Who do they think they’re kidding?

Now that it has become clear that President Bush is serious about reforming Social Security, and that he may well do it, suddenly Democrats are saying things like, “Oh, well, Social Security isn’t in too bad shape,” “It’s projected to be solvent for another forty years; we have more important things to do now,” “Reforming Social Security isn’t that big a priority,” and so on. But remember 1998? Remember when President Clinton’s career was on the ropes? Remember what he and his minions constantly chanted? It was, “The President has to get back to work to save Social Security, Medicare, etc.” Hmm. It would seem that, in 1998, Social Security was in danger of becoming insolvent. But now, seven years later, the Democrats are saying that it isn’t a big deal. What has changed since then?