Will you EVER forgive a Dem that doesn't fight to the death to protect SS?

[Guaranteed]

For me, this issue is on par with the Iraq War. This will be the second time they've absolutely betrayed us, if they do.

If the Democrats do not oppose this with all of their will, they will never hear the end of it from me.

[Guaranteed]

1. Kick for the freeper who voted. nt

[gumby]

2. I still find it hard to forgive

Bill Clinton for welfare "reform" and Fiengold for his support of Asscrap.

When Clinton passed the welfare bill, I told everyone I knew that Social Security would be next. Dismantling major components of the safety net one program at a time. Welfare was easy because the majority of 'Murikans think welfare is about making those minorities 'shape up' and stop stealing from the whites.

Racism was exploited to destroy the fabric of this society. Whadda Country!!

[Andromeda]

35. What is interesting is where I live...

in No. California more whites were on welfare when Clinton was president.

All of the clients I dealt with at Legal Aid were white and a lot were males who had custody of their kids.

[NoFederales]

3. Agreed

The issue too huge to ignore. Total opposition is required by the Dems.

NoFederales

[Lone_Star_Dem]

4. This issue is too huge and far reaching for me to take it lightly

If any Democrat decides otherwise I don't see them as being a part of the solution, and if you're not a part of the solution you're a part of the problem.

[BlueInRed]

5. There needs to be at least ONE issue every Democrat is willing to go

to the mat for. What is the line in sand no Democrat will cross? (Or is there such an issue...)

If Social Security isn't the right issue, I don't know what is. I can't imagine any issue that is more fundamental to the Democratic party and the little guy than defending this program.

[Cozmosis]

6. No. Would take an act of God n/t

[Capn Sunshine]

7. Absolute deal breaker

No one who is a LEGITIMATE Democrat would vote to privatize Social Security.

It's a giveaway to Wall Street, a popular trend among neocons these days, especially Arnold Schwarzenegger

[Generator]

8. No because

As a man on Democracy Now yesterday, so succinctly summed it up:

The SS thing is a test, to see if they can get away with dismantling the whole safety net in this country. First social security and then it's:

Welcome to 1930!

Kiddies, check your history books.

[DemBones DemBones]

29. Ding, ding, ding! Winning answer!

Those BASTARDS want to dismantle everything and don't care if they leave the country in a huge mess. They'll have all the money and can go where they like.

[w4rma]

9. Social Security hasn't been called "the third rail" for nothing. Light 'em

up. Light up the Repugs. And light up any DINOs stupid enough to grab that rail with them.

[Seabiscuit]

10. Thanks for posting this, BullGooseLooney!

[Guaranteed]

11. Absolutely.

They need to know how important this is to us. I'm hoping that they won't make the same mistake that they made last time.

[Seabiscuit]

31. I won't vote for anyone who doesn't protect SS from the Bushistas.

Nor will I forget Barbara Boxer's "Boxer Rebellion", nor will I forgive or forget the IWR vote.

And the "Second Boxer Rebellion" is coming up - she's planning to grill Condoleeza Rice with some tough questions at Rice's Senate confirmation hearings about the "Sec. of State" position. She's waging a war against Diane Fienstein, our "other" California Senator. Feinstein's planning to introduce and support Rice for the confirmation. Please, someone, give Feinstein a pill that will put her out of her misery. What a neo-con-ass-kissing-bitch.

I've posted this on other forums on DU, but it doesn't hurt to post it again here. To sign Boxer's petition re: Rice, go here:

http://ga4.org/campaign/ricehearings/3k3ge649jm335w

[marcologico]

12. Their second-term agenda is basically to demolish the New Deal. Kennedy

gave a speech about it yesterday. I doubt if they'll succeed.

[tokenlib]

14. Never underestimate the weasely nature of politicians...

...and the power of corporate contributions. The millions in advertising dollars being ponied up by Wall Street are going to be large. The Big Lie has been perpetuated over and over by the rightwing thugs and MSM. And the DLC foxes are too willing to work with and lie with the wolves.

I hope you are correct that they will fail...

[Guaranteed]

16. The worst thing is this:

If they ARE able to do this- think of all that money that's going to go to THEIR corporate sponsors.

Just feeding the beast, making it more powerful.

That kind of power could mean the end of the Democrats, on its own. Maybe the Democrats should figure THAT one out.

Or is what I'm saying making sense?

[marcologico]

19. Sure it makes sense. They're already doing it. It's the Enronization of

America and they won't stop until we stop them. We will, don't worry. Death by a thousand cuts until something better comes along, like China switching to the Euro and refusing to prop up the war with billion dollar a day loans.

[Guaranteed]

15. AND raid the treasury.

Make up for all those years they've been "ripped off" by all those damned poor people.

[tokenlib]

13. For me this is the line that must not be crossed...

It is obvious that the republicans are lying, disingenuous, deceitful bastards on this issue. They are doing this for ideology, not necessity. You can't work with people who are not working on an issue in good faith.

The people who want to raise the retirement age are not the ones who have to fear that they will still have a secure job as they get closer to retirement. They are not the ones whose bodies are feeling the increasing toll each and every year after fifty--when it is getting a bit late to be re-educated for a new career. Go ahead--move the goalposts for those of us struggling year after year--praying we stay healthy....the bastards.

