"Obama invented the deficit reduction commission to subvert Democratic party's entitlement programs"

[Better Believe It]

Obama Prepares to Triangulate Himself
By Glen Ford
Executive Editor
Black Agenda Report
October 20, 2010

One thing is certain: the corporations will win and civilization will lose on November 2nd. The outcome is foreordained, since the dwindling electoral forces of civilization don’t have enough candidates in contention even to fill an effective caucus. Having allowed themselves to be whipped, kicked and scorned by a White House concerned only for the president’s most narrow interests and schemes, “left” Democrats are at their nadir of legislative influence, despite their chairmanships.

Whether the GOP actually wins one or both chambers of Congress or not, the people’s interests are in deep trouble. The most immediate threat looms, not from the Tea Party, which will no doubt have its own little caucus in the next Congress, but from Barack Obama and his President’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. When the right-heavy commission makes its recommendations in early December, the stage will be set for a performance of presidential political gymnastics that will make Bill Clinton, once known as the Great Triangulator, bow down to the master.

Obama, a genius at creating opportunities for himself while undermining the life prospects of others, invented the deficit reduction commission as his customized vehicle to subvert his own party’s cherished “entitlement” programs: Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and others. Republicans didn’t force his hand or box him in. Instead, Obama set the torpedoes in motion against entitlements in the days before his inauguration, declaring, on January 8, 2009, that an overhaul of Medicare and Social Security would be “a central part” of his presidency. Not long afterwards, he said that Social Security and other entitlements would be “on the table” for cutting. All this, before any Republican had blurted an angry word about Obama in congressional debate.

No one doubts that the panel is rigged to recommend cuts that Democrats (and a few Republicans) would be prepared to fight tooth and nail if proposed by the GOP. Blood would flow in the halls of the House and Senate, and in the end the assailants would likely lose. But by packaging the poison in a commission, Obama is allowed to behave as if the entitlement debate has oozed from the ether, demanding to be made manifest.

Now comes the good part. In a classic triangulation, Obama would position himself as close to the Republican legislative position as politically convenient. However, that’s easier said than done, and full of risks, in the heat of debate on tricky congressional terrain. Instead, the presidential commission, acting as the supposed “deliberator” of the fate of the nation’s sick and elderly, will spew forth a range of recommendations from which Obama will pick and choose. He will vow to protect “the most vulnerable” from the more draconian ideas put forward by his commission. In the end he will stake out and occupy a “non-partisan,” “consensus” center as defined by the makeup of the commission, the president’s own creation.





Read the full statement at:

http://blackagendareport.com/?q=content/obama-prepares-triangulate-himself

[DURHAM D]

1. ouch

[Better Believe It]

2. Yes indeed. It just demonstrates the anger, frustration and disappointment of many on the "left".

And their feeling of powerlessness is understandable.

[Radical Activist]

14. So you agree with the article?

FYI, there's another forum for Op-Eds to be posted without further comment. Also, you exceeded the 4 paragraph limit.

[SunsetDreams]

42. Responses would indicate yes

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. What bullshit this is.

[Better Believe It]

4. That's a very powerful, effective and well thought out response! Thank you!

You be smart!

:)

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. It's a response worthy of the stupid post.

[HughMoran]

7. Major stupid.

WTF?

Is subverting Democrats and Obama allowed by certain posters by special invitation?

[DJ13]

9. Is Obama above the needs of those who could be negatively impacted by this?

[The_Casual_Observer]

15. Impacted by what?

[Better Believe It]

22. If you study the composition and purpose of the Deficit Commission you will know!

Would you like me to post some liberal/progressive links so you can familiarize yourself with the commission?

[The_Casual_Observer]

30. While you are at it, may I reccommend the Trilateral Commission?

[Greyhound]

46. You were expecting more?

Some, perhaps most people never see what's being done until it's done to them. Unemployment is not "a serious issue" until they themselves are unemployed, for example.

[jaxx]

6. In my most bipartisan mode....bullshit.

Once again someone decides to jump to conclusions without facts.

[Better Believe It]

12. You're right. The "bi-partisan" commission is just as likely to propose .....

increases in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits and a lower social security retirement age.

I Can hardly wait for their recommendations. It may be a time for joyous celebration!

Thanks for your help in understanding what the commission is really all about instead of jumping to conclusions.

[jaxx]

17. Sorry but that won't fly.

Being snide isn't making those factless conclusions true. The article was a hit job, another hit job in a long line of hit jobs.

