Lieberman planning to sell out on Social Security

[Guest guest]

r

Mon, 28 Feb 2005 20:13:59 -0800 (PST)

 

 

 

Lieberman planning to sell out on Social Security

 

 

 

We need to take care of the traitors on our side also.

 

 

 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/28/12105/6797

 

 

 

TPM: Lieberman's the Problem

by Armando

Mon Feb 28th, 2005 at 09:10:05 PST

 

In a " shocking " development, it appears that Joe

Lieberman is prepared to stab Dems in the back on

Social Security. Who could have expected this? Josh

Marshall has the details:

 

[E]very sign I see tells me that Sen. Lieberman is

looking to cut a deal of some sort with Sen. Lindsey

Graham® of South Carolina and thus with the White

House. It would be a kinder, gentler phase-out. But

phase-out just the same.

Individually, Lieberman's vote isn't that

consequential. At present I don't think the White

House could get majority votes for a phase-out bill in

either chamber. But give the president and the

congressional leadership that bipartisan cover they've

been hunting for and things could change very, very

quickly. Lieberman would probably put a few more

Senate Dems in play and also firm up the whole

Republican caucus. Same thing in the House.

 

.. . . You do have to wonder -- really, really wonder

-- about the roots of the urge to split the difference

on phase-out seeing as the public is against it and

turning more against with time. The policy and the

politics are both lined up on one side of the ledger

on this one. This isn't about garnering lots of press

as the dealmaker, invites to the chat shows or the

yearned-for plaudits of an increasingly right-leaning

dinner-party centrism. And it shouldn't be about

angling for mentions in the Post's increasingly

fatuous Social Security editorials. This is about

saving Social Security and now about preserving it for

a long time to come.

 

So, Lieberman's the weakpoint in the wall against

Social Security phase-out. Sen. Carper too -- but, my

gut tells me, not as much as Joe. So if there's a time

to pull out all the stops to save Social Security, to

mobilize pressure and exert coercive persuasion, now's

the time and Lieberman's the guy.

 

Ah Joe, you never disappoint me - this is just what I

would expect from you.

 

 

 

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Ricky-Moderator