America has a cow over Alan Simpson's candor on deficits

[TheWebHead]

Dana Milbank on Sen. Alan Simpson's "We've reached a point now where it's like a milk cow with 310 million tits!" comment:

Simpson's e-mail drew demands from half a dozen congressional Democrats that he resign as co-chairman of President Obama's debt reduction commission. Women's and retiree groups formed a "Fire Simpson Campaign," and Simpson apologized. He shouldn't have.

Simpson was merely paraphrasing the satirist H.L. Mencken, who once said FDR regarded the government as "a milk cow with 125 million teats." Tit is a variation of teat, from the Middle English tete, from the Old English titt, from the Middle High German zitze. It's vulgar when referring to a woman's anatomy, but Simpson was talking about a cow.

In a larger sense, the outrage only confirmed that Simpson's simile was spot on. If the commission does its job right, it will recommend cuts across the government -- the Pentagon, social programs, entitlements, veterans' benefits -- as well as tax increases. That's the only way to solve the debt mess. Special-interest groups on the left and right, the real sucklings at the public teat, don't want this to happen -- so they derailed the effort in Congress to name a commission and now want to discredit Obama's version.

...Simpson is exactly the right man for the debt commission: a dealmaker. His proposal for Social Security is hardly the most radical. Who would liberals rather have representing the Republicans on the debt commission? The Senate nominee from Alaska, Joe Miller, who says "we've got to transition out of the Social Security arrangement"? Kentucky Senate nominee Rand Paul, who calls Social Security a "Ponzi scheme" from which people should "opt out"? Colorado Senate nominee Ken Buck, who calls Social Security "horrible, bad policy"? Or Nevada nominee Sharron Angle, who wants to "phase Medicare and Social Security out in favor of something privatized"?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/03/AR2010090302961.html

[DonCoquixote]

1. RANK BS

Like much of what the Post spews. Classic technique of paint the scumbag as the moderate, which ensures we all keep leaning right.

There is nothing wrong with Social Security that a proper tax scale cannot fix, period. As far as the "debt mess", Europe does fine with a more creamy "cow" than we have, no need to butcher. The real drain is the fact that we have been the world's policeman for a century, and that is what we need to cut. Fear not, we will still outspend the Russians and Chinese, plus have a more effective Military, because, unlike now, quagmires will not become PROFITABLE to a Military industrial complex.

[asjr]

3. Well, it's Dana Milbank, major suckup to Republicans

[fasttense]

2. Dana Milbank the resident tea bagger on WaPo

He joined The Post as a political reporter in 2000, after two years as a senior editor of The New Republic and eight years with the Wall Street Journal.

That says it all about this nincompoop. He's a tool for the neocons.

I think he missed the big issue about the tits remark. Simpson was writing to a group of older women unlike H.L. Mencken who was referring to a man and H.L. Mencken used the word teats not tits. When you refer to a cows udders, teats is the word not tits.

Aside from that, Simpson isn't out there saying make the uber wealthy pay their fair share of taxes. What about that sacred cow Mr Milbank? Or is his name Milk Banks you know they sound very similar just like tits and teats.

[DonCoquixote]

4. Excellent point

Simpson may feel free to insult Veterans, but he is sure not calling for a rollback of defense.

[The Wizard]

5. The abrasive Simpson

is there to represent the Republican view of America's working class. Naming him to the Commission was a calculated political move.
Dana Milbank is a big douche bag.

[ShamelessHussy]

6. his mocking, snarky headline, tells me all i need to know

well, and his reputation proceeds him.

time is too precious to waste on the lazy propaganda of the elite.

[IDemo]

7. Hard to believe he was once a regular on Keith's show n/t

[Enrique]

8. Dana Milbank writing about sucking

finally a subject he's an expert on.

[steelyboo]

9. Here's what I'd do

If I lived in DC, or wherever they house this douche bag. Get a bunch of milk, preferably spoiled, fill up some balloons, and follow this ass around pelting him, his car and his companions with them. Big Yippie fan here, and I think its time for Politics as theater to make a comeback. A disorderly conduct charge isn't that bad, and it be worth it.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. Load of dung from a rich man whose every word is paid for

Simpson is a hypocrite who takes huge amounts of Pension money from the taxpayers. Huge. Multiple. Money he does not need in any way, but takes. The respect given to such dishonest public dealings is why I find the President's claim of being religious laughable. The fact that they behave as if Simpson is an honest broker shows that they are anything but.
I think Obama finds hypocrisy to be attractive, like a sign of confidence. It is in fact a sign of hubris, and that is a red flag that failure lies ahead. I see no wisdom in any of these people, just self interest and short sights.

[IndianaGreen]

11. This is no candor, but total unabated bullshit from Simpson

Social Security has nothing to do with the deficits.

[Dr.Phool]

12. I formed a commission to make a recommendation to Milbank.

Go fuck yourself, you smarmy piece of shit.

[grasswire]

13. "That's the only way to solve the debt mess."??

Wrong.

Here's another way: Tax the rich their fair share.

Here's yet another way: Cut defense.

And another: End corporate welfare.

Dammit.

[Recursion]

15. Umm... he mentioned those things

Cut spending across the board and raise taxes. He said that.

[awoke_in_2003]

16. we do not need cuts...

in ANY social program. Bush/Clinton/Bush have done enough of this already.

[grasswire]

14. don't forget Milbank is Skull & Bones Yale

Can't overlook that when considering his writing.

[awoke_in_2003]

17. "social programs, entitlements, veterans' benefits"

these have already been cut to the bone and can afford NO further cuts.