What the Democrats Should Do Now

[SHRED]

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All right, but why is it an "either/or" choice?
DO BOTH! Investigate AND govern...damn it!
:argh:

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What the Democrats Should Do Now
by Robert B. Reich


The 2008 Presidential campaign begins today. Whatever the Democrats do with their new-found congressional power over the next two years, it will be with the big 2008 prize in mind.

Some Democrats want to expose the malfeasance and nonfeasance of the Bush Administration – find out who really knew what and when with regard to weapons of mass destruction, Abu Graahb, Katrina, payoffs to Abramoff and all the other rot. That’s understandable, but it would be far better if Democrats used their new-found power to lay out a new agenda for America.

There’s no point digging up more dirt. Bush isn’t running again. John McCain, the Republican’s most likely choice to replace him, has distanced himself so far from the administration that no amount of dirt will soil him. Besides, the public and the media are already suffering from outrage fatigue. And the Democrats wouldn’t be credible, anyway. It will be easy for Republicans to dismiss their efforts as more of the same old partisan bickering. The fact is, the public is sick of mud-slinging. Instead of dwelling on what’s gone wrong, Democrats should focus on what to do right. For example:

* Cut the Alternative Minimum Tax so it doesn’t slam the middle class, and roll back the Bush tax cuts for the rich. ? Open Medicare to every American who needs affordable health insurance, and use Medicare’s resulting huge bargaining clout to reduce drug prices.
* Bar companies from deducting from their corporate income taxes any executive pay in excess of $1 million a year. ? Raise the minimum wage and index it to inflation.
* Reform Social Security by eliminating the ceiling on payments so people earning over $100,000 a year pay the same percent of their income as everyone else.
* Raise fuel economy standards, eliminate subsidies to the oil companies, and use the money instead for basic R&D in non-carbon based energy.
* Renegotiate the Kyoto protocols on greenhouse gas emissions. ? And while we’re at it, reaffirm the Geneva Conventions.

MORE: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1109-30.htm

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[Virginia Dare]

1. What they have to do is very simple...

they have to restore the checks and balances that the Founding Fathers intended to be in place. That is what has been missing for the last six years, and we've paid a price. I believe that is really the biggest thing that the American people expect from them, and that is where they need to start.

[wtmusic]

2. I know...this graciousness borders on the obsequious

We don't owe them anything. It's been fun, kids...but time for law and order.

[ixion]

3. after six years of hubris and slander

we're just supposed to move on. What the hell is wrong with these people? Have they totally wiped the past six years from memory? I sure haven't.

Failure to investigate BushCo for War Crimes, Corruption and Crimes against Humanity is a failure for American Democracy, IMO.

[SHRED]

4. and I will add

For the nearly 3000 dead soldiers.
For the many thousands more, maimed for life.

For the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians, dead and maimed.
For the needless war on Iraq.
For the no-bid contract ripoffs.
For the war profiteering.
For the failed oversight by the corporate Republican suck-ups.
For the big corporate influence over our government.

For all these reasons and more...
...we must have investigations.
We simply must.
Our government OWES us an explanation!!

Maybe Robert Reich doesn't think the above is important, but we do!

[QueenOfCalifornia]

5. Reich can go...

...take a flying leap into the bottomless pit where the republicans keep their:

Morals
hearts
souls
brains
and
balls

I want to see them punished like any one of us democrats would have been punished if we even dared to pull one tenth of the shit that has been going on for the last six years. I want good, old fashioned:

JUSTICE FOR ALL!

...and a trip behind the wood shed is required

[SHRED]

6. I concur "little buddy"!

[Demeter]

7. If The Dirt Isn't Dug Up, Where's the Disincentive?

Justice denied, reparations NEVER made, laws just a fig leaf for wholesale crime, is that what Reich prefers? Reward the crooks and pardon the perps, and see fascism rise from the grave yet again, as it did after Nixon, after Reagan and Bush Sr., and go through this kabuki drama AGAIN???

No, if that's the plan, I'm not for it. I'd rather have a Civil War than a sweeping under the carpet. And without investigation, prosecution, and RICO, there won't be any justice. We've had enough of that lip service, now it's time for some REAL democracy. Defund the Fascists and put them in public disgrace, or suffer endless repetitions of the SOS.