Senator Durbin: Don't sell us short on Social Security

Now, I know you're not talking about eliminating it, but some of those bankers you've lined up with on "reforming Social Security" are the very same ones who a smart Senator named Dick Durbin once described as "owning the place." "The Place" not being The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but Congress. What do you think they're after?

Also apropos here, most people don't know, as Paul Krugman has pointed out, that deficits are now shrinking faster than any time since World War II. And if you're still convinced we need to cut something, there may just be a bit of extra dough -- according to conservative banking mogul Pete Peterson -- going to our nation's defense. I know we need to spend a lot to protect ourselves, but as much as: China, Russia, UK, France, Japan, India, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Brazil, Italy, South Korea, Australia and Canada combined? Count me a bit skeptical. Also remind me how the Washington metropolitan area became the wealthiest in the country over the past decade (hint: it includes the words "defense" and "contractors").

Finally, some politics. To put this delicately, right now the Republican Party "brand" is roughly equal to that of, oh, syphilis. Clearly, shutting down the government was not one of their more lucid moments. Scarier thought, maybe it was! In fact, You, Dick, let us know that one of the negotiators during this crisis told the President he "couldn't even stand to look at him."

You continued, offering the opinion, "what are the chances of having an honest conversation with someone who just said something so disrespectful?" I agree! In fact, I'd say the chances of that are roughly on par with the likelihood of Miley Cyrus being invited to perform at children's parties.  

So after your recent victory against Tea Party economic treason, you are going to give into them on a signature Democratic program? On a program that even 74 percent of their supporters (and 82 percent of Americans overall) don't think should be touched? Putting this further in perspective, just a few short days after your comment on FoxNews, Credo Action amassed 100,000 signatures telling you not to do this.

Here's something else to think about. Every poll says the Democrats have a good shot at taking back the House of Representatives in 2014, restoring some sanity to Washington. Do you want to hand this issue on a silver platter to the gun-fondling gold bugs, so they can cynically exploit it to protect their own venal, tea-soaked hides?

Many progressives still believe in you Dick. So please don't do this. 

But if you do: Make sure to say hi when you run into House Speaker Louie Gohmert in January, 2015.

Your friend,

Cliff