Media "Private account" watch for Monday, Jan 31

Sorry for the absence yesterday, but I've been working nights the past few days and I really needed to catch up on real world things. We now continue with the White House's request to remove "private accounts" from the world at large.

We start in Arizona, where The Arizona Republic is clearly not in President Bush's corner. Writing about the state of the Union address, Billy House notes:

Bush's plan to overhaul Social Security and introduce private accounts into the retirement system, which he described as the centerpiece of his speech and which he hopes can be passed in five months, also is on the defensive.

It's not clear if it's on the defensive because of the name change or the fact that it's just a bad idea.

This article in the Indianapolis Star frets about the impact of Bush's attempt to derail Social Security not just on the elder, but the state's economy as well. They hate it so much, they refer to "personal accounts" twice, and "public accounts" only once. One red state that has no love, it seems.

Finally, Jill Barton of the Associated Press squeezes in a few "privates" in her article on Bill Nelson (Sen(D)-Fl) and his opposition to Bush's plan. Oddly, so does Republican Rep. Mark Foley:

"The idea that we're going to give people their money and say, 'Good luck, hope you can manage it,' that's not the case," Foley said. "I would not vote for a privatization account that allows the individual to be able to micromanage their own accounts, subject to the vagaries of the market."

Guess he has yet to see the playbook (PDF, kinda large).

That's it. Striking huh? In all fairness, most articles in the days past have been about Iraqi elections and their impact on the world, and lead ups to the State of the Union. Stay tuned, however, for more.