the biggest promise that "we've" made that "we" can't keep is the bush prescription drug bill, which mccain supported.
meanwhile, we'll see the extent to which the media, which finally seemed to learn some of the relevant facts about social security last year, remembers them in the face of mr. straight talk's latest lie.
Posted by at June 12, 2006 03:49 PMI had heard the first thing on GOP agenda, if they retain control in Fall, is revisit the Privatization of Social Security.
Posted by mainsailset at June 12, 2006 03:56 PMAnother case of a Republican "solution" looking for a problem.
Posted by Cookie Monster at June 12, 2006 04:06 PMI had heard the first thing on GOP agenda, if they retain control in Fall, is revisit the Privatization of Social Security.
And the Dems. had better mention this everytime the pugs mention the border.
Posted by herbal tee at June 12, 2006 04:14 PMthank god mcCain has embraced privatization. for a minute i thught he actually had a chance
Posted by benjoya at June 12, 2006 04:39 PM"No real security"---so we'll cut the benefit amount, that'll solve that little problem!
"promises we can't keep"----even though workers paid increased withholding taxes for 20-plus years.
Looks like a winner, John-boy. You go, grrrl!
Posted by euzoius at June 12, 2006 05:05 PMSocial Security can't even be blamed for the deficit--it's on a different set of books. Only Medicare and Medicaid impact the regular finances of the federal government.
Posted by dj moonbat at June 12, 2006 05:16 PMAs an Az resident I am ashamed of this Keating 5 refugee. In the picture Bush appears to be burping him. The repubs, despite promises to the contrary, will once again swift boat him in the primarys.
He never learns.
Posted by TIKI AL at June 12, 2006 05:22 PMOkay, let's put this front and center so that he is never allowed to forget this comment.
Posted by nyc at June 12, 2006 05:51 PMI too, as an Arizona resident, am ashamed of McCain. Let's make sure he not only never becomes the U.S. President, but that he does not get re-elected as Senator from Arizona again either.
Posted by Arizona Lady at June 12, 2006 06:12 PMYuk! That puffy sweaty Bu$hCo rimjobber.
Posted by red_neck_repub at June 12, 2006 06:50 PMIt's my understanding that they now include social security and medicaid in the federal budget to make the other numbers, especially military spending, seem lower. They neglect to note that there is income designated for the specific programs of social security and medicare. It's a little accounting trick, sort of like Enron. Of course, the real problem with medicaid is that damned prescription drug program that's just more corporate welfare for the pharmaceutical companies.
Posted by ann at June 12, 2006 07:11 PM"Okay, let's put this front and center so that he is never allowed to forget this comment."
Posted by nyc
Along with the picture of McCain giving Bush a warm fuzzy.
The picture reminds of two gay guys.
Posted by Judith at June 12, 2006 07:20 PMThat photo is worth a billion words, and is priceless for 2008.
Posted by God Of War at June 12, 2006 07:25 PMThis is simply the continuation of the Norquist Plan. He and they have not forgotten that the end goal is to remove as much budget and funding from general government programs except for military expenditures. Last year's squelching of Bush's drive to kill Social Security was just a postponement. The Plan stands.
Posted by dano at June 12, 2006 07:51 PMBend Over For Grover. There's a bumpersticker for you wingnuts.
Posted by jondee at June 12, 2006 08:01 PMThe only thing Bush & Co. seem adept at is taxcuts for the rich, and growing deficits which bring them closer to their goal of having an an excuse to defund public services. They've been disasterously inept at everything else they've tried (e.g. Irag).
It's amazing how many "progressives" actually think McCain is somehow better than the Bush Republicans. For crying out loud, if this story doesn't dispel that illusion then what will? This story should be repeated often and widely up until the election in 2008.
Posted by bg1 at June 12, 2006 08:14 PMI'm from AZ also, and could careless about McCain for now!
I want to make it my objective that Kyl (the bu$h bootlicker neo-con) does not get re-elected this year as Senator! He is twice as dangerous to Democrats as McCain!