You're welcome, glad to help set it straight for you.

[Better Believe It]

23. So the deficit commission is a good thing. OK. Again, thanks for your help.

[jaxx]

26. Again, you're welcome.

Facts are good things.

[leeroysphitz]

50. We aren't jumping to conclusions.

The conclusions are jumping to us

[county worker]

8. You think people will stay home next month? If he does what the OP says and he is the candidate in

2012, he won't have a chance. He has only two years to prove he is with the middle class. We wasted two already.

[jaxx]

13. 2 years haven't been wasted,

It's really annoying to have people ignore all that has been accomplished in less than 2 years. As they say, this administration has gotten more done than any other in a long, long time. Why would anyone want that to be distorted?

[global1]

20. Thank You - A While Back There Was A Post That Detailed The President's Accomplishments......

if anyone has that bookmarked and can post it again here - I would appreciate that. I think it needs to be reposted and everyone needs to have a look at it again before the Nov elections.

[JDPriestly]

29. The President's accomplishments thus far will be of no help

to the millions of Americans who rely on Social Security or those who will be relying on Social Security in the future if Obama's commission messes with the system. The problem is that Obama appointed so many people to the commission who oppose Social Security.

Thus far, Obama has said he supports Social Security, but his actions contradict his words. He has appointed a commission that is decidedly slanted anti-Social Security.

[jaxx]

34. The President appointed 6 people.

That's it. The rest were appointed by Dems and pubs.

[county worker]

21. The assault on the middle class is still going on. There is no jobs bill.

We need to put people back to work, end the tax cuts on the wealthy, end the wars, put together a meaningful stimulus package and do what ever we can to halt the pending oligarchy.

If we don't do that none of the other things matter!

What is health care reform or financial reform or any other reform we passed if your unemployed for months and months. Or if you're put out of your house.

We did nothing to rebuild the middle class in the last two years.

[jaxx]

32. I know it's hard to admit that the downward spiral was stopped.

After 8 years of destruction, 21 months isn't very long to get it all back in shape. Everything matters, all of it. No one thing is the most important when there was a mess left on all sides of the country. It all ties together. When there is one party in the congress who is hell bent on saying no to any progress, it tends to slow things down. But the Democrats got things through that do matter.

[JDPriestly]

33. Obama, Bush and Congress gave huge amounts of taxpayer money

to the banks -- and now they are holding on to that money. They collect high interest rates on credit card and other debt and pay next to 0% in interest.

The banks are flush with money -- and we don't have jobs or decent pensions.

[SidDithers]

10. ...

Sid

[Radical Activist]

11. That must be why they're discussing cuts in defense spending.

This writer is a good example of another hopeless cynic stuck in the 90's, reliving fights with Bill Clinton instead of understanding what's really going on today.

[Better Believe It]

19. Really? Is that why Secretary of State Clinton warned Britain not to cut their military budget

And are you excluding the increase in supplemental war appropriations for Iraq/Pakistan/Afghanistan wars, top secret "black military projects" and tens of billions for the international spy agencies from the total U.S. military budget?

How much will they be cut .... or will they be increased?

Links please.

[Radical Activist]

24. Wow. I bet you'll get even more upset to learn that Sec. Gates already proposed cuts

to the defense budget. So the cuts discussed by the deficit commission may be on top of those.

I find it fascinating that you're so threatened by something positive that you respond by frantically throwing out completely irrelevant claims. What Hillary may or may not have said to Britain has no impact on the deficit commission or the cuts that Gates already proposed. That's a desperate reach.

You may find life isn't that bad if you acknowledge something positive once in a while rather than non-stop campaigning against Obama.

[Better Believe It]

38. Really? Is the Republican Secretary of Defense proposing cuts in .....

supplemental war appropriations for Iraq/Pakistan/Afghanistan wars, top secret "black military projects" and tens of billions for the international spy agencies?

If you think so, please provide some credible links.

Or you can simply dodge answering the question.

[Recursion]

40. Google exists for a reason

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/09/robert-gates-defense-cuts-contractor-budget_n_676266.html

His main proposals are:
1. Reduce military contracts by 10% each year for 3 years
2. Cut 50 flag billets (generals and admirals; pretty much everyone agrees we have too many as it stands)
3. Eliminate the Joint Forces Command

[Recursion]

28. Gates is *offering* cuts to defense spending

He's selecting programs to de-fund himself to take to Congress for the next defense authorization.

