[Wet Chicken]

It's George Bushs January surprise! A recent New York Times Magazine report has bush as saying that he will cut social security benefits by 30-45 %! The article quoted Bush as telling supporters that "privatizing Social Security" would be high on his second-term agenda.

Bush’s plan would mean benefit cuts for seniors of between 30 percent and 45 percent! That’s up to $500 less for food, for clothing, for the occasional gift for a grandchild.

Bush would break his promise on Social Security! The New York Times article quotes George Bush as vowing to push for privatizing the social security system.

The Democratic presidential nominee insisted such a move would be "a disaster for America's middle class."

The Bush campaign argued the president has long said "certain changes" are needed in the Social Security system.

The New York Times Magazine report quoted Bush, at a recent private luncheon, saying he would come out in a second term ''with fundamental tax reform, tort reform, privatizing of Social Security.''

In a written statement, Kerry said such a move "might be a good surprise for the wealthy and well-connected, but it's a disaster for America's middle class. The president's privatization plan for Social Security is another way of saying to our seniors that the promise of security will be broken."

Citing government figures including the Economic Report of the President 2004, Kerry said, "Even the president's own economic advisers say his plan will blow a $2 Trillion hole in Social Security. And guess who will pay for it. You will. America's seniors are already facing higher prescription drug costs, record high Medicare premiums, and higher gas costs. With family budgets being stretched to the limit, the last thing seniors need is the president's 'January surprise.' That's a surprise we can all live without."

[angelize56]

I hope this isn't true!!

I'm a firm believer that Social Security does need to be reformed. I know a few people who draw disability payments and there isn't a stinkin' thing wrong with them!
I personally know of one person who receives close to $1,500.00 a month. Said person will receive benefits for the duration of life! With a cost of living raise each year. Sheesh, it ain't right!
I feel if the disability part of Social Security were looked at more closely, and more often, there would be a lot of bogus claims closed!

[angelize56]

Kath: Mine wouldn't be one of the ones closed...you know I don't get disability for a bogus claim. But there are definitely people out there abusing the system!

Originally Posted by angelize56

Kath: Mine wouldn't be one of the ones closed...you know I don't get disability for a bogus claim. But there are definitely people out there abusing the system!

I never doubted you for a minute, Marlene.

My point is that if the bogus claims were closed, there'd be no need to cut benefits to those who really need it, like you!

[Wet Chicken]

This isn't about abuse. This is about good people like Angel that will lose almost 50% of her benefits! Vote for bush and shoot yourself in the foot

[FlashyGirl]

Originally Posted by Wet Chicken

It's George Bushs January surprise! A recent New York Times Magazine report has bush as saying that he will cut social security benefits by 30-45 %! The article quoted Bush as telling supporters that "privatizing Social Security" would be high on his second-term agenda.

Nice try. The article (which you haven't linked for some reason) apparently quotes Bush as saying something about privatization. It is someone else (Kerry perhaps?) that says it will result in drastic cuts. Interesting how you claim Bush says he will cut benefits. Cute, but also decieving. Bush isn't really quoted in that magazine as saying "I will cut social security benefits by 30-45%" Is he?

Boy,I am sure glad that libs aren't using fear to sell their candidate.

Originally Posted by Wet Chicken

This isn't about abuse.

Maybe it should be! Therein lies the problem!

[angelize56]

Thanks Kath and WC!

Amber: Read this!

Kerry warns of Social Security "surprise"

By David Espo

Oct. 17, 2004 | WASHINGTON

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry accused President Bush on Sunday of planning a surprise second-term effort to privatize Social Security and forecast a "disaster for America's middle class."

Republicans denied the charge as scare tactics with little more than two weeks remaining in a tight election. "It is just flat inaccurate," said GOP chairman Ed Gillespie.

[angelize56]

And this Amber....and Kerry said it in church!

Posted on Sun, Oct. 17, 2004

Kerry accuses Bush of planning to radically change Social Security

BY TODD J. GILLMAN

The Dallas Morning News

COLUMBUS, Ohio - (KRT) - Sen. John Kerry accused President Bush on Sunday of crafting a "secret" plan to radically overhaul Social Security, an attack aimed at making seniors nervous and raising doubts about whether Bush can be trusted to level with the public.

"Just yesterday, we found out that the president told his biggest and wealthiest donors about his big January surprise. He's going to `come out strong' to fight for his plan to privatize Social Security.

