Social Security is next for Gang of Fourteen -The Hill

[Rose Siding]

Some of the senators who banded together to forestall the “nuclear option” are eyeing a new goal: reforming Social Security.....
Yesterday, Graham clarified that Social Security reform was not broached during the negotiations that led to the deal that forestalled the “nuclear option.”

Nevertheless, he said, the 14-member coalition represents “the model for the future” of the Senate. The chance for the closely divided Senate “to do hard things is greater today than it was yesterday,” Graham said.
...
Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) characterized the Graham plan as a blend of the White House principles, including private accounts, with other features designed to entice Democrats to support it.

Pryor said that he has spoken to Graham about Social Security more than once outside of the judicial-nominees negotiations but that he is not ready to sign off on the South Carolina Republican’s approach.
...
Snowe and Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) have been working together on developing a Social Security plan under the auspices of the Centrist Coalition....

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/052505/social.html

[CTLawGuy]

1. I suppose the plan will include privatization

but the Democrats will claim victory because no one bombed washington :eyes:

[sadiesworld]

23. What this plan WON'T include is an agreement to pay the IOUs out

of general revenues and the 20 year theft will then be complete. There is more than one way to destroy SS.

[madhat]

2. There will be no gang of 14 after today.

Not if Frist has his way....

[ozymandius]

14. Right-O!

The Fourteen are an affront to Frist's authority. He will wield whatever power he has left to coerce the Republicans members of the coalition back in line and, in turn, divide those who worked around him. He only has everything to lose. Except his dignity. He lost that a long time ago.

[whistle]

3. Yep,,,,must be blocked

[DeepModem Mom]

4. If these 14 stick together, things could get very interesting. nt

[ozymandius]

15. Imagine of these fourteen stick together

and the net result is a moveable supermajority. But I feel wistful about this possibility. Political stripes often trump common sense in acting on progressive issues.

[Protagoras]

20. Yes, given the current split they'll

become (as talked about in some other threads) The power on the hill if they keep themselves cohesive.

14 votes that are truly swing and focused would dramatically change the balance of power...

I'm NOT a supporter of Joe or the DLC...but if a union of people not attached at the hip to Bushco slow down the Neocon revolution I'll not naysay them in this. We'll disagree in the elections and on individual issues, but as long as they oppose Bush I'll be glad for their support.

But I don't trust it yet.

[AlGore-08.com]

29. But are they slowing down the NeoCon revolution?

So far, the moderates have accomplished the following:

Against NeoCon revolution:
1. Gotten one of Smirk's wing nut judicial nominees stopped (theoretically, though we still don't know which one)

For NeoCon revolution:
1. Gotten Owen confirmed (after four years of successfully keeping her from getting confirmed)
2. Gotten between 3 and 6 other right wing nut judicial nominees who were being filibustered or going to be filibustered get up or down votes and they're expected to pass
3. Stopped the Dems from filibustering any new judicial nominees except in "extreme circumstances", leaving that definition of "extreme circumstances" up to each of these 14 folks
4. Kept the door open for the nuclear option in a way that will make it the Dems' fault if the nuclear option is ever invoked
5. Gotten some great press for John McCain, who is running for President in 2008 and has 98% of the same agenda as Smirk
6. Now they're going to "reform" social security in a way that will almost certainly cut benefits and give even more money to the insanely wealthy

In my book, that's not "slowing down the NeoCon revolution", that's enabling it...

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. The "Centrists Coalition"

I wish someone would slap Lieberman upside the head and make him acknowledge the center has moved waaaayyyyyy past the center and in the opposite direction of left. :grr:

[BillZBubb]

6. Oh, boy I smell another Democratic "victory"!

The Dems will roll over and give the Repugs something on Social Security and we'll be inundated once again with posts here about how we "won" again.

A Lieberman "compromise" will be so appealing after all.

