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Democratic Primaries
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Congratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
Biden, Sanders, Social Security and Smears
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/20/opinion/biden-sanders-social-security.htmlSo, about the element of truth in the criticism of Biden: Once upon a time, there was a peculiar consensus among media figures and would-be centrists that the long-run cost of entitlement programs was Americas biggest problem, that Social Security in particular was in crisis and that something had to be done, with the solution including benefit cuts.
This consensus wasnt based on hard thinking; it was about the attitude politicians were expected to display. As I wrote way back in 2007, proclaiming a Social Security crisis requiring cuts was seen as a badge of seriousness, a way of showing how statesmanlike and tough-minded you were.
The candidate I was criticizing, by the way the guy I said had been played for a sucker was a politician named Barack Obama. But Biden was certainly pulled in by that conventional wisdom, too, so its not hard to find old quotes in which he suggested possible Social Security cuts in the name of fiscal responsibility.
But that was then. These days, Biden, like many Democrats, is calling for an expansion of Social Security benefits. That doesnt make his previous statements irrelevant; he should acknowledge that he has changed his position, and his history on the issue is one reason progressives worry that, if elected, he might fritter away his political capital in vain attempts to reach bipartisan compromise. (His role in passing the draconian 2005 bankruptcy bill, which got Elizabeth Warren involved in politics, is another.)
It's a good read.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
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Biden, Sanders, Social Security and Smears (Original Post)
Autumn
Jan 2020
OP
Yes, definitely read the entire column, since most of it is a scathing critique of Sanders:
highplainsdem
Jan 2020
#2
JoeOtterbein
(7,702 posts)1. Bernie is leading on the issues.
This is why we need him. Our election is not just about Trump.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
George II
(67,782 posts)4. He creates his own issues and then "leads" on them.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
highplainsdem
(49,045 posts)2. Yes, definitely read the entire column, since most of it is a scathing critique of Sanders:
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Mouth
(3,165 posts)3. Personally, I think if you take anyone who has
been in public office for 20-30 years, you're going to have some stuff that looks embarrassing later, taken out of context.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
George II
(67,782 posts)5. Thankfully, like most of our candidates, he hasn't engaged in smears.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Autumn
(45,120 posts)6. Unlike his supporters.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided