Social Security Fight Starts Today

[TayTay]

Check out the NYTimes article on this, as well as their graphic on who the players are on the Finance Committee at: http://www.nytimes.com/

Again, I highly recommend that you give a glance to this hearing today and the others later on in the week. This is a signature moment for both this Congress and this Presidency.

This is being webcasted at http://www.c-span.org/ on C-Span1 at 10:00 am (EST)

[JI7]

1. Kerry is on some important committees isn't he ?

especially with the Bolton thing going on right now and Social Security being one of the top issues being debated.

[TayTay]

2. Yeah, and Finance is difficult to get on

The article in the Times says that some Sens have to wait years to get on it. Kerry gave up Banking in, I think 2000, to get on FinComm. I hope he makes good use of it today. (I know he will.)

[whometense]

3. Thanks, TayTay!

I'm there.

The graphic was interesting ("once and future candidate" - I like that). Lot of uglies on that committee. Should be interesting.

[TayTay]

4. Baucus is so polished

He is making the case for adjustment, not ruining SSI with privitization every well.

[whometense]

5. Baucus been just great.

Grassley, on the other hand, already has appeared to be on the brink of losing it! So soon??? Yikes.

[karynnj]

8. It seems it might be really stressfull for all the chairmen when Bush is

adamant about getting something he wants. Lugar, who earlier in the year smiled a lot, seemed almost a changed person last week.

[whometense]

10. that sounds about right. n/t

[whometense]

6. John got a good night's sleep.

:D

Kicking ass.

Discussion has been "an exercise in frustration and avoidance,...lacking candor and common sense."

[Pirate Smile]

7. He is Kicking ass.

I love it. He even gave some good sound bites for TeeVee!:kick:

Ha Ha - reading a Bush quote and corrected the screwed up language.

[whometense]

9. And gets a big laugh

(from whom?) when he drily corrects shrub's syntax.

[Pirate Smile]

13. I liked his 3 legged stool analogy and how SSI is actually the only

leg that is still secure - the other two being Pensions and Private Savings both of which are being devastated in BushCo's economy.

He also showed how if Bush's tax cuts for the top 1% aren't made permanent that will solve a lot of the problem.

Solvency is the issue and even Bush admitted Private Accounts don't solve that (they make it worse).

He also brought up that the President hasn't put forward a PLAN.

[TayTay]

16. And Pensions are in deep trouble.

There is another hearing on the Pensions Guaranty Trust Fund is in deep, deep doodoo.

[Pirate Smile]

19. I know, and how many people even have them through their work anymore?

It isn't a huge number and it is shrinking.

[karynnj]

18. Many major corporations changed the pension plans

from defined Benefits to private accounts. (So this shift for SS should look familiar). So even people with pensions have everything at risk.

I loved that he said the President has no plan. Many of the Republicans on the committee look pretty glum.

PS I switched to see Kerry vote (on CSPAN-2) to see if he talked to anyone. What was weird was McCain voted immediately after him and they were within 2 feet of each other - and both just went their own way. (possibly to return to committees, but clearly no interaction.)

[Pirate Smile]

21. So did I but I was too slow. He must have gotten over there very

quickly (or it is really close).

Are we virtual stalkers????

[TayTay]

24. Not in observing the public's business

Now if it was something outside of that, well yeah, but not here. This is what C-Span was chartered to do, let citizens keep an eye on their folks in Congress. Which is what we are doing. Great system. Hooray for C-Span (from wonks everywhere!)

[Pirate Smile]

26. I know but it does seem kind of funny sometimes.

:)

[TayTay]

28. Oh, I hope that didn't sound harsh

It wasn't meant to be. I sometimes wonder that myself. Then I remember, it's C-Span, so it's okay.

[karynnj]

30. You know, I hesitated to write that because it seemed

almost compulsive - but I thought it would be interesting to see his expression as he interacted with Democrats he ran into. (Even I don't buy that reason!) Stalkers, I guess if limited to c-Span we're OK.

