Bush Extends Social Security Tour as Support in Polls Dwindles

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=a3V6oM9quCfA&refer=us#

(via www.talkingpointsmemo.com)

April 26 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush's strategy for wrapping up his 60-day, 60-stop tour to whip up support for revamping Social Security is simple: ignore the calendar and keep on stumping.

As the scheduled May 1 conclusion of his speaking tour approaches, Bush is planning to extend his campaign-style travels across the country in an effort to reverse the dwindling public support for his plan. An ABC News-Washington Post poll released yesterday showed that 64 percent of Americans now disapprove of his handling of Social Security, up from 56 percent in March.

Even as the president struggles to accomplish his original goal of selling voters on making individual investment accounts the centerpiece of any changes in the program, some of his chief allies in Congress, such as Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, are urging him to change his focus. They say Bush should be emphasizing the issue of the retirement program's solvency rather than private accounts, and should present a detailed plan to lawmakers.
. . .
The president is in Galveston, Texas, today -- joined by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the Texas Republican who is battling ethics allegations -- to continue making the case that Social Security is facing a funding crisis. The Senate Finance Committee is opening hearings on keeping the program solvent at the same time.
. . .
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat who represents Washington, D.C., in the House, said that won't change Democratic opposition. ``I'm inclined to invite him to stay out there,'' she said in an April 22 conference call with reporters. ``Never have the American people had such an education in Social Security and what it means to them. He's helping us make our point.''

Last Updated: April 26, 2005 00:05 EDT

the definition of insanity?

guess he ain't the great salesman after all

www.cafepress.com/showtheworld

the general public with Daddy's buddies. We are a tougher sell. We can tell he's FOS :hurts:

but like all insane, sociopathic persons, they eventually run smack up into the reality based world. Usually with quite a thud. BOOM. This President will wind up in a straight jacket, with approval numbers in the teens before it's all over.

taxpayer money on these trips and continuing to exclude any one who may offer opposition. He's just running up the deficit even more.

if you never meet new people. Especially if you never meet new people who disagree with you.

Are they sending him on these tours just to make it look like he works for a living? Because he only meets with people who agree with every word he says. Kinda hard to make converts that way.

I mean, what the hell did he do all those years before he was governor? He didn't travel or play sports or write a book or run a non-profit organization or...?

I think he was kept away from as many real people as possible because his family knew he was a coked-out, drunken freak.

Just my two cents.

More Bushco fuzzy math.

The Titanic is NOT sinking.

of his 60 day tour. I think it was the reporter from Rollcall magazine. Things must have gotten very disheaartening out on the road in the last few days!

Dipshit. Keep it up. The more you blab the more people question your convoluted "reform," the more your blabbing reveals your inner swiss cheese brain. Oh, and please make Mr. Delay a permanent roadie...I'm sure Americans will be pleased. And maybe add Ken Lay to the traveling Freak show and see if Phelps can come along and don't forget to bring his signs.

What a moran.

It's the lowest ever.

I'm surprised it's that high.

Ok, I'm probably showcasing my age in neon lights, but does anyone else remember the 1970's group the Bay City Rollers?

At one point, they were extremely popular and toured the country. However, their appeal died and the sound of the overplayed song, "S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night" made the publics' ears curl.

Despite all of this, the Bay City Rollers continued touring--wearing their sequin-studded white jumpsuits and belting out songs that now sounded ridiculous.

It was really quite sad.

Bush is now like the Bay City Rollers. At first, people were curious and some were singing along to his Social Security tune.

Now, no one is buying Junior's schtick. However, he just keeps on touring. He's oblivious to the fact that his plan has evolved into a "sequin-studded white jumpsuit" and that he's like a washed-up, disco, boy-band member who doesn't know when to put down the tambourine and go home.

I think they came through Richmond (Va.) like 4 or 5 times. My brother and I knew who they were but we never could understand why they were always touring.

Looking back I think they were either striking while the iron was hot or they were trying to cover the cost of expensive habits, or both.

There is some kind of Divine justice at work here too.

Gotta keep the The Liarapalooza Tour 2005 marching across the country. Keep talking to the braindead backers

Inquiring minds would like to know. How about it, newspapers of record?

bankrupt the gov't by continuing to spend tens of millions uselessly touring.

How low can you go?

Insert any other statements that defy both reported events as well as the principles of time and space.

Something's fishy about this.
I smell a rat.
Do they have something up their sleeve?
Is this on the up and up?
What's the deal?
Is all this Roving around a ruse?
Smoke and mirrors?
Craft,cunning and deceit?
Is someone about to hit us from behind the curtain with a blackjack?

