Harry Krause wrote:
GOP Lawmakers Attack Democrats, AARP

2 minutes ago

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON - Republicans attacked the AARP as well as congressional
Democrats on Wednesday as they struggled to build momentum behind
President Bush's call for personal investment accounts under Social
Security.


The AARP, which claims 35 million members age 50 and over, is
"against a
solution that hasn't been written yet," said House Majority Leader
Tom
DeLay after a closed-door meeting with the GOP rank and file.

He called the group's opposition to personal accounts irresponsible
and
hypothetical, adding that it sells mutual funds to its own
membership.

A spokeswoman for the organization had no immediate comment.

DeLay and Speaker Dennis Hastert also criticized congressional
Democrats, who are virtually united in opposition to Bush's plans.
"The
party of no," Hastert called them.

- - -

It's a matter of trust. No one trusts the Republicans on this issue.

The head of the AARP, by the way, is an old Nixon CREEP operative.

Their's two problems with AARP, first, they are extremely pro
Democratic Party. No organization should ever put all their eggs in one
basket like that, regardless of which party you support, it's not in
the best interest of their membership.

Second, most AARP members on social security know damm well the money
younger Americans are putting into social security is going directly to
them. Their's probably going to be nothing for younger Americans when
they retire, or they will be forced to work for several additional
years before they qualift for benefits.

The current system is not popular among younger Americans, and all the
polls show that. It's just a matter of which group is more powerful.
The AARP doesn't care about younger Americans. It doesn't care that the
system is "robbing Peter to pay Paul".

AARP got burned very badly in the Medicare "reform" discussions.

They sent bales of mail to their constituents, hailing the Bushmed bill
as the greatest thing since viagara or denture adhesive and urging the
members to lobby their local representitives to support Bushmed.

Of course once the bill passed and people realized that the primary
result was that prescription drugs were going to cost a *lot* more,
(the government was suddenly prohibited from negotiating drug purchase
prices with the major pro-Bush pharmco's) and drugs could no longer be
legally purchased in Canada, the AARP members were extremely unhappy
with the organization's political stance.

After dementia begins its gradual advance, most old folks become
Republicans. AARP probably thought they were preaching to the choir by
asking their largely Republican membership to
support Bushmed. Oops.

I think AARP will be more sensitive to the concerns of its constituency
and less eager to help pull the Bushtrain over the pass on the SS
issue.

The commment by the Bush apologist pointing out that AARP sells mutual
funds to its own members is a hoot! Nobody from any party or group has
proposed that we outlaw private investment for retirement, or the many
existing
tax- advantaged government programs that encourage such savings. It
seems that only the RW kool aid drinkers are buying into the idea that
we cannot individually save for retirement unless we gut the existing
social security program.

The more they repeat the absurdity, the greater number of people will
eventually buy into it. It worked with the idea that "Folks who don't
endorse invading Iraq are all hoping that every one of our troops willl
be killed there", so why not use it on "People who don't want to divert
the money going into Social Security to the stock brokers on Wall
Street are hoping the system will fail and that
granny will be kicked out of her nursing home...."

The logical disconnect is a laugh. Notice that in many of these
propaganda blitzes the opposition is painted as the group that is
promoting the negative consequences that are most likely going to be
associated with the program itself.

In the Iraq example, it was never the people who clamored in favor of
the invasion of Iraq who were putting our troops at risk of death and
injury- it was the people who favored keeping our troops out of harm's
way entirely and solving the problem
by other means.

In the SS example, it isn't the people who want to divert 25% of the
current income to Social Security to private stock brokerages who are
putting the program at risk, it's the group who believes that solving
our retirement funding problems can and should be done without ripping
the IV tube out of an ailing SS program.

