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ProSense

(116,464 posts)
Fri Dec 6, 2013, 05:51 PM Dec 2013

Social Security expansion now very real. Thanks, Third Way!

Social Security expansion now very real. Thanks, Third Way!

by Joan McCarter

Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA.), honorary co-chair of Third Way and gubenatorial candidate, is now a cosponsor of a bill to expand Social Security. That's after Third Way president Jon Cowan, Jim Kessler, the group's senior vice president for policy called the legislation "exhibit A of this populist political and economic fantasy." The "fantasy" that is going to doom, DOOM, Democrats. Of course, Schwartz isn't leaving Third Way. And she's also coming pretty late to the "expand Social Security" party.

In April 2012, Schwartz voted for a deficit reduction plan that would have effectively cut benefits by adopting the measure of inflation known as chained CPI.

Schwartz was one of only 22 House Democrats to support the bill, known as the Cooper-LaTourette budget plan, which only received 38 votes overall. She touted her vote for the bill in an announcement on her House website that she had received the "Economic Patriot Award" from the Concord Coalition, a deficit-reduction group co-founded by Pete Peterson. Peterson is a billionaire who has spent nearly half a billion dollars advocating for cuts to Social Security and other government programs as part of a campaign for austerity.

Interesting that Schwartz isn't running on that, on her pro-austerity, cut Social Security record, but is instead essentially repudiating it. Not just that, she's now embracing that "populist political and economic fantasy" that Third Way swears is political ruin for any Democrat. Go figure.

When Sen. Sherrod Brown signed on to the bill to expand Social Security, it made news. It gave the movement real momentum. When Sen. Elizabeth Warren joined the team it catapulted the issue into what could be a centerpiece in the 2014 and 2016.

And that's what put Third Way and the whole world of Wall Street "Democrats" into panic mode, coordinating a full-frontal assault against her and this issue. That assault has fallen completely flat. Nothing proves that more than Allyson Schwartz's name on the Strengthening Social Security Act.

So thanks, Third Way! Now we've got ourselves a real rallying point for real Democrats.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/06/1260700/-Social-Security-expansion-now-very-real-Thanks-Third-Way


44 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Social Security expansion now very real. Thanks, Third Way! (Original Post) ProSense Dec 2013 OP
Slowly but surely the tide is changing. I don't see how it can be stopped. randome Dec 2013 #1
This is good news. JimboBillyBubbaBob Dec 2013 #2
Thanks for posting this. Jackpine Radical Dec 2013 #3
Thanks Sherrod and Elizabeth and *cough, cough* Allyson-come-lately. freshwest Dec 2013 #4
Who are these "Third Way" Democrats? It sounds Cha Dec 2013 #5
There is a list of their "directors" floating around. Basically they are investment bankster vermin Vincardog Dec 2013 #9
Thank you, Vincardog Cha Dec 2013 #10
Welcome, Glad I could find it. Vincardog Dec 2013 #19
The Third Way I know of is Clinton's. Whisp Dec 2013 #18
They are the same. The DLC figured out that it is easier to raise money from the rich than from Vincardog Dec 2013 #21
Kind of explains the hair on fire against Warren then, doesn't it? Whisp Dec 2013 #22
Egg Zactly Vincardog Dec 2013 #23
This is triangulation. MADem Dec 2013 #30
That literal term was actually coined during the Clinton years Samantha Dec 2013 #29
Thanks Sam.. I like the current President, too.. and, Cha Dec 2013 #31
Third Way is an actual group. Bluenorthwest Dec 2013 #35
I know -- I read about their recommendations frequently Samantha Dec 2013 #43
Awesome. MannyGoldstein Dec 2013 #6
Thanks for posting. K&R! myrna minx Dec 2013 #7
K & R Scurrilous Dec 2013 #8
Schwartz can do one thing to try and win my support for PA gov: leave Third Way fbc Dec 2013 #11
+ A shit load! nt Enthusiast Dec 2013 #12
Politicians don't have "on the road to Damascus" sulphurdunn Dec 2013 #14
Wow sheshe2 Dec 2013 #13
It'll go nowhere fast Bohunk68 Dec 2013 #15
Maybe I am a pessimist, but I think the same thing. n/t RebelOne Dec 2013 #25
Not a pessimist, Bohunk68 Dec 2013 #32
I agree, but it's still worth the effort. OnionPatch Dec 2013 #33
For sure. Bohunk68 Dec 2013 #39
Thank you, Third Way, for joining real Democrats in the fight for Social Security Jack Rabbit Dec 2013 #16
wow! that's quite an article! BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2013 #17
k&r n/t RainDog Dec 2013 #20
How do we find out which Democrats are supported by or support The Third Way? rhett o rick Dec 2013 #24
Most likely ProSense Dec 2013 #27
Here you go Bluenorthwest Dec 2013 #36
Thanks, but I doubt that includes all Democrats they support. nm rhett o rick Dec 2013 #38
Thanks for posting this. Chef Eric Dec 2013 #26
Great post ProSense... blue14u Dec 2013 #28
After reading the article, I see it isn't "real", at all. n/t ronnie624 Dec 2013 #34
Just another corporate shill jumping on a bandwagon that he believes she can Egalitarian Thug Dec 2013 #37
Haaaaa-haaaa! n/t ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2013 #40
Give with one hand, and take away with the other. blkmusclmachine Dec 2013 #41
Kind of like thanking BP for making offshore drilling unpopular. Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2013 #42
I wouldn't get too excited sweetapogee Dec 2013 #44
 

