Chained CPI and the 2014 Midterms
Kevin Drum
Now that President Obama is poised to officially endorse the adoption of chained CPI in his next budget—a change that would cut the future growth of Social Security benefits—Ed Kilgore ponders the political implications:
"Could Republican congressional candidates in 2014 actually run against 'Obama's Social Security Cuts,' after decades of lusting for 'entitlement reform' and several consecutive years of demanding that Obama give Social Security benefits a haircut or worse?"
Ha ha ha! That's a knee slapper. To his credit, Ed comes up with the obvious answer: Of course they could.
Suddenly it's not looking good for Democrats in 2014.
8 comments:
Voters might just say, "Why vote for conservative wannabe Republicans when you can vote for regular old republicans and get the same thing?"
Dan, I think that a lot those who would turn out to vote for Democrats won't bother. The midterm results depend on now motivated the base is to turn out, and the GOP focuses on keeping the base motivated.
Democrats take the base for granted and appeal to the center, a large part of which now is comprised of disaffected or former GOP voters. As a result the Democratic party has become the former GOP moderate party.
This is how the Democrats lost big in the 2010 midterm election and they are poised to do it again in 2014, greatly strengthening the GOP House majority and if they keep the Senate it will be with a very narrow margin.
Ain't no suddenly about it. Both parties are collaborating against the economy. But only the Dems will take the blame.
Is this an example of how to address demand leakages?
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/domestic-taxes/292071-obama-budget-to-target-wealthy-iras
I'm voting Green Party again. Don't care at all if Dems and Repubs ever win again. Good riddance to both.
Mal,
I see your point and know others who do the same (ie Green)...
But I have to stick up for Dan he wrote it up where yes he voted for O as somewhat the less worse choice but he also said he dropped his Democrat registration at the same time as a show of principle so that it would send a message that he would not be taken for granted by Dems anymore and to get them back to focusing on the progressive Democrat base...
rsp,
Matt,
Dan has a razor sharp mind. Even though I often disagree with some of his musings here I don't doubt that he is doing what he believes is best for this country, and doing it in a very thoughtful way. Where he and I differ regarding Obama is that Dan sees him as the lesser of two evils, which I suppose in theory makes him more malleable than the Republican alternative. I disagree. I think Obama is largely a wolf in sheep's clothing--A Chicago style politician--who doesn't give a hoot about the common man. The Democrats are now essentially a center left party operating between the 45 yard lines. The only diff between them and the Repubs, outside of a few social issues is that the Repubs are largely working with them from the opposite 45 yd line. In other words they are essentially the same party, which Ralph Nadar has clearly demonstrated. A vote for Obama or almost any Dem on the national stage for that matter is a vote for the status quo or even worse. Worse in this instance in the sense that no Republican could ever dream of entitlement emasculation under their reign. Only a Trojan Horse Dem could accomplish this betrayal. That's in part why I vote GP and will continue to do so until convinced to do so otherwise.
Malmo, my sentiments exactly, other than I am not sure it is worth sending a message by wasting a vote. If the GOP crazies take over, and I live in a swing state, although in a liberal district. However, even in this district the previous congressman for decades was a the moderate Republican, Jim Leach, of banking committee fame. (Scott Fullwiler holds the Leach chair at Wartburg College.) The western part of Iowa is completely crazy tho. Steve King is the congressman there, and it's likely he will move up to Harkin's seat with Harkin retiring.
BTW, the exact words I used in the campaign for the Democratic nomination was "Chicago pol" and "snake in the grass." Of course, some of my friends were shocked then, but they agree now. But better moderate Republicans in power under the mantle of the Democratic Party rather than crazy people.
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