Ready to switch parties?

[Onlooker]

Republicans are now supporting what may be the largest federal program ever. Bush has promised to rebuild New Orleans, with the federal government baring most of the cost. He has promised worker recovery accounts of $5,000 each to help people get training and jobs. He has promised to get evacuees out of shelters by mid-October and will give some federal property to low income people.

He actually said, "That poverty has roots in a history of racial discrimination, which cut off generations from the opportunity of America. We have a duty to confront this poverty with bold action." It's the first time either party has acknowledged racism and poverty since before Reagan.

Add to that the fact that the House of Representatives passed a hate crimes bill 223-199 that protects gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people. It's margin of victory shows that it had considerable Republican support and no strong opposition from the leadership.

Leading Republicans now recognize that the full repeal of the estate tax is over and that privatizing Social Security is dead. Plus, more and more Republicans want to bring our troops home from Iraq. The pro-choice Republicans are starting to find their voice.

There are still many other issues I'm concerned with, but if the Republican Party can come this far, who's to say it can't come further. We're seeing a return to liberalism. Isn't it wonderful?

[Atman]

1. The parties switched roles decades ago anyway.

But sorry...it is about as easy for me to say "I'm a republican" as it was for Bush to say "I accept responsibility."


We'll need a new name.

[demnan]

2. Not now, not ever

Although a few Republicans have turned on Bush, note where it really matters, a bi-partisan commission on investigating the government's errors during the hurricane, all the Republicans jump in line to protect this administration, with the Republican Senator from Lousiana actually criminally not voting!

As far as the asshole's empty promises to New Orleans I would just ask you to remember all the aid he promised New York after 9/11 that never materialized.

[sendero]

3. Bush has an illustrious history..

.... of making promises, especially for money, that are never followed through on. There's a web page out there with at least 20 examples, including the "15 billion dollars for aids" and other promises.

Bush will SAY anything because he has learned that the lazy American media and the lazy American public will let him get away with it.

[iconoclastic cat]

4. It's all bullshit. Smoke, mirrors, etc.

Don't believe a word that comes out of their mouths. All that money will be going to private industry, theocr--er, faith-based organizations, and other non-democratic (small d) entities.

[abluelady]

10. But His Followers Will Believe Him

and probably be pissed. I expect his numbers to keep dropping. We know him and now they are going to be furious that he is saying government should help out. I am guessing we are in a win/win situation.

[mtnsnake]

5. "with the federal government baring most of the cost"??

They don't bear any cost. The ones who bear the cost are you, me, our children and grandchildren who will have to pay back China and Japan obscene amounts of interest from an already out-of-whack deficit.

The thought of switching to Republicans makes me wanna :puke:

[all.of.me]

6. this is almost like too-good-to-be-true

what is the hidden agenda? i don't trust it, but it SOUNDS great!

[ObaMania]

9. Hidden agenda?

An attempt to bring some of us to the dark side.

I'd just like to see splinter groups from both parties form a new party. Not Libertarians, not Green... maybe just a true independent party.

Something that would take off, grow, and really get some clout. We need to give the status quo a run for their money and shake things up a bit.

Now that would be something!

[calimary]

22. That's it, in a nutshell - what you just said.

"What is the hidden agenda? I don't trust it, but it SOUNDS great."

ALWAYS ask that whenever this jackal opens his mouth.

ALWAYS read between the lines, and search for the hidden angle.

There's ALWAYS an angle.

There's ALWAYS fine print.

There's ALWAYS a catch.

But yes, it does sound great. Consider the source, though. Can you really trust this man, especially on such a project? That involves opening the federal coffers and pouring out generosity on projects that supposedly benefit the poor and needy? WHEN has he ever followed through on anything of that sort? WHEN has he actually made good on anything of that sort?

I didn't think so.

Trust your instincts. You're correct to be skeptical. This leopard isn't gonna suddenly just magically morph into a tiger overnight, if ever.

