The Right Proposes, the Left Disposes

For those wonder what the elipses eliminated, I linked the transcript.  It is just mindless rambling by howlin Howie

You are correct the Moderates and the Democrats need to provide specific policy changes. The majority of Americans understand that what we are doing is not resolving the issues facing us. We need proposals that take a different approach that show some chance of success.

For Iraq- we give the Iraqi government a time line for our withdrawel ( Dec 2005) so they can begin planning for their people to defend their country. If they fail then it is on them.

The budget needs to be balanced by 2008 and begin developing a surplus by 2009 to begin repaying the debt. All options must be used-- spending cuts (start with the pork), better enforcement of existing laws and restoration of the tax rates to pre 2000 levels except for the increased child deduction, elimination of the marriage penality and the 10% bracket.

WE need to require ALL new cars sold in the US to get higher gas mileage, repeal the tax giveaway to big oil just passed and use it for tax credits to fund alternate energy and higher mileage cars, SUV's and trucks.

We need to increase the retirement age for Social Security and lift the cap of the wages taxed for Social Security. The added revenue from lifting the amount traxed shoud be invested in equities by the Social Security Trust fund the same way all state pension funds are today.

These are just a few new policies to begin SOLVING the issuies that face the US.

I'm just curious why Dean couldn't have said, "Well, obviously I don't have access to the intel that the President does, but based on the information that I DO have, I think that A, B, C, and D would be a good start"?

Is he afraid to stick his neck out with something that might get criticized? And this man wanted to be President!

Texas Wahnie-- GOOD QUESTION!

There is no doubt we need NEW policies!

These are just a few new policies to begin SOLVING the issuies that face the US.

Now that’s the COL I like to see. Not once did you say the name Bush.

repeal the tax giveaway to big oil just passed and use it for tax credits to fund alternate energy and higher mileage cars, SUV's and trucks.

I'm not poking you on this; I'm just uneducated on what tax credits you’re talking about. The only ones added in this last Energy package pasted recently that I had seen was the tax write off for the purchase, building and sale of Bio-diesel & hydrogen. All the other tax breaks went to the Energy Companies (i.e. raising the amount of green energy required purchased). If you got a link to the list of tax credits to Big oil companies, I would be interested.

Thanks ahead of time when you can do that.

I knew col would come with "raise the taxes" rhetoric.

Weak leadership sits around talking about how it can't work. Strong leadership points out why it won't work, and makes suggestions about how it could work, or what would be a better plan altogether.

Each Senator and House Member represents their state and district, we have to look at our representation and ask ourselves, his he or she a strong leader, or a weak one...

From what we see from the House and Senate Democrats lately, they don't seem to remember that they represent anyone but their party or that they are leaders at all.

ParaTed2K

Yes, the conservatives have a loyalty to their cause without reguard to how that impacts the majority of people they represent. The Democrats do the same thing but to a lesser extent. Most of the recent policies DO NOT benefit the majority of the people the members of Congress represent.

As to the energy bill, the bill appears to provide a great deal of the $14 Billion dollar cost to energy companies that are making profits which are off the scale. WHY? The size of the oil company profits should preclude adding to our deficit to further improve their bottom line! Every dollar of the $14 Billion dollar cost will be borrowed given our annual deficit.

You are correct the Moderates and the Democrats need to provide specific policy changes. The majority of Americans understand that what we are doing is not resolving the issues facing us. We need proposals that take a different approach that show some chance of success.

Dang, for once I gotta agree with the Col. with the exception of the middle sentence.

Reply By: COL Gene

That is exactly what the left needs to do.  Best response I have seen from you in a long time.

I'm just curious why Dean couldn't have said, "Well, obviously I don't have access to the intel that the President does, but based on the information that I DO have, I think that A, B, C, and D would be a good start"? Is he afraid to stick his neck out with something that might get criticized? And this man wanted to be President!

I think it goes beyond that.  For if they do take a position, then it can be debated and criticized.  By not taking a position, they can deny any accountability and just blame others.

Now that’s the COL I like to see. Not once did you say the name Bush.

I think he is getting a fan club.

I knew col would come with "raise the taxes" rhetoric.

But at least it is a position.  That is more than we can say for the left.  IN that, we can debate and discuss it.

Weak leadership sits around talking about how it can't work. Strong leadership points out why it won't work, and makes suggestions about how it could work, or what would be a better plan altogether.

No truer words were ever spoken.

Yes, the conservatives have a loyalty to their cause without reguard to how that impacts the majority of people they represent.

I disagree.  They have a regard to how that impacts the people, but they feel it is a good impact.  If they did as you say, they would not be in office very long.  That does not mean that it does not have a negative impact on the people, but that is what debate is for.  They beleive it helps the people.  So they took a stand.  The left beleives it has a negative impact, but refuse to take a stand other then to moan and groan.

Dang, for once I gotta agree with the Col. with the exception of the middle sentence.

But that is rhetoric and a point of debate.  Which cannot happen yet since the left wont propose anything, just trash everything.

