Yesterday, we saw Bush desparately trying to resuscitate his Social Security Plan.
As I mentioned yesterday, the "details" of his hitherto super-secret-social-security-plan were basically benefit cuts (he did not mention his plan to raise the retirement age...perhaps it didn't poll high?)
Bush said again yesterday that he doesn't listen to polls, but gosh darn it, his language yesterday was focus-group friendly. We heard of voluntary "personal savings accounts." We heard of "reforming Social Security to help the poor."
Despite his atrocious performance, and the reappearance of Furious George, the TV pundits lavished praised upon Bush. "He was on his game!" said Stephanopoulos, Moran, and Tweety. "Wow, what a strong speech!" fawned others. We heard them say the President was prepared, how he challenged Democrats, etc. After turning off the TV last night, I thought that Bush had managed once again to clothe himself in spin and he would get off without a hitch.
Boy, was I wrong.
Apparently, the print media still has some balls. Below are clips from the front pages of the nation's papers. Some papers headlined it as "Bush reaches out to poor" but most cut through the bs and laid it out plainly: benefit cuts.
I decided to take a walk through the front pages of the nation's newspapers, and I cannot imagine how Bush will dig himself out of this mess: (right click on the pic and you should be able to tell what paper it is from)
OUCH. For all his bumbling talk of nookular energy, ownership society, and faith, the curtain has finally be pulled away on his "plan" for social security. What he tried to hide for 60 days in 60 cities has been revealed: splashed across the front pages, exposing his Achilles' heel, and making readers around the nation think "Oh, hell no!"