Yay for the vets! Thanks so much for highlighting this, David.

He may have made a really big mistake this time. Obama is a strong supporter of the vets. Goodbye, Alan.

As a senior citizen on meager soc sec and as a vet let me say FUCK YOU ALAN!!!!

I’m a veteran and Alan Simpson is an idiot.

So if Obama lets him stay on the Cat Food Commission, that just adds Veterans to the list of groups Obama has thrown under the bus for expedience sake.

Yay, VoteVets. I hope the pressure stays on.

Great move by Jon Soltz. He gets it.

He’s a reliable partner going forward, too.

About time for Rahm to start calling vets f’g retards.

F’g retards on drugs.

Maybe Palin will call them impotent, limp and gutless, too.

Yes.. There are lots of us here under the bus. But I for the sake of me can’t figure out what the “expedient” alternative is. I am beginning to think Obama really doesn’t want to stay in office. Of course Tom Coburn is his best friend in the Senate. So we know where he gets his advice.

I think Obama has painted himself into a corner. He worked out the magic number of 14 and Simpson is one of those. If Obama cans Simpson, then someone else has to be appointed. Obama is determined to cut SS and he can’t do it without 14. This close to the election, he doesn’t dare appoint a known Pete Peterson apostle and he can’t afford to appoint a progressive who would vote to increase the tax cap — that only gets him 13 votes to cut benefits and all his fondest hopes will be dashed. He’s stuck. So, Simpson is gonna stay and make Obama look worse and worse with each passing day.

I’m not sure O could win a game of one dimensional chess.

“…blaming disabled veterans for the country’s fiscal situation…”

Sweet Jesus McGillicuddy!! Blame the people who sent the vets off to war, not the vets themselves!

SF Chronicle a while back:

“It is a sobering thought that the peak year for paying out disability claims to World War I veterans didn’t occur until 1969 – more than 50 years after the armistice. The peak for paying out World War II benefits was in the 1980s, and we have not yet reached the peak cost for Vietnam veterans. Even the Gulf War of 1991, which lasted just six weeks, costs more than $4 billion a year in disability compensation.”

War is hell? Hell yeah, and it’s hell on the federal budget and will be for decades to come.

Vets will be surprised to learn that their health care will be traded away for corporate election contributions.

Say goodbye to:
medicare
social security
vets benefits
medicaid
food stamps
the middle class

We won’t be saying goodbye to Mr. Simpson.

Did any of you see Christia Freeland the other day say Obama needs to show his balls? I about fell out. But that’s the message out there No doubt Palin will pound on it.

I was just thinking today that O shows little enthusiasm for the job. His affect is flat; lots of appointments unfilled; few appearances in public; no news conferences. My guess is the only thing he enjoys is watching the drone snuff videos on his computer.

You’re really making me uncomfortable with the imagery your conjuring.

I typed this the other night & think I didn’t run into much headwind from the vets here, but with the exception of WWII, vets have pretty much proven disposable.

“We ask that you remove him from his current position so that the commission can continue its work in a way that will give the military community–and all Americans–confidence in the conclusions it reaches.”

All will be well if Simpson goes. Right.

Thanks for this. I just sent a copy of the letter to a certified wingnut veteran friend of mine (who is retired, living on SS and a military pension). Maybe it will get some traction on the right, too. No one’s talking about the catfood commission over there….but they sure as hell should be. I’m probably tilting at windmills, but I keep trying.

Good on Soltz.

Yeah, that ought to take care of everything.

Obama is a fierce advocate. Until Fox News cows him to rethink his position.

Of Course, Murdoch/Saudi News will never expose Simpson’s vicious attack on Veterans to its viewers.

Murdoch’s goal mirrors that of WalMart and Republicans – lower wages and reduced benefits for employees, Lower taxes for himself. Higher profits.

They are predators. We are their prey. Obama is their puppet.

wheres arms Michelle stand on this…..military families?????

we disagree

pivot queens Schakowsky and Durbin are ‘spares’, and don’t discount Mr Becerra’s Leadership ambitions – he has 14 votes

I even heard some of them are *gasp* gay!

Remember how Stiglitz came out with the trillion dollar war, which included estimated costs for veterans benefits? He was ignored faster than Lindsey was dismissed for outlouding that the war could cost $200 billion. Just recently, somewhere on TV, some analyst was confronted by the anchor with the Stiglitz estimate and the guest dismissed it as wildly exaggerated. This despite the fact that these wars are causing more traumatic injuries that are survivable, meaning much more expensive care for the rest of their lives.

