What the hell is wrong with Dick Durbin?

[ProSense]

ABC: Sen. Dick Durbin: Social Security Cuts Should Not Be Ruled Out

<...>

"We're very, very close," Durbin said. "And there's a sense of urgency. Our relevance is going to be hooked to our timeliness. If we wait too long, we may not be players. And a lot of people are counting on us to be players."

Durbin criticized a resolution put forward by Sen. Bernie Sanders, a liberal independent from Vermont, that says Social Security should not be cut under a deficit reduction plan. Durbin said he would not vote for such a resolution.

"I think Bernie is going too far with his language," Durbin said.

"In 2037, as we know it, Social Security falls off a cliff," he said. "There's a 22 percent reduction rate in payments, which is really not something we can tolerate. If we deal with it today, it's an easier solution than waiting. I think we ought to deal with it. Many of my colleagues disagree, put it off to another day. But from my point of view, leaving it out makes it easier politically, including it, I think, meets an obligation, which we have to senior citizens."

<...>

Watch the interview at the link.

[DJ13]

1. ".... and, frankly, they own this place"

"... and me as well..."

[yurbud]

28. fixing it is fine so long as they do so by raising the cap on income taxed

hell, if they raised it enough, they could even lower the rate.

[bluestateguy]

2. He is weak

He apologizes whenever someone criticizes him and cries on the floor of the US Senate.

What a pathetic "leader".

[karynnj]

13. He had tears in his eyes just once - and that was a cruel devastating

RW attack that only a few Democrats have experienced. (Other than the Clintons and the Obamas, who had/have the Presidency as a platform to respond from, the others I have seen are Kerry and Reid.)

It was mean spirited and they knew it was a distortion and a lie. They took comments where he spoke of the horror that American troops had committed abusive actions at Abu Ghraib. He said that those actions were things he never expected from Americans, but rather Nazis, etc They said that he was calling the US military Nazis - rather than saying the actions were. He apologized after the Republicans had a show and dance of three Republicans giving emotion speeches that were said terrible things about Durbin. Outside the Senate, the same distortion rattled through their echo chamber.

[bluestateguy]

15. That's fine, but somebody with that little spine should not be in a leadership position

As I have said since 2004, if you cannot handle dealing with the MSM and the GOP's bullshit then you do not belong in any leadership position in the Democratic Party.

[karynnj]

20. My point is that Durbin is no weaker than most

He actually is one of the stronger Democrats. Harry Reid looked every bit as bad as Durbin did when the RW took his stuff and did the same thing. John Kerry did a great job calling out the RW and the media one of the times that they were going after Reid, which helped, but there really is an unequal playing field. Between Fox News and most AM talk radio, they have an incredible echo chamber.

I really don't know who exactly you would want in the Democratic leadership.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Ex-fellow Senator voices compromise.

I'm comforted knowing that you assured us it would never happen. :)

[karynnj]

4. 2037 is 26 years away - a quarter of a century

The idea that any major changes should be made now because there is a problem 26 years out is pathetic. Forecasting - even a budget - is not precise enough even for 5 years, much less 26!

[Bluenorthwest]

8. I recall that Durbin was blindsighted by the financial meltdown

he did not see it coming even a day or week ahead of time. So when he starts in on what he 'knows' about 27 years in the future, I have to laugh. He was in the Senate, blindsided by the finacial realities. As were the rest of these gangsters.

[karynnj]

17. Actually, he wasn't

Durban tried at least twice to append an amendment on predatory lending in 2005 and 2006 that would have banned many of the type of loans that got into trouble.

As for the derivatives and credit swaps that greatly magnified the problem, I think many of the people who created them did not understand the problem. 60 Minutes had a show where top bank people admitted they did not understand them.

[BeyondGeography]

9. This should be emphasized repeatedly

Forget five years; forecasters can't even agree on next year. Imagine the number of variables looking out over a quarter century that could change everything. Relative competitiveness, political change (yes, dear Senators, it is possible)demographics in a country as dynamic as ours, new technologies, etc. If there's one thing a Senator can't admit, it's the ignorance that all humans suffer from.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. The morning the crash happened a US Senate peer of Dick's

declared 'the fundamentals of the economy are sound' and not one Senator had said otherwise. Not one. Surely not Dick Durbin.

[karynnj]

18. I completely agree with you

I used 5 because it is not unusual to do 5 year plans. However, every year - or maybe more frequently - you redo them.

[BeyondGeography]

23. Oh, I wasn't being critical

You made an essential point. Just reinforcing.

[karynnj]

25. I knew your point was supportive, but it really did make me realize that things are so volatile that

year out is not that reliable.

I am confused at the different takes on the 2037 number between Durbin, who seems to take it as an urgent matter - and Kerry in the following letter to the editor written a week or so ago, using an earlier estimate that Medicare was good until 2029. Note that he also speaks of things already in the health care bill that could lead to lower costs.

YOUR APRIL 6 editorial “Ryan’s Medicare plan is unfair — but at least he has one’’ ignored the fact that the Senate already walked the walk, casting tough votes to extend the life of Medicare. The Affordable Care Act strengthened Medicare by extending the solvency of the trust fund from 2017 to 2029, the largest extension in history. It produced more than $500 billion in savings over the next decade, reduced drug costs for seniors, and provided free preventive services to reduce costly care later.

