What I find most ironic about President Obama’s budget is that in trying to find “common ground”, he became the caricature Republicans created about him.

The story goes that some mice became very upset about the cat in the house and convened an emergency meeting. They finally came up with the idea of tying a bell around the cat’s neck, so the dangerous feline could no longer catch victims unawares. The plan gained a lot of enthusiastic praise, until one mouse piped up with a question that preceded a long silence: “Who’s going to bell the cat?”

The revolt has begun. Yesterday a petition with 2.3 million signatures opposing the Obama Budget’s cuts to social insurance programs was dropped off at the White House. A rally was also held representing a coalition of interest groups committed to opposing the cuts as a Democratic President pressed on with his plans to attack the signature achievements of the New Deal and Great Society

Treasury Secretary Lew goes to Berlin. Mr. Lew encourages Europeans to reduce their austerity measures because they are ruining their economies. He wants Europeans to spur their demand or spending. That is a good suggestion.

Senator Lindsey Graham appears to be excited by President Obama’s recent proposal to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits. As social insurance advocates mobilize in opposition to Obama’s austerity budget there are signs that Republicans are aroused by the thought of screwing the poor, veterans, and seniors with cover from a Democratic President.

President Obama’s proposal to cut Social Security and Medicare has fueled a civil war within the Democratic Party. The social insurance programs are considered by many Democrats to be the party’s greatest achievements in the New Deal and Great Society, respectively. Obama’s alignment with Bush style Neoliberalism has provoked the progressive wing of the party to begin to openly defy the termed out president.

While Washington debates cutting Social Security and Medicare the facts are in on the “recovery” – it’s a bust. Not only has unemployment remained historically high – 7.7% officially, 23% by the old metrics – but poverty has spiked to historic highs.

Seems like the enemies of Social Security and Medicare will pull out every trick they know to achieve their goal. Today an otherwise astute economist told a reporter that disabled Vets had to take a cut in their benefits just “like everyone else”, in a scold, as if they were asking for special consideration. They said that they had already made sacrifices for their country and gave the answer that it is unfair to change the terms of the contract after you have already finished your side of the deal. She was firm, and insisted that there would be no carve outs for special groups. Did she miss the Gene Sperling memo?

In 2011, before he was the Republican nominee for vice-president, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) proposed a federal budget. He called it, “The Path to Prosperity: Restoring America’s Promise.”

Two years later, now in his second year as chair of the House budget committee, he dusted off and polished his old proposal. He calls this one: “The Path to Prosperity: A Responsible Balanced Budget.”

Okay, that’s not exactly what Robert Samuelson said, but pretty close. He actually told readers:

What frustrates constructive debate is muddled public opinion.