Ugh. It's so easy to explain the 87 billion

[nyhuskyfan]

Why does nobody shoot this down. Why? Why? I want to rip out my hair that this is being discussed everywhere and nobody points out that the republicans all voted against the 87 billion dollar bill the Dem's proposed.

[trumad]

1. Remember this

If a couple of minor changes were made to that bill, Bush would have vetoed it..

[nyhuskyfan]

2. I hope Kerry brings it up tomorrow...

He can bring it up in the concept of fiscal responsibility and shared sacrifice -- not having ecomonic policy that caters to the wealthiest few. He can hammer the point home that he voted for a responsible bill to pay for the 87 billion -- and the Repugs voted against it.

[AngryLizard]

4. The Republicans voted against the dem bill

because it was a loan, right? And they just wanted the money upfront.

[nyhuskyfan]

6. All the Dems wanted to do...

Was roll back the tax cuts on the wealthy by a certain percentage. So instead of getting an $85,000 tax cut if you're a millionaire, it would only be $60,000 (or whatever it was -- I forget the exact numbers). They would still be getting cuts, just smaller ones. And the $87 billion would be paid for.

Republicans voted it down (they got walking orders - Bush would have vetoed it, I beleive). Then the bill came up again a second time with no way to pay for it. It passed 87-12 or something. Kerry was one of the 12 who put a protest vote in on principle. If it was a close vote, he would have favored it. In hindsight, it wasn't worth the principled stand, unless the Dems successfully turn the tables on them at some point -- either tomorrow or in one of the debates.

[DjTj]

3. Kerry actually voted for the 87 billion before he voted against it...

...although the Repugs are using that as a talking point, it's actually the best answer to the question, if only phrased somewhat poorly.

They voted for the 87 billion when there was a way to pay for it, by rolling back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. When Congress decided to pass the cost on to the next generation by increasing the debt, they voted against it.

Fiscal responsibility. Balanced Budgets. It's that simple.

[nyhuskyfan]

5. Right

It has an easy, simple explanation -- yet nobody, either in the media or the Democrats on panels, has shot it down as the farce that it is. It's floating out there way too much, as if Kerry refuses to support the troops.

I think the Dems need to mobilize and have answers ready to the Repug talking points that keep coming up repeatedly (first and fourth most liberal in the Senate, 87 billion, voted to raise taxes 235 times -- all of which are complete fabrications).