Bush Cites Failed Social Security Privatization Push As His Biggest Domestic Policy Achievement
Bush Cites Failed Social Security Privatization Push As His Biggest Domestic Policy Achievement
The Weekly Standard’s Fred Barnes reports today that he and fellow conservative Bill Kristol met with President Bush last Friday for a lunch in the president’s “private dining room adjacent to the Oval Office.” According to Barnes, the “left-wing haters” are “going to be disappointed when they see his demeanor as he leaves his eight-year presidency” because Bush “appears comfortable with what he expects his legacy will be.”
Speaking of Bush’s legacy, Barnes reports that the president cited his push to privatize Social Security as his biggest domestic policy accomplishment:
On domestic policy, Bush was asked if he made progress in some areas for which he hasn’t and probably won’t get credit. Topping his list was his unsuccessful drive in 2005 to reform Social Security. Bush said his effort showed it’s politically safe to campaign on changing Social Security and then actually seek to change it.
He also said it was important to have raised private investment accounts as an attractive option in reforming Social Security.
It seems odd that Bush cited an unsuccessful effort as his biggest domestic policy achievement, but understandable given that he doesn’t have much else to consider. But not only was Bush’s drive to privatize Social Security an utter failure, the concept is also widely unpopular with the American public and if enacted, it would have had disastrous consequences for Americans’ retirement funds.
A recent Center for American Progress Action Fund report found that if a worker had retired on October 1, 2008 after 35 years of contributions to private retirement accounts, that retiree would have lost nearly $30,000 in retirement funds because of the downturn in the stock market over the last two years.
Part of the reason Bush’s push failed was that very few people actually believed he was trying to reform Social Security and instead thought he was trying to dismantle it. Even back in 2005, despite a lack of support for privatization, the Bush administration was insisting that their efforts were a “great success.”
Indeed, a recent CNN poll found that 62 percent of Americans oppose privatizing any part their Social Security taxes. But seeing that Bush regularly ignores what Americans think, its no wonder he thinks he doesn’t get enough credit for his privatization crusade.
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Well, the best thing Bush did in 8 years was to fail in his attempt to kill Social Security.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:33 pmIn Bush World, failure is achievement.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:33 pmApologies in advance….
Caption contest: I keep tellin’ Laura this is 10 inches, but she just whacks me with her ruler.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:34 pmcan you imagine if these bozos managed to privatize social security? you’d be reading about seniors starving in the streets when the bottom fell out of the market or victims of madoff’s ponzi scheme.
then again, desperate, cheap labor like starving senior citizens is a rapebulican’s wet dream.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:34 pmHow many seniors would be destitute today had their social security been privatized.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:36 pmCaption Contest: “I tried to kill Social Security, and missed it by that much.”
January 5th, 2009 at 4:37 pmZooey, that’s a good one worth repeating — in Bush Bizarro World, failure is achievement.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:37 pmBush said his effort showed it’s politically safe to campaign on changing Social Security and then actually seek to change it.
Wow.
Stunned.
I can only hope that the rest of the Republican Party is as clueless about this issue as Bush is.
Go ahead, you guys — push it some more. I dare ya.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:37 pmCaption contest: I do lines of coke this long in the oval office.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:38 pmWorking to top a list full of complete blunders, Bush wasn’t quite able to pull it off this time. He gets an A for effort.
This is of course backwards upside-down bizarro world.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:39 pmActually, he didn’t make it “safe” to campaign on destroying Social Security, as he didn’t try it until his second term, and the Republicans got beat to hell in 2006. I mean, even his failure fails.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:39 pmAll dictionarys should be updated, next to the word fail-ure should be a picture of Chimp W. Bush.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pmIn he best jokes, there is always a grain of truth.
This one is carved from a whole slab of truth.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pmGood one Zooey!
January 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pmI was just going to post, that the picture is proof positive Herr Dubya must drive a hummer.
Well, it sure wasn’t roads and bridges or Katrina or national debt or budget deficit or health care or education or….you name it.