randome

(34,845 posts)
1. Slowly but surely the tide is changing. I don't see how it can be stopped.
Fri Dec 6, 2013, 05:54 PM
Dec 2013

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

Cha

(295,517 posts)
5. Who are these "Third Way" Democrats? It sounds
Fri Dec 6, 2013, 06:17 PM
Dec 2013

like a stupid name. Now there's Alison Swartz who is honorary chair-person of said 3wayers promoting the exact issue they oppose!

Looks AS saw the light.. will she be kicked from her honorary post?! lol

thanks PS

 

Whisp

(24,096 posts)
18. The Third Way I know of is Clinton's.
Fri Dec 6, 2013, 08:08 PM
Dec 2013

Is this part of or a different group? I thought it was the same but maybe not.... (probably yes)
Also I always thought when the word Triangulation is connected to Clinton - it really means Third Way.

Maybe someone can help me/us with that.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/0104/p2s1.html/%28page%29/2

Roots of the movement

The third way rose in the early 1990s on the shoulders of political parties that tried to strike a balance between left and right, or in the case of the US, between Democrat and Republican.

In America, the idea was championed by the Democratic Leadership Council, which was headed by Clinton and helped launch his successful run at the presidency. Clinton and the New Democrats tried to bolster the economy through private-sector economic growth rather than the public-jobs programs that were associated with Jimmy Carter.

After Clinton rose to power, other like-minded leaders followed suit, including Mr. Blair and Mr. Schroeder. They replaced dominant conservative leaders like Ronald Reagan and George Bush, Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, and Helmut Kohl of Germany.

Vincardog

(20,234 posts)
21. They are the same. The DLC figured out that it is easier to raise money from the rich than from
Fri Dec 6, 2013, 08:34 PM
Dec 2013

People. Their big jump was to run as Democrats funded by the monied class then push thru
job killing policies like NAFTA. They change the name of the front group but the cancer remains.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
29. That literal term was actually coined during the Clinton years
Fri Dec 6, 2013, 10:51 PM
Dec 2013

I have read several books about his presidency, and I cannot remember in which one I read this. It appears he was struggling to find a new term to describe the politics and accomplishments of the Clinton years, including that which he regarded as successes (we can quibble about some of these later) he achieved by compromising with Republicans. I personally have another name for that but I won't post it here because I am not ready for my pizza delivery yet.

I think "Third Way" was the third name he stumbled upon.

While I do like Clinton, some of his accomplishments such as cutting welfare deeply and adversely impacted citizens much in the same way as Republicans recommend today. I don't literally think of this as a "third way" as much as I do a betrayal of Democratic principles.

But he was excellent at defending himself under distressful circumstances against the horrendous attacks by the Republicans. Let me repeat that -- excellent. He should have written a survival guide on that subject alone for Democrats who won the Oval Office after him. Such a guide could have saved us a lot of angst in recent days

I also like our current President and perhaps with his speech this week he is indeed thinking of gravitating away from the Third Way Highway....

