And So Begins a Major Assault on the Middle Class

[jtown1123]

As if we didn't have enough on our plate right now with budget cuts, Wisconsin and high unemployment, a group of Senators (funded by billionaire asshole Pete Peterson no doubt) have decided to tour the country on a well financed campaign to convince Americans we can't afford Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Also, John Boehner and the GOP are likely to finance their own "information" tours spouting lies about these programs and sharing the shit out of people so they'll accept draconian cuts. I'm guessing the only way to combat this is to organize some sort of major grassroots opposition. Of course, the stupid "fiscal commission report" (there wasn't one) is being touted as the main piece of policy they are drafting deficit cutting proposals from. Stay tuned...

Wall Street Journal

Deficit-Cut Salesmen Hit the Road
By DAMIAN PALETTA

RICHMOND, Va.—A bipartisan group of senators is close to proposing legislation they hope will force Congress to tackle the federal government's ballooning debt, and they have begun a road show to win public support.

The proposal would cut the federal budget deficit by $4 trillion over 10 years, roughly four times the savings the White House proposed in February, Sens. Mark Warner (D., Va.) and Saxby Chambliss (R., Ga.) told about 200 business leaders at a meeting in Richmond.

If enacted into law, the plan would likely force Congress to boost revenue through new tax rules, cut spending and bring down the growth rate of Medicare and Social Security over time.

The Rest: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703883504576186791370529746.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsTop

[Turbineguy]

1. $2.4 Trillion in the Trust Fund.

Wall Street covets it. The Republicans must deliver it. We must vote for Republicans.

Resistance is useless!

[Better Believe It]

2. Any chance the Democratic Party might fight those cuts as a major opposition party rather than as a

bipartisan officeholders party that will make the "tough choices" on how to "spread the pain" among working class people?

[jtown1123]

3. They should. It would be a major winning point in the next elections.

I know Democratic pollster Celinda Lake has met with DEM leadership several times trying to explain that opposing cuts to Social Security is a huge bonus for voters and would gain considerable popularity. Let's hope they are listening...

[katnapped]

4. Much more likely the Earth will be hit by an asteroid tomorrow

We screwed either way....

[mmonk]

10. I doubt it.

I'm no longer going to wait and trust.

[Armstead]

11. Great line for a bumper sticker

>>>>The "tough choices" on how to "spread the pain" among working class people

Nails it in a nutshell

[Skink]

5. Obama could base his whole reelection campaign on this.

[jtown1123]

6. He should! I am writing a letter to the White House on this. If Repubs are going to shoot

themselves in the foot over this nonsense, let's campaign on this (all Dems House and Senate up for reelection).

[Tuesday Afternoon]

7. K&R

[Larkspur]

8. I want to see Alan Simpson at a grocery store telling Social Security

recipients face-to-face that they are parasites on the government and that they are living "high on the hog" with their meager SS check. Then I want to see him get punched in the face.

[jtown1123]

9. Me too. I hope Snoopy Poopy Poop Dog write a song about him.

[xchrom]

12. this bears repeating: democrats are in on this 'road show"

'RICHMOND, Va.—A bipartisan group of senators is close to proposing legislation they hope will force Congress to tackle the federal government's ballooning debt, and they have begun a road show to win public support.

The proposal would cut the federal budget deficit by $4 trillion over 10 years, roughly four times the savings the White House proposed in February, Sens. Mark Warner (D., Va.) and Saxby Chambliss (R., Ga.) told about 200 business leaders at a meeting in Richmond.'

to one degree or another -- BOTH political parties are invested in the idea that only the middle and working and working poor are
to engage in this 'shared sacrifice'.

[Larkspur]

13. Mark Warner can kiss any Presidential aspirations away

I wasn't really impressed with him before now, but after this crap, there is no way I'd support him.

[jtown1123]

17. True. It is extremely disturbing that "bipartisan" now means cut programs for everyone

[socialist_n_TN]

14. Somebody get a schedule. If one of these dog and pony.........

shows comes near me, I'll show up and see if they'll let me speak.

[jtown1123]

16. Great! I will keep my eye out for their schedule.

[Angry Dragon]

15. Time to get rid of ALL elected official pensions

past, present, and future