[Radical Activist]

37. delete

[countingbluecars]

16. Unrecommended n/t

[dionysus]

18. ah, more campaigning against the president.. i am SHOCKED. republicans thank you.

[Recursion]

25. The one purpose of the commission was to embarrass Senate Republicans...

...who called for a commission and then blocked it.

That said, the structural deficit is something that should be addressed.

[thelordofhell]

27. Funny how this "article" comes out after * talking up his "biggest failure"

Here's my two cents.....President Obama created this "commission" to take the weapon that republicans usually batter us over the heads with (the "entitilement" of SS) completely out of the congressional discussion. Remember, before President Obama, the call from republicans was to decimate SS by privitization. Do you hear that clarion call anymore? No, and the reason is that it's been deleted from congressional conversation with the creation of the "commission".

Now, when the "commission" publishes their recommendations, the President will cherry pick reductions of military spending while completely ignoring or marginalizing any other recommendations. And when the republicans whine about military reductions, he can just point to the recommendations of the "commission" and not take the hit for it.

Check and mate my friends.

[SidDithers]

31. +1...nt

Sid

[Spazito]

35. Well said! n/t

[AtomicKitten]

36. +1

Interesting commentary. Thanks.

[Better Believe It]

39. And how did that privitization scheme do in a Republican controlled Senate?

It died.

And it wasn't going anywhere this year.

The deficit commission has bigger fish to fry.

Very real and big cuts in Medicare, Medicaid (more healthcare reform) and Social Security that can pass the Senate under Republican or Democratic control.

[SunsetDreams]

41. Do you have links for your "Very real and Big Cuts"?

How much will be cut? A specific amount stated, since you said big cuts. How big?

Very real? Has the deficit commission made their recommendations already?

I've been reading your responses in this thread, and I have came to the conclusion that you agree with the article. Yes?

[Better Believe It]

43. Here's the links you requested for information about the deficit commission.

These are just a few links that will help you. There are many more credible links. But, this should get you started on learning about the deficit commission.

Obama Packs Debt Commission With Social Security Privatization & Benefit Cut Supporters
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/05/10/obama-packs-debt-committee-with-supportes-of-social-security-benefit-cuts-and-privatization/

Matthew Skomarovsky: Obama Packs Debt Commission With Social Security Looters
http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010031329/obama-packs-debt-commission-social-security-looters

William Greider: Whacking the Old Folks
http://www.thenation.com/article/whacking-old-folks

Trudy Lieberman: Secrecy at the Deficit Commission
http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/secrecy_at_the_deficit_commiss.php

Dan Froomkin: Obama's Fiscal Commission: What's Going On In There?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/05/obamas-fiscal-commission_n_565121.html

If you need more help on obtaining information regarding the deficit commission let me know. I'd be more than happy to help you.

I agree with some parts of the article. How about yourself?

[SunsetDreams]

45. None of those links represent "Very real and Big Cuts" Care to try again?

How much will be cut? A specific amount stated, since you said big cuts. How big?

Very real? Has the deficit commission made their recommendations already?

[Better Believe It]

51. They haven't made their recommendations yet. But, you clearly haven't read anything about the

commission written by progressives since you think the commission will not propose big cuts in so-called "entitlements".

So where the hell did you ever get that idea from?

Perhaps you can find links written by progressives that indicate the commission will not propose such cuts.

Can you find any credible link to back up your claim that cuts won't be proposed by the commission?

Anything at all?

I'm listening.

I take it you're just nit picking and playing around with words because you know the truth but can't admit it .... even to yourself.

The commission was set-up to propose cuts in vital social programs and that is what it will do.

Now if you wish to dispute that you'll need to provide some evidence to back up your belief.

And if you can't do that, your claim that the commission won't propose cuts simply has no credibility.

All serious progressives understand the deficit commission will propose big cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

The only question is how big will the specific dollar amount be and how quickly can their proposals be passed by a bi-partisan Congress without debates, hearings and amendments.

[EFerrari]

44. Rec for the title alone.

:)

[bvar22]

47. Here is HOW its all going to go down:

The scripts have already been written, the choreography worked out, and the parts assigned and practiced.
All thats left is for the Kabuki Theater to play out.
Here is the script:

1) Saturate the Media with the meme that something MUST be done to "Reduce the Deficit" or there will be a catastrophe, and strongly imply that Social Security is one of the BIG causes for the deficit.