On 2 Mar 2005 09:19:38 -0800, wrote:

it was never the people who clamored in favor of
the invasion of Iraq who were putting our troops at risk of death and
injury-

In the SS example, it isn't the people who want to divert 25% of the
current income to Social Security to private stock brokerages who are
putting the program at risk,

You've got to give these guys credit, they are good at what they do.
But then again, so was Hitler, and Stalin, and Mao.

bb

"bb" wrote in message
...
On 2 Mar 2005 09:19:38 -0800, wrote:


You've got to give these guys credit, they are good at what they do.
But then again, so was Hitler, and Stalin, and Mao.

bb

Yeah, the AARP is pretty screwed up on this issue, but I can't believe you'd
compare them to Hitler.

On 2 Mar 2005 09:15:09 -0800, "Capt John" wrote:


Harry Krause wrote:
GOP Lawmakers Attack Democrats, AARP

2 minutes ago

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON - Republicans attacked the AARP as well as congressional
Democrats on Wednesday as they struggled to build momentum behind
President Bush's call for personal investment accounts under Social
Security.


The AARP, which claims 35 million members age 50 and over, is
"against a
solution that hasn't been written yet," said House Majority Leader
Tom
DeLay after a closed-door meeting with the GOP rank and file.

He called the group's opposition to personal accounts irresponsible
and
hypothetical, adding that it sells mutual funds to its own
membership.

A spokeswoman for the organization had no immediate comment.

DeLay and Speaker Dennis Hastert also criticized congressional
Democrats, who are virtually united in opposition to Bush's plans.
"The
party of no," Hastert called them.

- - -

It's a matter of trust. No one trusts the Republicans on this issue.

The head of the AARP, by the way, is an old Nixon CREEP operative.

Their's two problems with AARP, first, they are extremely pro
Democratic Party. No organization should ever put all their eggs in one
basket like that, regardless of which party you support, it's not in
the best interest of their membership.

Second, most AARP members on social security know damm well the money
younger Americans are putting into social security is going directly to
them. Their's probably going to be nothing for younger Americans when
they retire, or they will be forced to work for several additional
years before they qualift for benefits.

The current system is not popular among younger Americans, and all the
polls show that. It's just a matter of which group is more powerful.
The AARP doesn't care about younger Americans. It doesn't care that the
system is "robbing Peter to pay Paul".

Joining AARP seemed worthwhile in order to get discounts at motels while on
trips. Now I find I can get the same, or better, discounts with my DAV card.

Bye, bye AARP.

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

John,

AARP does not represent me. Of course I'm not a member although I'm
certainly fully qualified. I strongly suspect that the overwhelming
majority of AARP members are in it for the discounts and don't give a hoot
about the political agenda of the organization.

They claim to represent all the members political goals. I suspect they
represent a small percentage of the memebr's political goals. They should
be ignored as background noise.

Butch
"John H" wrote in message
...
On 2 Mar 2005 09:15:09 -0800, "Capt John" wrote:


Harry Krause wrote:
GOP Lawmakers Attack Democrats, AARP

2 minutes ago

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON - Republicans attacked the AARP as well as congressional
Democrats on Wednesday as they struggled to build momentum behind
President Bush's call for personal investment accounts under Social
Security.


The AARP, which claims 35 million members age 50 and over, is
"against a
solution that hasn't been written yet," said House Majority Leader
Tom
DeLay after a closed-door meeting with the GOP rank and file.

He called the group's opposition to personal accounts irresponsible
and
hypothetical, adding that it sells mutual funds to its own
membership.

A spokeswoman for the organization had no immediate comment.

DeLay and Speaker Dennis Hastert also criticized congressional
Democrats, who are virtually united in opposition to Bush's plans.
"The
party of no," Hastert called them.

- - -

It's a matter of trust. No one trusts the Republicans on this issue.

The head of the AARP, by the way, is an old Nixon CREEP operative.

Their's two problems with AARP, first, they are extremely pro
Democratic Party. No organization should ever put all their eggs in one
basket like that, regardless of which party you support, it's not in
the best interest of their membership.

