Dems and Social Security: Wake up!

Again I reference Josh Micah Marshall's Talking Points Memo. Marshall, who's fighting what sometimes seems like a one-man campaign against Bush's Social Security "plan," points to a Boston Globe article, by Washington bureau chief Peter S. Canellos, drawing uncomfortable parallels between Bush's strategy on Iraq in 2002-03 and on Social security "reform" now - a point I alluded to in a Dec. 15 post. I've also piped up about how Bush has been able to get away with framing this issue in the media almost entirely on his terms (just ask George Lakoff). I'm really not that bright, so if I can spot this clear as day it should be pretty obvious to anyone who looks - or maybe I'm just losing it ... and yet, the Globe notes a disturbing fact: "Right now, however, the Democratic message is hardly being heard while the president has created a strong linkage in the public mind between the Social Security shortfall and the national economy, and between dealing with the shortfall and creating personal investment accounts." The article signs off:

Democrats ... have made protecting and preserving the current system one of their defining issues as a party: For at least two decades, they have been contending that Republicans are plotting to reduce promised benefits. If Democrats plan to come out against Bush's plan, they should weigh in now. As many of their leaders can attest, the public has little patience for complaints registered too softly or too late.

Note to Democrats: "Too late" comes around awfully quickly in this day and age.