2)Remove Pentagon/Military Spending from any discussion of cuts,
and insist that anyone who even talks about cuts to Military Spending are crazy, drug addled extremists.

3)Give all the "Centrist Democrats" plenty of time to get out public statements that they support Social Security, and would never vote to reduce benefits.

4)Form an "Independent Bi-Partisan Commission" that meets in secret to design a "Comprehensive Package" of ways to Reduce the Deficit. This package will be lengthy and complicated, and it WILL contain reductions to Social Security benefits. The package will also contain a few crumbs that ARE good for the economy. These crumbs will be minor in scale compared to the structural changes to Social Security.

The "Commission Recommendations" will also contain some scam that opens the door for Wall Street to have access to Social Security funds. For cover, the package will contain some easily avoidable "regulations" that will appear to restrict how Wall Street can use the Social Security Funds, but these "regulations" are NOT there to actually REGULATE; they are there to provide cover.


5)The Marketing and Message Control will be Up and Running when the contents of the package is revealed. The Media will be saturated with pieces that highlight and overemphasize the few good crumbs, and catastrophizing the effects of not immediately passing "The Comprehensive Package".
(SEE: TARP)


6)The Progressive Caucus opposition WILL be marginalized (again), and the full force of the White House, the DLC, DNC, and their Corporate Marketing & Messaging apparatus will be used to brand any "Democratic" opposition as "traitors", "with the Republicans", "against Wall Street Regulation", "against the American People", "against Saving Social Security" or "Opposed to Saving our Children".
There will be a saturation of anecdotal testimony highlighting how certain crumbs will "Save our Family", therefore the whole package MUST pass.(See: HCR)
The Mighty Wurlitzer will be turned UP to FULL BLAST.
Any and ALL opposition from The Left WILL be Shouted Down and Demonized. (Again, SEE: HCR, TARP)


7)The Republican Party will play their assigned part in the Kabuki, and oppose the whole thing as "Big Government " or “Tax & Spend”. It doesn't matter that their position makes no sense. It only matters that they oppose it so the illusion of a difference is maintained.

8)The "Commission Recommendations" will be brought to Congress to be voted on as a "complete comprehensive package", Up or Down vote, during the panic following the Democratic Losses in November 2010.
No honest debate will be allowed. (See HCR)
No discussion of amending the package or deleting some elements will be allowed.
Democrats will NOT be "voting to cut Social Security".
They will be voting FOR "Saving the Economy", or "Protecting our Children (from the deficit)".

9) The Complete Comprehensive Package of Commission Recommendations WILL pass with a Party Line vote, or one or two Republican defectors if necessary to maintain the illusion of a Hard Fight.
No Democrat will have to admit that they voted to Cut Social Security.
Instead, they voted FOR a Reform Package that Saved the Economy.


10) The politicians will flock to the cameras with statements like this:
"I am on record as supporting Social Security, and of course I would have liked to NOT cut benefits, but we had to do something."

"This is "historic" reform legislation, look at all the good (crumbs) we got!"

"We couldn't let the Perfect be the Enemy of the Good."

"This is the best we could do under the circumstances because we didn't have the votes.

"This is a Step Forward."

"Today, we saved our children from a crushing deficit."

"We needed to get something done NOW. We will Fix it Later.

"Its ALL Joe Lieberman's fault."



Sound familiar?
It should.

If you think I'm a little over the top in my assessment,
take a look at Chris Van Hollen's (weasel, MD) performance when asked a direct question on cutting Social Security:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wHr3nMG6Y4
Oops. That one has been scrubbed.
Here's another...Video IS forever. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2eKT70DtgI

Again,
No Democrat will be voting to "Cut Social Security".
They WILL be voting FOR "Comprehensive Historic Reform that Saves our Children."

THAT is WHY this diabolical Commission and "The Comprehensive Package" is so necessary.


They are coming.
"By their works you will know them."

[Better Believe It]

53. That's one possible scenario with just a few minor tweaks.

[blindpig]

48. Glenn Ford nails it again.

Maybe this is what it will take for people to see how this country works.

[leeroysphitz]

49. Tell that to Senate Majority Leader Palin on Nov. 4th!

[Better Believe It]

52. Democrats will keep their majority in the Senate and the Republicans will continue their control ...

of the Senate.

So no real change.

[MilesColtrane]

54. Phht.

garbage