Tricounty DFA Update: Major Report On Sweeney Forum!
Hello Everyone!

In this update:

1. A Major Report From Dick Dudley on Sweeney Social Security Forum;
The New Republican Scam & Frame
2. Sweeney Bad Actor on Baseball, too
3. Nora's House Party Report
4. New DNC website
5. Longer Than WWII
6. Oregon State Chair Speaks Out
7. Korea Bails Out On AEI

1. A Major Report From Dick Dudley on Sweeney Social Security Forum;
The New Republican Scam & Frame

Some of our members who attended the April DFA Action Day on Social Security at Rep. Sweeney's office in Glens Falls got invitations to yesterday's forum Rep. Sweeney held in Clifton Park; including our own Dick and Pat Dudley!

Dick wrote this report for us; I think it is a sensational analysis. He has spotted the next Republican scam and their new frame for it. Sweeney clearly was sent out to run up this trial balloon.


"Patricia and I got inside seats to a Social Security Forum held by Representative John Sweeney, Republican, 22nd Congressional District, held 6/27/05 at the Clifton Park Town Hall. This is the first he has had. Sweeney carefully sidelined himself giving only the opening and closing remarks. Nearly the entire evening was carried by panelists on each side of the great divide. No questions were allowed directly from the floor.

The real story, though, was in the final presentation by Alex J. Pollock, Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute. We deduced that he was the purpose of the meeting. All the rest of the panelists talked around and about Privatization, which we probably all agree is dead. Pollock presented what is the next attack on Social Security from the Right and one, we guess, Sweeney may be trying to advance. In fact, we wonder if this isn't the next concerted level of attack with Republican congressman told to fan out, hold meetings and push this plan.

Pollack started off in his smarmy manner telling everyone that since they all wanted to save Social Security they would be happy to hear from him. His solution is not private accounts but TIPS, Treasury Inflation Protection Accounts. (?), a sort of bond. These were presented as solving all the bad flaws, in effect, of private accounts . There would be no brokerage fees, they would not be subject to market fluctuation, they would be indexed to inflation to protect against inflation. And best of all, THEY WOULD BE IN YOUR NAME ! The import to the last was that "the current system had no legal obligations; " that it could be changed or even terminated by the whim of politicians. The TIPS program, as presented, would have legal obligations, be secure, and WOULD BE IN YOUR NAME ! He was obviously very pleased with himself.

It wasn't long before Suzy Ballantyne, Political Director for the AFL-CIO, New York, pointed out that this would undermine Social Security even faster than Private Accounts. She then went on, but in what has become the classic Democrat trap, swallowed her message in such policy wonkery detail that the audience was audibly confused.

We still haven't learned to present our argument in a crisp, clean, focused, summarized manner. Framing least of all.

The other panelists were Richard Kirsch, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York who gave a fine, clear presentation, emphasizing the "all of us in this together motif" as a moral and ethical basis. Unfortunately he was behind the curve to some degree in fighting a battle already conceded--private accounts. That may account for the sleepy smile on Pollack's face while Kirsch was speaking.

The final, actually first in line, panelist was James. B. Lockhart, Deputy Commissioner of the Social Security Administration who gave a smoothly biased presentation complete with extensive handouts. A key example was one page that stated, in full, "Basic Reform Options --Raise Taxes, --Reduce Benefits,--Increase Investment Returns." Nothing, of course, about raising the cap beyond the $90,000 which is a key idea. It was only later that Our Side managed to get out that raising the cap would solve 75% of the problem in 2042. Towards the end, in a question and answer session, Lockhart almost hotly denied that Bush had ever considered privatization.

In conclusion, Sweeney said that "personal accounts ought not to be taken off the table at any time." In reference to the caps he stated flatly that "removal of the caps would be the largest rise of taxes on the middle class that had ever happened." Since two of the panelists had called for re-instituting the tax rate on the rich because of the huge deficit , he countered that "this nation went into deficit because of the war" and that the tax cuts had stimulated to the economy. He ignored the groans and jeers from the audience.

I would suggest that it is time now for a Rapid Response to this new challenge focusing on the latest attempt to undo Social Security. It would be great to see these people thrown back on their heels by a well framed, focused counter attack.

Yours,
Richard Dudley


2. Sweeney Bad Actor on Baseball, too

Here's another report on Sweeney many of us probably missed; Major League Baseball has created a new Washington DC team, with the intention of selling it to investors. George Soros, who has financed many progressive causes, is thinking of investing in the team. Sweeney and others are intervening to vindictively block Soros from participating. What's amazing about this is that they are accusing others of doing exactly what they are doing; injecting politics where it shouldn't belong. Is there anything they won't politicize? Baseball? So much for their precious "free market." http://blog.dccc.org/mt/archives/003059.html

3. Nora's House Party Report

Many thanks to Nora Nellis and everyone who came to last Thursday's DFA House Party. Nora as always puts on a great house party and we got to hear an interesting conference call detailing DFA plans for this summer.

4. New DNC website

When Governor Dean was elected DNC chair he promised a new, more effective DNC website. It's now up and he delivered. If you haven't seen it, check it out. There's a new initiative to support the Party, Democracy Bonds, and a poll to demand Bush find Osama. If you haven't registered with the DNC, you've no excuse now: http://www.democrats.org/

5. Longer Than WWII

The "War on Terror" has now lasted longer than the Second World War. That's right -- we went from total defeat at Pearl Harbor to General MacArthur's posing with the defeated Hirohito in less time. During those years we built 110,000 aircraft, as just one example, but we've been unable to build enough M1117 armored cars to equip more than a few of our troops. Check out this timeline and this piece in the Times on the disgraceful failure to equip our troops. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/6/27/191317/394 http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/26/international/middleeast/26armor.html?ei=5094&en=4f357fbcefdcb074&hp=&ex=1119758400&partner=homepage&pagewanted=all

6. Oregon State Chair Speaks Out

Jim Edmunson, Chairman of the Oregon Democratic Party, wrote a great column on the importance of what Governor Dean has been doing as Party Chair: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/sunday/commentary/la-op-dean26jun26,0,2275726.story

7. Korea Bails Out On AEI

Drew found this intriguing report on a Korean news site. The Koreans are cutting support for the neocon American Enterprise Institute and admitting they prayed for Bush's defeat. http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200506/200506270029.html

Thanks everyone! Hope you are all enjoying the summer and keeping cool in this heat.

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:53 AM