The Moderate Republican

It's always George, George, George!

So it looks like Kevin Drum is having a temper tantrum because a few journalists have called the Dems for not coming up with a plan of their own. One of those who has not fallen in line with Mr. Drum is Nicholas Kristof. Kristof basically says what I've been saying for a while: the Dems don't have a plan and because of that, they will lose this debate. Kristof is not championing the President's plan, he thinks financing it with debt is a bad idea and he wants to see the Dems come up with a strong idea.

Apparantly, that's not enough for Drum. Here's what he says:

"For the love of God, can we stop this? Democrats would be delighted to rescue Social Security by keeping the inheritance tax or undoing Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy. It's Republicans who won't hear of it. Democrats are also happy to support add-on private accounts. You can hardly swing a dead cat without hearing some Democrat saying so. But that's not what George Bush is proposing. And I imagine Democrats would be open to the idea of reducing the payroll tax and replacing it with something more progressive, too. But Bush's plan contains nothing of the kind.

He goes on to say that this mess could all be solved if not for one person:

"It's George Bush who's insisting on a private account plan that even his own people admit won't do anything to shore up Social Security's finances. It's George Bush who's insisting that the only cures he'll consider are ones that include huge — but quiet — benefit cuts. It's George Bush who has publicly refused to even consider proposals to increase Social Security revenue in any way. It's George Bush who has run up the unconscionable deficits that are far more responsible for our deterioriating finances than anything in the Social Security system.

The facts: Social Security has modest problems that are many decades out. They could be easily solved with small benefit cuts combined with small tax increases. A bipartisan solution could be hammered out in a few days if it weren't for one person: George Bush.

The problem isn't that Democrats aren't willing to negotiate. The problem is that Democrats don't have anyone to negotiate with. That ought to be the story.

The fact is, there are many Republicans, moderates foremost among them, who don't think the Bush plan is a good idea and might be open to compromise. But I haven't heard a Democrat willing to cross the isle and talk to these moderates , have you?

For example, take Maine Senator Olympia Snowe:

"Ms. Snowe, a moderate Republican who serves on the Senate Finance Committee and who represents a state with a sizable elderly population, said she had "serious concerns" about the idea, and strongly favored continuing the current system in which retirees receive a guaranteed payout every month.

"It has worked exceptionally well for 70 years," she said. "I think it's in our national interest."

I don't know about you, but that sounds like an opening to me.

However, Mr. Drum and many Dems won't take the opportunity. It's better to paint all Republicans as evil and clothe themselves in righteousness with no plan, just opposition.

I still think the Democratic strategy is a losing one. Unless they come up with a persuasive plan and start working on some wavering Republicans, chalk it up as a victory to Bush.

Too bad Mr. Drum can't see that.

Posted by Dennis at February 7, 2005 11:13 PM