Commentary for Washington Bureau http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news All en MGWashington.com Copyright 2008 2008-11-19T16:51:31-05:00 Walking on sunshine? http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/walking-on-sunshine/2142/ more ]]> 2008-11-13T18:49:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/walking-on-sunshine/2142/#When:23:57:00Z Obama wins in purple America http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/obama-wins-in-purple-america/2108/ more ]]> 2008-11-06T18:38:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/obama-wins-in-purple-america/2108/#When:23:46:00Z Presidential election provides American identity check http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/presidential-election-provides-american-identity-check/2088/ more ]]> 2008-11-05T00:34:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/presidential-election-provides-american-identity-check/2088/#When:05:42:00Z Voting for president and a reality check http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/voting-for-president-and-a-reality-check/2031/ more ]]> 2008-10-30T15:51:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/voting-for-president-and-a-reality-check/2031/#When:20:59:00Z Mood of the voters in NC: Economic woes weigh in prez choice http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/mood-of-the-voters-in-nc-economy-hangs-over-prez-race/1975/ more ]]> 2008-10-23T13:50:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/mood-of-the-voters-in-nc-economy-hangs-over-prez-race/1975/#When:18:58:00Z Mood of the voters: In NC, some say ‘no’ to both prez candidates http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/mood-of-voters-in-nc-some-say-no-to-both-prez-candidates/1928/ more ]]> 2008-10-16T20:38:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/mood-of-voters-in-nc-some-say-no-to-both-prez-candidates/1928/#When:01:46:00Z Is it over? http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/is-it-over/1883/ more ]]> 2008-10-09T17:48:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/is-it-over/1883/#When:22:56:00Z Obama backers face struggle in Appalachia http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/obama-backers-face-struggle-in-appalachia/1822/ more ]]> 2008-10-02T16:57:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/obama-backers-face-struggle-in-appalachia/1822/#When:22:05:00Z In Virginia town, the economy is personal http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/in-virginia-town-personal-economy-top-issue/1773/ more ]]> 2008-09-25T20:29:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/in-virginia-town-personal-economy-top-issue/1773/#When:01:37:00Z Maverick McCain Rides Chicken Little Express http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/maverick-mccain-rides-chicken-little-express/1744/ more ]]> 2008-09-18T15:41:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/maverick-mccain-rides-chicken-little-express/1744/#When:20:49:00Z Are you better off? http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/are-you-better-off/1722/ more ]]> 2008-09-11T16:25:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/are-you-better-off/1722/#When:21:33:00Z Enter the pit bull with lipstick http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/enter-the-pit-bull-with-lipstick/1701/ more ]]> 2008-09-05T10:32:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/enter-the-pit-bull-with-lipstick/1701/#When:15:40:00Z Cindy McCain shows power of the personal http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/cindy-mccain-shows-power-of-the-personal/1669/ more ]]> 2008-09-03T22:38:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/cindy-mccain-shows-power-of-the-personal/1669/#When:03:46:00Z At Repub Convention, It’s All Sarah All the Time http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/at-repub-convention-its-all-sarah-all-the-time/1632/ more ]]> 2008-09-02T19:10:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/at-repub-convention-its-all-sarah-all-the-time/1632/#When:00:18:00Z Palin pick good for campaign, delegates say http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/palin-pick-good-for-campaign-delegates-say/1615/ more ]]> 2008-09-01T17:14:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/palin-pick-good-for-campaign-delegates-say/1615/#When:22:22:00Z On Labor Day, uninvited Gustav dominates http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/on-labor-day-uninvited-gustav-dominates/1608/ more ]]> 2008-09-01T07:47:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/on-labor-day-uninvited-gustav-dominates/1608/#When:12:55:00Z Who’s ready to lead? http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/whos-ready-to-lead/1601/ more ]]> 2008-08-31T11:08:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/whos-ready-to-lead/1601/#When:16:16:00Z What you don’t see at Dem convention http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/what-you-dont-see-at-dem-convention/1523/ more ]]> 2008-08-27T18:22:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/what-you-dont-see-at-dem-convention/1523/#When:23:30:00Z Clintons now on wrong side of change http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/change-cuts-out-clintons/1495/ more ]]> 2008-08-26T18:07:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/change-cuts-out-clintons/1495/#When:23:15:00Z Today’s Denver nugget http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/denver-nugget-for-wednesdayu/1476/ more ]]> 2008-08-25T17:47:01-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/denver-nugget-for-wednesdayu/1476/#When:22:55:01Z Denver Nugget for Monday http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/denver-nugget/1466/ more ]]> 2008-08-25T00:06:01-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/denver-nugget/1466/#When:05:14:01Z Bring on the Conventions http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/bring-on-the-conventions/1448/ more ]]> 2008-08-20T10:07:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/bring-on-the-conventions/1448/#When:15:15:00Z On Obama’s `no thanks’ to lobbyists