Many who align with the Third Way are former DLC'ers trying once again to become relevant in politics.


Sam

Cha

(295,517 posts)
31. Thanks Sam.. I like the current President, too.. and,
Sat Dec 7, 2013, 01:36 AM
Dec 2013

so much of what he has accomplished is not "3rd way" at all.. but, I've been paying close attention to everything PBO's done. It doesn't get talked about in the rw corporatemedia stratoshpere that's for sure.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
43. I know -- I read about their recommendations frequently
Sun Dec 8, 2013, 07:42 PM
Dec 2013

Things like cutting Social Security (it originally supported the chained CPI), the fact they think they have more influence with the President than liberals....

I was just responding to the question about where the term came from. I just think of these people as the old DLC'ers wearing new masks.

Sam

 

fbc

(1,668 posts)
11. Schwartz can do one thing to try and win my support for PA gov: leave Third Way
Fri Dec 6, 2013, 07:01 PM
Dec 2013

She's in damage control mode now, but it's too little, too late unless she steps down from Third Way and publicly repudiates the organization as a whole.

 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
14. Politicians don't have "on the road to Damascus"
Fri Dec 6, 2013, 07:43 PM
Dec 2013

moments. They just pretend to when the wind changes.

Bohunk68

(1,364 posts)
15. It'll go nowhere fast
Fri Dec 6, 2013, 07:51 PM
Dec 2013

with this Republican House. And, if Ezra is correct, they will expand their margin in 2014 and may damn well take over the Senate. Gerrymandering.

Bohunk68

(1,364 posts)
32. Not a pessimist,
Sat Dec 7, 2013, 08:22 AM
Dec 2013

but a realist. I've seen so many of these postings that seem to indulge in wishful thinking. While nice to imagine, most of the time folks forget that we have a House that is still going to be there another year and so far have been the biggest Do Nothing Congress Ever. To expect that such assholes would even THINK of such a bill is preposterous.

OnionPatch

(6,169 posts)
33. I agree, but it's still worth the effort.
Sat Dec 7, 2013, 12:53 PM
Dec 2013

Even though it will probably fail, the national discussion on Social Security has been pushed to the left. We need to do this on a lot more issues instead of starting in the middle and working our way right.

Bohunk68

(1,364 posts)
39. For sure.
Sat Dec 7, 2013, 04:04 PM
Dec 2013

I just try not to be overly optimistic. I keep fighting all the time. A lot of people on fb drop me when I get on my political bandwagon, which is every day. Which is fine, since I get rid of the RW assholes, except for some family members who annoy me.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
24. How do we find out which Democrats are supported by or support The Third Way?
Fri Dec 6, 2013, 08:51 PM
Dec 2013

I believe Senator Cantwell was a member of the DLC. I am wondering if she supports or is supported by The Third Way.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
27. Most likely
Fri Dec 6, 2013, 10:12 PM
Dec 2013

"How do we find out which Democrats are supported by or support The Third Way?"

...place would be the group's site. They're also being exposed.

So-called Democrats at Third Way share consultants with the Chamber of Commerce
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024143579

Chef Eric

(1,024 posts)
26. Thanks for posting this.
Fri Dec 6, 2013, 08:55 PM
Dec 2013

Schwartz is my rep in Congress, and I've never liked her.

But this is really impressive.

blue14u

(575 posts)
28. Great post ProSense...
Fri Dec 6, 2013, 10:32 PM
Dec 2013

Its my understand that third way, centrist, DLC, and Hillary Clinton are all the

same thing. A neat little bundle of Wall Street rolled into one package.
 

Egalitarian Thug

(12,448 posts)
37. Just another corporate shill jumping on a bandwagon that he believes she can
Sat Dec 7, 2013, 01:14 PM
Dec 2013

ride until it takes her to the gravy train. These pathetic attempts to present these parasites as anything but what they are is becoming comical. It's the other side of the "I'm not a republican, I'm an independent" line being spewed by 'former republicans' all over the airwaves.

sweetapogee

(1,168 posts)
44. I wouldn't get too excited
Sun Dec 8, 2013, 09:58 PM
Dec 2013

Once the race for Governor of PA gets going, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski will run like a steamroller over any and all.

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