How many times has the blogoshpere jumped the shark.. and then had to

[Peacetrain]

ahem .. excuse me.. uhhh .. see.. uhhh.. never mind.. it was actually this!

When it comes to SS and Medicare and what is on the table or not on the table..

I want to see what they are "actually" talking about first..

[Palmer Eldritch]

1. Some never learn.

And they never ever apologize for being wrong.

[Drale]

2. BUTS THEM MEDIAS REPORTS IT ITS TRUES RIGHTS????

RABBLE RABBLE!!! Seriously people, until something actually happens CALM THE FUCK DOWN!

[MADem]

3. They can all put their dicks "on the table" if they so desire.

That doesn't mean that they're going to slice and dice 'em and divvy them up amongst the American people, now.

Unless we're in the room, we know nothing. A lot of posturing accompanies these gabfest-summits.

It's sausage-making, after all. The process is foul and messy.

[eleny]

4. About as many times as an administration doesn't make issues clear

When you leave room for doubt and fear there will be doubt and fear.

[boppers]

9. There will always be doubt and fear.

That's what the story of Chicken Little is about. Some people just seem to want to have any excuse to panic/be outraged/stomp their feet.

[eleny]

15. Baloney

People are reacting to what is coming out of the mouth of the administration. I've watched and listened to the mouthpieces sent out by the White House and the message is fuzzy. It's the politician way of communicating so I don't blame people one iota for mistrusting and worrying.

[boppers]

22. People complain it's fuzzy if they don't understand it.

They're talking about CPI as it relates to COLA, and adjusting it to reflect SS recipient needs, rather than those of a generic non-SS consumer.

Didn't understand that? Well, that's why they have to talk "politician".

It's kind of like a computer geek trying to explain the actual problem, and a person standing there dumbfounded, because they don't have the slightest grasp of what is being discussed.... people want it dumbed down to their level.

Here, read this thread (and link):
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Sheepshank]

26. by your def/n then, it also leaves room of hope and change and positive possibilities.

why cling to the dark side? Why latch on to the negative possibilities? Why assume always they worse?

You haven't seen any good things come out of this administrtion to put some positive spin on what you consider ambiguity, for a change? Or is it that you simply chose not to remember any of the positives?

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Good for you!

So sit silently and do not express your opinion. God forbid you should be seen advocating too strongly for the least among us. That would bring great shame to you.

[Arctic Dave]

6. I think waiting until after things happen to display your opinion isn't always right.

Being pro-active and making noise needs to be done so leaders know and understand that you are not happy with certain outcomes. If we wait until after the decision our leaders could say they didn't know it would upset us because we never said anything.

I think peolpe expressing themselves is a good thing.

[Jim Lane]

27. Exactly right. After the deal is announced, comments are irrelevant.

There are multiple competing interests at the table. Any deal that emerges for public scrutiny will be delicately engineered to be acceptable to enough of those interests. At that point, to make even a small change, based on public opinion, won't be feasible.

We have little enough influence as it is. If we wait, we have zero.

[high density]

7. Popping trial balloons is easy these days NM

[Sarah Ibarruri]

8. Here's the info the blogosphere is listening to: the New York Times

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Doctor Hurt]

24. Judith Fucking Miller

remember her?

[Lifelong Protester]

10. I expressed myself to the WH, and my congress critters

and still say I want to know what the facts are first. But I agree with the posters who say we should not just sit by quietly and wait either.

Trying to find a balance, not freak out, but be heard here.

It has been a tough spring (I'm from Wisconsin...and a public employee...it has been a tough spring).

[bemildred]

11. Yeah, heaven forfend we should speak up before they screw us. nt

[Tx4obama]

12. There's a huge difference between speaking up and spinning the facts.

The FACT is that President Obama has said NOTHING about cutting SS benefits.

[bemildred]

14. Not really, but people keep telling me there are no facts.

And they claim somebody or other is "spinning the facts", and we should wait for the facts, etc.

The "fact" is we are not required morally or practically to wait for facts, or spin, or anything else to make our views known. If it's all talk, then anybody can talk, yes?

[graywarrior]

13. It makes good ratings

[WiffenPoof]

16. Okay...Then Tell Me...

what is the purpose of doing this as a Dem Administration. I mean...please someone explain to me why in the hell would a Dem Administration even come close to hinting cuts in the crowning achievement(s) of their own party. I mean...can someone...ANYONE stand up for the principles of our party??? Anyone?

-P

[Rosco T.]

17. Show me a DIRECT Quote/Link where Obama says he will..

.. cut SS/Medicare Benefits.

Thank You.

[WiffenPoof]

20. Okay...

You're right. I'm just chicken little telling everyone that the sky is falling. This President has been the "ideal" Dem....right? He has upheld Dem principles like no other. Look...I'm no hippie, commie pinko pig...I was once considered merely a Democrat. Now I'm some sort of left wing nutcase...right? I get it. You are one of the New Dems that have never lived under a real Democratic President...so this means nothing to you.

-P

[Tx4obama]

21. I would also like to see ....

the DIRECT Quote/Link where Obama says he will cut SS/Medicare Benefits.

Got a link?

[WiffenPoof]

28. Does His Press Secretary Count???

I mean, isn't he the voice of the President? I thought he was. Did you listen to his press briefing? Did I misunderstand him?

[Whisp]

18. groundhog day

it is sad but still a pinch of funny about it

[Peacetrain]

23. That just about hits it on head..

[Tx4obama]

19. Ha! Ed Schultz just said: " ... IF this is true... "

After all of Ed's bashing today on the radio and TV,
now he says: " IF this is true..."

There has been NO statement from Obama about cutting benefits, EVERYONE is jumping to conclusions and only speculating!

[Sheepshank]

25. More importantly how many times has the blogosphere jumped the shark

.....and then posted a retraction, an apology for the damage, or a humble correction?

Generally speaking regardless of the outcome, what I read are the convoluted rantings of people trying to fit their square peg inaccurate predictions and thinking into the round of the real outcome. It's important to never admit a mistake when a good rant, multi rec post was involved