Uh, DC, it would be hard to beat the current administration for "more government" . . . how much more could we have?
Julie ...
If you are arguing that the Bush Administration could stand to be more conservative fiscally, you are preaching to the choir. But ... you make me laugh. The Demos are worried about the size of govt.?!! Ha! Ha! This is good.
How big could it get? Bigger than Magnus Democratus, for sure.
"The Republicans in the Senate are just making me sick. What a bunch of tassle-loafered weenies. They may end up following McCain's and Hagel into complete oblivion."
So, uh, what are you going to call your new party, DC? I think this is just wonderful. The Republican party split into several pieces. Gosh I could just cry crocodile tears over that!
So you guys on the far right (OK, I concede the point about you being in the far right 5%), you just keep on truckin' and tearing the party in two.
Please.
Ah, Julie ... I know you wish to give Republicans advice, but first consider this ...
1) I am a mainstream conservative, not "far right" ... Your heroes are Pelosi and Boxer. So I guess mainstream conservatives (i.e., a role for the federal govt., lower taxes, strong defense, work is not a sin, it's okay to be an American and believe in God, you know Ronald Reagan-type stuff) look like the "Far Right" to the "Far Left".
2) I am a conservative first ... Republican second. I won't shed any tears for any party. Both parties have problems, but there's a reason the Demos have been losing ground since 1980 ... and can't push their agenda except through unelected courts.
3) It's Hagel and McCain and their ilk who will be in trouble ultimately. Mark it down.
Well, uh, we did get a President elected, TWICE, not too long ago.
And if you don't vote Republican... where are you goin' with that?
I repeat my question, What will you call your new party, DC?
"It's sickening. A constant search for dirt to destroy political opponents that they can't defeat at the ballot box."
Whitewater, anyone? Travel office? Vince Foster? Hello?
PW ...
Agreed that Repubs can engage in such conduct (i.e., the Vince Foster matter is a good example), and have ... although Clinton and his cronies were guilty (and proven so) of a number of things, you will recall.
But ... hang on ... here's the difference. Scandal (or purported scandal) is ALL the Demos have. Where's the agenda? Remember the Contract for America (c. 1994) when the Repubs were in the minority? But where's the agenda today by the Demos? Bush is evil. Bush is Hitler. Bush wants to take money from old people. The Right is setting up a theocracy. The Republicans want to rip up the Constitution. This is your agenda?
Say what you want. You can't fool all Americans. The Demos have no agenda. Because they know if they define it, they lose ... and big.
Julie ...
Oh, oh, you have me pinned down ... oh, please ... I can't get up. Help.
But seriously, I am a Republican still, and I happily build coalitions with people of all stripes whom I disagree with. C'mon.
But parties are only a part of the story. The Repubs have issues to address, for sure ... i.e., judges, dealing with immigration effectively and in a smart way, i.e. But the Demos are in a huge hurt locker.
Me? I happily remain the High Potentate of the Coalition of the Winning. And whoever wins the battles in Washington won't alter the life of D.C. Knowwhadimean?
just wonderin' if you were goin' for a party of ... one ... with the vulture as the national bird?
couldn't resist...
Agenda? You mean, like these bills?
#
Women's Health Care (S. 844). The Prevention First Act of 2005 will reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions by increasing funding for family planning and ending health insurance discrimination against women.
#
Veterans' Benefits (S. 845). The Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2005 will assist disabled veterans who, under current law, must choose to either receive their retirement pay or disability compensation.
#
Fiscal Responsibility (S. 851). Democrats will move to restore fiscal discipline to government spending and extend the pay-as-you-go requirement.
#
Relief at the Pump (S. 847). Democrats plan to halt the diversion of oil from the markets to the strategic petroleum reserve. By releasing oil from the reserve through a swap program, the plan will bring down prices at the pump.
#
Education (S. 84
. Democrats have a bill that will: strengthen head start and child care programs, improve elementary and secondary education, provide a roadmap for first generation and low-income college students, provide college tuition relief for students and their families, address the need for math, science and special education teachers, and make college affordable for all students.
#
Jobs (S. 846). Democrats will work in support of legislation that guarantees overtime pay for workers and sets a fair minimum wage.
#
Energy Markets (S. 870). Democrats work to prevent Enron-style market manipulation of electricity.
#
Corporate Taxation (S. 872). Democrats make sure companies pay their fair share of taxes to the U.S. government instead of keeping profits overseas.
#
Standing with our troops (S. 11). Democrats believe that putting America's security first means standing up for our troops and their families
Regardless, a minority party has very little power to set an agenda and you know it. That is why they are often called the "opposition party".
But beyond that, the greatest thing they can do for the American people, and the future of this country, is to oppose the tragically regressive Republican agenda.
"heavens sake ... yelling at subordinates?"
Yelling at, intimidating, threatening the careers of, and sicking the NSA on subordinates because they will not pad intelligence estimates on Cuba or Iraq in order to help you spin the public toward suporting your administration's desired objective?
Heavens!
PW ...
Congratulations for addressing substance (although your comment sounds a bit like those hired talking point-talking heads on TV, but hey, it's a start). We can, or rather should be debating the substance of such things. But truly, I hadn't heard anything about them. Who is talking about them? What page of what publication are they on? You must admit they haven't been dominating the discussion from the Left.
