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March 31, 2005
Compare and Contrast

Exhibit A

During a talk show-style "conversation" at a nearby community college, Bush appealed to opponents of his approach to enter into constructive negotiations on legislation to close Social Security's long-term funding gap.

"If you've got an idea, I expect you to be at the table," he said. "We want to listen to good ideas."

LA Times

Exhibit B

DENVER -- The U.S. Secret Service on Monday said it was investigating the claims of three people who said they were removed from President Bush's town hall meeting on Social Security last week after being singled out because of a bumper sticker on their car.

KCTV

Besides being unconscionably hypocritical, Bush's statement is also pathetically cowardly, as Kevin Drum points out.

There are only two ways to significantly improve Social Security's finances: benefit cuts and tax increases. Bush is too gutless to propose either one, so he's desperately trying to sucker someone -- anyone -- into proposing them first. Nobody with half a brain should oblige him.

Until Bush has the political courage to step up to the plate and send a serious proposal of his own to Congress, he shouldn't expect anyone else to do it either. In the meantime, he deserves nothing but scorn. His sustained display of political cowardice is setting a standard for generations to come.

Washington Monthly

Comments

Previous Comments

maybe they did not have a good idea.