Obama served up Social Security on the plate of compromise in an effort to come to some budget accord with the Republicans.
So if we go back to January 20th, 2009, the day that Obama was inaugurated president, I can remember so many people (not all of the people..but many of them) cheering as George Bush’s helicopter took off from behind the Capitol Building. Of course it was unintentional. If the people who put on the event knew that the crowd would cheer Bush leaving they might have had him leave from a more remote spot. The cheer was not a job well done cheer. It was a cheer to say, “Don’t let the door hit you on the ass on your way out!”
Now it is July 9th, 2011. We are finding out what Obama really is. Except for rhetoric, he is very much like Bush. The Bush’s of the world always made sure that their business partners were taken care of first. I have a sneaking suspicion that Obama is the same. Yes, he is more liberal than Bush. But is he that liberal?
We’re still in Afghanistan. 100,000 strong last I read. According to Panneta we’re within reach of victory. All we have to do is kill the remaining 20 Al Qaeda’s leaders. We’re just about there. That sounds like the GOP-conservatives. I mean what is Haliburton going to do if all of those jobs go away?
We’re just about there in Iraq too (until we leave).
I am not the one defending social security. But Obama did and now he is on the verge of giving it away to satisfy the greater good. In other words raise the debt ceiling. Balance the budget.
“Obama made his position clear on Sept. 6, 2008, when he said: “John McCain’s campaign has suggested that the best answer for the growing pressures on Social Security might be to cut cost of living adjustments or raise the retirement age. Let me be clear: I will not do either,” Obama said.”
Now he has gone against his word. Yes we’re in trouble. Yes, we can cut spending. Yes we can raise taxes. But we won’t do that. Instead we’ll sacrifice a program that is on the mainline for millions and million of baby boomers and war babies and other older citizens.
Read my lips, the elder Bush said. No raise in taxes. He then raised taxes and doomed himself to defeat in the 1992 election.
Obama may have doomed himself in the next election by eroding support from the people who put him in office.
He won’t go down alone. A great many congressional seats will change hands. The voting public will not forget or forgive. Especially those who paid into social security and now see their “entitlement” chopped down from small to extra small.
I am not defending social security. I am seeing the future.
Obama may not be in it. But as a former President he can get a library going, do the speaking circuit and revel in being the first black President. Just a one term President.
What comes after him?
Someone who promises to restore Social Security.
There is a more painful road:
Close the tax loopholes
Raise taxes. Not a lot but raise them never the less. We’ll need more revenue to dig ourselves out of this hole.
Across the board expense cuts to every department in the Federal Government. 5%? 10%. yes. Either.
Get out of Afghanistan now.
Get out of Iraq now.
If you want to grandfather Medicare and Social Security then look hard at that. But don’t undermine the benefits being paid to those who have them or are within reach of having them. Ryan may have been nutso but his plan is better than cutting benefits now.
And, oh yes, Obama?
Maybe you’ll be a second term President.
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