Indeed, what we mostly hear from the Demos is Delay is evil, Bolton is evil, Bush is Hitler. Heck, look at your site. It's not very positive. Be honest and admit it.
Truth is, I think the Demos could make some hay on trade and global economic issues. Maybe even immigration. They might even find some unexpected allies. But they are too busy demonizing the opposition.
No we're not. Check my post on "The Blue Tinge in the West". yes yes yes its cut and pasted from the LA Times but we're movin' in the right direction. The national Dems haven't got it yet, but the West on it.
Julie,
If you can't admit that the Demos in general have been attacking and demonizing rather than proposing an agenda ... well, you need to try that on some one who hasn't been paying attention.
Heck, Howard Dean does it every other day ... imitating Rush snorting coke ... saying he "hates Republicans and everything they stand for" ...
You may not be demonizing, but your party has been at it full throttle.
Where's the John McCain of the Demos?
Joe Leiberman
I said "where" ... not "who". What has he said about the comments of Dean? About the anti-Bush vitrol, which he clearly doesn't share.
The silence is deafening. Kinda sounds like the Demos' discussion of their agenda.
DC, I would jump in and support ya but that would be unfair, you already got them out numbered...Just had to get my jab in too, (Sorry it’s a Marine Thing).
It is good to see this kind of honest real (as it can get) debate.
Assuming that you are for real and not a satire (Daisy Cutter? That's uh, a nice name...) I'll agree with you on one thing: the Democrats disgust me.
But it's for failing to stick to the progressive vision. It's for selling out - a double-stupidity, being that the party in power at present - who'd never have gotten there without a diddled election or three and a very dubious terrorist attack whose "mastermind" remains at large - is obviously covering that area of sociopolitical and cultural reality better than any makeshift second sellout could. Bad strategy, bad karma. Double trouble.
Dark days indeed, that these thoughts expressed here are thought of as "mainstream". But out of the darkness will rise the next stage - although maybe half the world will perish before the other half wakes up enough to realize that there's a state of mind beyond the flat, 2D "liberal"/"conservative" pendulum swing. When a pendulum is given free reign to move, it doesn't just swing left, right, left, right...but moves in broad cycles.
The next cycle will see something of the best of the hippie and the soldier together. Or so I think in my lunatic optimist moments, which I admit grow fewer with every passing year.
Michael ...
Good to see you rolling up on my position, but it would indeed be unfair for you to open up, as well. We might both get court-martialed. But then, maybe we'd deal to an NJP and write a book ... I don't know. But hey ...
DM,
Thanks for dropping in. A good, honest, psychedelic socialista like yourself I can deal with. Yes, the Demos are just disgusting. But your lefty buddies are so busy hammering Bush and all things conservative that they are going the way of the buffalo (and I don't mean they are hitting the tennis courts) ... and what is hilarious is that they don't even know it. They think they are winning. The problem is ... they are playing golf but I am playing basketball.
Me? I am happy and going about my life. I smile frequently, and don't take myself so seriously. Maybe we have that in common, too.
Feel free to drop by here again. Open borders here. All are welcome. Must be a Bush deal.
O.K., let's knock this off right now. This calls for an impartial referee.
JulieB... You're way off base.
Wanker... You're a wanker.
DC... On the money, as usual.
Just happy I could help.
Hey, Nickie!
Whoa Hoo! Impartial? Um, no comment.
And you're back... hmmm, the brew must be wearing off, where are those poison apples...
Good to get Judge Goomba in here to settle this ... Man, Nickie ... I'm all verklempt. Thanks for checking in. Pardon me. I'm a little misty.
Speaking of Judge Goomba, if the Repubs grow a set in the next few days, maybe we'll be able to nominate some judges who think like Goomba.
And what a wonderful world it would be.
Ha ha ha, DC, throwing in a little Yiddish? I like that!
But answer this - of the judges that were rejected the first time around and remain... rejected... even Gonzales didn't want one of them, saying she was much too radical! C'mon .... give me a break here!
Radical? Find me the quote where Gonzalez said that any one of the president's nominees were too radical.
If they are too radical, surely you can get more than half the Senate to vote against them. Or ... perhaps the real "radicals" are where they usually are -- in the minority.
You haven't heard much of those initiatives because they are the upcoming bills; not introduced. You will not hear much about them in the near future because they will be killed early, in Republican-dominated committees.
You will hear much about them in the next election cycle when Republican opposition to them is highlighted.
Again: The minority party does not have the power to set "the" agenda. That does not mean they do not have their own . . . but it does mean they cannot enact it.
OK, DC, so Krugman is up on PW again. No, I put it there, but I did my best on the commentary.
Oh for petes sake - post another obnoxious topic....
DC,
You have been tagged by the Turd in a punchbowl meme. Enjoy.
http://losli.mu.nu/archives/078975.php
I've responded to you latest at PW. You need to come around more often. The echos are getting deafening.
(Love ya Julie! I'd say 'love ya Scott' too, but he won't come around here)
Have you considered devoting yourself to comments only? I find it liberating.
And, interestingly enough, I still post sometimes.
Hmmm, he's not been here for 4 or 5 days guys.... perhaps we should see if he left the back door locked?
Are you home DC?
Have you got ice cream in the freezer and liquor in the cabinet??
he he he
It is I ... Have been on a secert (that's Clintonian for "secret") mission. But, I shall return. And soon.
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