Is Mark Warner the Designated Social Security Killer? (emptywheel)

[EFerrari]

Posted on August 1, 2011 by emptywheel

The propaganda the Administration has put out to spin the debt capitulation as a win–”victory!” “bipartisan!” “compromise!”–would be amusing if the deal weren’t so dangerous. In addition to all the language claiming that cutting expenditures during a Depression–described here as “remov the cloud of uncertainty– will help the economy, there are these two bullets:

* Establishes a bipartisan process to seek a balanced approach to larger deficit reduction through entitlement and tax reform;
* Deploys an enforcement mechanism that gives all sides an incentive to reach bipartisan compromise on historic deficit reduction, while protecting Social Security, Medicare beneficiaries and low-income programs;

Bulllet 3 says this deal establishes a process to bring about entitlement reform. Bullet 4 claims the deal protected Social Security and Medicare. Both of these bullets can’t be true.

Which has set off a discussion about whether SuperCongress is only possibly going to cut Medicare and Social Security, or will almost certainly do so.

I wanted to look at how the membership of the predecessor committees to SuperCongress–the Catfood Commission and the Gang of Six–to suggest which is more likely.

http://www.emptywheel.net/2011/08/01/is-mark-warner-the-designated-social-security-killer/

[brooklynite]

1. Unrec'd

Social Security isn't being "killed" and you know it.

[LaydeeBug]

8. At least, not if you don't need it, and have supplemental income.

rec'd just for that

[TheWraith]

2. More fearmongering, lying bullshit.

Crazy thing: I've met emptywheel, sat with her, had dinner with her and a bunch of other lefty bloggers, and exchanged business cards. She didn't seem crazy at the time, but frankly, she's become one of the worst of the FDL crowd right behind Hamsher.

[LaydeeBug]

9. Obama made a perfect deal. He won! He did a great job. Chill out! He's got this motherfucker.

:eyes:

[yodermon]

19. emptywheel.net is not part of FDL. n/t

[jpak]

3. The Super Duper can't cut a fucking thing - it has to pass both the Seante and the House

and oh yeah - SS and Medicare of OFF THE FUCKING TABLE

unrec for vile FDL douchebaggery

yup

[EFerrari]

6. Wrong. They are not off the table. In fact, Medicare gets auto cuts

if Catfood II gets no result.

[jpak]

7. bullshit and wrong

yup

[EFerrari]

10. You've been shown good links to accurate information

all morning. Your choice to ignore them.

[jtown1123]

14. No they're not off the table. They will be looked at by super committee

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/debt-ceiling/highlights-of-the-deal/index.html

[Major Hogwash]

4. Probably, he's in one of those safe seats and doesn't have to worry about losing his seat.

Or Nelson.
Maybe Finestein.

[EFerrari]

5. There's a clip of him at the link advocating cuts to "entitlements". n/t

[Renew Deal]

11. Why can't 3 and 4 both be true?

[EFerrari]

12. Because the entitlement can't be off the table and not off the table?

[Renew Deal]

13. Are Social Security and Medicare the only entitlements?

There are other entitlements besides SS and Medicare.

[jtown1123]

15. Medicaid

[WillyT]

16. Did You Catch THIS ???

Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1646521

:scared:

:hi:

:kick: & Rec!!!

[EFerrari]

17. Just did!

:hi:

[Chimichurri]

18. Dispicable.

[dreamnightwind]

20. K & R

EmptyWheel is about the most honest intellect I've come across in a long time. Glad she's digging into this.

It's pretty clear to me that the SuperCongress is a set-up. There will be 6 non-compromising Repubs. All they'll need will be a single compromising Dem to pass pretty much whatever they want out of the committee. The House is a right-wing asylum, so no help there. The Senate is just barely Democratic, and a number of those Dems are DINOs who will be quite happy to "do the adult thing" and reduce entitlements, rather than reclaiming ill-gotten revenue from the rich. Not good at all.

[Oilwellian]

21. Indeed

You've nailed it. One blue dog on this committee (and you know there will be at least 3 because Obama loves them so) and the grand experiment will be over. Hasta la vista, baby.

[Mimosa]

22. This topic should be pinned someplace.

BTW, is Mark Warner related to former Sen John Warner?

[Raksha]

23. K & R