Six easy steps for framing the Social Security debate to neuter Bush and win back the Congress:
1. SOCIAL SECURITY=EXTREMELY POPULAR GOVERNMENT PROGRAM
Say it with me: SOCIAL SECURITY=EXTREMELY POPULAR GOVERNMENT PROGRAM. Repeat this everywhere. It is true and will throw Republicans WAY off. Plus, did you know that Bush is full of shit? Social Security is FINE. A quick glance at the Social Security Administration's Performance and Accountability Report for Fiscal Year 2004 will verify this. But you already knew that...
2. We need to use the Social Security issue to set the frame of reference for Bush's second term. We NEED to win this one to keep him off-balance and ineffective. He is risking his political capital on this one, and if he fails to DESTROY SOCIAL SECURITY, he will be a lame duck, and in 2006, the Republicans will be sitting ducks.
3. This IS the Democratic core position. This IS a litmus test for Democrats. Social protections against the excesses of capitalism is what the Democratic Party is all about, fundamentally. We need to defend against this attack against what is left of the social compact.
4. This is the worst political decision Bush has ever made. He is coming out of an election where as the incumbent he earned 51%, and in some polls is below 50% approval. So what does he decide? He decides to hit us where we are strongest - on the most popular government program ever, OUR PROGRAM. Good. This was the type of mistake Clinton made with gays in the military in his first term. Let's destroy Bush on this. It's fiscally irresponsible, it's dangerous for seniors, and it's just him giving government money to his investment friends.
5. Considering the above, a successful defense of Social Security and a fired up, pissed off base will help us a lot in the 2006 elections. Additionally, having incumbent Republican congresspeople who voted against Social Security (not to change it, they are AGAINST SENIORS), we have ourselves a wedge issue. Forget gay marraige and abortion, they are messing with much more important, moral-economic issues. Let's throw what we're weak on on the back burner, and turn the debate squarely where they should not be wandering.
6. With a Democratic House and Senate, Bush cannot make SC appointments that totally suck, AND we set the terms of the debate. When was the last time you heard of a bill a Democratic Congressperson or Senator proposed? It's been a while. So we have not only to defend Social Security, but use it as a rallying point to RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE and ENSURE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS. Of course, these sound basic to me, and they should to everybody.