Second, most AARP members on social security know damm well the money
younger Americans are putting into social security is going directly to
them. Their's probably going to be nothing for younger Americans when
they retire, or they will be forced to work for several additional
years before they qualift for benefits.

The current system is not popular among younger Americans, and all the
polls show that. It's just a matter of which group is more powerful.
The AARP doesn't care about younger Americans. It doesn't care that the
system is "robbing Peter to pay Paul".

Joining AARP seemed worthwhile in order to get discounts at motels while
on
trips. Now I find I can get the same, or better, discounts with my DAV
card.

Bye, bye AARP.

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

"Butch Davis" wrote in message
k.net...
John,

AARP does not represent me. Of course I'm not a member although I'm
certainly fully qualified. I strongly suspect that the overwhelming
majority of AARP members are in it for the discounts and don't give a hoot
about the political agenda of the organization.

They claim to represent all the members political goals. I suspect they
represent a small percentage of the memebr's political goals. They should
be ignored as background noise.

Just like NOW


Butch
"John H" wrote in message
...
On 2 Mar 2005 09:15:09 -0800, "Capt John" wrote:


Harry Krause wrote:
GOP Lawmakers Attack Democrats, AARP

2 minutes ago

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON - Republicans attacked the AARP as well as congressional
Democrats on Wednesday as they struggled to build momentum behind
President Bush's call for personal investment accounts under Social
Security.


The AARP, which claims 35 million members age 50 and over, is
"against a
solution that hasn't been written yet," said House Majority Leader
Tom
DeLay after a closed-door meeting with the GOP rank and file.

He called the group's opposition to personal accounts irresponsible
and
hypothetical, adding that it sells mutual funds to its own
membership.

A spokeswoman for the organization had no immediate comment.

DeLay and Speaker Dennis Hastert also criticized congressional
Democrats, who are virtually united in opposition to Bush's plans.
"The
party of no," Hastert called them.

- - -

It's a matter of trust. No one trusts the Republicans on this issue.

The head of the AARP, by the way, is an old Nixon CREEP operative.

Their's two problems with AARP, first, they are extremely pro
Democratic Party. No organization should ever put all their eggs in one
basket like that, regardless of which party you support, it's not in
the best interest of their membership.

Second, most AARP members on social security know damm well the money
younger Americans are putting into social security is going directly to
them. Their's probably going to be nothing for younger Americans when
they retire, or they will be forced to work for several additional
years before they qualift for benefits.

The current system is not popular among younger Americans, and all the
polls show that. It's just a matter of which group is more powerful.
The AARP doesn't care about younger Americans. It doesn't care that the
system is "robbing Peter to pay Paul".

Joining AARP seemed worthwhile in order to get discounts at motels while
on
trips. Now I find I can get the same, or better, discounts with my DAV
card.

Bye, bye AARP.

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

On Thu, 03 Mar 2005 14:52:55 GMT, "Butch Davis" wrote:

John,

AARP does not represent me. Of course I'm not a member although I'm
certainly fully qualified. I strongly suspect that the overwhelming
majority of AARP members are in it for the discounts and don't give a hoot
about the political agenda of the organization.

They claim to represent all the members political goals. I suspect they
represent a small percentage of the memebr's political goals. They should
be ignored as background noise.

Butch
"John H" wrote in message
.. .
On 2 Mar 2005 09:15:09 -0800, "Capt John" wrote:


Harry Krause wrote:
GOP Lawmakers Attack Democrats, AARP

2 minutes ago

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON - Republicans attacked the AARP as well as congressional
Democrats on Wednesday as they struggled to build momentum behind
President Bush's call for personal investment accounts under Social
Security.


The AARP, which claims 35 million members age 50 and over, is
"against a
solution that hasn't been written yet," said House Majority Leader
Tom
DeLay after a closed-door meeting with the GOP rank and file.

