Bigger Republican Majority Plans to Push Bush Agenda

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 - A more Republican and more conservative Congress convenes on Tuesday, with Republicans intending to use their greater strength in the House and Senate to help President Bush pursue a second-term agenda of major changes in bedrock programs like Social Security and income taxes.

"This is going to probably be the most productive two years of our Republican majority," said Tom DeLay of Texas, the House majority leader. "It's not just Social Security and tax reform, it's tort reform, regulatory reform, restraining spending, redesigning the House, redesigning the government."
...
...Leading Democrats and allied interest groups are especially leery of the Republican push on Social Security. They also feel that Republicans have cut them out of the legislative loop for the most part, in the House particularly, an assertion denied by Mr. DeLay.

"If they want to play, they need to come to the table," Mr. DeLay said. "Whenever we have invited them to the table, if they take an advantage of it, at the very end, they always turn and run."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/02/politics/02cong.html?ex=1262322000&en=7bfc13c286eafbb6&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland

[Liberal Veteran]

1. I don't why they call it the "Bush Agenda"....

...cause it's obvious that Bush's mind has never been violated by an original thought.

[EFerrari]

2. Good point. And Mr. DeLay may yet outrun the sherrif.

[VegasWolf]

3. I guess because he is the "figurehead" n/t

[Dr Fate]

4. You have to admire Delay's bluntness.

He is not scared of Democrats- and he makes it known exactly what he thinks of them.

He says exactly what his base wnats him to say too- in other words, like him or not, he is a "representative" of the typical republican partisan.

Why cant we have a Democrat who is blunt about DeLay? How about a Dem responding to this by truthfully refering to Delay as a "lying criminal???" and bringing up examples? How about a DEM going on TV and saying "Tom Delay is the most corrupt and dishonest Republican I know- so his threats are to be expected." etc, etc.

How about: "Since Delay is so high & mighty, when is he going to go under oath, on TV, concerning his various scandals?"

NAHHHHH. Bluntness is apparently only for those who know how to represent and do their jobs-like DeLay and most Republicans.

Truth telling about republicans like Delay on the part of DEMS is nonexistent.

Before you flame me, prove me wrong. Show me a transcript of a top Democrat responding to this by tellling the truth about DeLay on TV.
You cant do it- cuz DEMS refuse to tell the truth about the dishonesty & corruptness of Repubs like DeLay.

[Solly Mack]

6. No flame here

there is no more "high" road.....if there ever was

this is a dog fight....pure and simple...and the stakes are deadly.

[Dr Fate]

10. But telling the truth IS the "high road." That is what we are missing.

I never once suggested we "sling mud" or "take the low road"...-

I am suggesting that we TAKE the high road- by going bravely on TV and bluntly telling the truth about these corrupt bastards.

I am merely suggesting that we engage in good old fashioned blunt truth-telling.

Somewhere along the way, Democrats mixed up truth telling that happens to make the opponent look bad with "the low raod" or "too radical."

[Solly Mack]

13. Yes...but whenever it's suggested people tell that truth

some come back with "democrats are better than that" ...and call that the "high" road.

That's what I was talking about. You said it below:

"Somewhere along the way, Democrats mixed up truth telling that happens to make the opponent look bad with "the low raod" or "too radical."

It's that attitude I was referring to when I said "high" road. That's why "high" was in quotation marks.

[Dr Fate]

14. Thanks- I'm glad I'm not alone.

But JEEEZUSSS. I've been involved witht he party for years and they wont listen to voices like yours and mine. They just wont- thats "Micheal Moore stuff." It "confuses swing voters."

I'm not even all that Liberal- I'm really more of a moderate- I'm just about a healthy FIGHT against the Repubs- Democracy style- but I cant even get that.

I'm at my wits end. All I can do these days is point out what should be obvious! :)

[Solly Mack]

15. I had a Bush cousin tell me (on Shrub's mother's side)

"we rely on the democrats to act as 'better angels' so we can do what we want and get away with it"


It mad me angry but what could I say back?

He said this back in 2000 during those 36 days of Bush verses Gore.

We stopped speaking to each other shortly after that...but I feel the truth of his words daily.

[LiberalFighter]

7. Someone needs to deck that SOB

And do it again and again whenever he gets obnoxious like that.

