Time Of The Essence

Josh Marshall on the Social Security “crisis”:

The program is in such a dire state of crisis, it would seem, that every time the bean counters run the numbers, its solvency seems assured even further into the future.
As in Iraq, you start to understand that there is a Social Security crisis. The longer President Bush waits, the more likely it is that even rosier numbers will come out on Social Security’s long-term financing.
There really isn’t a moment to lose.

Indeed. Generally, a president wants to push a major bill through quickly because the longer it takes to pass, the stronger and more organized its opponents become. In this case, Bush is confronting not only an opposition, but also reality. Better act quickly before the two join forces.