All that failure on top of a failed forign policy……he’s a dandy allright.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pmHe really believes that the sheeple deserve nothing at all to show for their lifetime of work. The sob never had to earn a living. He did what he could to help ruin the stock market that private retirements invest, and then wants to destroy our national system, all for only the good of the criminal elite.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:42 pmCaption contest: “If we privatize this Social Security thing, then by the time you retire, you could have this much to live on! Heh heh heh.”
PS: Hats off to the TP staff today. Every time I comment on something and nav back to the home page, there’s a fresh news item up there. It’s getting tough to keep up. Y’all must have switched to a new brand of coffee or something.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:44 pmWell for once i can agree with george bush – His greatest domestic policy achievement was indeed a failure.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:45 pmAll Bush’s greatest achievements have been dismal failures.
“The Weekly Standard’s Fred Barnes reports today that he and fellow conservative Bill Kristol met with President Bush last Friday for a lunch in the president’s “private dining room adjacent to the Oval Office.””
Fred and Bill were seen leaving an hour later carrying large paper bags. After following them down the street to a local bank, reporters queried the two regarding the contents; to which they replied, in unison: “Lettuce!”
January 5th, 2009 at 4:47 pmZooey Says:
In Bush World, failure is achievement.
Yes, his Greatest Achievement is Failure. Total Failure
His historical footnote as Worst President Ever!!!! is now completely secure.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:48 pmBarnes said “…when they see his demeanor as he leaves his eight-year presidency because Bush appears comfortable with what he expects his legacy will be.”
I suspect Chimpy is back on the sauce. Jack & coke for everyone!
January 5th, 2009 at 4:48 pmBased on Bush’s bizarre measure of success I would think his greatest acomplishment is failure in Iraq. Or maybe the destruction of America’s recognition as a world leader. Or pissing away our countries treasure.
So many failures to be proud of.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:49 pmPresident Bizarro Pretzel succeeded at being the best leader Bizarro World, called “Htrae”, ever had.
A Bizarro salesman is doing a brisk trade selling Bizarro bonds: “Guaranteed to lose money for you”. Later, the mayor appoints Bizarro Pretzel to investigate a crime, “Because you are stupider than the entire Bizarro police force put together”. This is intended and taken as a great compliment.
BIZARRO CODE:
1. US DO OPPOSITE OF ALL EARTHLY THINGS!
2. US HATE BEAUTY! US LOVE UGLINESS!
3. IS BIG CRIME TO MAKE ANYTHING PERFECT ON BIZARRO WORLD!
January 5th, 2009 at 4:49 pm“The Weekly Standard’s Fred Barnes reports today that he and fellow conservative Bill Kristol met with President Bush last Friday for a lunch in the president’s “private dining room adjacent to the Oval Office.””
Two nuthuggers each munching on one of chimpy’s nuts for lunch. how pathetic.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:49 pmBush Cites Failed Social Security Privatization Push As His Biggest Domestic Policy Achievement»
– - Italy privatized. They got screwed, with their pants on:
January 5th, 2009 at 4:51 pmhttp://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aRMS_q0t3_5U&refer=home
He can try to spin it with his friends but his era of re-writing history is over……no matter what he says, he won’t be comfortable with it.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:52 pmzooey at #3 that one is funny on so many levels a classic
January 5th, 2009 at 4:54 pmone very telling thing in all that is what a bonehead Barnes is
I can’t wait for the discussion to turn to torture(and it will) and bush and his bunch to get their hackles up and try to defend their actions……it’s going to be funny when it’s behind us.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:55 pmcaption contest:
“I’m gonna have a whole set of books in my library that’re this thick! They put a new one inside my screen door every year!”
January 5th, 2009 at 4:57 pmWow! Wouldja lookit that big ol’ shiny, smelly turd– er, I mean “DOMESTIC POLICY ACHIEVEMENT”!!
January 5th, 2009 at 5:00 pmAccording to Barnes, the “left-wing haters” are “going to be disappointed when they see his demeanor as he leaves his eight-year presidency” because Bush “appears comfortable with what he expects his legacy will be.”
