Didn't see this coming.

Hoping it's a trial balloon, but I agree with the commenter over there who said we need to get in front of this.

At the moment, discussions are focused on whether to name a special panel to make the difficult decisions that would be required to right the nation's finances.

How about special panels that need to make Wall Street accountable?

I sense a total meltdown if they negatively mess with these programs.

Total. Meltdown.

crowed about the "fiscal responsibility" (SocSec Set Up) Summit, with Jim Cooper saying they had someone they could work with in Obama. He's made ambiguous comments throughout the presidential primaries and general elections. Also courted Repubs....

And Dean Baker's been writing about the SocSec Obama problem. Lambert linked to an earlier Baker post.

Lambert noted that Atrios was preparing to be really upset if Obama decided to cut SocSec benefits:

The Left, including yours truly, will create an epic 360 degree shitstorm if Obama and the Dems decide that cutting Social Security benefits is a good idea.

And Krugman brought attention to Obama's going after SocSec in the early stages of the Dem primary. It was a reason some people felt he was not the right choice for the Dem nomination.

And Josh Marshall? Mr. SocSec, aka Fighter Against Repubs and BushBoy's Bamboozlement on All Things SocSec? He's been laying low on this.

As the teletubbies are wont to say, "Uh oh."

Lots were saying "uh oh" for quite awhile, all along hoping, hoping, hoping Obama would come to his senses, that someone would help him see the error of such thinking, that he would realize now is not a good time to undermine the pubic's confidence in SocSec (which doesn't need "fixing" for decades -- but it is there for the looting...so tempting...).

Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh. Cubed.

Pray FSM I am wrong.

Where, oh where, are the Dems from the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party??

Yes, I am upset.

to Banksters....

Check local listings or watch on web. On now on NYC area PBS station.

and talk about the absurdity of undue praise (10% better, based on conjecture).

For those who couldn't see the "entitlement" frame as dangerous, what can you say? For those who ignored the Harry and Louise and focused only on the evilness of McCain/Palin rather than pushing Obama when it could have helped, what can you say? I don't know. We kinda did this to ourselves, even though some of us were arguing against "tepid" support before concessions by Obama were made.

In truth, it's less name calling as an argument than ridiculing even if that critique is lost on some. Perhaps, I should be more civil but I'm so low on patience these days.

are the funds they've been waiting for.

told the Obama worshippers that they were exceedingly naive. Many of us were alarmed when Obama brought up Social Security when the debate had been put to rest after the 2005 attack. Many of us pointed to the Roberts nomination as a telling tale of the real Obama.

You all told us we were stupid, that we weren't intellectually capable of understanding his sacred message.

So this is the Change he was talking about.

Thanks Obama worshippers you've helped trash the nation. Chumps.

Someone (can't remember who) have us a heads up on this either a few days ago or a few weeks ago.

Anyone notice who's at the center of this? Judd Gregg. New Hampshire seems to have chosen one half of its two part motto "Live Free or Die". I'll let you decide which one it was.

is anyone surprised? Obama was telegraphing his intent to "reform" the so-called entitlement programs (who gave us that language?) throughout his campaign. I think it is one reason many retirees, particularly women who are often more dependent on SS, were underwhelmed by him.

To no discernable effect I was warning all my friends he would take a knife to SS, didn't understand the real problems with Medicare because of his unwillingness to look at single payer health care, and would probably make the Great Triangulating Evil One look like a flaming liberal.

And this is just the first month.