Dr Guy

We have ample data as to how the Bush policy changes have impactd our country. WE have data that shows who have been helped, who have not been helped and who has lost ground. I have said the conservative agenda HAS produced the intended short term results for one segment of our population. It has also had a negative impact for many others and will have a negative long term impact for almost everyone i.e the increase in the debt and the added interest the American Taxpayes will be required to pay EVERY YEAR until we repay that added debt! We can not begin repaying the debt while we are runnung a annual deficit! The Bush plan NEVER produces a balanced budget much less a surplus that would be needed to begin repaying the debt that he added.

We have ample data as to how the Bush policy changes have impactd our country. WE have data that shows who have been helped, who have not been helped and who has lost ground. I

You see that is where we can have a debate, for the ones you claim have been hurt, I claim have not.  You say that middle class america have been hurt by the housing run up, yet they are the ones who own the additional wealth of a higher priced house.  It is not some face corporation, but the exact middle class that just got a boost in assets that you say were hurt.  We are most assuredly not being hurt.  This is a case of lifting all boats, and yet you still decry it.  Under your game plan, no one is safe until everyone can be reduced to poverty and government assistance.  Your very statistics show you that all boats are rising, yet you try to use anecdotal evidence to show most people suffering.  And you are wrong.  Your side was wrong in 1960s the 1980s and the 2ks.  With such a consistency of being wrong, I would expect you to come to expect it these days. 

The news is full of information about how the middle income workers income is NOT keeping pace with increases in Health, energy and housing costs. For those people that own a home, it is true that the value of their homes has increased. However, that increase in value does not help then pay the higher costs in health, food, energy etc. For middle income workers that do not own a home, the increase in cost is making home ownership more difficult and that can be sceen by the new mortgages( which are dangerous) like interest only and 40 year loans. That is becauue the higher prices have made it impossible for many middle income workers to afford a home with conventional loans.

The low income workers are even worse off. They have not sceen even as much wage growth as the middle income workers and must pay the same higher costs. The policies we are following are only helping a small percent of ther middle income workers and NONE of the low income workers. Thus, the vast majority of American workers have not done well under the Bush economic policies!

Col Gene:

Yes, the conservatives have a loyalty to their cause without reguard to how that impacts the majority of people they represent. The Democrats do the same thing but to a lesser extent. Most of the recent policies DO NOT benefit the majority of the people the members of Congress represent. As to the energy bill, the bill appears to provide a great deal of the $14 Billion dollar cost to energy companies that are making profits which are off the scale. WHY? The size of the oil company profits should preclude adding to our deficit to further improve their bottom line! Every dollar of the $14 Billion dollar cost will be borrowed given our annual deficit.

What Congress are you watching? The House and Senate Democrats are walking in lockstep with their leadership and the DNC like mindless robots. Name one that has broken ranks! We often hear of Republicans disagreeing with the majority leaders and Prs. Bush but rarely do we hear of Democrats disagreeing with the minority leaders.

Let's see, the recent policies have ushered in an economy that is stronger than a blind bat like you refuse to accept. You apparently completely ignore everything that anyone does that doesn't fit in your myopic little peabrain. Open your eyes sometime, you might like what you see... but that would be a tragedy wouldn't it.

The Republicans control the House, Senate and White House. The policies Bush has proposed have been passed into law by the Republican controlled Congress. Therefore the failure to solve our problems is the result of the GOP policies not the Democrats. I wish the GOP became moderate and the conservative operatives were defeated. The policies we are following are helping boost corporate profits but only a select few are being helped by the increased profits. Tax cuts are non existant for the low income workers and for the middle income American to benefit from the Bush tax cuts you must have both parties working( Marriage penality) or have dependent children ( higher tax credit). The reduction in tax on dividends and the new 10% bracket are of limited help. The BIG tax cuts went to the high income Americans.

The Republicans control the House, Senate and White House. The policies Bush has proposed have been passed into law by the Republican controlled Congress. Therefore the failure to solve our problems is the result of the GOP policies not the Democrats.

You "still" have not addressed the point I made. "If" GW's policies are so bad, then why have none of the democrats filibustered any of them? So don't lay this all on the GOP. It only takes ONE dem to start a filibuster.

drmiler

Listen to what you are saying-- To stop to destructive policies of the conservatives that control Congress and the White House the Democrats must STOP any action in the Senate, which is the only house that can use the filibuter. The use of the filibuster will not enact policies that will solve our problems but will bring the government to a hault! The policies we have are the conservative Republican ideas that only benefit a small segment of our population in the short run and harm everyone in the long term (i.e. the increased national debt and the higher interest that must be paid)

The solution is to enact policies that benefit the MAJORITY in the LONG TERM which requires either a change in control in Congress and/or the White House or a change in the objectives of the conservatives who are currently in control!

Listen to what you are saying-- To stop to destructive policies of the conservatives that control Congress and the White House the Democrats must STOP any action in the Senate, which is the only house that can use the filibuter. The use of the filibuster will not enact policies that will solve our problems but will bring the government to a halt!

Well if the policies are as bad as you continue to say they are, maybe that's what's needed.

The solution is to enact policies that benefit the MAJORITY in the LONG TERM which requires either a change in control in Congress and/or the White House or a change in the objectives of the conservatives who are currently in control!

What is it col? Raise taxes, socialist healthcare maybe?

Col, do you realize that democrats keep losing on these issues?