Salon: Bush's Bait and Switch.

[crispini]

Social Security: Red staters don't like the reforms. Could this be Bush's wedge issue?

(snip)

The lukewarm reception to Bush's plan among folks who would seem to be natural allies illustrates a deep problem for the White House's Social Security initiative. Social Security privatization is shaping up to be something of a wedge issue within the Republican Party -- a proposal that may split the ranks of business-friendly conservatives from those most interested in such "family values" issues as abortion and gay marriage -- which could prove costly to the party at the polls.

People in red states, particularly social conservatives, aren't clamoring for privatization. Although there have been no definitive, large-scale state-by-state surveys on Social Security, a handful of scattered red-state surveys show the president's proposal faltering in usually friendly territory. Such numbers aren't surprising, since red states are disproportionately made up of older, poorer Americans, people who greatly benefit from Social Security in its current form and don't want to see it monkeyed with.

More:
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/02/25/sellout/index.html

This is confirmed by my own experience at my red state republican representative's townhall yesterday. NOBODY seemed to think privitization was a good idea.

[Canuckistanian]

1. I think the penny is dropping

The less-well-off conservatives are finally realizing that Shrub doesn't really care about their welfare.
There is only one agenda - cheap-labor, crony conservatism with a big helping of religious pandering.

[crispini]

2. Yes, I agree.

The article's interesting because it talks about how the religious conservatives feel a bit betrayed by the whole thing. Why ISN'T W using his "man-date" to go after abortion, gay marriage, etc? I really think, when it comes right down to it, that he is MORE interested in being in power, in the political arena, than he is in promulgating a religious right agenda. Now, I have NO doubt that he is in sympathy with the born-agains, and there is at least an element of truth in his religious leanings, but I really think when you cut George W open, you find a wily pol inside.

The born-agains are about to feel a tad "used", IMO.

[Emboldened Chimp]

3. Chimpy's trying to monkey with SS?

LOL!