A President On the Verge of a Political Breakdown - R.J. Eskow

[WillyT]

A President On the Verge of a Political Breakdown
Richard (RJ) Eskow - Consultant, Writer, Senior Fellow with The Campaign for America's Future
Posted: 7/8/11 05:42 PM ET

<snip>

This isn't the first time the White House has floated the idea of Social Security cuts as part of a 'grand bargain' with Republicans, and it's not the first time there's been a groundswell of opposition. But that opposition has never crystallized so quickly into something deeper and more threatening to the President's political fortunes.

Liberal pundits are turning against him and Democrats on the Hill are taking the fight directly to him. With a new poll confirming that Social Security cuts would alienate the other side's base and independents, this "grand bargain" doesn't look like much of a bargain anymore.

Sen. Bernie Sanders already laid the responsibility for unpopular cuts squarely at the President's feet on a phone call with reporters today: " We thought Social Security was off the table," said Sanders, "but by reopening this issue the White House is not only going to take on these changes, but will open the door to whatever else Republicans want."

In other words: If something bad happens to Social Security, you own it, Mr. President.

<snip>

Much More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/a-president-on-the-verge_b_893583.html

:kick:

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[JDPriestly]

10. Look. Why did we fight Communism? And Al Qaeda?

For our national security.

For the vast majority of Americans, the only "national security" that means anything is Social Security and Medicare.

Without those benefits, why sacrifice so much for "national security?"

Because unless Social Security and Medicare are maintained at the level of benefits of today, most Americans will just wither and die when they can no longer work. Social Security and Medicare are the only "national security" that benefits ordinary Americans.

Forget the rest. The rest is all propaganda.

Without at least the benefit level that Social Security and Medicare are now paying, most seniors would not be able to heat their homes, pay the sewer bill, pay for garbage collection, buy food or much of anything else.

Even those seniors lucky enough to have saved some money are dependent on their Social Security checks for income to live on because the banks pay no interest on deposits now.

So, don't think you will live on your savings when you retire. Social Security is pretty much it. And without solid Medicare, Social Security won't keep seniors alive for long.

We can deal with Communism and Al Qaeda, but we can't deal with not being able to heat our houses.

[stuckinarut]

23. I thought we fought the soviets...

Then created al-qaeda (then the mujahideen) to fight against the soviets in ....whats that country again? Oh yah, Afghanistan.

But I do agree, if Mr. Obama gives in on this, there will be civil unrest in the streets. This will not create a political backlash...this is messing with people's families' ability to survive...And that "awakens" a whole different type of beast in desperate people.

[Enthusiast]

28. They don't call it social "security" for nothing.

Nice post, JD.

[BeyondGeography]

2. There's this, that Condi Rice-style statement on the recession and today's jobs report

Awful week.

[undeterred]

3. He's as bad at domestic policy as he is good at catching terrorists.

[senseandsensibility]

4. The GOP is using a strategy that energizes its base, while

Obama is using one that depresses his base. This is a paraphrased quote from the article. It's true. What could any administration be hoping to gain from that? Also, independents won't go for this austerity claptrap either.

[Autumn]

5. K/R Indeed the truth.

I am very glad to see the Democrats taking the fight to him.

[sudopod]

6. I just feel like wearing a giant catfish on my head, waving my arms at the White House and yelling

IT'S A TRAP till someone notices.

[Enthusiast]

31. A carp might be more effective.

[sudopod]

34. It's a tarp! -- The carp nt

[LiberalAndProud]

7. Maybe I'm crazy, but this makes me think that Social Security is probably secure.

Yes, if Obama didn't know it yesterday, he certainly does today. Messing with SS will not be countenanced and will cost him and his party dearly. The Republicans are very vulnerable on this count, so I doubt they'll bring the issue up in the general election campaign. I'm sure the topic will resonate here until some sort of plan is rolled out (or not rolled out, as the case may be). But I feel a lot better today than I did yesterday about this.

[Marr]

8. Obama's doing exactly the same thing he did on healthcare, but now everyone sees it.

Same thing he did on the Bush Tax Cuts, too. He outflanks his own party, cuts a right-wing deal with the Republicans, then ambushes congressional Democrats with it at the last minute. It's literally like he's on the other side.

[EFerrari]

12. Yep. n/t

[Lasher]

14. That's because he is.

On the other side, that is. I wish he would go ahead and switch to the Republican party. I am not being facetious.

[Dept of Beer]

19. But then he wouldn't have the unwavering support of 3way Democrats.

...or would he?

[Kaleko]

13. If that's what he is in fact doing,

Obama will precipitate a massive awakening out of the American trance, err... dream.

[WillyT]

15. + 1,000,000,000... What You Said !!!

:kick:

:hi:

[sabrina 1]

16. Yes, exactly the same. But some saw it then also.

When someone is passionate about something, it is hard to hide it. This president may be passionate about something, but it definitely isn't and probably never was, the poor or the working class. He simply cannot do it, pretend to that he is. He uses vague language when asked about issues that should be the issues any Democratic president would be willing to go to the mat for, weasel words, always including hints as to what he intends to do, or worse, ALREADY HAS DONE to please those he really cares about.

There is simply nothing in his words to give anyone the impression he is going to fight the Republicans on SS or Medicare, just as there was nothing in his demeanor or words that could possibly have led anyone who was not blind, to believe he was going to fight for a PO.

He's one of them, and we are not. He WANTS the left to be angry at him. How better to impress the Global Corporatists who actually run this country?

[chill_wind]

26. Yes. He has proven he can be very charismatic,

mesmerizing and energizing- when the goal was mobilizing masses and filling giant stadiums to hear his passionate hope for getting to the WH..

[girl gone mad]

18. Manchurian Candidate.

[Kaleko]

21. Trojan horse.

No one could more effectively destroy what's left of the Democratic party than this elegant charmer.

I'm duly impressed.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

24. Boy, I thought that THAT was a right-wing meme during the 2008 campaign

who'd have thunk that it would end up as a serious response on DU in 2011?
:wow:

[myrna minx]

29. That's the conclusion I've drawn too. *sigh* n/t

[Enthusiast]

32. "literally like"

That is all.

[CrispyQ]

33. TPTB are very happy with the current republican president. --nt

[Wind Dancer]

35. Scary, isn't it?

Makes you wonder!

[inna]

36. +1

[defendandprotect]

9. Obama shouldn't be able to sleep at night -- and Dems should be walking out --

[emilyg]

20. He sleeps well - his

future is secure. He made a lot of new, rich friends.

[defendandprotect]

25. Sadly true -- i.e., Obama could care less -- !!

[Wilms]

11. Oh, it's a "Grand Bargain", alright.

And we're not in on it.

[R. P. McMurphy]

17. It's time to draft Howard Dean or Russ Feingold to primary President Obama. n/t

[snappyturtle]

22. Yes...how about both? Pres and VP.....nt

[Enthusiast]

27. Just the very suggestion of cuts to medicare and social security

have damaged Democratic Party hopes in 2012. This has destroyed our huge built in advantage.

[meow mix]

30. trainwreck to derail, maybe not the worst thing...

we need a do-over and a primary