On these fucking USELESS campaigns! He spent 64 MILLION on the last SS road trip.

will be attempted for this (latest)disaster of his.

nt

it's hard to whip the fundie crowds into a frenzy when talking about social security reform. they've come to expect a good ol' fashioned country fag bashin' and a god-bless-the-USA celebration of Ay-rab ass kickin' from these gatherings. save the high falutin' eee-co-nomicks for those country club republicans. it's kind of like going to Spinal Tap and having them come out with "Jazz Odyssey."

plus I think George is tired of all this presidentin' (it's hard work) and is ready for a three year "working vacation."

to get their greedy hands on that pot o' gold.

Bush's political capital is spent. His masters don't care if he looks like a fool. They will continue this scheme to steal our money to the bitter end.

Don't ever think "it's over" with these crooks. Their greed knows no limits, and will destroy this Nation if we do not stop them.

There is a built in contradiction in Bush's proposal. First, he kept saying that the private accounts could be inherited. That is a big plus for the GOP, even though it would divert billions from solving the problem.

However, to make his system work, it would be necessary to require people to use their private account to buy an annuity when they retire. The annuities would pay a fixed amount per month, regardless of how long you live. Otherwise, the money could easily run out if a person lives a long life. Therefore, there would be nothing left for inheritance.

Then you could have games among annuity insurance companies. The companies would want to write annuities for the sickest people and would not want to issue them for healthy retirees. Got a bad heart - sure we'll sell you an annuity.

Someone should ask this question at one of the town meetings.

``I'm inclined to invite him to stay out there,'' she said in an April 22 conference call with reporters.

We all knew he wasn't busy running the country anyway.

It's not as if he's busy running the country.:banghead:

His very own wingnuts think he's spending
his political capital on the wrong thing.

They think it should be spent packing the
courts more.
And he takes Tom Delay along for the ride.

Scum, Scum, Scum. :puke:

I think Bush wants to destroy social security no matter what the political cost to him and his party.

If Bush were not so committed to destroying social security, he would keep focusing on anti-gay activity and right wing extremist judges where it is easier to fool the fundies.

Everything Bush has touched has turned to dust. He has ruined the U.S. economy. Wouldn't it be lovely if he ruined the Repub party as well?

so you'll bring those numbers up even higher.:popcorn:

his credibility. that's the ONE thing that will help this country... his greatest fans seeing him right up-close-and-personal, watching him gaffe and gaffe and gaffe until they finally see he's a total loser and never ever should have been elected president.

Keep it up Shrub!

today. The same place he did NOT do his TANG duty. Same place where his flight status was revoked for insubordination.

I said I hope he tells Bush.
Guess he didn't tell Bush

to shut up, put it under the table, and in a few months, pull it out again when most of America has forgotten about it?

Not that I'm complaining or anything, but they seem to think that, one of these times, 1+1 will suddenly equal three.

not willing to compromise, hurting Republicans running for reelection, while gaining more negative coverage! :banghead:

polls keep going down and down and down!!! Its like he is shooting himself over and over again !!!... this is great!!!

This is total arrogance seen upclose and personal!!!

boy george* can't deliver those $Billions he promised.
They will demand their bribe money back!

Watch georgie* show up for work with a couple of broken thumbs...
another bicycle accident no doubt.

You know, not those paid shills vetted and coached by Frank Luntz to toss softball questions (apart from the gratuitous statements of whorelike loyalty), but the actual man on the street who might LIKE to hear what you have to say about your diabolical designs on Social Security.

And no, it does not look good to have Dick Cheney answer all your questions for you.

Bush retirement revamp campaign falls flat
28 Apr 2005 16:33:45 GMT

Source: Reuters

By Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON, April 28 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush hoped a 60-day road show on Social Security would stir a clamor to change the program but polls suggest the campaign may have backfired, reinforcing dislike of Bush's remedies and bruising his popularity.

This week marks the finale of Bush's 24-stop campaign in which he has argued that Social Security is headed for financial trouble and should be overhauled to include private investment accounts.

The president's supporters say the 60-day campaign has succeeded in highlighting the importance of fixing Social Security. But polls make clear Bush's pitch on private stock and bond accounts has fallen flat with a public wary of the stock market wildcard.

A Washington Post-ABC News this week found 51 percent of Americans opposed the accounts, up from 41 percent in mid-March. Those supporting accounts fell to 45 percent from 56 percent in March.



snip



http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N28734857.htm

That was an expensive flying circus that we paid for.

Check out the language they use in this article. None of the fawning adoration of Dear Leader that they usually dispense.

Are the dumbasses in the media finally realizing that Dear Leader jumped the shark quite a while ago?

We can only hope!

:popcorn:

...maybe he can try hyperinflation. That can wipe out the middle class in no time and pay off all federal debts with worthless currency. That would also force a lot of people to their knees to pray for salvation.