We saved Medicare billions by eliminating wasteful overpayments while reducing beneficiary premiums. We did it without cutting a single benefit and by strengthening access to primary care.

We’re testing the most promising models of payment reform that reward the quality of care delivered instead of the quantity of tests ordered and services performed.

More difficult decisions remain to tackle deficits and revive Clinton-era balanced budgets. But that too will require both political parties putting the next generation ahead of the next election.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2011/04/07/senate_has_walked_the_walk_on_medicare_reform/

Here is another article which I think is about a future MA test of payment reform.


http://articles.boston.com/2011-02-17/news/29339756_1_unnecessary-tests-and-procedures-health-care-state-subsidized-health-insurance

[ProSense]

11. It's bizarre. Daily Kos is

all over is comments:

Senator Durbin Says Social Security Cuts Are Coming

Dick Durbin, 2005: Weakening Social Security can't 'possibly be good for America'

[Armstead]

5. I like Durbin...But this is bullshit

Simply raise the cap on income subject to Social Security a bit, and much of that gap could be eliminated. And it is not an exorbitant sacrifice for very high income people.

[rosesaylavee]

6. Playing politics?

I like and trust Durbin. Look at the group he's working with - he's the only leftie there. If it were me, I don't think I would say I am working with a bunch of morons who have presented the craziest budget ever offered by any party in the history of this country. He has to appear in the middle but I think at the end of the day he will do what he can for the liberal side of things.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. He does not have to be 'in the middle' what tripe.

He is speaking his mind, or what passes for his mind. He is not to be trusted at all. If the Republicans are on the right, why the fuck should he be 'in the middle'? Why? To what end? To keep the discussion rightward, that is why. Durbin can go straight to hell.

[rosesaylavee]

21. What a wonderful discussion.

You are brilliant. Hard to argue with such a studied, well documented opinion. Obviously, must change my own. Even though this man has been my senator for 15+ years, it's obvious to me now that I know nothing about him. Well, thanks for the insight!

:hi:

[Bluenorthwest]

27. Look, the idea that there always has to be right wing rhetoric

called 'the middle' which is not really what they mean, but they 'have to say it' is tripe. Horrible way for people to be, in any occupation. It is called being a double dealer.
He is endorsing cuts to Social Security. That is obvious to everyone here. Sorry if your don't like it, but I don't like right wing rhetoric out of alleged Democrats such as Dickie.
I spoke about your opinion, you got personal and rude. I said nothing about you, I addressed your opinion. I did not ask you to change your mind. I did not snark at your intellectual abilities. I am not the subject of this thread, Dickie is, and his rhetoric about cutting Social Security. Trash my opinion if you wish, but getting personal is really not acceptable.

[rosesaylavee]

32. I think calling my opinion tripe was rude.

And the response was merited.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. Durbin does not operate in a vaccum

Clearly discussions take place all the time between Democrats in Congress and the Obama Administration.

Durbin is a high level Senator with a lot of influence.

This is definitely something we should be paying attention to.

[Zen Democrat]

10. Obama said today he's for increasing the taxable limit in SS deductions.

Durbin needs to get with the program!

[flpoljunkie]

16. I would expect Senator Durbin agrees with the president on lifting the cap

[ProfessionalLeftist]

19. "An obligation you have to senior citizens..."

....to NOT pay back their money that was stolen from SS and to cut their benefits instead?

Bullshit.

[liskddksil]

22. Take Action Now!

IL residents should call Durbin's office and tell him hands off Social Security other than raising the cap.

202-224-2152

Others should call the DSCC and say no more contributions if Durbin and other Dems goes through with this.

202-224-2447

[woo me with science]

36. +1000000 Thank you for the phone numbers! nt

[CrossChris]

24. Sounds like typical Third Way rhetoric. Will any of us be surprised when other Dems follow suit?

I think we've all seen this show before.

[Enrique]

26. he's signaling that there will be cuts

duh. (sorry, but it's pretty obivous).

[OwnedByFerrets]

29. His bosses pulling his strings....his mouth opens

[hulka38]

30. Democratic leaders have been grooming us for months now.

Something major is about to happen. The possibilities as I see it are:

1. A complete cave in with major cuts to medicare, medicaid and SS. <---completely unacceptable to the base and too politically damaging.
2. Major cuts to medicare and medicaid with no cuts to SS. This will allow the Democrats to act triumphant in the wake of caving on the other two.

I think the second is most likely knowing the current make up of Democratic Party leadership. Dampen expectations to the point that anything they agree to is a victory when they pull SS out of the fire. There has to be something to pull out of that fire. Sanders knows this which is why he's trying to take it out of the equation before the kabuki begins.

[TheKentuckian]

31. We are actually screwn. Durbin is sadly one of our better people and a leader.

Our shit is in a general state of disarray, at best. You cannot seek the "center" of batshit crazy and get even passable results.

[vroomvroom]

33. Democrats == Republicans (We've Always Known this but chose not to believe)

[butterfly77]

34. There are no..

Democrats/Progressives in the gang of six and that is why we had problems with what a lot of us wanted in the healthcare bill..

[woo me with science]

35. Give me a fucking break.

This was a surprise to nobody, least of all this administration.

This is one more step in the slide, folks. They are coming for us.