Simpson and Rahm sure look friendly in that photo. I guess it’s only natural when you share a pro corporatist, anti middle class philosophy.

And say goodbye to The Hypocrite in Chief

Meanwhile, Wallstreeters are still seeking the next bubble to ride. It is not clear what that could be. Obamaco is giving Green energy very short shrift. It is not that. Yet, it clings to the old Boom/Bust mentality.

War Profiteering is good for the chief crooks, but the stocks are stagnant.

FWIW, the bubble chatter on cnbc is all about the bond market.

to which obama yawns

I’m betting that Simpson is just floating the meme we’ll all hear from the right when it comes time to push the votes on social wage cuts — greedy geezers/vets/cripples/children lack the patriotism to sacrifice for the greater good of their country.
Never mind those sacrifices are created by a refusal to raise taxes on the rich (who sacrifice enough by living and investing in this country.)
Never mind that the entire “deficit crisis” is a creation of our last Republican president, a man who inherited a fiscal position that yielded a surplus and was set to provide adequate funds for all of these benefits, and then proceeded to enact policies that undermined that possibility.
Never mind any of that: the country is facing a crisis and the “little people” have to sacrifice.

Touche. However, I will concede the point only when Obama fires Simpson and appoints a real progressive who vows to vote against any cuts to SS ; )

I’m not sure O could win a game of one dimensional chess.”

LOL — great comment!

Although by definition on a game played on a line ( a one domensional game) the dot in front must move before the dot behind can move – so Obama not doing anything until the rich and corporate approve is a bit like a one dimensional game! :-)

OUT!!! OUT!!! Out with him!!! Any one who denigrates any citizen, especially a veteran doesn’t deserve to be in any elected office. To be an elected official means we trust their leadership and expect them to be a good public servant. Simpson fits neither gategory.

Thank goodness for John and the VoteVets organization, people who have served their country when asked and put all they had on the line…now when they expect the smallest tokens of gratitude and care they deserve, a total asshat like Simpson and the rest of the cabal want to throw crap in their faces.

If Orahmba doesn’t act in the vets best interests, perhaps he should recall every vet from Afghanistan and Iraq, so that at least the sons and daughters, husbands and wife’s who have served and are serving can be screwed over while their feet are firmly planted on the soil of the country they so honorably served!

But, if the recent past and history serves as a barometer as to what will happen…I would lay down odds that Alan the Wanker will stay, and the crapfest CatfishComish will do their dirt, and Orahmba will elicit some pretty speech about sacrifice and fiscal responsibility like the corporate ventriloquist puppet he is!

Damn, the shite is unstoppable with these gangstas!

Thanks ; )

So Simpson’s position is that those vets who were exposed to Agent Orange got lucky because now they can suck up health care resources?

What a dick.

And how are Social Security recipients greedy bastards? And why is Obama providing cover for such nonsense?

Meanwhile, Wallstreeters are still seeking the next bubble to ride.

It looks to me they have been trying to launch a commodities (particularly oil) bubble since they saw the housing one was going to burst.

The Legion or VFW will never turn on a meat and potatoes guy like Simpson. Forgetaboutit. There is just enough fraud in the Veterans health and benefit programs to forgive Al for his foray out of the barn. He can and probably has said he meant benefits for the unworthy. If there is one certain thing in the world it is that it is very easy to deem someone unworthy of a benefit you are not getting. Nobody is more worthy than you right?

Simpson and all Republicans promise to supply the most sacred thing possible to the older guys who hang with the AL and VFW. A steady stream of caskets to honor in those emotional ceremonies where they can wear their flags and feel a part of something bigger than themselves. I know that is a cruel statement.

What’s really, really cool (and admirable) about the VoteVets letter is that it included non-veteran social security recipients. John Soltz could have stood behind the impregnable shield of veteran-hood and hung everyone else out to dry. He didn’t. He stuck up for everyone. Good for him!

Your point is well taken. Simpson was a special appointment by Obama for the purpose of whacking Social Security. Obama retrieved Simpson from the mothballs expressly so he could perform this crazy-mean-old-man schtick. Simpson’s rants make the rest of the cretins (with the consensus to whack Social Security and maintain war profiteering) look sane by comparison.

I think progressives are making a mistake going after Simpson. Simpson is HELPING us. What good does it do us to get Simpson’s scalp on the wall (metaphorically speaking, mod!) and Obama appoints someone else, who is just more quietly effective.

Getting Obama to can Simpson doesn’t gain anything. In fact, I think Obama firing Simpson hurts us, because that will show he “did something for the retarded liberals”. I think the focus should be on getting the entire Cat Food Commission gone.

