Democrats Will Try a Hybrid of Old, New Policies

[kskiska]

Sunday, February 15, 2004; Page A01

After months of bitter disputes over the direction of the party, top Democratic officials from front-running presidential candidate John F. Kerry to House and Senate leaders are coalescing around an election-year domestic agenda calling for higher taxes for wealthier Americans to finance an expansion of health care, education and other federal programs.

With Kerry in position to win the Democratic nomination and mold an election-year agenda with input from his colleagues in Congress, Democrats are essentially splitting the ideological difference between the centrist policies of President Bill Clinton in the 1990s and the liberal impulses of many party officials and activists today.

The hybrid ideological approach is reflected in the party's support for putting the brakes on some, but not all, trade deals, starting with one being negotiated with South America; slightly modifying the new education law and increasing spending for it; retaining tax cuts for the middle class; and somehow, holding back government spending enough to reduce the federal budget deficit as fast as, if not faster than, President Bush says he would.

In a nod to the party's more conservative members, especially those in the South, Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) said there is broad agreement to play down gun control and other cultural issues.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42676-2004Feb14.html

[David Dunham]

1. Looks good. The country wants change, but not radical change.

[lastknowngood]

2. I want radical change. They have had 7 years of radical

change.

[gate of the sun]

3. I want radical change too

they are trying to tow a moderate line.They think this appeals to the people. I think they are wrong.People are ready for a change and it doesn't look like it's going to happen.

[Voltaire99]

8. So do all progressives.

The Bushies have swung the nation hard to the right. The pendulum must be given a good hard push in order simply to return us to where we were before 9/11.

I'll make my vote contingent on whether there is an effort at serious reform. "Anybody But Bush" is not good enough.

For more on this problem of the Democratic Party's go-along centrism, take a look at Greider's article "Questions for Kerry" in the Feb 23 issue of The Nation.

[kwolf68]

4. Thats fine

Kerry is the one guy who has been able to handle the "Liberal" grenade thrown at him.

Dean is now out there calling himself a moderate meaning he's dead meat.

Kerry mustn't get into the gun control, abortion garbage because neither of those issues will win. The gun-rights zealots vote Republican and the pro-choice crowd will go Dem.

Don't back away from government regulations especially as it applies to children, workers, trade. And hit Bush on the environment.

If Kerry and his team were really sharp they could paint him as a Christian Hypocrit for Bush's addition to greed, exploitation, revenge and decemation (of the environment)...things Jesus himself preached against.

[metisnation]

5. In laymans terms

Bush is done stick together time to march these suckas out of office ten hut huuuurah!!!!!! Democracy is Coming!!!!!!!!!

[aquart]

6. And then what?

Do you really think they are wiping out the Patriot Act?

Because I do not.

[goobergunch]

7. It seems that we are going to be spineless once again....

Kerry and top Democratic congressional leaders have rejected broad policy changes such as repealing all of Bush's tax cuts and moving too quickly to provide health coverage to every American. "While some wanted everything, there is consensus around repealing those on high income," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Democrats said they will not promote completely undoing two other laws of which they have been highly critical: the No Child Left Behind accountability program for schools and educators; and the Medicare prescription drug plan. "In some places, we have learned lessons," said Kerry, who several times used the word "balanced" to describe the emerging Democratic approach.

Here's the first five sections of a law I want to see passed:

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Bush Revokation Act of 2005".

SEC. 2. REINSTATEMENT OF FISCAL DISCIPLINE.

(a) Public Law 107-16 (the `Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001') is hereby repealed.

(b) Public Law 108-27 (the `Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003') is hereby repealed.

SEC. 3. REINSTATEMENT OF SCHOOL FAIRNESS.

Public Law 107-110 (the `No Child Left Behind Act of 2001') is hereby repealed.

SEC. 4. REINSTATEMENT OF MEDICARE.

Public Law 108-173 (the `Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003') is hereby repealed.

SEC. 5. REINSTATEMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS.

Public Law 107-56 (the `Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001') is hereby repealed.


Repeal those first - then let's talk about moving forward.

[Rose Siding]

10. Bush's radical Legacy will stand

...with some tweaking.

At least Kerry realizes it isn't HIM that has unified anything.
snip>
Kerry said Bush's strategy of playing to his conservative base to maximize voter turnout among Republicans has brought Democrats together on most issues. "George Bush has helped unify the party," Kerry said in an interview last week.

The result: Voters this year likely will be presented with two clear, but not dramatically different, approaches to solving the nation's domestic problems, ranging from failing schools to soaring drug costs.

Look on the bright side. Think of the $ saved by low turnout. The plan has a built in vote suppressor! -No big differences between them and it's already being reported.

[Dover]

9. I want to know what KIND of globilization we are working for....

because ultimately that effects everything...especially domestic conditions. We need SIGNIFICANT changes in our trade policies, privatization issues, how the WTO, World Bank and IMF function, etc.

In short.....I want the BIG picture first, that will form the foundation for how we are perceived and received by the world and how we see ourselves as becoming more integrated into globlal as well as local goals. The rest will be built on this.