I'm puzzled about something... Has anyone else noticed...

[ktowntennesseedem]

that no one is talking about social security anymore. Even after all the tours and rallies and speeches, all the "agenda-centerpiece" talk--now all we hear is silence. Nothing. Cue the crickets. Same thing with gay marriages; for months the danger to traditional American families warranted a constitutional amendment, suddenly this terrible problems seems to have gone away. What's up with that?

Of course they may well be working stealthily, behind the scenes, which is personally more troubling than if they were still talking about them all the time and working on them out in the open. And perhaps I just haven't been paying much attention. But to spend so much time and energy (and tax-payers money!) just to drop it all and move on to other things, even I'm a bit surprised.

Iraq, oil prices, terrorist treats, Iraq, Valerie Plame, Karl Rove, did I mention Iraq?

Still, I think someone needs to bring up their shift in priorities. It will remind everyone of just how much time and money were wasted on those former big-issues, and make the new big-issues look very big for having thrown Dubya & Co. so far off message.

[MichiganVote]

1. After the 2006 elections that's all you'll hear

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. they're waiting

they had the trial balloon about changing SS and realized it was not going to work to do it openly. Look for the changes to be tacked on to some massive bill that will be passed in the middle of the night on a Friday before a holiday weekend.

Or they could be waiting because they realize messing with SS is one sure way for repukes not to get reelected in 2006. They'll do it after the election, soon after.

[Maat]

3. Well, the fundies out here in California are attempting ..

to put a STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT on the ballot in 2006, that not only bans same-sex marriage, effectively, but also precludes domestic partnership benefits. And we are very proud of our domestic partnership benefits. The fundies are being quite loud about it too. It goes together with the puffing about Arnold's special election this year (their attempt at redistricting).

[yorkiemommie1]

4. i read yesterday that

they're going to start up their campaign next month. I read it just yesterday... can't remember where, though. will keep searching for link.

here's a little something from Bloomberg:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a5iFjPG2kgJQ&refer=top_world_news

" Aug. 6 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush urged Congress to make permanent the tax cuts enacted during his first term and draft legislation to bolster the Social Security program, after the lawmakers return from their August break. "....

< snip> " ``Social Security is sound for today's seniors, but there's a hole in the safety net for our younger workers, so I'll work with the Congress to strengthen Social Security,'' Bush said.

[Son of California]

5. Consider that all that claptrap

was meant to stirup support for the elections, I don't know about the Gay issue, but I think they just dropped Social Security because they knew no one was backing them on it and it was just plain unpopular.
talk about putting your finger to the wind and checking first before making a move.

[DemBones DemBones]

6. You can bet they'll keep trying to screw the elderly.

The GOP makes a point of bleeding everybody dry.

I fear that many DUers don't realize the danger to Social Security, that many have been convinced they'll never get anything back, anyway, so who cares?

It's either fight now or go back to the reality of the 1930s and earlier -- when Mom, Dad, or Aunt Sally gets too old or sick to live alone, they move in with you. Or maybe they starve or freeze to death in their own home, or die in the streets. No good options. That could easily happen as many pension plans are going belly up and leaving people who thought they were prepared high and dry. There will probably be more of it with more outsourcing (CAFTA), too. Once they;re operating out of the US, companies will look to shaft their former loyal employees, expecially the ones about to retire and draw pensions. I think I hate capitalism.

[wli]

9. well, I'm not going to make it to retirement age

So it really doesn't affect me personally. Of course I think it's a bad idea for everyone else's sake.

[blondeatlast]

7. Nary a word pre-2006 elections. If they manage a majority in one

or more Houses again, though, look out.

Grassroots Dems have to keep the issue front and center (along with all the other issues :eyes:) to keep Rs from taking one or both Houses.

We need to force it into the open. If the Dem candidates do it, they will be accused of "playing politics" with Social Security.

Edit: typos

[TomClash]

8. Maybe the american people

ahve figured out that the Repuke Agenda - a ban on gay marraige, privitization of social security and so on - is simply unamerican.