GOP pushing Social Security privatization...

... and doing it all alone.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Senate Finance Committee is not just exploring theoretical methods of "saving" Social Security. It is moving on the president's call for private accounts.

But as Bush's 60-day, 60-city tour to sell the accounts drew to a close, what was evident on Capitol Hill was the contrast between Republican frustration in the committee room and glee among a large contingent of Democrats at a noisy union-led anti-privatization rally in a sunny park across the street.

Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, outlined a process over the next two to three months that will force the high-powered Republicans on his panel to accept benefit cuts and tax increases necessary to make the giant retirement program permanently solvent, while including the private accounts that Bush and most of his party want but Democrats steadfastly oppose.

Two hours later, the daunting odds that the plainspoken Iowa farmer faces were made obvious. Two Democrats who had made friendly gestures of bipartisanship in the hearing room -- Max Baucus of Montana and Ron Wyden of Oregon -- joined the rally across the street vowing to save Social Security from Bush's devices.

Suggesting that Bush should extend his tour, Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., told the crowd, "If he's going out to push for privatization, let's help him pack!"

Not only are Republican Senators willing to push Bush's idea, they are, apparently, implementing the presidential exit strategy.

If Bush proposed a plan, [South Carlolina Senator Lindsey] Graham acknowledged that it would be attacked, but he suggested that Bush would then have "the moral authority" to challenge Democrats to come up with their own ideas to restore the program. At that point, Graham said, "I believe it will be untenable for the Democratic Party .. . just to tell us all: Take a hike. I don't think they can survive politically. "

Grassley, by contrast, bluntly insisted that Bush not put forward a detailed plan. "I don't want him to," Grassley said. "I want to do that myself. "

If Bush lays out specific options, that will just give Democrats a target to attack, Grassley said.

Which is precisely why Bush has not and will not propose a plan. In fact, it is time for the Democrats to start asking, as loudly as they can, "where is the president's plan? Enough of this nonsense about 'where is our plan?' Where is yours, Mr. President?" Bush should not be allowed to erase his name from this debacle.

Big ups to Chuck Grassley for loyalty, though, that's for sure.