I was watching Max Baucus (D-Montana), vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, on CSPAN this morning.

What a knucklehead.

He was talking about how Bush's privatization plan for Social Security is a bad idea...and don't get me wrong, it is a bad idea.

But the host asked him if Social Security was a problem or not. Certainly, he said, down the road. Then there was an exchange like this:

Host: Some critics say that the Democrats have failed to offer a viable alternative to the President's plan. What do you say to that?

Baucus: You know why we haven't offered a plan? Because the President's plan is so awful, and everyone can see that it's going to make the problem worse, not better...

He went on in that vein for another few minutes, just repeating criticisms of the Bush proposal. Now I don't like private accounts. They make more sense than the current system, but neither system makes sense when you get right down to it.

The way to fix Social Security is to make it what it was intended: a safety net. Needs test it and give benefits to people who, you know, need it. Let everyone else manage for their own retirement. If they fail to do so, for whatever reason, then they need it, and they can apply for it.

But to say we haven't come up with a counterproposal because the other side's plan is so bad?!? What is this, the third grade?

What a jagoff.