Alan Simpson “Lacks the Temperment to Do a Fair and Impartial Job” on Deficit Commission

[nashville_brook]

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/07/19/galbraith-blasts-alan-simpson-he-lacks-the-temperment-to-do-a-fair-and-impartial-job-on-deficit-commission/



Galbraith Blasts Alan Simpson: He “Lacks the Temperment to Do a Fair and Impartial Job” on Deficit Commission


Billy House and Humberto Sanchez at the National Journal report that Judd Gregg, Kent Conrad and other members of the (Deficit)* Commission are salivating over the chance to push through “historic changes” to Social Security and Medicare in a lame duck Congress, when many members will not have to face electoral repercussions for their votes. But after viewing the video Alex Lawson shot of Commission Co-chair Alan Simpson for FDL, James K. Galbraith says that Simpson is not temperamentally qualified for the job — nor is the commission empowered to do what Simpson says it is doing.

VIDEO HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTZ7BN22vtM&feature=player_embedded#!

From Galbraith’s statement before the Deficit Commission:

GALBRAITH: Senator Simpson has plainly shown that he lacks the temperament to do a fair and impartial job on this commission. This is very clear from the abusive response he made recently to Alex Lawson of Social Security Works, who was asking important questions about the substance of the commission’s work, as well as calling attention to the illegitimate secrecy under which you are operating.

Simpson claimed that the Commission is “mainly working on solvency” for the Social Security system. But Galbraith says that addressing the “solvency” of Social Security is outside the mandate of the (Deficit) Commission:

GALBRAITH: I note from Chairman Simpson’s conversation with Alex Lawson that the Commission has taken up the questions of the alleged “insolvency” of the Social Security system and of Medicare. If true, this is far outside any mandate of the Commission. Your mandate is strictly limited to matters relating to the deficit, debt-to-GDP ratio and fiscal stability of the U.S. Government as a whole.

Galbraith condemns the Commission’s super-secret proceedings, saying that “your discussions are at a level of discourse so low that you feel it would be embarrassing to disclose them,” and concludes that “members of the commission are proceeding from fixed, predetermined agendas.” Good thing Nancy Pelosi punted congressional responsibility for dealing with the budget to the (Deficit) Commission, which doesn’t have the authority to do what co-chair Simpson claims they are doing.

(edited -- check link for true language)

[burnsei sensei]

1. He has a lot working against him.

1. He's no economist.
2. He's a partison on the make.
3. He's decided that it's his job to liquidate Social Security and the Great Society.

In other words, this man with a mission has already made up his mind; he never saw a social program that he liked.
What amazes me is that anyone, ANYONE, would trust him with such a task as deficit reduction.

[Elwood P Dowd]

2. Why Obama would even talk to that piece of shit amazes me.

:puke:

[Peregrine Took]

4. Yes, of all the conservative creeps to pluck from obscurity - who in the hell

recommended him? Must be a complete dolt.

[sabrina 1]

8. Or to Pete Peterson or Erskine Bowles. It makes you wonder

since all three are enemies of SS, what the purpose was in having them on a Commission that needed to be factual about the causes of the deficit not lie about them (SS has nothing to do with the Deficit despite the lies both Simpson and Peterson are telling). You can't fix the Deficit if you are lying about what caused it. So if these are the people this administration has faith in, then we have a lot to worry about.

Unless this is some kind of infinitesmal dimensional chess move where because they are so bad the whole rightwing movement to privatize SS will end forever after they issue their 'recommendations'. Otherwise there is no logical explanation for how they came to be placed on a Democratic commission.

[bobbolink]

3. Why is Galbraith attacking Obama?

:hide:

:popcorn:

[nashville_brook]

5. he obviously prefers Palin?

[bobbolink]

6. ! !!

:rofl: :bounce: :spray: :rofl:

[Robb]

7. Simpson lacks the temperment to do a fair and impartial job of anything

...Which I always assumed was exactly why he was stuck on there. No matter what the commission comes out with, no one can say knuckledragging fascists weren't represented. :D

[glitch]

9. Well-(even overly)-represented. nt

[nashville_brook]

10. morning kickee