Does anyone think this news about social security is a ploy

[maxpower]

I believe that Obama is forcing the issue of making the people against a public option, because it's socialism, to start complaining about social security. Only to have it pointed out to them that SS is "socialism" too. Pardon me if this idea has been posted already. I think Obama is a lot smarter than the right gives him credit for.


Peace

Max

[sinkingfeeling]

1. What news about SS?

[maxpower]

2. Sorry I forgot to post a link

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/us/politics/03benefits.html
No increase in benefits the next two years. And I apologize if my post was poorly worded. Sometimes my fingers are faster than me noggin'


Peace


Max

[bobbolink]

16. Actually, that came out quite some time ago. Where was the outrage?

Right here on DU, we poor folk who depend on this were told to STFU.

So much for "progressive" compassion.

[wiggs]

3. The previous administration raided social security...it wasn't such a problem before that. nt

[maxpower]

4. Exactly

But wait until the right gets on their high horse about this.

[maxpower]

5. My point is

I think it is going to show the hypocrisy of the people who are against the public option and public healthcare. That is what I was trying to say.

[Silver Swan]

6. I was just on another forum

where people were trying to blame Obama for this.

I pointed out that the provision involved has been part of Social Security law for over thirty years.

I guess this is just another way Obama was planning ahead when he was just a wee lad.

[maxpower]

7. Of course he did

I understand it's the law that it can't be lowered. He was a precocious lad to have thought of this back then.

[alfredo]

8. The right is going after VA and their "Death Book" now. We have been using

the VA as an example, so now they are saying the VA is urging older vets to end their own lives.

Transcript. I'd also look for the video because they may have rewritten what was actually said by Tammy Duckworth.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,541820,00.html

[maxpower]

9. They are grasping at straws

Good lord is there no end to how low they can sink? Bush is the one who cut the VA budget.

[alfredo]

10. Jim Towey, form head of bush's Faith Based Initiative wrote a book he wanted

the VA to buy in bulk, but the VA refused, so I guess he is getting even with them by spreading lies.

[maxpower]

11. Come on only the left lies

You can't spell righteous without right.

[alfredo]

13. Ha! That was their big mistake. They tried to paint us as liars

so we made extra effort to make sure our arguments were based on facts. Karl Rove and people like him decided that truth was overrated and went with the "noble lie" that was espoused by the Straussians.

[Cleita]

12. He is smart and frankly ethical but this has more to do

with where his political ideology is falling and it seems to be moving to moderate conservative and very corporate friendly. I hope I am wrong and you are right.

[maxpower]

14. Me too

It seems that the game always gets rigged, and not in our favor.

[alfredo]

15. He always was a conservative. You remember when he first

got into the Senate, his voting record pointed to a more centrist than leftist stance. I remember some were rather disappointed in him. I thought the expectations for him being the great left hope was unrealistic.

Governing from the center is more productive because it better reflects the nation as a whole. I'd rather see a more leftist president, but that's life.

[maxpower]

18. I would too

The lefter the better. But this is a fleeting fantasy.

[alfredo]

19. Anyway, he's ours, warts and all.

[maxpower]

17. Just look at my signature line

Congress, the house in particular, have to run too often so they are always campaigning. Campaigning = Pandering. Campaign finance reform now!!!!

[Obamanaut]

20. At about the same time this was being discussed earlier this year

there came tp be the automatic pay raise for congress, of about $4500 +/-. They decided not to refuse the increase, and let it pass. At about the same time, Harry Reid attached an increase for federal judges to the auto bailout bill, giving them about the same percentage increase. Judges would not have rec'd an increase otherwise.

They have talked about no pay increase for congress in fiscal year 2010, but I'll be watching out my window for airborne pigs in vee formation flying by.

Here's a couple of links re congress pay increase
-------

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/blog/2009/01/07/no-salary-increase-for-congress-in-fiscal-2010/ this link has several updates

No Salary Increase for Congress in Fiscal 2010 <this is the header for the article>
-------
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-freezes-pay-raise-for-2010-2009-02-25.html

<snip>Lawmakers automatically receive a cost-of-living adjustment every year to keep in step with inflation.

But in a period of economic turmoil when many Americans have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet, members have overwhelmingly supported blocking their pay increase in 2010. <more at link>