He called the group's opposition to personal accounts irresponsible
and
hypothetical, adding that it sells mutual funds to its own
membership.

A spokeswoman for the organization had no immediate comment.

DeLay and Speaker Dennis Hastert also criticized congressional
Democrats, who are virtually united in opposition to Bush's plans.
"The
party of no," Hastert called them.

- - -

It's a matter of trust. No one trusts the Republicans on this issue.

The head of the AARP, by the way, is an old Nixon CREEP operative.

Their's two problems with AARP, first, they are extremely pro
Democratic Party. No organization should ever put all their eggs in one
basket like that, regardless of which party you support, it's not in
the best interest of their membership.

Second, most AARP members on social security know damm well the money
younger Americans are putting into social security is going directly to
them. Their's probably going to be nothing for younger Americans when
they retire, or they will be forced to work for several additional
years before they qualift for benefits.

The current system is not popular among younger Americans, and all the
polls show that. It's just a matter of which group is more powerful.
The AARP doesn't care about younger Americans. It doesn't care that the
system is "robbing Peter to pay Paul".

Joining AARP seemed worthwhile in order to get discounts at motels while
on
trips. Now I find I can get the same, or better, discounts with my DAV
card.

Bye, bye AARP.

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."



Try this as an alternative: http://www.usanext.org/

I figure any outfit that is getting all this pressure from liberals must be
doing something right!
**************************************


SUBJECT: LIBERALS LEVEL FULL-SCALE ASSAULT AT USA NEXT

The liberal media assault on USA Next has intensified. Literally, within hours
of the news that USA Next is launching its “Stop Scaring Seniors NOW!” campaign
against AARP, liberals in government and in the media are already gunning for
us. Three quick examples:

• “The USA Next group intends to combine the two ruthless success stories of the
Bush re-election: the Swiftian tactic of amplifying its vicious and dishonest
attacks through the media, and the Rovian tactic of hanging gay marriage like an
anvil around the neck of a foe.” – New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, Feb.
24, 2005.

• “U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), an octogenarian, attacked AARP's rival,
USA Next. He criticized USA Next's decision to hire consultants used in last
year's campaign that attacked Sen. John Kerry's war service, contributing to his
loss in the presidential race.” – Ana M. Alaya, Newark Star-Ledger, Feb. 23,
2005.

• “‘[AARP is] the boulder in the middle of the highway to personal savings
accounts,’ Charlie Jarvis, president of USA Next, told the Times. ‘We will be
the dynamite that removes them.’ If you can't win an argument on the merits,
then dirty up your opposition.” – Nationally syndicated liberal columnist Molly
Ivins, Chicago Tribune, Feb. 24, 2005.

Several liberal activist groups have started petition drives to “stop USA Next.”
But what the liberals cannot hide is the shameful record of liberal activism
AARP has compiled over the years while claiming it is a seniors organization.
Here is just some of the record for which USA Next will be holding AARP
accountable in the coming months:

While USA Next champions elimination of taxes on Social Security benefits,
AARP, with all its power, has never worked to eliminate this terrible double
tax.

AARP, with its immense power, could have stopped payroll tax increases
(FICA) in 1984, 1988 and 1989, and many more tax increases before that going
back to the 1960s.

AARP received more than $67 million in taxpayer-funded federal grants in
2003 alone. Over the past 15 years, AARP has taken $1.1 BILLION in hardworking
taxpayers’ money through federal “grants.”

AARP has consistently opposed elimination of the death tax and significant
cuts in the capital gains tax.

AARP aggressively pushes Scudder Investments, which allows AARP members to
invest their money in mutual funds. Yet AARP vehemently opposes Personal
Savings Accounts for younger workers to invest their Social Security money in
conservative ventures.

AARP opposed the marriage amendment in Ohio that passed last year by a
margin of 62 percent to 38 percent. The amendment defined marriage as being
between one man and one woman. AARP did not make its opposition to the Ohio
marriage amendment public until it was forced to do so in the New York Times on
February 23.

