Moonie Times to Prez on SS: Drop Dead

Bad advice to Bush blamed for Social Security struggle - The Washington Times:

There was this:

Republicans hold seven of the nine seats in Alabama's congressional delegation, but most of them won't be joining President Bush when he visits Montgomery on Thursday to promote his Social Security plan.

And of course the kiss-off from Katherine Harris, the Ken Blackwell of 2000:

President George W. Bush's first visit to Sarasota in more than three years was nixed just hours after it was announced on Thursday.
...
The visit also could have had strategic implications for Harris, who has balked at fully endorsing the president's efforts. Harris has said she is willing to consider the idea of private accounts, but has stopped short of saying the president can count on her vote. Harris said any plan that goes to a vote in Congress must have assurances that current seniors won't see any change in their benefits.


But this has got to be the coup de grace:

A senior Republican senator said, "The message coming out of the White House is that we'll fix Social Security by raising your taxes and cutting your retirement benefits and, to get something passed, we'll forget about the personal retirement accounts we promised."
The senator said that is like telling voters, "Never vote for Republicans again -- we lie."

Actually, Senator, you and your boss have been transmitting that message on all frequencies for four years, but until now lots of folks weren't receiving.

If the Moonie Times is running a story like this, it seems a very safe bet that every Republican outside the White House has given up on privatization, and our Preznit is about to learn what it means to be a lame duck.

We are fast approaching the point where it will make sense to redeploy efforts to the next battle.