[Dr Fate]

12. DUers, and good DEMS in the grocery line do it all the time...

...but if you are expecting a high profile DEM like Clinton, Kerry, or Kennedy to take down Tom DeLay in the manner I described, forget it.

I hate to say it, but they are apparently too corrupt & dishonest themsleves to do that. Perhaps not- but what is their excuse then for not fighting back?

[Just Me]

18. Well, perhaps they simply have not yet adapted,...

,...to the neo-fascist, bullying political climate. :shrug:

The "nice" and "decent" Democrats kinda' remind me of the first time I was forced to confront a bully. She was probably twice my weight and, obviously, got what she wanted ONLY by being mean towards others. I was only 9 years old,...and a pretty physically frail, pale girl, with highly developed compassion. But, I had a very strong sense of justice, too; and, one day, I had to stand up to her.

I'll never forget her name, Sue Ellen (ugh).

I could not possibly physically overcome her. But, I definitely managed to scare her,...somehow (hell, it's not like I knew how to "fight"). I stood up to her when she started in with her habitual taunting. She pushed me to the ground. I got up and punched her right in the nose (and I learned that boney fists can be a good thing). She pulled my hair and I, in turn, grabbed and hung onto her hair like a rope,...*LOL*,...practically dangling from her head.

Although I remember my own physical stings and ouches, I don't recall either of us "winning" that battle. However, I will never forget how she became one of my most loyal friends. I will never forget that bullies tend to have only one mode of operation: battle.

[Dr Fate]

21. Yup. All I'm asking is that they tell the truth.

No need to "bully" Republicans or "sling mud." Just be BLUNT and tell the god-damned truth.

If Republicans tell a lie- then tell the truth and say "The Republicans are lying again."

If they do something against the law, tell the truth and say "Dick Cheney is a criminal for doing business with Saddam in 1998." Etc, etc, etc

But this type of old-fashioned, blunt truth telling is considered "radical" by DEM leadership.

[Just Me]

23. The "truth",...is like shock treatment,...

,...to the majority of people who NEED to believe that their government is "good". Believe you me,...the majority of our people NEED to believe that their government is "good".

My own EVENTUAL discovery (which was completely self-initiated) of what the hell my government was doing in my name was, has been and still is quite challenging. At every step, it took me some time to "adapt" to that reality. Had anyone "dumped" that info into my little world,...well,...it would not have worked to do any good,...for me or my attitude or perceptions.

Look,...the neo-fascists have been working for thirty some years to manipulate our people with fictions, bullshit, and lies in order to gain power. They recognize that human beings have limits and weaknesses. They have succeeded in manipulating both to the disadvantage of their victims.

We have to build an AWARENESS campaign. In opposition to the predators who manipulate and control and profit off the masses, we must empower the prey with information and power. We must concentrate our own resources and educate our people about where public wealth is being funnelled and how their "government" is actually usurping "the peoples'" power rather than promoting our commonwealth. THAT IS ANTI-DEMOCRACY AND PRO-AUTOCRACY/PLUTOCRACY/FASCISM/"name it here".

[shanti]

27. so it's up to US to do this

question, demand, protest. we can do it!

[genieroze]

28. Yup, the same thing happened to me in 7th. A girl named Debbie

used to tease, harass, bully. I used to ignore her, taking the high road until one day she got physical. Lets just say she found a home in a locker. They say people have a fight or flight reflex.

[inslee08]

16. Kerry did, sort of

Kerry did (in an open-mike moment) refer to the Bush campaign people as "the most crooked-lying people I've ever seen" (paraphrasing). Of course, he did not say this with the intention of it being heard by a lot of people, and he was criticized for saying it. (Last I know, Kerry didn't apologize this time for telling the truth)

[Dr Fate]

20. Wow- he "accidently" told the truth. What guts.

And sadly, it was one of his better moments-at least it generated some media attention- media attention that he failed to utilize.

The one time he was bluntly honest and he even blew that- you are right he never apologized- but even worse, he backed down by not following up.

Within hours the top Republicans all held a press conference- even Denny Hassert was there- and their sound-bites included "What lies did we tell?" and "Kerry needs to expalin himself!"

Kerry's response? Instead of listing off their most recent lies and corrupt acts and generating a discussion, he was basically silent.

[VegasWolf]

5. The working class that voted for bush are going to get their rewards!

Bend over and drop pants.

[depakid]

8. Another words- it's trashing everything

that make the American system of government work and effectively convert the country to an overriding fascism.