[TayTay]

32. No, it is extremely weird to be able to follow

someone around in their job. It gives you the creeps, but then again, this is not a regular job. So, yeah, I certainly do know what you mean. But, it's C-Span, so it's okay. (I still get kind of creeped out sometimes, myself.)

[Pirate Smile]

38. I typed the same thing but didn't post it. LOL

It is nice to know I'm not the only one.
:D

[TayTay]

14. Loved that

Quoting * :
"Personal accounts do not solve the issue. I repeat personal accounts do not permanently fix the solution."

Kerry: "I suspect he meant the problem."

[whometense]

17. wish we could tell

who it was who laughed out loud at that.

[karynnj]

22. Wonder if Kerry chose this because of the error

or if it was the only time Bush admitted it.

[TayTay]

11. Ah, that's right

Take it back to the beginning, expose the big lie that the system is in huge trouble, then tell about a solution that the GOP just refuses to see. Yeah.

No benefit reductions. The while crisis thing is built on a lie.

[whometense]

12. Thought Grassley

sent John off to vote rather rudely (with an unnecessary amount of gusto). I don't think he was enjoying his line of questioning...

[Pirate Smile]

15. Right. "You've got six minutes to go vote, John".

[TayTay]

20. I half expected Grassley to say:

And don't come back. Big, big thorny speech. Loved it.

Kerry was very passionate in exposing the Big Lie on SSI. He could have gone on for a lot longer, and I suspect he will.

Dems are kicking ass on this today.

[whometense]

23. They are.

I kind of wonder why more of the dems aren't following Kerry's line of thought - about the whole discussion being based on a lie. Any ideas as to why??

[TayTay]

25. They are trying to take advantage

of a rare opportunity to out-wonk Kerry. (Just a joke. But it doesn't happen all that often, you have to admit.)

They are delving into detail rather than seeing the big picture. They are trying to say the devil is in the details. Kerry is saying the whole damn thing is a lie from the very beginning.

[whometense]

27. Bravo, John.

That said, this hearing is reminding me a lot of the Bolton hearings - repugs uncomfortably attempting to defend ideas they don't seem to be all that supportive of themselves.

[TayTay]

29. It's only going to get worse for them

This is a terrible idea and they are going to have it hung around their necks.

[Pirate Smile]

40. They have gotten themselves into so many lose/lose situations

lately it is hilarious.

[TayTay]

31. Also being shown on

http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearings.htm

In case C-Span outs to House coverage.

[whometense]

33. Just switched over.

The lighting's a lot better there.

Who's that talking now?

[TayTay]

35. Santorum, what a jerk

Trying to say that repealing the tax cuts would help. The Woman on the panel says, yeah, it would help with the general pressure on the debt. Hahahaha. Asked a question he didn't know the answer to. Dummy.

[whometense]

37. Do you know who the

white haired man who spoke before Santorum was?

[TayTay]

39. The possibly senile Sen. Bunning.

Fromer major league pitcher and all around fuzzy guy. not the brightest bulb in the socket, that's for sure.

[whometense]

43. Yeah, that must be it, thanks.

I just wrote a piece for the blog quoting him. If you feel like reading it, I'd love to know what you think. Too obvious??

[TayTay]

44. That was great

I couldn't agree more. How many more times do we have to listen to these liars tell us to "Trust them" only to have them screw us over. Nice writing.

[whometense]

45. Thanks.

There are so many amazing writers out there. It can be hard to come up with something I feel is worth reading and hasn't been said a hundred times already.

[whometense]

42. The guy

doesn't appear to have ten working brain cells. What a dimwit. Swallows the shrub crap and regurgitates it on command. :scared:

[Pirate Smile]

36. It is going to the House. Thanks for the link.

[whometense]

34. It is my firm opinion

that Santorum is a dick.

[TayTay]

41. Schumer is also quite good

He is also making the points that Kerry did.

President wants to create the 'Birth Tax' Love it.

[foreverdem]

46. I like Schumer

He's one of my senators and he doesn't keep his mouth shut on anything. I've become a fan of his.