AARP has strongly supported gun control measures such as the Brady Bill.

Ten years ago AARP was forced to pay the IRS $135 million in back taxes
after trying to claim its business profits qualified as gifts to charity. This
caused former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson to convene hearings looking into how
AARP could profit from business enterprises while claiming tax-exempt status so
it could apply for federal grants.

Not only is AARP the largest liberal lobbying organization in America, its
largesse also betrays an agenda that has less to do with seniors and, again,
much more to do with pushing a political agenda.

In 2003, AARP employed 20 paid lobbyists, spending $20 million on
lobbying.

Last year, AARP purchased its own headquarters in downtown Washington for
$204 million after paying $20 million per year in rent.

This is just some of the case USA Next will be making against AARP to its
members. Our own national surveys reveal about 38 percent of AARP members –
over a third – identify themselves as conservative. We will ensure these people
know what AARP’s true agenda is, and we will ensure they know USA Next is an
organization where they can get great travel discounts and insurance packages
that AARP provides, without the liberal politics and their sky high fees.

AARP and its liberal allies in Congress will stop at nothing to protect their
control over taxpayers’ own retirement money. If you would like more
information about AARP’s liberal agenda and USA Next’s Stop Scaring Seniors NOW!
campaign feel free to contact me at (703)-359-6500.
************************************************** ********************

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

I joined many years ago and then decided they weren't my cup of tea. I
never paid another penny but to this day I still get all their propaganda I
suppose to swell their membership numbers. I wonder what their real
membership numbers are.
Anyway, I still use their discounts because they still are using me!
Gordon
"Butch Davis" wrote in message
k.net...
John,

AARP does not represent me. Of course I'm not a member although I'm
certainly fully qualified. I strongly suspect that the overwhelming
majority of AARP members are in it for the discounts and don't give a hoot
about the political agenda of the organization.

They claim to represent all the members political goals. I suspect they
represent a small percentage of the memebr's political goals. They should
be ignored as background noise.

Butch
"John H" wrote in message
...
On 2 Mar 2005 09:15:09 -0800, "Capt John" wrote:


Harry Krause wrote:
GOP Lawmakers Attack Democrats, AARP

2 minutes ago

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON - Republicans attacked the AARP as well as congressional
Democrats on Wednesday as they struggled to build momentum behind
President Bush's call for personal investment accounts under Social
Security.


The AARP, which claims 35 million members age 50 and over, is
"against a
solution that hasn't been written yet," said House Majority Leader
Tom
DeLay after a closed-door meeting with the GOP rank and file.

He called the group's opposition to personal accounts irresponsible
and
hypothetical, adding that it sells mutual funds to its own
membership.

A spokeswoman for the organization had no immediate comment.

DeLay and Speaker Dennis Hastert also criticized congressional
Democrats, who are virtually united in opposition to Bush's plans.
"The
party of no," Hastert called them.

- - -

It's a matter of trust. No one trusts the Republicans on this issue.

The head of the AARP, by the way, is an old Nixon CREEP operative.

Their's two problems with AARP, first, they are extremely pro
Democratic Party. No organization should ever put all their eggs in one
basket like that, regardless of which party you support, it's not in
the best interest of their membership.

Second, most AARP members on social security know damm well the money
younger Americans are putting into social security is going directly to
them. Their's probably going to be nothing for younger Americans when
they retire, or they will be forced to work for several additional
years before they qualift for benefits.

The current system is not popular among younger Americans, and all the
polls show that. It's just a matter of which group is more powerful.
The AARP doesn't care about younger Americans. It doesn't care that the
system is "robbing Peter to pay Paul".

Joining AARP seemed worthwhile in order to get discounts at motels while
on
trips. Now I find I can get the same, or better, discounts with my DAV
card.

Bye, bye AARP.

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."