Nah. After his constantly saying “I sleep well at night” regarding everything he’s done in Iraq, I have no expectations that Bush has anything resembling a conscience.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:01 pmFailure = achievement. Yep that sums up the last 8 years. Go eat a pretzel bush.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:01 pmI gave Wall Street $700 billion anyway. He he he he he.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:04 pmBMM,
January 5th, 2009 at 5:05 pmThanks for the link.
Laura B. gets large advance for memiors – Bush can’t even get Regnery to touch his.
That’s got to hurt.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:10 pmAccording to Barnes, the “left-wing haters” are “going to be disappointed when they see his demeanor as he leaves his eight-year presidency”
If by “demeanor” Barnes means “Ass”, no, the “left-wing haters” will not be disappointed to see his “demeanor” as he leaves. Good riddance.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:16 pmBush stole the 2000 & 2004 elections, the World Trade Center Towers collapsed and everything else was dragged down along with it. That’s his greatest achievement!
January 5th, 2009 at 5:16 pmI have a list of some of this war criminals accomplishments. Please feel free to add you own-
Left the country in more debt than all previous admnistrations combined
More people sank into poverty
Lost the city of New Orleans and let people die while he and McCain ate birthday cake.
More people uninsured than any other time
Consistent drop in median income during his reign
Most real estate foreclosures during his reign
Most personal bankruptcies during his reign
The largest deficit in our history.
Biggest annual budget spending increases
First president to commit troops to a war that was perpetrated by a lie.
Appointed more criminals to admin than any other president
Presided over the biggest corporate stock market fraud in the history of the world.
First president to hold presidency with a criminal record
Most job losses during his first year
Broke more international treaties than any other president
Lowest job growth in American history
First administration to out a CIA agent and district attorneys for partisan reasons
Presided over the worst terror attack in world history.
Tortured
Trashed the Constitution
Appointed cronies without experience to fill cabinet/admin positions for political control
First President to be APPOINTED to the office by his daddy’s buddies on Supreme Court
Stole the election in Florida in 2000 & in Ohio in 2004
Read My Pet Goat while our country was under attack
THE MOST RIDICULED, IDIOTIC BRAIN DEAD ALCOHOLIC EVER TO HOLD OFFICE
LIED, LIED, LIED AND IS STILL LYING TO OUR FACES
TERRORIZED A COUNTRY
My going away wish for you Bush – may you never have a moments peace in your life. May your life be hell, like the hell you have created for so many people
I would go barefoot the rest of my life just to get a chance to throw my shoes at you – you scumball. Good Riddance
January 5th, 2009 at 5:27 pmI’m curious to see just how drunk he’ll be on Inauguration Day.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:31 pmTry as he may Bush can’t change the pass 8 years. His supporters have been on ever Station spinning the stories in hope someone believes the lies. Even Daddy Bush is thrown the shoe at his idiot son and has moved on to the other idiot son Jeb. The Bush Family History of Prescott Bush getting wealthy while working with Hitler and plotting to assassinate FDR. Daddy Bush has his share of crimes. Jeb with the famous fixed Florida vote. Now George W. who not only brought down the USA but brought chaos to the World. George W. will be remembered for invasions/torture/murder and now working with Israel to bring about the Palestine Holocaust Massacre and allowing Iran and North Korea to have reason to have Nuclear Weapons. Not to mention the powerless United Nations because they were afraid to prosecute the Bush Administration for War Crimes.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:33 pmHe also appears comfortable in sleeveless t-shirts and jean-shorts.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:38 pmSo Bush’s crowning glory is an ignorant stupid failed venture to privatize SS. That just sounds gay. (Sue me NYT.)
January 5th, 2009 at 5:44 pmJackie Says:
Try as he may Bush can’t change the pass 8 years. His supporters have been on ever Station spinning the stories in hope someone believes the lies.
The fact that the Palin/McCain ticket lost pretty much demonstrates that nobody believe’s R’s any more, about anything. They’d be better off keeping quiet, since everything they say just discredits them further.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:45 pmAccording to Barnes, the “left-wing haters” are “going to be disappointed when they see his demeanor as he leaves his eight-year presidency”
Get a clue Barnes, the Chimpfck’s demeanor has never had anything to do with the real world. The egotistical little shit doesn’t realize the depth of the hatred Americans have for him and never will. He is despised and loathed and rightfully so.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:47 pmHe also appears comfortable in sleeveless t-shirts and jean-shorts.