Alan Simpson is a distraction. It’s the damn catfood commission that has to go.

What good is it if we succeed in getting Simpson booted, but the congress votes in the catfood commission’s recommendations anyway?

The problem is not just Alan Simpson. Let’s focus on getting the whole damn commission shut down.

That Bowles is quite a little slimeball.

The Progressive caucus is calling for just exactly that, in an open letter to the WH.

Cenk is going ballistic on this sitting in for Ratigan.
Simpson may have touched one too many sacred cows this time.
I like to see it….. just go away
Obama’s “D” commission is focusing on hurting the people who’ve already been hurt.
Oil company subsidies, tax cuts for the rich, the banks; they all get off scot-free.

PS: Cenk needs his own show. Let’s kick tweety off one of his time slots. Who needs two?

Special Salon up with Steven Hill’s policy paper Secure Retirement for All Americans Guaranteeing the American Dream with Expanded Social Security hosted by masaccio

Let’s kick tweety off one of his time slots the air and replace him with Cenk. Who needs Tweetie?

Fixed it.

I am all for shutting down the catfood commission entirely but I think going after Simpson is a mistake. Instead, every time he opens his mouth we should be saying, “Really Alan, TELL ME MORE.”

Without Simpson the commission could go dark and simply fly under the radar until its report is issued in December. We really do need Alan to keep pissing on people and pissing people off.

You are correct, sir.

every time he opens his mouth we should be saying, “Really Alan, TELL ME MORE.”

Pretty good idea, alright…

Let’s kick Tweety off of both of his time slots. Who needs even one Tweety?

Owe you a drink. :)

You’re wasting your time. Simpson will not be dismissed. Even if he is, they will have to replace him with someone on his same side, or the whole commission will ignored.

You might want that, but Obama doesn’t. So, Simpson out, Simpson 2 in.

You will just need to prepare for what is going to be suggested by the commission. And, THEN, do something.

Aside from that, no one is going to pay attention to it anyway. There is no one who wants to really do anything about the deficit. Each change that must be made is going to have a lot of people working against it because it hurts them.

Here’s the real life scenario. Nothing, or nothing effective will be done. Things will get worse. Eventually, someone or agency will have to step in–China government trying to keep their US bonds from becoming worthless, or some other countries–and force us the do what we won’t do ourselves. Which WILL be big spending cuts and tax hikes. And, the spending cuts will be to nearly every sacred cow out there.

And, yes, big bondholders can try to lay it on the line; reform or we call it in and you go bankrupt.

I’m on Facebook with someone I served with a long time ago. Her Marine Corps son was badly injured in Afghanistan. A lot of these injuries are bad enough now, but as we all know getting older makes everything a bit harder. The amount of money we will be spending down the road from both these wars for vet care will be huge. I just hope eCANHomics is wrong about us throwing veterans under the bus, unfortunately he is probably correct.

Like this should shock anybody, Neo-Cons are all about slash and burn. Slash social programs (NOT ENTITLEMENTS!) to spend on wars abroad and tax cuts to all who make more than 6 digits.

Who made that “Over A Barrel” post? That’s what they want, you OVER A BARREL so you’ll take that $7 an hour job and spend every PENNY by giving it to greedy private sector companies who run everything from public transportation to your school system, who will fight you tooth and nail if they are found negligent.

What doesn’t help is that Obama has loaded up his Administration with Hawks, Morons and Neo-Liberals. To the point I WILL NOW CALL HIM A NEO-LIBERAL (Republican Light).

The MEDIA loves running around saying the sky is falling, the sky is falling for the Democrats. I can’t say for those Red States that hated Bush so much voted for Obama, they’ll look for any excuse to return back to the (R)’s to run the Government. Whatever, this mid-term, like all mid-terms is all about the bases of the parties.

Are they really trying to tell me that the political hardcores of this country are not going to vote because they are mad at Obama?

That won’t happen. In swing districts and states, well who knows. But in New York and California, DONE DEAL. Where’s all that Gillibrand is weak talk? Why are people concerned about Boxer? Do you really think iCarly is going to get any traction?

I keep saying “Who Are They Polling”????

Do you job and vote, but my gawd, let’s find somebody to primary Obama!

They’ve been thrown under the bus, ask how hard it was to get help for her son…. VA has been underfunded FOR YEARS and during the entire WAR until Obama hit office.

Sorry you left out that Simpson was also given a free pass on dissing a woman’s work on behalf of the needs of…older…women.

