Reagan's Regret, Reprised

After months of hectoring us about fiscal sanity and intransigent Republicans, the NY Times discovers inflexible Democrats:

Efforts to Curb Social Spending Face Resistance

By Robert Pear

WASHINGTON — President Obama’s re-election and Democratic gains in Congress were supposed to make it easier for the party to strike a deal with Republicans to resolve the year-end fiscal crisis by providing new leverage. But they could also make it harder as empowered Democrats, including some elected on liberal platforms, resist significant changes in entitlement programs like Social Securityand Medicare.

This should hardly be a surprise - Nancy Pelosi spent a year thinking she could reclaim the House by demonize entitlement cuts and defending Medicare.

So away we go. One reason Republicans have taken a hard line on trading tax hikes for spending cuts is their belief that Reagan was duped by the Democratic House in 1982 into accepting future spending cuts that never materialized. Current Republican thinkers and leaders remain confident that Washington is much more competent and diligent about raising taxes and collecting the revenue than it is about cutting spending. (The Doc Fix in Medicare is a classic example of legislated savings that, year by year, never actually materialize.)

And might such a trade of tax hikes today for spending cuts later (or never) happen in the run-up to the fiscal cliff? Sen. Richard Durbin gives us a hint as to where the rest of Obama's party is:

Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) served on the Bowles-Simpson commission, and stunned Washington last year by becoming the only liberal to vote for its recommendations, including significant entitlement cuts.

Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, appeared to back away from that position in remarks set for delivery Tuesday morning at the Center for American Progress.

“Social Security doesn’t add a penny to the debt and should not be part of any deficit reduction talks. We can and must do what we can to ensure its solvency for another 75 years, but that is another topic for another time, “ Durbin will say, according to prepared remarks circulated by his office.

“Progressives should be willing to talk about ways to ensure the long-term viability of Medicare and Medicaid, but those conversations should not be part of a plan to avert the fiscal cliff.”

White House spokesman Jay Carney has already taken up the Social Security line, per the Times:

While a potential change in calculating Social Security increases was part of the talks with Speaker John A. Boehner last year, the White House press secretary, Jay Carney, made clear on Monday that the administration was not considering changes to the retirement program as part of the deficit talks.

“We should address the drivers of the deficit, and Social Security is not currently a driver of the deficit,” Mr. Carney said.

We are poised for a glorious final act. If the reporting follows the pattern set last summer during the debt talks and the collapsed Grand Bargain then the focus will be on Republican hardliners even though the Times recently admitted that Obama backpedaled from his own deal with Boehner after the Gang of Six chimed in with a more liberal deal.

That said, Matt Bai still blames Boehner for last summer and thinks the Congressional Democrats will line up behind lame duck Obama. I guess we will see soon enough.

Comments

[rse]

Everyone trying to blame everyone else from the recession that is coming.

Mercy, what interesting times we live in.

[Gus]

Republicrats will cave. They always do. By this time tomorrow, John McCain and Susan Rice will be "friends". Republitards will RAISE TAXES on the wealthy, and we will continue down the Marxist path.
Please show me evidence to the contrary.

[AliceH]

Prediction: The dickering between the D's and R's can be reduced to two questions. 1) how small a can? 2) how far shall we kick it down the road?

[Melinda Romanoff]

Durbin wasn't getting his way in negotiations and was telegraphing it to 1600 and what needs to be put out of the bully pulpit.

Negotiations will now be conducted in the press, not behind closed doors. Sandbags are being filled as we speak.

[centralcal]

I hate when everyone moves to a new thread and I get left behind :(

From last thread ....

Oh my goodness:

Melissa Clouthier ‏@MelissaTweets

RT @lachlan: RT @sahilkapur: 7 nude people protesting budget cuts in Boehner's office right now, screaming and chanting. Surreal.

[Joan]

Of course the Democrats will line up behind Obama, when have they not? Democrats are merciless fighters. They never let their side down. Never. They are more faithful to their creed than they are to what is right for the USA.

