he is such an awful person.
    How can anyone support a candidate that says crisis?

    Ohh yeah and of course if you don't agree that using the word crises, is the most awful thing ever, you hate Hillary and you secretly want Rudy to win

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    My question to you is (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by Warren Terrer on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 02:42:01 PM EST
    Who do you support? And who do you secretly support?

    You seem to think that's how it works for everyone else.

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    I think you are missing the point. (none / 0) (#14)
    by kindness on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 01:58:49 PM EST
    When Obama uses false Republican Talking Points to denigrate the opposition within his own party, he looses a little of the respect and appreciation some of us had felt for him previously.  When he does this repeatedly, the amount of loss continues to mount.

    Social Security does need to be addressed but it isn't a crisis.  Those who would portray Social Security as a crisis, have universally wanted to gut the program.  Obama may not want to gut Social Security, but he will only attract those who do by using this approach.

    That's what I thought BTD meant. Lighten up people.  Most of us are on the same team.  Don't forget that.

    if obama would like a real crisis, (none / 0) (#18)
    by cpinva on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 04:42:28 PM EST
    i can supply him with one: medicare & medicaid. funny that no one's brought that up yet, not really even in the context of "universal health care". these are two programs that actually do work, but the costs are spiraling out of control.

    unlike SS, the medicare tax is based on your entire earned income, there is no ceiling. it is hemmoraghing, with no end in sight. this is an issue that someone needs to wrap their brain around.

    According to NPR Marketplace report (none / 0) (#21)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 10:40:53 PM EST
    yesterday, their is a tremendous amount of fraud in Medicare program, primarily as to goods such as wheelchairs, prostheses where there was no amputation.  Federal employee in charge of investigation and doing something about this sd. they just don't have enough people.

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    Obama (none / 0) (#19)
    by Kewalo on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 06:35:16 PM EST
    Just a few months ago I was very excited about Obama. In my mind I thought new generation, pass the torch. But crap! Now...

    I've been very uneasy about him making nice with the Christianists. IMO we need to get rid of the religious office in the WH. We should not be pandering to those folks that want the country faith based rather then science and reason based.

    Anyone that has done any research on SS knows that the program is not in crisis, so why is he perpetuating that RW myth? Your guess is as good as mine, but again I am very uneasy.

    I am really disappointed with him. It may be that he is listening to the DC analysts, but dang, I'm losing faith that he is the man for the job. As of this moment I can't imagine who I'm going to support. <sigh>

    frankly, (none / 0) (#20)
    by cpinva on Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 09:58:51 PM EST
    i was never that excited about him. he's always seemed more smoke & mirrors, than substance. the advantage to the long campaign, those lacking anything beyond a facade will implode, given sufficient time. better they should do it before anyone is suckered into voting for them.

    if this had happened in 2000, gore would be finishing his second term.

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    There He Goes Again | 21 comments (21 topical)

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