President Bush and the Republicans touched the third rail of American politics this year when they went after Social Security. We beat back the assault, now we need to make sure they pay for it.
Much has been made of the potential of Social Security in the 2006 elections. However, if the newly united and aggressive Dem caucus is TOO successful in killing this plan, we may lose out on the dividends. What kind of campaign issue is "Joe Representative probably would have voted with his party to privatize Social Security two years ago."? Not good enough.
What the Dems need to do is make Social Security the centerpiece of their domestic agenda, putting forth a progressive and populist alternative, for example repealing some of the Bush tax cut to rescue Social Security from the "crisis." Or eliminating the wage cap. Or anything really, as long as we keep the pressure on congressional Republicans to defend the absurdly unpopular privatization option in the public discourse.
Harry Reid and the Dem leadership should take full advantage of Dem unity on this issue and the golden opportunity that Bush handed them and keep the focus on this issue until we take back the Congress in 2006.