[Gus]

Melinda, Weeping John Boehner is helping fill the sand bags in secret meetings.

[Jane - Mock the media]

7 nude people protesting budget cuts in Boehner's office right now, screaming and chanting. Surreal.

They surely didn't enter the capital nude, so where are their clothes? Burn 'em. It's snowing here - hopefully cold there. Make them walk home.

[Danube of Thought on IPad]

I don't like or admire many Americans any more. My disgust with what the nation has become is total.

[Janet]

They surely didn't enter the capital nude, so where are their clothes? Burn 'em. It's snowing here - hopefully cold there. Make them walk home.

Amen. They can Zumba all the way home...

[Jack is Back]

Put the tree up. Letting the branches fall. Unpacking the stockings, candles, bulbs and decorations. The beagles are going nuts. Especially when I put in the batteries to all the little Santa and Reindeer music scenes we spread around the house. The one can't stop barking at the tree and the Santa that plays a saxophone - Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

Very upset to find all these strange characters:)

Next are the wreaths and testing their lights. Ain't Christmas fun?

[Joan]

While driving my dog back from the vet this morning I was thinking "what will make Americans who vote Democratic come to their senses?" and it came to me "they won't come to their senses--they won't abandon their Democratic policies until they suffer under them, and I mean suffer." Government welfare has rotted the backbone of a majority of voters.

What broke the Soviet Union? Suffering. Poverty. Fear of the "State."

When I was young being poor meant having shoes with holes in their soles, and my mother cutting a piece of cardboard around my foot to fit into the shoes for the next day. I walked 1-1/2 miles into our little town for school because the school district kept the buses for 'real' country. We had no food stamps, wouldn't have used them if they were offered--that was shameful. My dad quit school at 13 and went to work as a janitor to help support his 11 younger siblings, only they were called brothers and sisters. :)

Being poor was being scared and hiding it--and being proud no one really knew--never taking a dime from anyone.

Today, the really poor flood into St. John's Mission, the Salvation Army, hide in homeless shelters, don't go to the dentist or doctor; however, a large portion of the poor have televisions, cell phones, cars, upturned Fischer-Price toys scattered all over a trashy lawn, one mother of three or four children from four different fathers--and those same mothers bewildered over their plight.

Goodness, I must stop. But, still, if voters keep casting their ballots for programs that prop up this vast layer of takers, we are in trouble.

[James D.]

We're in more trouble than that. It's not just that the programs prop up the takers, it's that the programs are expressly designed to CREATE takers; to take people who could and would and should be makers and turn them, and their children, into takers, forever.

[Janet]

Being poor was being scared and hiding it--and being proud no one really knew--never taking a dime from anyone.

That is the mindset that is missing. Like the scene in Cinderella Man where he is ashamed to get govt. money...but does for an emergency...& then pays it back.

[Janet]

Story at Drudge - GOP introduces Dream Act for illegals...

That's it.

[lyle]

I just take comfort in knowing that I'm a racist. I don't think I am but Really Smart People--who have never met me nor know anything about the broad scope of my life on earth nor even the tiniest trivial detail of it--call me one every day in the media so it must be true.

My racism is clearly evident from which state I choose to reside to say nothing of the color of my skin. Disagree with the president (or his UN ambassador!) about such policies as abstract as taxes, entitlements, spending, military strength, foreign aid, federalism, or immigration? RACISM. Pretty simple, really.

[glasater]

I am going to continue my twitter campaign against that idiot Jim Cramer who is denigrating R's and Grover Norquist terribly.

Got a response from Cramer one time. But I really encourage those of us who use twitter to voice one's objections to the massive campaign against intransigent conservatives. It does get attention.

[Appalled]

Biblical Verses for today's JOM. Appropriately, it is Lamentations 3:

Let us begin with the complaints, which get rather close to what I see today:

"1 I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
2 He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light;
3 indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long.
4 He has made my skin and my flesh grow old and has broken my bones.
5 He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.
6 He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead.
7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he has weighed me down with chains.
8 Even when I call out or cry for help, he shuts out my prayer.
9 He has barred my way with blocks of stone; he has made my paths crooked.
10 Like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding,
11 he dragged me from the path and mangled me and left me without help.
12 He drew his bow and made me the target for his arrows.
13 He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver.
14 I became the laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long. 15 He has filled me with bitter herbs and sated me with gall.
16 He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust.
17 I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18 So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD."
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.

