That soft underbelly is turning out to be tough old gut.

This is a new ethos that is being foisted on America. The right wants what some have called selective Darwinism. Those who have great wealth have a huge advantege in this redefined survival of the fittest. On these threads we've all read trolls putting forth the Horatio Alger notion of born poor, die rich. There have been cases of this throughout American history, but in a world where the top 1% basically control everything there must be 99 losers for every winner. And this isn't even taking into account the fact that as the tax laws have been changed to favor those already favored the odds of rising up from the masses is even more microscopic.

The press, again, did a horrible job of covering Bush during his campaign for the Presidency--covering only what he said at campaign rallies and made-for-TV speeches. There were no questions about what it was that Bush was really running on. Further, given the indications that did seep into the press (here and there, and never on TV) why didn't the press nail Bush down on Social Security. It was clear from reports of his meetings with top GOP donors that Social Security would be his number one priority come January 21, and yet it was never discussed during the 2004 campaign--except when Kerry tried to raise it as an issue, only to be poo-pooed by the press for raising an issue that Bush didn't care to discuss.

Tom Frank and I seem to be on the same page: "If Bush rams it through, and I suspect he will,

Although I tend to disagree with him on the second part: it could be very costly for Republicans," he adds.

If need be to get additional support to "privatize" Social Security, the Bush gang will pull out something only the rightwing would love like an Amendment to the Constitution ceding to the states forever, absolute control over marriage and abortion. That also has the advantage of redirecting all the energy of the fundies to the state level to ratify the amendment and leave the energy at the federal level to the capitalists to complete their dream of finally destroying the last remnants of the New Deal.

The impact on the lives of individuals will be a slow process and on a short-term basis they will not be able to see what is coming -- Plus the Bush team doesn't rest after they make the sale; their after-sale propaganda is as good as, if not better than, how they made the sale in the first place.

IF THE DEMOCRATS STICK TOGETHER THEY CAN SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY. LETS SEE WHO BETRAYS US AGAIN (JOE, DIANE, ETC?).

now that is the proper use of all caps

I trully do not understand the greed of corporations and the politicians who whore for them. Why do they want a country full of destitute old people? They want a survival of the fittest world - like a Dickens novel full of suffering and poverty. Really, I don't understand this hate and greed. Its beyond me.

JJ, you don't understand fully the dynamic underway and the full significance of globalization. The corporate masters and the political whores who toady to them don't care if the nation is populated by destitute old people. They probably won't be living here. Like Richard Perle, they'll probably be living somewhere else where their policies haven't turned it into an economic wasteland. They don't care. Why do you think there's such an emphasis on speed, speed, more speed in what Dubya keeps proposing. The theft must be done quickly to allow it to happen and to enable them to move the money offshore, outside the potential reach of the US authorities. So, when all of the corporate chieftains and their lackeys have retired to Fiji, or Nauru or some other location which they can truly own, they it will all become transparent.

Bush will be safely ensconced in his Crawford compound

He'll be safely ensconced somewhere, but probably not at his fake ranch. Want to start a betting pool on how quickly he sells the ranch after leaving office? :)

jj: I trully do not understand the greed of corporations and the politicians who whore for them. Why do they want a country full of destitute old people?

No, they want a world full of people working for slave wages. They want to destroy the safety nets and the middle class to insure that there is no pressure for increased wages. They will live in their mansions and in the lap of luxury. They are following Rev Moon's model, only using a different route to brainwash the masses.

Gary Kaltbuam interviewed John Snow last night on his radio show.

Archived MP3 File if you want to listen. It's the first 15 minutes of the show or so.

muck doggy dogg,
why would anyone want to listen to a lying dope like snow.

After his term is over, reguardless of the state of the nation, Bush WILL leave Crawford. Even if he stays in Texas ( most likely suburban Houston)
his money will go offshore. Depending on the state of the nation he too may go offshore.

jj, thought some folks might like to be aware of what the social security reform package may end up looking like. After all, John Snow has been tasked to help develop the specifics.

Muckdog,
we know what the bushies "reform" looks like - a country full of destitute seniors.

Mr Anon, you be makin' dat up, sun.

This x-liberal (If you're young and not a liberal then something is wrong with your heart; If you're old and not a conservative something is wrong with your head) offers the following posts in the spirit of dialog:

The illogic of reform opponents

Everybody's a Millionaire

Hate it when that happens!

Albert Einstein for Private Accounts?

More Tax, No Benefit = Stealing

Where's the American 'can do' attitude? It doesn't have to be a zero-sum game with winners and losers. We have an opportunity to create a win/win using out-of-the-box thinking. The goal should be retirement security, not Social Security. The first is personal wealth-based, the second is transfer of wealth-based.