Posted by Seven of Six at June 12, 2006 08:45 PMKyl sucks and JD Hayworth needs to lose to Harry Mitchell.
Az could go indigo.
and is another example that McCain will say anything to anyone to get nominated in 2008.
Do Republicans really want to open this can of worms again at a time when peoples' 401k's are tanking?
Posted by bob h at June 13, 2006 04:15 AMWith all due respect regarding his service to our Country, John McCain has become a self serving tool.
Posted by mparker at June 13, 2006 05:55 AMCaption for photo:
DUMBYA: Hey John! Watch that right hand!!
MCCAIN: I love you big daddy!
McCain is gaming for 08 and has become proud face of hypocrisy. Based on his myriad of duplicious statements, it is impossible to determine what he stands for, other than McCain for Prez in 08. Our country cannot afford another reckless, self-serving, and intellectually dishonest man in the office.
Posted by David_in_IL at June 13, 2006 07:12 AMLet's just get it over with. Let's help the Repubs realize their dream: No one is entitled to anything, ever. Promises are made to be broken.
Posted by fc at June 13, 2006 07:20 AMThe awkward photo of McCain embracing Bush illustrates how uncomfortable and detached Republicans are dealing with issues that involve our government actually extending compassion to our citizens.
One of the hallmarks of developing oligarchy.
Posted by paz3 at June 13, 2006 08:08 AM"A tsunami of entitlement spending
Hey, howzabout that $1 trillion in corporate welfare?
Posted by phidipides at June 13, 2006 08:48 AMMcCain stuck it to both Democrats and Republicans. In his speech he said, “Under moderately optimistic scenarios Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will in the decades to come grow as large as the entire government is today. Someday the government will be forced to make drastic cuts in these programs, or crippling increases in taxes on workers - or both. The longer we wait to make the hard choices necessary to repair these programs, the harder the problem becomes. My children and their children will not receive the benefits we will enjoy. That is an inescapable fact, and any politician who tells you otherwise, Democrat or Republican, is lying.
It seems it is time to stop the lying and start a little bipartisan problem solving on this one since the ability to waffle on the facts is disappearing. Today, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its long-term projections for Social Security. This update puts the discussion of Social Security’s future one step closer to a more level (and honest) playing field.
CBO projections differ somewhat from those from the Social Security Administration , allowing the “Do Nothing” crowd to cherry-pick numbers so as to bolster their do nothing position. The CBO’s report is filled with numbers and analysis, but what's important is that today’s report narrowed the differences between the CBO and Social Security Administration projections. So if we’re all dealing with a reasonably consistent set of projections, Americans should look forward to a more honest and less confusing discussion about our retirement system’s future.
Read the report in its entirety and you’ll find that:
·Social Security benefit costs are growing faster than the economy’s ability to pay them, which will put increasing pressure on the program and the overall federal budget. CBO projects that benefits will exceed tax revenues in 2019 (whereas in March 2005, the CBO reported that this would occur in 2020). The Social Security Administration projects that deficits will begin in 2017, so there is now only a two-year difference between the two agencies; and
·CBO projects that the Social Security trust fund will be depleted in 2046, versus 2052 in CBO’s previous projections. The Social Security Administration projects the trust fund will be exhausted in 2040, so the difference is now only 6 years.
Of course the most significant point you’ll find in the CBO report is that we’re just about to heap the single greatest debt in history on the shoulders of our kids and grandkids. The bottom line is that Congress is depleting the money in the trust by spending all of the Social Security surpluses on other programs -- not our retirement.
So what’s the fix? It’s got to include putting our money where we can see it and Congress can’t touch it. And Democrats would be wise to jump in the debate with that sort of solution instead of the disappointing “just say no.” I’m sure most would prefer that Congress stop dipping into the Social Security trust fund to pay for a war they don’t believe in
Posted by Olivia at June 14, 2006 06:18 PM