The guy's had a pretty bad day, huh? Lost an election, and had his city razed by cranky Babylonians. But there does seem a bit of hope out there:

21.Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.
28 Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust-- there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace.
31 For men are not cast off by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.

Hopefully, though, the conclusion of the anonymous author of the Lamentations is not where you all want to go. But let me suggest that some of you sound pretty dam close.

You have seen, O LORD, the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause!
60 You have seen the depth of their vengeance, all their plots against me.
61 O LORD, you have heard their insults, all their plots against me--
62 what my enemies whisper and mutter against me all day long.
63 Look at them! Sitting or standing, they mock me in their songs.
64 Pay them back what they deserve, O LORD, for what their hands have done.
65 Put a veil over their hearts, and may your curse be on them!
66 Pursue them in anger and destroy them from under the heavens of the LORD.

[Jane - Mock the media]

Lyle,

Not only am I a "racist" but the Koch brothers sent me a million bucks to promote my racism. Sadly the check got lost in the mail.

Some body better come up with a reason to continue fighting some time soon, because I'm with DOT on America these days.

[James D.]

Yay! A path to citizenship so that they can legally vote for Democrats! What a spectacular idea for Republicans to get behind!

It really feels like it's getting close to torches-and-pitchforks-and-decorating-lampposts time.

[lyle]

Why the quotation marks, Jane? Really Smart People (RSP) know you are. Why don't you?

[narciso]

Ah, Robert Pear, the one who pitched a prose tantrum over welfare reform, yes he's a solid sort, it's like with Scott Shane, mostly mockworthy,

[Jane - Mock the media]

True Lyle. Oh to be so smart...

[derwill]

I'm with DoT, which is why I find I don't much care whether Rice gets the State job or not. So, she's a proven liar, so is Kerry, as is anyone else Obama--who is also a proven liar--could come up with to name in her place, as is the woman currently occupying the position. There will be a big, bad war in the ME soon anyway, which will collapse the economy if it doesn't collapse on it's own first. Then no more free phones and SWAP cards for the Obama voters. Too bad, so sad.

Also, I'm pleased to see the Dems have declared that there will be no reform of SS, since reform would have meant some kind of means testing, which would probably have meant less money for me. Now, in a few months I'm going to begin collecting my fair share, even though I don't need the money. I will happily spend it, though--thank you Obama voters for giving me your future old age pension money for me to spend today. It will give me great pleasure to cash the check every month knowing that when it comes your turn to collect there will be nothing left for you. Too bad, so sad.

[marlene]

I had a bizarre experience at the grocery store today. While going down one aisle,I saw a young woman with a Mohawk,spiky and extreme.Also,many piercings. A few aisles later,there was a young Amish couple,he wearing a brimmed hat,she wearing a black bonnet.These three young people were making a statement in their outward appearance about their lives. I'm not sure I have a larger point,but just thought it interesting.

[narciso]

So, two Senators on their way out show us what they really think of us,

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/gop-senators-offer-calm-and-reasonable-alternative-dream-act

[Extraneus]

We're in more trouble than that. It's not just that the programs prop up the takers, it's that the programs are expressly designed to CREATE takers; to take people who could and would and should be makers and turn them, and their children, into takers, forever.

Wouldn't it make the most sense - and be more socially just - to join them and become a taker? The hell with lamentations. I'd like an Obamaphone. And I wouldn't mind a food stamp debit card and maybe even a disability check. How about another Cash for Clunkers program or some green funds to renovate a rental property?

What's the point of failing to avail oneself of as many of these things as one can? Some abstract concept of moral integrity? Puhleeze.