[all.of.me]

24. it was surreal, just like the hurricane

in both instances, i was asking myself, can this be true?!

[Onlooker]

7. Well, I don't trust them either ...

But, isn't it pathetic that it's the Republican Party that's first since before Reagan to put race and poverty back on the national agenda? The Democratic Party is a complete mess.

[hlthe2b]

11. HELLO?????????? It is the REPUBLICANS

who have put race and poverty back on the national agenda? WHAAAAAAHT?

THEY have put more people in poverty in three short years (not to mention under Bush I and Reagan) and their entire response to NOLA was nothing short of racist/class genocide. And YOU are crediting THEM with "putting race and poverty back on the national agenda?"

Well, if you kill your parents, I guess you do put patricide on the agenda, hmmm? Good GOd

If this thread has not brought the lurking trolls out, then someone surely put koolaid into the nation's tvs. :eyes:

[emulatorloo]

13. No you are missing the point -- Bush is buying his way out of trouble

He messed up, now we must pay.

The only reason he mentioned race and poverty was because his handlers told him to, and Howard Dean has be raising the issue.

[Onlooker]

15. I'm not missing the point

My point is, Where have the Democrats been on issues of race and poverty for the last 25 years? While, we as Democrats recognize that these are valid issues, our leadership has mostly mimicked the Republicans by talking only about the middle class. Of course, Bush is simply being an opportunist, but it's a disgrace that the Republicans are at least taking stands that the Democrats should have held onto all along. Let's not forget, it's the Democrats (Clinton) who ruined welfare and was more concerned with balancing the budget than introducing programs to help the poor. Again, I don't trust Bush and the Republicans at all, but I'm really pissed off at the Democrats.

[Greyhound]

17. The repugs are not taking a stand on anything other than getting

re-elected so they can continue to advance their agenda of turning this country into a nation of indentured serfs.
It is a sad fact that the Dems have not done anything of real consequence for the last 35 - 40 years, when they had the chance. It is also one of the reasons that the repugs were able to take over.

[mmonk]

8. Freedom is dependent on

upholding the Consitution and all its amendments and the Bill of Rights. Freedom is dependent on an unbought press. Freedom is dependent on those in power respecting the checks and balances and the laws of the land. It doesn't matter what their programs are, I cannot become a member of that party.

[PDX Bara]

12. And as a woman

I cannot support in any way a political party that would control what I do with my uterus, which I still have. In my foolish youth, I thought I would probably become some sort of a conservative when I turned about 50 - I must not be 50 yet even if my driver's license says I'm over 60 ;-) .

[mmonk]

18. Yeah

I'm still waiting for that theory of becoming conservative with age to kick in. I must be an anomaly.

[realFedUp]

14. I am ready to switch countries

Venezuala's looking good actually.

[all.of.me]

25. i've been told to go to venezuela

when are ya leaving?! come get me!

[Greyhound]

16. Don't fall for it. This is simply a placebo to placate our anger.

So they can say that they've changed their ways for the mid-terms. Remember that * isn't running again so now they can run away from him.
Unfortunately I believe it will work.

[katinmn]

19. Yeah, thinking about going Green all the way

[Greenbeard]

20. Disasters such as this one show the need for strong communities

and a federal government that supports the establishment of strong communites based upon equality and free from discrimination based upon class or race.

When disaster hits, we must take care of ALL our citizens.

Funny how an "act of god" seems to make folks remember the importance of compassion and dare I say "liberalism" upon people.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

21. Umm.. No. Shrubco has functioned like a Mafiosi crime family. They could

propose the most enlightened policies ever but the only resonable conclusion at this point is that they are there to enrich their cronies and nothing more, anything they say is merely to help prop them up in power.

[chalky]

23. You can take "Democrat" away from me when you can pry it from my

cold, dead hands.

eta: And if I have to kick some DINO asses to get my party back in shape, don't think I won't do it.