In debt talks, Obama offers Social Security cuts

[Derechos]

President Obama is pressing congressional leaders to consider a far-reaching debt-reduction plan that would force Democrats to accept major changes to Social Security and Medicare in exchange for Republican support for fresh tax revenue.

At a meeting with top House and Senate leaders set for Thursday morning, Obama plans to argue that a rare consensus has emerged about the size and scope of the nation’s budget problems and that policymakers should seize the moment to take dramatic action.

As part of his pitch, Obama is proposing significant reductions in Medicare spending and for the first time is offering to tackle the rising cost of Social Security, according to people in both parties with knowledge of the proposal. The move marks a major shift for the White House and could present a direct challenge to Democratic lawmakers who have vowed to protect health and retirement benefits from the assault on government spending.

“Obviously, there will be some Democrats who don’t believe we need to do entitlement reform. But there seems to be some hunger to do something of some significance,” said a Democratic official familiar with the administration’s thinking. “These moments come along at most once a decade. And it would be a real mistake if we let it pass us by.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/in-debt-talks-obama-offers-social-security-cuts/2011/07/06/gIQA2sFO1H_story.html

[WorseBeforeBetter]

1. Raise the fucking cap! End the fucking wars! Tax the fucking rich!

Why is this so difficult?!

[Bluenorthwest]

4. He ran on raising the cap, which means he has to do the

opposite for the extreme thrill of the hypocritical cynicism that yanks his chain.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

9. The disgust has been building for years, but this...

is the end for me. There's nothing left.

[LLStarks]

5. Because it's congressionally impossible. nt

[WorseBeforeBetter]

7. Horseshit. If Obama is as "masterful" as I keep being told he is...

he'd get it done. Trouble is, he doesn't want it done.

[Kaleva]

10. So, up to now, you believe that Obama is "masterful" and....

that's only because people told you he was?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

15. I've never bought into that belief.

I voted for him because he was the last Democrat standing, and I'm not impressed. Any other questions?

[Kaleva]

16. Then your previous comment doesn't make sense.

[corpseratemedia]

2. why not just quit running for a 2nd term, let a real democrat run, dont take up the space

[RandomKoolzip]

3. "So you're voting for Bachmann?"

Just being pro-active here.

Or how about "Prove it. Back up your empty bashing!"

OOooh! Or maybe we can attck the source. It's the WaPo, right? Maybe we can accuse THEM of being wrong.....ANYTHING but acknowledge that Obama is fucking up royally. ANYTHING!

[Vincardog]

6. PBHO could clear it right up with a simple statement. Want to bet he makes it? It could win the Dems

the 2012 election. IT is clear and simple. We will never reduce SSI or Medicare/ade. Any spending cut MUST be matched by 2X that REVENUE increases.
The age of fantasizing the the GOP and other "Conservatives" have a rational economic plan is OVER.

[corpseratemedia]

8. it's as if..with the WTF logo

the "fucking retards" remarks, etc, now the debt ceiling/Obama "caving" on SS/medicare "entitlements" cuts..it all seems a calculated form of Democratic base voter suppression.

what a corporate game for the little billionaires and their go-to guy, what fun they are having.

[jmowreader]

11. I see a huge problem here

The Republicans are, right now, getting everything they want without having to give anything in return. What will happen is, the President will offer major entitlement cuts in exchange for tax increases. The Republicans will counter with, "we promised the American people we were going to fix the budget crisis without new revenue. We will not capitulate on your demands for job-killing tax hikes on anyone, but you offered major entitlement cuts so now you have to do it."

Look at http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/piechart_2011_US_fed

The biggest line item is Defense--$964.8 billion.
Next comes Health Care at $882 billion and pensions at $793.2 billion. "Welfare" spending (which covers a LOT of things besides cash benefits) is fourth, at $495.6 billion.

There are three ways to fix the problem:
you can reduce spending to match income -- this is what poor people do
you can increase income to match spending
or you can both reduce spending AND increase income, which is what rich people do.

[Luminous Animal]

12. The little bit of my America is crumbling before my eyes. What do YOU tell your children...

my daughter has watched me fight this crap for the 21 years that she has been alive. She's accompanied her dad to pick me up from jail for civil disobedience. She has witnessed every single thing that I have ever done to help create a more equitable and peaceful society go for naught. I've left her nothing but a worse world.

Mother fuck fuck fuck fuck.

[lpbk2713]

13. Up till now I've been one of his biggest defenders.

That can certainly change.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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