WP: Senate Opens Volatile Social Security Hearings

[Pirate Smile]

Senate Opens Volatile Social Security Hearings

By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 26, 2005; 5:42 PM

A badly divided Senate Finance Committee today held the first hearing examining President Bush's embattled efforts to overhaul Social Security, but the only cracks in the unity of the opposing political parties appeared to come on the Republican side.

One GOP witness repeatedly disparaged the White House's approach to Social Security changes, bolstering Democratic contentions that it would lead to politically untenable benefit cuts. Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.) questioned adding trillions of dollars in federal debt in the coming decades. And Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) seemed to signal intractable opposition to converting part of the defined Social Security benefit to variable returns from stock and bond investments.

"Social Security became the bedrock of support for seniors in my state precisely because it's defined and guaranteed," she said. "What cost and what risk is it worth to erode the guaranteed benefit?"

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) told reporters after the hearing that he is determined to press forward with Social Security legislation, even if it means passing one out of his traditionally bipartisan committee with only GOP votes. Republicans on the committee will meet in two weeks to begin hashing out legislation that Grassley hopes could eventually bring some Democrats on board.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/26/AR2005042600213.html

[cornermouse]

1. I'm watching the republican party attack the sick, the elderly,

and the disabled while making permanent tax cuts for the rich. They're telling us who and what they are. A pretty ugly sight.

[cap]

2. hyenas....

not elephants but hyenas...

[Iowa]

3. Grassley is nothing more than a White House toady.

[Pirate Smile]

4. WP: GOP May Be Splintering on Social Security

GOP May Be Splintering on Social Security

By Jonathan Weisman and Michael A. Fletcher
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, April 27, 2005; Page A04

A badly divided Senate Finance Committee yesterday held the first hearing examining President Bush's efforts to restructure Social Security. While the Democrats remained united in their opposition, there were signs of cracks in the Republicans' support for the president.

After months of political positioning, the stakes were high as the committee took up Bush's signature domestic issue for his second term. The White House has framed the Social Security debate as a matter of political courage, challenging both parties to secure the program's long-term solvency while giving all Americans an ownership stake in their economy. But over the course of the president's Social Security tour, public support for Bush's proposal has fallen, and Democrats see the issue as their best chance to make political gains in Washington.

With that highly charged backdrop, Republican divisions at the hearing had added significance.

One GOP witness repeatedly disparaged the White House's approach to Social Security changes, bolstering Democratic contentions that it would lead to politically untenable benefit cuts. Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.) questioned the wisdom of adding trillions of dollars in federal debt in the coming decades to finance the president's plan. And Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) seemed to signal intractable opposition to converting part of the defined Social Security benefit to variable returns from stock and bond investments.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/26/AR2005042600213.html

[Cha]

5. Ya shouldn't a spent all that damn treasure and

blood on Iraq, bush if ya wanted to steal our SS!

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. The writers should be fired for their obvious pro-White House bias

The White House has framed it as a question of courage and policy, while the Democrats see it as a way to gain political ground?

Who else but a GOP shill would compose such nonsense?

[sasquatch]

7. The Dems should still run attack ads about the Repugs being-

against Social Security.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

8. I hope the GOP "splinters" on every one of Junior's "agenda items."

There's not a hell of a lot we can do about the war in Iraq, because we're already THERE. We can voice our disapproval, demonstrate, and write every Senator and member of congress on the planet...BUT...

...there would be some justice if "Social Security Reform" and John Bolton and the "National Sales Tax" went straight down the toilet, where they ALL belong.

Say goodnight, Boy King.

[merwin]

9. MAY be splintering? Have they seen their opinion polls? They

have been splintered the whole damn time.

[Beetwasher]

10. Good Headline, But Very Very Sick Propoganda In The Article:

"The White House has framed the Social Security debate as a matter of political courage, challenging both parties to secure the program's long-term solvency while giving all Americans an ownership stake in their economy. But over the course of the president's Social Security tour, public support for Bush's proposal has fallen, and Democrats see the issue as their best chance to make political gains in Washington."

This is fucking warped. This is pure WH propoganda: WH position=principled, helpful, secure, ownership. Dem position=political posturing.

They hit on every Repub propoganda point and then essentially claim the Dems position is only political and this is the substantive paragraph on the two positions. This is so fucked up it's almost unreal.

[grytpype]

11. Oh man is this sweet!

Bush has shit for brains. That is the only possible explanation. He is a fucking moron. He is as dumb as a monkey. If he was any dumber, we'd have to put wheels on him. He's a flatliner. They should have made Terry Schiavo president since she would do a better job. He couldn't run a hot dog stand without fucking it up.

[MontageOfFreedom]

12. I'm sorry but this Social Security plan is as stuck in the tracks as....

Well Tom DeLay and the rest of his nutty off the record, quackjob regime.

[kskiska]

13. WP: GOP May Be Splintering on Social Security

Wednesday, April 27, 2005; A04

A badly divided Senate Finance Committee yesterday held the first hearing examining President Bush's efforts to restructure Social Security. While the Democrats remained united in their opposition, there were signs of cracks in the Republicans' support for the president.

After months of political positioning, the stakes were high as the committee took up Bush's signature domestic issue for his second term. The White House has framed the Social Security debate as a matter of political courage, challenging both parties to secure the program's long-term solvency while giving all Americans an ownership stake in their economy. But over the course of the president's Social Security tour, public support for Bush's proposal has fallen, and Democrats see the issue as their best chance to make political gains in Washington.

With that highly charged backdrop, Republican divisions at the hearing had added significance.

One GOP witness repeatedly disparaged the White House's approach to Social Security changes, bolstering Democratic contentions that it would lead to politically untenable benefit cuts. Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.) questioned the wisdom of adding trillions of dollars in federal debt in the coming decades to finance the president's plan. And Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) seemed to signal intractable opposition to converting part of the defined Social Security benefit to variable returns from stock and bond investments.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/26/AR2005042600213.html

[w4rma]

14. There the Washington Post goes again.

Democrats are playing politics:
"see the issue as their best chance to make political gains"
"Democratic contentions that it would lead to politically untenable benefit cuts"

Republicans are trying to save social security:
"challenging both parties to secure the program's long-term solvency while giving all Americans an ownership stake in their economy"

Sneaky Washington Post. This is *always* their theme when talking about Dems and Repugs.

[kskiska]

15. WP: GOP May Be Splintering on Social Security

This thread has been combined with another thread.

Click here to read this message in its new location.