"This may be a good surprise for the wealthiest people and the well-connected in America, but it's a disaster for America's middle class," Kerry said from the pulpit of Mount Olivet Baptist Church, a predominantly black congregation in Columbus.

Kerry has developed a penchant for accusing Bush of secret plans, a theme that dovetails with charges about the distortion of prewar intelligence and echoes President Richard Nixon's "secret plan" to win the Vietnam War.

Recently, Kerry has managed to force the president to deny plans to bring back a military draft, for instance, but he's also opened himself to the charge of baseless alarmism.

"John Kerry's misleading senior scare tactics are just another example of a candidate who will say anything to get elected, no matter how false his accusations," said Bush spokesman Steve Schmidt.

Bush and his allies typically avoid the term "privatization," which, at least to critics, smacks of Wall Street types taking a cut of workers' savings. Schmidt said the president had never uttered the word, taking issue with a news report Sunday that quoted Bush telling top donors last month that the plan was one of his top goals for a second term.

"I'm going to come out strong after my swearing in with fundamental tax reform, tort reform, privatizing of Social Security," he said at a closed-door luncheon, according to the Sunday New York Times Magazine.

Schmidt called it a biased thirdhand account.

But Kerry pounced, unleashing a TV spot warning that Bush plans changes that would cut benefits by up to 40 percent for future retirees, citing estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The president, taking the day off with 16 days left to campaign, has made little secret of wanting to fundamentally alter Social Security. To shore up its finances, he would let younger workers invest some of their payroll taxes in the stock market.

Seniors need not worry about benefit cuts, Bush said Saturday at a stop in Sunrise, Fla., a retiree haven.

But he made no such promise to younger workers, instead emphasizing that the system would fail in about 25 years under its current structure.

Kerry and other critics say Bush's plan amounts to privatization. The Democrat called it a "risky plan" that could cut payouts by $500 a month.

His implication was that current retirees would be affected, though independent analysts agree that under Bush's approach, only future retiree benefits are at stake.

At a rally Sunday afternoon in Pembroke Pines, Fla., near Fort Lauderdale, Kerry repeated his "January surprise" allegation, telling the crowd, "I will never privatize Social Security. I'll never cut the benefits, and I won't raise the retirement age."

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...9945032.htm?1c

[FlashyGirl]

Originally Posted by angelize56

Thanks Kath and WC!

Amber: Read this!

Kerry warns of Social Security "surprise"

By David Espo

Oct. 17, 2004 | WASHINGTON

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry accused President Bush on Sunday of planning a surprise second-term effort to privatize Social Security and forecast a "disaster for America's middle class."

Republicans denied the charge as scare tactics with little more than two weeks remaining in a tight election. "It is just flat inaccurate," said GOP chairman Ed Gillespie.

I had a feeling this thread was a campaign ad. lmao

[GoneForNow]

Privatization of many government entitlement programs is coming so the country better wrap its collective brain around the concept.

[Davey7549]

WC
Another Slime Job scare tactic as the reinstituting the Draft was!
Start a rumor, spread the rumor, make like your inflamed by the rumor, and let the GOP explain the rumor as nonsense!
Slime complete!
You guys will stoop to anything won't you!

Dave

[Wet Chicken]

Originally Posted by FlakyGirl

The article apparently quotes Bush as saying something about privatization.

Trying to muddy the waters eh blondie? Nice try Four different news sources were used. I also mentioned "privatization" at least three times!

The article quoted Bush as telling supporters that "privatizing Social Security" would be high on his second-term agenda.

...and here...

The New York Times article quotes George Bush as vowing to push for privatizing the social security system.

...and also here...

The president's privatization plan for Social Security is another way of saying to our seniors that the promise of security will be broken.

Interesting how you claim Bush says he will cut benefits.

Well that is exactly what they said on the news. Unlike you, I don't get my news only from the White House web site

Bush isn't really quoted in that magazine as saying "I will cut social security benefits by 30-45%" Is he?

That's exactly what they're saying. Bushs own economic advisers say his plan will blow a $2 Trillion hole in Social Security! Do the math, if you can

[Davey7549]

Originally Posted by gbrumb

Privatization of many government entitlement programs is coming so the country better wrap its collective brain around the concept.

You are correct GB but Privatization will start with young individuals having the opportunity to select a portion of SS into private institutions not affecting the current SS system.

The Dems are using this to add percentages not in fact.

Dave