Don’t forget about Spudge-Boy’s favorite: Blue shirt with sweat stains and sleeves rolled up. There are lots of pictures of him dressed like that.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:47 pmIt was Bush’s biggest success because it failed the least. Everything else failed more.
This is known as grading the President along the curve.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:55 pmBush is “comfortable with what he expects his legacy to be”?? How about “terminally deluded”? The fact that Bush can feel comfortable with anything he has done shows what a coldhearted sociopath he must be.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:00 pmIf failure is his biggest achievement, then add Hurricane Katrina and his pitiful Lessons Learned report to the list. He can claim credit for future FEMA achievements and any competent investigations they might conduct.
I thought Bush might cite his Bankruptcy bill in 2006 or his Comprehensive Energy Plan that same summer. Energy has acted like a drunk on a binge, while citizens declare bankruptcies at record rates.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:15 pmI must say that out of all of Bush’s failures, his failure to privatize Social Security seems to have hurt the country the least. So I guess that would be his greatest achievement.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:56 pmThe Criminal Bush is so ignorant and stupid, he does not know if he is coming or going.
January 5th, 2009 at 7:01 pmCAPTION CONTEST:
You should see what Enzite did fer me!
January 5th, 2009 at 7:08 pmThis bears repeating:
I must say that out of all of Bush’s failures, his failure to privatize Social Security seems to have hurt the country the least. So I guess that would be his greatest achievement.
RIGHT ON!
January 5th, 2009 at 7:09 pmAccording to Barnes, the “left-wing haters” are “going to be disappointed when they see his demeanor as he leaves his eight-year presidency” because Bush “appears comfortable with what he expects his legacy will be.”
Bush’s comfort level is the result of his sociopathy. No more, no less.
January 5th, 2009 at 7:31 pmEnglish always was a second language to Bush. (Don’t ask me what his first language is). Looking at the departing President numbers tells the whole story. And a sad one it is.
(Just look down the page a couple of articles).
January 5th, 2009 at 7:32 pm#1 has it correct if it gets privatized we would be Bailing out ourselves along with Wall Street.
January 5th, 2009 at 8:59 pmThank god he spent so much time in Crawford and Camp David.
January 5th, 2009 at 9:02 pmThat ol’ “W”…always keeping me in stitches. We can still kick him around after he’s gone, can’t we?
January 5th, 2009 at 9:05 pmchristopher wiwi Says:
————————————————————–
#1 has it correct if it gets privatized we would be Bailing out ourselves along with Wall Street.
But we little guys got stuck with the tab for Wall Streets gambling debt so maybe if SS had been privatized we could have returned the favor.
OK, so maybe it never would have happened…I idealize the world as being fair. My bad.
January 5th, 2009 at 9:08 pmSurprisingly, the normally spineless Dems showed some real solidarity and didn’t “compromise” with Bush on Social Security. I was expecting some of the “moderates” like Ben Nelson (who Bush was supposedly courting) and Lieberman to vote with Bush on it, but they didn’t.
Can you imagine the utter devastation if Social Security was privatized, and all that money was wiped out in the panic of 2008?
It’s one of the few times I’ve seen Dems actually stick up for something, and it worked.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:57 pmWhat, the guy killed the economy, wrecked the military and so he is sad he didn’t kill Social Security now? This guy is a one man blight whom has brought about a new dawn of uncertainty with a big black cloud of death worldwide.
If I were him, I’d just disappear and hope one or two things historically break favorably to where a higher spot at the bottom of the presidential totem pole could be attainable.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:57 am.You can now vote at Obama’s site to
“Appoint a Special Prosecutor for the Crimes of the Bush Administration”
It didn’t work for a few days there.
You’ll find it at about idea #14 on page two. Need to login if it doesn’t immediately recognize you.
http://www.change.org/ideas?page=2
January 6th, 2009 at 3:35 amPlease just go away. Please…please…
January 6th, 2009 at 7:21 amI thought his biggest achievement was catching a really hugh perch or something like that.
January 6th, 2009 at 8:34 am