While George W. Bush is seeing a number of key Republicans voice stong pessimism over his Social Security plan, GOP defections aren't his only problem. As the President prepares his attempt to dismantle the entitlement program through privatization, AARP is beginning a concerted effort to block him, as the Christian Science Monitor's Linda Feldmann notes:

Bill Novelli doesn't like headlines that frame the debate over Social Security as a "clash of titans" - his own 35.6 million-member AARP, of which he is CEO, versus the Bush administration. He says President Bush has done a "very good thing" by putting Social Security on the national agenda.

But as the Democratic Party still finds its way in a world of larger Republican majorities in Congress and a second Bush term in the White House, the nation's largest lobby group for senior citizens has become the de facto leader in the battle to preserve what it considers essential elements of the program.

As the Bush White House and key Republican leaders discuss the twin goals of ensuring Social Security's long-term solvency and promoting the concept of an "ownership society" by allowing workers to put some of their payroll taxes into personal or private accounts, the plan that AARP is developing may end up being the lead alternative.

"We are not interested in confrontation with any party or any administration. We are interested in cooperation," Mr. Novelli told reporters at a Monitor breakfast Monday. "But having said that, we are dead set against carving private accounts out of Social Security money, and this is our No. 1 legislative agenda." [emphasis added]

Check out the whole must-read piece as it sums up AARP's opposition to this plan perfectly. If you're interested in the blogosphere's reaction to Bush's privatization attempt, visit ThereIsNoCrisis.com.