Bush Denies That Private Accounts Are in Serious Trouble

[RedEarth]

March 4, 2005
Bush Denies That Private Accounts Are in Serious Trouble
By ROBIN TONER

- President Bush dismissed the notion Thursday that his campaign to create private accounts in Social Security was in serious trouble, asserting he was still "at the early stages of the process."

Vowing to push ahead and acknowledging that "I've got a lot more work to do," Mr. Bush said he was open to ideas from both parties and tried again to allay the fears widespread in his own party that Social Security was "the third rail of politics."

"Ultimately," he said, "I think politicians need to be worried about not being a part of the solution."

Senate Democrats seemed unworried. They said they would work with Mr. Bush on Social Security only if he would "publicly and unambiguously announce" that he rejected his proposal for private investment accounts financed by payroll tax revenues.

"Such a statement would eliminate a serious obstacle to the kind of bipartisan process that Democrats are seeking to deal with Social Security's long-term challenges," Democrats said in a letter that was circulated for senators' signatures Thursday night and quickly acquired 42.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/04/politics/04social.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[ewagner]

1. Veiled threat

I think politicians need to be worried about not being a part of the solution."

That's part of the game plan....scare tactics and telling the citizens that Congresscritters who oppose it are "part of the problem" We can expect that to be used against the Dems in the '06 elections.

[Skip Intro]

10. I don't think refusing to be a part of bush's plan would be a negative

in 2006.

Dems hold the power on this one.

[LynnTheDem]

2. Yes bush, I agree, you SHOULD be worried about NOT being part of the

solution; in fact, in your own words, YOU are the PROBLEM;

bush in 2000:

"If you lockbox the payroll taxes, there is $2 trillion to make sure the Social Security system is safe and secure-- $2 trillion. I intend to lockbox the payroll taxes and spend them only on what they're supposed to be spent on, and that's Social Security."

bush in 2005:

Bush Points Out Govt Spending Social Security Funds Now

"One of the myths of Social Security is that your money is going into (an account) - and the government is holding it and saving it for you," Bush

"That's not the way it works. Your money is going into the system, and it's getting spent..."

"Getting spent"...by YOU bush. On your Haves and Have-Mores 1% richest Americans base.

[Az_lefty]

8. Nice catch, I'm saving this.

[cosmicdot]

14. here is a link to the quote

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june00/gop_stump_1-14.html

about 1/2 way down the page ... look for Jim Lehrer mentioning Londonderry, New Hampshire

[dave29]

3. Is this the "Final Solution" he is referring to?

One starts to wonder.

[TahitiNut]

4. "private accounts" 9,970; "personal accounts" 7,720

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=%22private+accounts%22&btnG=Search+News
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=%22personal+accounts%22&btnG=Search+News

The GOPropaganda still trails. Good.

The New Whork Times, of course, used "private accounts" 34 times and "personal accounts" only 19 times. The delusion that corporatist media is "liberal" should be grounds for commitment.

[dave29]

5. is it just me or is Bush divorced from reality?

sue me Gannon, I dare you.

[TahitiNut]

6. He got a Restraining Order against 'reality'.

It's not allowed within 1,000 yards of him. (That's about the limit of a .50 cal sniper rifle's accuracy.)

[loritooker]

7. Clever! nt

[zann725]

9. Great analogy! Sell that one to Bill Maher, or Jon Stewart! Good one!

n/t

[TahitiNut]

13. Thanks. (grin) If they read DU, they got it.

It sure wouldn't be the first time. :silly:

[applegrove]

11. If you build it - they will come ... NOT!

[Megahurtz]

12. I'm sure his high powered attorneys told him to say that.

Just deny everything Lol!:D

[cosmicdot]

15. what? not fast-tracking this one, Mr. Fast-Track?

still "at the early stages of the process."

[oasis]

16. "Serious trouble" would be having a dimwit posing as president. (eom)

[SoCalDem]

17. He's a gambling man, and "Retirement Roulette" is his game

The rich folks in DC burn me up.. They will NEVER have to rely on ANY of the programs that they so "blithely" refer to a "wasteful".
Our government has always put "the people" last...as in ... "if there's anything left over", we'll see if we can toss y'all a bone or two...but don't get used to it, because when we blow all the other money, we'll take it back"..

First things first..


We collect HUGE sums of money from taxation...There are almost 300 million people in the US, and only 535 legislators plus the assorted hangers-on in DC.

My guess is that the MAJORITY of average, everyday people really want:

Single-payer healthcare(including Rx) (affordable, free, govt sponsored..whatever!)
Guaranteed "safety net" income for elderly and poor
Living wage instead of minimum wage
Truly affordable post secondary education/training for their young
Clean air & water
Safe food & medicine

The military-paloozza-spendathon should come AFTER the PEOPLE's needs are met.

You cannot tell me that we could not still have the biggest/baddest military, even if we made sure that the citizens were also "seen to"..

And if we did have to "cut back", perhaps we would think twice, thrice before we started wars all over the place..

[Dulcinea]

18. Of course he denies it!

Has Boy George or his posse of freaks EVER admitted to being wrong about ANYTHING?

They see that as a sign of weakness, and weakness is not permitted in the Bush parallel universe.

[0007]

19. The politicians have figured out that junior is the problem and

the solution is to get rid of him immediately.

Jeff Gannon also sez, "I've got a lot more work to do,"