[sailor]

WEll, there's a problem there, Ext, with the Obamaphone. You need to have a certain low income to qualify. I know because in our small town, they were offering obamaphones and I sent my husband on his bike to sign up. He came home and said we could not qualify because of our income. But, you could possibly lie and get a disability check. So, the takers are the 50% or so who qualify. The rest of us--not so much.

[jimmyk]

Of course, the left claims that Republicans suppress the vote. For example this from the Palm Beach Post:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/early-voting-curbs-called-power-play/nTFDy/

As though only having 8 days of early voting instead of 14 is some great act of oppression. And then there's the workd of the despicable Charlie Crist.

[Jack is Back]

jimmyk,

Florida is a basket case because of immigration. Immigration from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts and Ohio. At one time, it was a reliable "blue dog" Democrat state even in south Florida because of the synagogue vote. But it changed to a center right state in the early 80's but only so much. Now it is back to being a blue state overall but because of the districting it is red in Congress and within the state. Will not last for long.

Those blue staters who retire and move down here have sold there homes up north (IOW.'s, no problem there, every thing is hunky-dory). So now they are reliable blue voters here. No pain no loss. The more the Dems pretend that SS and Medicare are not a deficit problem and take them off the table the more likely Florida becomes a Blue State like California and New York.

Sorry:(

[maryrose]

jimmyk:
The Palm Beach Post can actually write this after the fiasco of a job that Johnson executed in West's district? Palm Beach votes were all over the place including a stack of 300 that were in a box and never counted. We counted our ballots in North Olmsted about 3 times to make sure our totals matched the scanner. We had 4 hours of training before election day. I thought after 2000 Florida got its act together. Obama won there by 78000 votes. I say recount the whole state like the Miami-Herald did after Bush/Gore.
Joan:
Your life story parallels mine in many respects. After working for40 some years I am happy to collect my well-earned retirement money. Like derwill I intend to spend it.Like Old Lurker I have also adjusted my 401K accounts. Obama is not getting anymore of my money.

[Jack is Back]

maryrose,

You and Joan and I and DoT and a few others are a vanishing breed. They will make movies about us, and write books that will be called social fiction in the next 30 years. My son and your grand children will be villified for taking about how they enjoyed their summers on the lake or up in the mountains or at Christmas etc. No one will believe them since they didn't enjoy the pleasure of receiving their first ObamaPhone or the luxury of enjoying the pleasure of group singing the praises of "my Lord and Savior, Barack Hussein Obama".

I have always thought if Jesus could convince a bunch of Jews and Assyrians that he was the One, some one else eventtially could do the same thing Guess what, someone has.

What do we do about that is the question of the day.

[narciso]

Doubtful,maryrose, a great number were in disbelief over the Kerry loss, and among them, a fair number sought therapy, they see any Democratic win as the natural order, and anything else as short of a crime,

[Jane - Mock the Media!]

So when you win the $500 million powerball prize tomorrow, what will you do with the money?

I will buy a Greek Island and invite all my capitalist friends to move there.

[jimmyk]

That Florida thing is yet another case of "no good deed goes unpunished." Early voting seems to be a huge gift to Dems, but make it only 8 12-hour days instead of 14 8-hour days and suddenly you are an evil suppressor of the vote, even though most states don't even have it. Republicans should just eliminate it entirely, since they will get no credit for doing anything short of that.

[maryrose]

jimmyk:
Either work to eliminate or get more repubs to vote early and bank the vote like the demsdid. Our SOS in Ohio tried to eliminate the last three days of early voting Sat. Sun> and Monday but Obama's DOJ {Holder} another reason to hate him took it to court and won. I wonder if tallied up those3 early voting days equalled 100000 votes. If so ,that was the margin of victory Obama needed. I wish someone had shown the daily early vote for Ohio like Hit and Run did for North Carolina.Oh, excuse me, shouldn't someone in the Romney campaign been on top of that? If we know how many votes they have banked then we can counter that with a larger turnout vote on election day. Those huge crowds at the end convinced me we were winning. I won't be fooled again.