What if the Dems win back the presidency, the house and senate by '08?

[Cyrano]

Yeah, I know, revenge would be delicious. But revenge won't solve our problems. So here are some suggestions:

1. The debt is killing us. Taxes, (including taxes on capital gains) must be levied in a fair and equitable way.

2. Lunatic programs like "star wars" (and many other Reagan/Bush/Rumsfeld fantasy programs) must be cut.

3. The Patriot Act must be repealed and replaced by a plan that actually protects us.

4. All elections must have a verifiable paper trail.

5. "Off-shore" corporations should be declared illegal.

6. Medicare, Medicaid, child-care/day-care, as well as veteran's benefits, and so many other humane programs that have been cut by Bush and his Huns must be restored.

7. Religion must be relegated back to the churches, or else pay taxes as political entities.

And whoever thought we'd see a president declare a unilateral war, negate international treaties, condone torture, silence the media, and hold (Nuremberg?) rallies where dissenters are not allowed?

This is but a handful of the crimes that have been committed against the Constitution and the American people, which leads to number:

8. The presidential right of pardon needs to be limited. The president's right to grant pardons is in the Constitution, so this would require an amendment. But when we've had an administration that has run amok and committed war crimes, we need a way to bring them to justice.

[forgethell]

1. It won't happen.

We might win back the Presidency. Senate is very unlikely. We may not see a Democratic House again for 40 years.

I disagree with #7. churches should be allowed to express political views. They should not be allowed to endorse candidates. However, this change would hurt us as much, or more, than the Republicans. Where would the civil rights movement have gone without the support of the churches, African American ones especially, but also others?

And I'm not sure that it's illegal to prevent disrupters (as they would have it) or dissenters (our view) from attending rallies.

Nor are some of the other policy positions (debt, defense, Medicare, etc) crimes, however unwise they are. Not being a progressive is not criminal. Now election fraud, that is.

[Cyrano]

5. My reference to war crimes meant Iraq.

And over the next three plus years, it's anyones' guess who else these lunatics will invade. Sy Hersch says that Bush has already signed an okay to bomb Iran in June.

That doesn't mean it will happen, but the fact that he signed off on it is damning enough in and of itself.

(For anyone who doesn't know who Seymour Hersch is, look up Mi Lai in Vietnam and Abu Ghraib. Unlike Bob Woodward, Hersch never sold out and is still the best investigative reporter in America today.)

I'm sure he's right at the top of Bush's "enemies list."

[Selteri]

8. first, it was an IF and second, they were great points we can campaign on

until we manage to sew up all three, people would back a lot of these if they were given the right angle. Frame the debate and put them on the defensive by using the facts of what they have done against them.

[Marnieworld]

2. I would rather change the executive order ability

It's really scary to know that in November 2001 there was an executive order stating that the president can declare anyone an enemy combatant and once you are declared that you lose due process and can be put to death- whatever he sees fit.

Of course without your number 4 happening before 2008 there is no way for this hypothetical situation to even occur.

[kcass1954]

3. I'll pinch you so you'll wake up! n/t

[Cyrano]

6. It took this country only three and a half years to defeat Hitler.

Why would you think the lunatics currently running things are invulverable?

[quinnox]

4. presidency would be good

1. Yes, higher taxes should be reinstituted on top brackets, but I don't agree with capital gains tax raised, it isn't only rich people who own stock anymore

2. Star Wars is a waste of money - agree

3. Patriot Act can use some tweaking

4. Agree with paper trail from voting machines

5. Not declared illegal, but all tax breaks removed for this practice

6. Agree with restoring funding to these programs

7. Not sure what is meant here, I strongly believe in religious freedom as stated in Constitution

8. Don't agree, presidents should have full pardoning powers

[jen4clark]

7. and what if there were no fillibusters?

I posted this on another thread but it died. LOL! Seriously though, I read this article and am now questioning whether it might be okay and maybe even good to let the Radical Regressives do away with fillibusters! A lot of the points make sense to me and when you factor in the Radical Regressive groups (including the anti-union National Right to Work Committee, the Gun Owners of America and the anti-abortion National Pro-Life Alliance) opposed to the "nuclear option", it makes ya wonder...Think of all the progressive policies we could get through if we were the majority party and the regressives couldn't fillibuster! I'd love to hear what others think about this - I'm confused!

http://www.nathannewman.org/laborblog/archive/002456.shtml

[amjucsc]

9. Add in universal health care and alternative energy...

Private health care dosen't work, and, let's face it, the price of oil ain't going down. We need to start weaning the economy off the juice pronto.