These people who want to cut benefits are not the ones living paycheck to paycheck. Who have never had the disposible income to put away as the asshole pundits and financial gurus tell them they need to to be "responsible." A lot of us cannot afford the benefit cuts that even some democrats are ready to accept as inevitable. We are going to be screwed unless the democrats stop this. Our paltry 401K's and pensions if we are lucky to have them will not keep these benefit cuts from pushing us toward poverty. How many of our companies have taken away the matching funds they used to offer?

This is becoming less an issue for reasoned discussion and policy give and take--as one that has me scared shitless! I am terrified for my wife and myself as we get older. I am terrified because we are more fortunate than a lot of people. The well being of millions is at risk here--and we are not expecting a handout. We've worked hard and paid our taxes. We just want a minimum level of dignity and respect as we get older.


These politicians and economist argue over numbers--and aren't even conscious of the millions of lives that may be shattered if they wreck the Social Security system. Damn them for their arrogance if they know not when to stand firm and fight--and even obstruct if need be.

[Seabiscuit]

32. You know what? It's not even "ideology". It's pure greed.

These bastards just want to bilk this country and the globe for whatever they can as long as they can. They're like Ponzi Scheme leeches - they will continue to play the same game to their advantage until they all go to prison. And they just don't believe that will ever happen. Especially with the judiciary in their pocket. Not to mention the U.S. Attorney General's office, the Presidency, the Congress and the MSM. They've got all four in their pocket. So they smirk and lie at will, knowing that for now they can do so with impunity. We have to attack each of those four centers of power separately. And that means, not only taking back the media by creating our own to begin with, it also means voting every last DLC'er out of Congress and shutting down the DLC forever. Winning back the White House and undoing possibly decades of damage to the judiciary is another.

[Vinca]

17. Republicans have been gunning for SS since day one.

If any Democrat dares to allow them to scare the ignorant into supporting the Bush fiasco . . . er, plan . . . I will work to get them removed from office. For starters, social security has quite a few years left before it goes belly up. Suppose . . . just suppose . . . government didn't rob the fund to finance such idiotic causes as the Lawrence Welk museum. Suppose they put all the money that was supposed to go to social security into social security and kept their greedy mitts away from it. Suppose they invested the money more wisely and got a better return. Maybe it would become viable for many more years. Maybe it would even get better. Just remember - no LW museum, no BB King museum, no investigating the sex lives of jumbo shrimp and it wouldn't hurt to curtail a few unnecessary Congressional jaunts to foreign countries.

[Guaranteed]

18. You can feel their drool dripping down our backs, can't ya?

They are just unloading in their pants to get ahold of those trillions.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

20. Too bad there is no Democratic Party anymore to discredit all the BS.

It is already too late, the repugs are way out in front, framing the issue and selling-out the country without anybody calling them on their lies and distortions. This is it for me, the party really hasn't shown any fight up to now and if it doesn't fight to the death over this one, I'm through with the party. NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER!

Where the hell is John Kerry? I may have missed something but I don't feel any hope on the way since he has not said one damn word in opposition to this repug media blitz. Kerry too little too late again.

[AntiCoup2K4]

21. So here you have a congress, mostly made up of millionaires....

....who will recieve a pension and health care for life courtesy of the US taxpayer. For them, Social Security isn't an issue, because they will never need it. Obviously something needs to be done about Social Security, but putting it in the hands of greedy corporatists is not the answer.

If the Dems and the sane Republicans would remember the warnings of Ike Eisenhower and realize what a fucking SCAM the "defense budget" of this country is, they could fund Social Security for centuries at the current rate - or better.

If the party fucks this one up, I'm gone.

[dvaravati]

22. I think a lot of people are in for a big surprise

a good way to prepare oneself is to EXPECT to be betrayed.

[Guaranteed]

23. Are you saying we might be surprised if we expect

to be betrayed?

[Lugnut]

24. NEVER

Social Security is my line in the sand.

[Guaranteed]

25. An infinite kick nt

[sarcasmo]

26. Will a strong third party emerge from this SS fight?

I wonder if the Dems back down from the bully's on this one will the Independent party grow in numbers? If the Dems don't stand up and fight to the playground bully Chimpy, my felling is that many Dems will switch to Independent.

[Guaranteed]

27. This is IWR II. They screw this one up,

the party's done. It'll split, for sure. If they can't defend something as COMMON SENSE as SS, they're too weak to not split right in half.

[marcologico]

28. I can guarantee that Kennedy and Kerry will NOT sell us down the river on

this one, neither will Boxer or Conyers, but frankly I can't vouch for the rest.

[DemBones DemBones]

30. Kucinich and all the members of the Congressional Black Caucus will

do the right thing. Otherwise. . . lots of uncertainty.

Democrats MUST stand firm on this. DUers who don't realize the importance need to wake up NOW!

[trezic]

33. My little hope

I just really, really hope that Democrats ask one question. How will you make up the $1 trillion shortfall that comes with privitization? No other argument is as powerful with the 40-50 true Republicans in the House who firmly believe in smaller governement. A challenge should laid at their feet, naming them individually, to stand for their principles or be laid bare as big government conservatives.

[Andromeda]

34. NO. I will never forgive them

if they don't fight for us.