http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/on-obamas-no-thanks-to-lobbyists/1436/ more ]]> 2008-08-15T05:30:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/on-obamas-no-thanks-to-lobbyists/1436/#When:10:38:00Z Hillary Clinton’s Return http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/hillary-clintons-return/1412/ more ]]> 2008-08-07T17:15:01-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/hillary-clintons-return/1412/#When:22:23:01Z McCain and Obama spar while nation’s problems loom http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/mccain-and-obama-spar-while-nations-problems-loom/1389/ more ]]> 2008-07-31T16:03:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/mccain-and-obama-spar-while-nations-problems-loom/1389/#When:21:11:00Z McDole? Flashbacks of another campaign http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/mcdole-flashbacks-of-another-campaign/1365/ more ]]> 2008-07-24T13:58:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/mcdole-flashbacks-of-another-campaign/1365/#When:19:06:00Z Presidents without magic http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/presidents-without-magic/1342/ more ]]> 2008-07-17T17:25:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/presidents-without-magic/1342/#When:22:33:00Z Jesse’s trash talk http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/jesses-trash-talk/1328/ more ]]> 2008-07-10T18:30:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/jesses-trash-talk/1328/#When:23:38:00Z The Best Vice President Ever? http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/the-best-vice-president-ever/1306/ more ]]> 2008-07-03T11:53:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/the-best-vice-president-ever/1306/#When:17:01:00Z A one-term pledge by John McCain http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/a-one-term-pledge-by-john-mccain/1285/ more ]]> 2008-06-26T16:39:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/a-one-term-pledge-by-john-mccain/1285/#When:21:47:00Z Forgotten but not gone http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/forgotten-but-not-gone-president-is-free-to-be-himself/1268/ more ]]> 2008-06-20T00:54:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/forgotten-but-not-gone-president-is-free-to-be-himself/1268/#When:06:02:00Z Race card or whole deck? http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/race-card-or-whole-deck/1237/ more ]]> 2008-06-12T14:47:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/race-card-or-whole-deck/1237/#When:19:55:00Z Just stop thinking about ... Obama-Clinton http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/just-stop-thinking-about-obama-clinton/1210/ more ]]> 2008-06-05T16:50:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/just-stop-thinking-about-obama-clinton/1210/#When:21:58:00Z Scott McClellan, the conflicted author http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/scott-mcclellan-the-conflicted-author/1101/ more ]]> 2008-05-29T17:42:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/scott-mcclellan-the-conflicted-author/1101/#When:22:50:00Z By Focusing on Twin Cities, GOP Risks Losing Sight of South http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/by-focusing-on-twin-cities-gop-risks-losing-sight-of-south/1025/ more ]]> 2008-05-22T15:55:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/by-focusing-on-twin-cities-gop-risks-losing-sight-of-south/1025/#When:21:03:00Z Who needs a president? http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/who-needs-a-president/997/ more ]]> 2008-05-15T14:53:01-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/who-needs-a-president/997/#When:20:01:01Z Hillary and the golden handshake http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/hillary-and-the-golden-handshake/970/ more ]]> 2008-05-08T19:49:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/hillary-and-the-golden-handshake/970/#When:00:57:00Z Cue the Pander Bear http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/cue-the-pander-bear/930/ more ]]> 2008-05-01T23:39:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/cue-the-pander-bear/930/#When:04:47:00Z In it to win it, but at what cost? http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/in-it-to-win-it-but-at-what-cost/897/ more ]]> 2008-04-24T15:06:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/in-it-to-win-it-but-at-what-cost/897/#When:20:14:00Z Everybody Wants to Cut Your Taxes http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/everybody-wants-to-cut-your-taxes/865/ more ]]> 2008-04-20T04:49:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/everybody-wants-to-cut-your-taxes/865/#When:09:57:00Z Hopped on Hope of a Dream McCain-Rice Ticket http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/hopped-on-hope-of-a-dream-mccain-rice-ticket/835/ more ]]> 2008-04-13T05:11:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/hopped-on-hope-of-a-dream-mccain-rice-ticket/835/#When:10:19:00Z Johnny, We Already Knew You http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/johnny-we-already-knew-you/817/ more ]]> 2008-04-06T04:52:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/johnny-we-already-knew-you/817/#When:10:00:00Z Memory,  Reality and Hillary http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/memory-reality-and-hillary/777/ more ]]> 2008-03-30T04:24:01-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/memory-reality-and-hillary/777/#When:09:32:01Z Could the next frontier be, of all things, reading? http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/could-the-next-frontier-be-of-all-things-reading/759/ more ]]> 2008-03-23T10:13:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/could-the-next-frontier-be-of-all-things-reading/759/#When:15:21:00Z Ferraro forgot it’s not 1984 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/ferraro-forgot-its-not-1984/730/ more ]]> 2008-03-16T07:55:01-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/ferraro-forgot-its-not-1984/730/#When:13:03:01Z Brokered Convention: Too Much of a Good Thing? http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/brokered-convention-too-much-of-a-good-thing/660/ more ]]> 2008-03-09T08:59:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/brokered-convention-too-much-of-a-good-thing/660/#When:14:07:00Z Even a Lame Duck Likes to Quack http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/even-a-lame-duck-likes-to-quack/643/ more ]]> 2008-03-02T08:52:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/even-a-lame-duck-likes-to-quack/643/#When:14:00:00Z Why Senators Rarely Become President, Exhibit A: McCain and His Friends, the Lobbyists http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/mccain-learns-running-from-senate-to-white-house-is-rocky-road/590/ more ]]> 2008-02-24T07:52:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/mccain-learns-running-from-senate-to-white-house-is-rocky-road/590/#When:13:00:00Z Superdelegates Could Wreak Super Havoc http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/superdelegates-could-wreak-super-havoc/539/ more ]]> 2008-02-17T07:52:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/superdelegates-could-wreak-super-havoc/539/#When:13:00:00Z It’s time to get to know Ms. Experience http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/its-time-to-get-to-know-ms-experience/500/ more ]]> 2008-02-10T07:52:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/its-time-to-get-to-know-ms-experience/500/#When:13:00:00Z Miscalculations Doomed Presidential Hopes of Edwards, Giuliani http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/miscalculations-doomed-presidential-hopes-of-edwards-giuliani/387/ more ]]> 2008-02-03T05:52:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/miscalculations-doomed-presidential-hopes-of-edwards-giuliani/387/#When:11:00:00Z Giuliani bet on Florida and 9/11—Now what? http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/giuliani-bet-on-florida-and-9-11-now-what/358/ more ]]> 2008-01-27T07:53:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/giuliani-bet-on-florida-and-9-11-now-what/358/#When:13:01:00Z On Presidential Campaign Trail, It’s the Economy, the War—and Feelings http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/on-presidential-campaign-trail-its-the-economy-the-war-and-feelings/287/ more ]]> 2008-01-20T05:35:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/on-presidential-campaign-trail-its-the-economy-the-war-and-feelings/287/#When:10:43:00Z Not on Ballot,  Bill Clinton Still Makes Democratic Hearts Flutter http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/not-on-ballot-bill-clinton-still-makes-democratic-hearts-flutter/249/ more ]]> 2008-01-13T09:37:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/not-on-ballot-bill-clinton-still-makes-democratic-hearts-flutter/249/#When:14:45:00Z New Reality Shakes Presidential Campaigns in New Hampshire http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/new-reality-shakes-presidential-campaigns-in-new-hampshire/178/ more ]]> 2008-01-06T11:53:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/new-reality-shakes-presidential-campaigns-in-new-hampshire/178/#When:17:01:00Z Tough Question: Who Do You Admire Most? http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/tough-question-who-do-you-admire-most/157/ more ]]> 2007-12-30T11:52:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/tough-question-who-do-you-admire-most/157/#When:17:00:00Z Putting Christ in . . . Presidential Politics http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/putting-christ-in-presidential-politics/152/ more ]]> 2007-12-23T11:59:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/putting-christ-in-presidential-politics/152/#When:17:07:00Z A New Comeback Kid? http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/a-new-comeback-kid/143/ more ]]> 2007-12-15T23:52:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/a-new-comeback-kid/143/#When:05:00:00Z Smithsonian to Developers: ‘Come on In’ http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/smithsonian-to-developers-come-on-in/124/ more ]]> 2007-12-09T11:52:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/smithsonian-to-developers-come-on-in/124/#When:17:00:00Z Confederate Flag Still Flies in Campaigns http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/confederate-flag-still-flies-in-campaigns/107/ more ]]> 2007-12-02T11:52:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/confederate-flag-still-flies-in-campaigns/107/#When:17:00:00Z Honey, They Shrunk the Dollar http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/honey-they-shrunk-the-dollar/83/ more ]]> 2007-11-25T10:45:01-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/honey-they-shrunk-the-dollar/83/#When:15:53:01Z Eating Close to Home http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/eating-close-to-home/74/ more ]]> 2007-11-18T19:05:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/eating-close-to-home/74/#When:00:13:00Z Second Looks In A Long Election http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/second-looks-in-a-long-election/42/ more ]]> 2007-11-11T11:51:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/second-looks-in-a-long-election/42/#When:16:59:00Z Monuments To Me, Me, Me http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/monuments-to-me-me-me/23/ more ]]> 2007-11-04T12:51:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/monuments-to-me-me-me/23/#When:17:59:00Z The Decade We Can’t Forget http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/the-decade-we-cant-forget/43/ more ]]> 2007-10-28T11:52:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/the-decade-we-cant-forget/43/#When:17:00:00Z Lessons In The Limits Of Power http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/lessons-in-the-limits-of-power/45/ more ]]> 2007-10-21T11:56:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/lessons-in-the-limits-of-power/45/#When:17:04:00Z The Elephant In The Room http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/the-elephant-in-the-room/44/
Medicare is going broke in 2019, he warned at a retirement community in South Carolina, according to an Associated Press report. "I would also remind you that Social Security is going to go broke as well," he added.