[kysrsoze]

25. Exactly my thoughts. We will NOT win in this situation.

[customerserviceguy]

27. Please define what a win would look like

What do you think the very best possible outcome would be on Social Security reform, to make sure that the baby boomers whose earning years have propped up the Social Security System for the past 35-40 years, don't bankrupt the system when it comes time for them to collect?

[TX-RAT]

7. Do we have a 3 party system starting to develop?

[freedom_to_read]

22. no

[Divernan]

8. As in you poor people can keep SS, as long as you don't file a claim?

That is unless you're under "extreme circumstances", which the GOP members of the gang will determine. Maybe at age 85, or if your doc has given you hours to live?

[The White Tree]

10. Oh no you didn't go there

LOL :applause:

Actually, what you describe here is what homeowners insurance seems to be evolving into. You use homeowners insurance only under "extreme circumstances" because as few as 1 or 2 claims over a certain period can cause them to drop you.

That thought just occurred to me.

[LibDemAlways]

28. Re: Homeowners Insurance

You are right on. I worked for a small company that wrote homeowners policies only on newer homes not on hillsides or in brush areas. The homeowners had to have pristine credit and not own certain breeds of dogs like dalmations! They also couldn't be actors or employed by newspapers, tv, or the film industry.

Once a policy was issued, if the homeowner had the audacity to file a claim, they were immediately cancelled.

Like the insurance company, the repukes clearly hold all the cards. The Dems squeal and actually try to use some of the little power they have, all bets will be off.

[Robbien]

9. Nancy Peloski and the DCCC is starting funding raising for centrists

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/052505/dccc.html

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) “Frontline” program is entering its second phase, with the committee and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) urging big-money national donors — many of whom have maxed out to the congressional committees — to fill the campaign coffers of the Democrats’ 10 most vulnerable incumbents.

. . .

The Frontliners are Reps. John Barrow (Ga.), Melissa Bean (Ill.), Leonard Boswell (Iowa), Chet Edwards (Texas), Stephanie Herseth (S.D.), Brian Higgins (N.Y.), Jim Matheson (Utah), Charlie Melancon (La.), Dennis Moore (Kan.) and John Salazar (Colo.).

[mhr]

11. Here We Go - Kiss Your Social Security Goodbye!

eom

[AzDar]

12. I don't know about y'all...but personally, I don't want Joe Lieberman

anywhere NEAR Social Security!! Bush is LOSING on this issue...leave it alone until this (mal)administration is loooooong gone.

[Strawman]

13. Fat Chance, Graham

Someone is a little self-important and carried away here.

[placton]

16. Yep, I love the smell of sell out in the morning

These 7 Dems love the power - even when the result is the end of democracy. But at least they got to feel like they were in charge.

It's the beginning of the end, my friends.

[sadiesworld]

17. They're becoming quite predictable.

[bicentennial_baby]

18. I'm really uncomfortable with this "coalition"

Technically speaking, they have the power, if they remain cohesive, to hold the Senate hostage, essentially, and I realllly don't like the idea of the likes of Lieberman, McCain, and Bayh having that type of collective power. Egads...

[jab105]

19. The Stand for nothing gang strikes again...

yipee...

[Protagoras]

21. They should stand for a 3rd Party.

Plop them in the middle and let them mill about...let the DLC become the CLC...and let the Democratic party return to its root.

That I'd be in favor of.

[The Stranger]

24. Fascinating development: The Right is so extreme and monolithic,

that the small group that has broken ranks and joined some Democrats forms the swing vote and will determine future results. They essentially have more power than the other 48 Republican senators.

[Gloria]

26. Read Josh Marshall & Kos on this.....it could make you sick...

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_05_22.php#005736


esp. after the filibuster crap...I can't believe Democrats are going to muddy the waters again.

I am totally sick of them.


And this from Kos...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/5/24/194930/818

(Buzzflash link to Kos is funny: Are Dems considering caving on Social Security? Are they freaking nuts? 5/25)