No question that's what they intend to do- and part of me hopes that they succeed. That seems to be what a majority of Americans want- let 'em have it. They deserve it.

[AndyTiedye]

31. Majority Doesn't Want Fascism. We Got Robbed!

> No question that's what they intend to do-

Yup.

> and part of me hopes that they succeed.
> That seems to be what a majority of Americans want- let 'em have it.

The majority wanted Boosh** out. We got robbed.

> They deserve it.

Do you think YOU deserve t live under fascism?
I don't think I do. I don't think my nephews deserve
to get drafted for the Crusades either.

[Cha]

9. So what the fuck else is new?

Predictable..fascists pushing fascist's agenda.

[LiberalFighter]

11. How about turning the tables on them and have some Democrats...

be the authors of legislation that has the language that the repubs have been insisting for their issues?

Don't the rules also give the author the right to yank a bill if they are dissatisfied or don't want the bill to pass?

Or... anyway that a one sentence legislation be included in every bill such as "Abortion shall be a right for all women" or "The current president is an idiot."

[inslee08]

17. Alternate budget

Someone suggested that the House Dems should propose an alternate budget, full of Democratic priorities. Not with the hope of it getting passed, mind you, but to show the public what the alternative is. Whether this would help or not, who knows.

[Disturbed]

19. Party symbol...

should be changed from jackass to a weasle.

[LiberalFighter]

26. Democrats would have to do a good job of PR so that everyone knows

Otherwise it doesn't do any good to have a budget that is best for the country.

[Just Me]

22. Personally, I believe they better define the real enemies of democracy.

Abortion and gay rights and Islam (terrorists) are the targets created by the right-wingers.

Democrats had better define the targets which are destroying democracy and dividing the people,...and they had better get the backbone to reveal reality, as ugly as it is.

Corporations have too much control over this country. Corporations have historically forced government away from serving the best interests of "the people" and more towards the dangerous concentration of power which has led to fascism and, in many respects, communism. Pro-corporatism is ANTI-DEMOCRACY.

Religious extremism is having too much influence over this country. Religion should never be allowed to impede upon governance in a democracy. All those who seek to force "Fundamentalism" upon others, seek are Pro-theocracy and ANTI-DEMOCRACY.

Any agenda (most certainly the Republican agenda) which commits to a concentration of wealth and/or power is ANTI-DEMOCRACY because a democracy simply cannot survive if the only ones left holding the greatest weight of success,...are those constituting a mere one percent of our total population.

Moreover, any leadership which imposes the expectation of "sacrifice" on the least among us, while simultaneously profitting the most powerful and influential is clearly ANTI-DEMOCRACY and blatantly abusing its commitment to advancing the best interests of ALL "the people".

I believe the neo-fascist-types have, unfortunately, successfully tapped into the disappointment, anger and confusion of a people, a relevant portion of our people, who still believe in a faux "American Dream" shoved in their face by corporatists. The neo-fascists have created a form of anti-Americanism, funnelling the anger/disappointment/failure towards the innocent,...while it is the neofascists who have created the environment,...who are the enemy.

Frankly, I believe a form of "desperation" existent in this country is THE ONLY rational explanation for the outcome of this election.

[Emboldened Chimp]

24. Well, we didn't expect them to sit on their hands, did we?

[msgadget]

25. I don't believe it,

because it started off with a quote from DeLay. I've read op-eds that say politicians up for election in '06 are afraid some issues will cost them votes. Once again, I think it's them trying to be the big, bad scary party. We'll see how it actually works out.

[aikido15]

29. The faster they try and push the "Bush agenda"...

the sooner they will self-destruct!

[OneBlueSky]

30. the Democrats will be crazy if they don't . . .

declare all-out war on the Republican agenda and fight it tooth and nail AS A PARTY . . . if they think they have any chance of reaching accommodation with BushCo, they haven't been paying attention . . . or they're REALLY stupid . . . or, worst case scenario, they are indeed nothing but a subsidiary branch of the Republican Party who will do BushCo's bidding with few questions or comments . . .

either they don't understand, or they understand fully and are going along with the program . . . whatever the case, they are NOT representing the people's interests, but are instead part and parcel of the corporatocracy . . .

time for our Democratic "leaders" to get off their asses, smell the roses, and LEAD . . . because if they don't, WE most assuredly will . . . and they will NOT like the results . . .