Ever the maverick, the Arizona Republican is unafraid to touch what traditionally was the third rail of American politics - Social Security - and he said something most politicians won't. The big cloud over boomer retirees and their children isn't Social Security -- it's Medicare. Social Security isn't projected to go belly up until the distant 2041.

As the first baby boomer signed up online for Social Security last week, the government used the moment to herald "America's silver tsunami." A tidal wave of nearly 80 million people born between 1946 and 1964 will become eligible for Social Security benefits over the next 20 years.

"There is no reason to have an immediate panic," said Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue reassuringly. He predicted the country would eventually figure out how to accommodate all those Social Security recipients.

Their health care is a greater concern. The Social Security system already has seen a spike in disability claims, a hint of what's ahead with the aging of America. The ranks of Social Security disability recipients have doubled since 1990 - from 4.2 million to 8.4 million in 2006.

Medicare's Hospital Insurance fund is projected to pay out more in hospital benefits this year than it receives in taxes and dedicated revenues, the trustees of Social Security and Medicare reported earlier this year. In 2019, the fund's reserves could be exhausted.

Medicare and Social Security are a double-barreled shotgun aimed at the economy. Leadership - from Congress or the White House -- is needed, but nothing is likely to happen until after next year's election.

These are tough issues, and most presidential candidates skate around Medicare and Social Security, in McCain's words "the elephant in the room."

While he's delivering his eat-your-spinach message, some of his Republican opponents for president are telling voters they can eat cake, or maybe cinnamon toast.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts both promise no new taxes for Social Security. Former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee did raise the idea of charging high-income elderly people higher premiums and deductions for their health care.

Thompson said in a statement that to ensure Social Security's viability, "we might expect wealthier seniors in the future" to pay more toward their medical coverage.

Romney tiptoes up to other options. Raising the retirement age and scaling back Social Security benefits down the line are possibilities, he said.

The Democrats' putative frontrunner, Hillary Clinton, dodges questions about how she'd fix Social Security. She said she doesn't want to "spook" voters about Social Security's future, as though people aren't smart enough to grasp the problem.

Her husband, who presided over an economic boom through most of his presidency, put Social Security front and center in his 1998 State of the Union address. In the warm glow of projected budget surpluses, he said the goal should be "Save Social Security First." And Congress did take steps in that direction. But the deficits have ballooned the last few years.

The senator from New York has said privatization is off the table. So are reducing benefits and raising the retirement age. That seems to leave higher payroll taxes, but she's not saying. Hillary wants to wait to tackle Social Security until Congress takes steps to balance the federal budget and both political parties agree to work together on the issues.

Several Democrats said in last month's debate that they favor lifting the cap so more income will be subject to payroll tax.

That may have sounded like straight talk, but it's going to happen next year anyway. An estimated 12 million workers will pay higher payroll taxes in 2008 because the amount of taxable earnings will rise to $102,000 from $97,500.

John Edwards said at the debate, "The honest truth is there are hard choices to be made."

He's right. Voters need more straight talk.

more ]]> 2007-10-21T11:54:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/the-elephant-in-the-room/44/#When:17:02:00Z For GOP, Senate Control So Close And Yet So Far http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/for-gop-senate-control-so-close-and-yet-so-far/46/ more ]]> 2007-10-07T13:11:00-05:00 http://www.mgwashington.com/index.php/news/article/for-gop-senate-control-so-close-and-yet-so-far/46/#When:18:19:00Z