That should also be something beyond the pale, but not with this WH. And his campaign certainly set some pretty low standards for how to relate to women…one in particular, of course.

I hope to be proved wrong, but I don’t see Obama shutting down his most favored commission. It’s his homage to St. Ronnie.

Alan Simpson comes by his hate of “deficits” genetically, of a piece with the Red Threat:

[in the context of an early fifties Communist Witchhunt and censorship pogrom by the Board of Governors of the U. of Wyoming, chaired by Alan's father, Milward.] “Later, at the same meeting, a speaker warned of possible “Communist subversion” in the form of textbooks being used in various universities. Simpson noted that one example (not used at UW) was an economics text preaching the clearly Communist doctrine that “government deficits aren’t bad.” To the mind of most of the fiscal conservatives on the board, such doctrine was a prima facie example of Communist propaganda.”*

So in his little mind, Simpson is protecting us from the Trotskyites that mean our Country harm! Thank you, sir!

* – http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/RobertsHistory/UW_textbook_controversy_1947.htm

Maybe he’ll pull a Palin and resign half-way through so he can get on the high speaking fees circuit.

Oh, yeah, if a president did that, especially a nominal Dem, he would not be lauded by the MCM, fawned over by eager fans, given millions for doing next to nothing.

No, for Obama to get his next gigs, he has to fulfill at least one term. Then he can retire to spend more time with his familiy…and his donor’s largesse.

He has got to go. Obama can’t ignore this offense.

I am way late to this discussion and just now catching up on the reading of the posts and comments.
I could not agree with your statement more.
We need Alan Simpson to stay on the Catfood Commission so that he just keeps getting more segments of our society angry.
You said it best and I agree wholeheartedly with your statements!
Thank you.

I sent Simpson a nasty email this morning, followed by a more polite email to the White House soon after. The only place this despicable son-of-a-bitch belongs is on his front porch, drooling on his shirt. I’d love to give this motherfucker a close up look at the scars left on my arms by Agent Orange.

I think removing Simpson just makes room for a less crazy person with the same agenda. I hope the White House digs in in its stubborn way on this one, and Simpson keeps pissing off various segments of American society. It is bringing more attention to what the commission is up to than anything any progressive has been able to accomplish thus far. Simpson is discrediting the commission like a one man wrecking crew. Their recommendations will be like kryptonite.

Wow! Good for them. Really, way to see the bigger picture, CPCers. Go Raul Grijalva!

(Not that Simpson isn’t a crazed, pig-ignorant, half-senile, miserly asshole, and of course the vets deserve better! They’re getting the short end of the stick as it is, and any time someone suggests balancing the books on the backs of injured vets, he should be roundly excoriated.)

Bingo. Well put.

Sorry about that. There’s a lot of discomfort out there. :-)

I think progressives are making a mistake going after Simpson. Simpson is HELPING us. What good does it do us to get Simpson’s scalp on the wall (metaphorically speaking, mod!) and Obama appoints someone else, who is just more quietly effective.

What good does it do us to let Simpson say this stuff and not raise a stink?
You are right, it helps that Simpson is saying this, instead of keeping quiet like he is supposed to. But unless the alarm is raised nobody will know.

Actually, the right is talking about it alot if my wingnuts acquaintances are anything top go by. People in their 40′s have been propagandized to beleive they will never see a dime of it and teh wingers are saying “its a Ponzi scheme”.
The propaganda is thick on the ground. If Obama doesn’t want to be run ragged by impeachment hearings for the next 2 years, the best thing he could do right now is end this further attack on the old and helpless.

Of course WALL STREET thinks the deficit is the biggest problem…not them. they gotten theirs..in spades, so what me worry?
Of course, if this sends US into another Great Depression ( and it will), it’ll harm them real badly as well. But they can’t think past their next dollar

Well, there’s that……..

I think people are missing the point. Obama needs Simpson’s rants. Obama’s solution that doesn’t “cut benefits” or privatize but only raises the retirement age (cuts benefits) is supposed to seem reasonable in contrast.

People continually underestimate Obama. He gets a great deal of what he wants. It doesn’t happen to be what progressives want. What Simpson is doing is no surprise.

I don’t disagree that Obama gets what he wants. I do question his goals and his understanding of how he might serve his own as well as the people’s needs best.

I’m a former military brat, but I doubt that counts for much, since if the military wanted you to have a family, they’d issue you one.

But I am pretty irritated about the “sacrifice” of my own childhood, plus millions more, for the so-called “Greater Good” when that greater good sure doesn’t exist today, and probably never really did.