GOP Focus on Security Issues (only 15 Cong. days) Sidelines Other Matters

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: GOP Focus on Security Issues to Sideline Other Matters
By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, September 3, 2006; Page A03


Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), with Chris Murphy in Waterbury, Conn., said Republicans "have weakened our military, hurt our position in the world, spent away our children's future and . . . not made America safer." (By Jessica Hill -- Associated Press)

Congress will return to Washington this week with the Republican majorities in both chambers at risk and GOP leaders planning to turn the floors of the House and Senate into battlegrounds over which political party can best protect the country from terrorists and other security threats.

But in devoting the few remaining legislative days almost exclusively to security issues, Republicans will leave major domestic tasks undone, including President Bush's prized immigration overhaul and long-promised legislation to toughen the restrictions on lobbying after a wide-ranging corruption scandal. No budget plan for 2007 will be completed. Promised relief for seniors struggling with their Medicare prescription drug plans will have to wait. And as many as eight of the 11 bills needed to fund the government will not be passed before the November elections.

That has some Republicans worried.

In Michigan, "the number one issue is the economy," Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) said. "The emphasis they're putting out there now is related to world events and the fact that the national economy is not facing what Michigan is facing. But if you're hungry, you've got less time to delve into international affairs."...

***

But even Republicans who would prefer a domestic-policy emphasis understand what is at work. McCotter said a sustained debate on national security and terrorism is the best way to remind the most voters why they have trusted Republicans with control of Washington....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/02/AR2006090200451.html?sub=AR

[napi21]

1. There's no doubt they're focusing on security because all the polls

have stated that the war & security is their top priority. Plus of course, national security was the issue that was successful in the past 2 elections.

I don't think it's going to work this time!

[Deja Q]

3. Ask anyone you know if they feel secure about their livelihoods.

Especially if they are Repubs or voted for *.

I'd love to know if they do.

Right now, nobody should be.

Try to bring in the Christian-themed questions too. (read my sig line for the clarification.)

[ShockediSay]

10. THEY say by going into Iraq, the terrorists aren't hurting us here -

BULLSHIT

over 22,000 of our youngest, best and bravest have been killed or wounded in Iraq.

Bush took it to them so they could shoot down real US combat troops, not like the chicken hawks who send them into battle with a sound bite and a hope-it-works.

[Deja Q]

2. The sad part is, she's right.

14 years of Repub congressional rule. 6 years of a repub President. 8 prior to that Republican, who did lots of things a genuine Republican would have done (NAFTA, DMCA, et al).

It's time to put the working class back into the equation.

[joanski0]

4. Seems to me that it dosen't matter if the terrorists

come and get you if you die of starvation or lack of medications first.

[Monkeyman]

5. political move

Last six years they have done nothing to protect America. So now they are hurting in the polls they will make it look like they are doing something. Rove is at work here

[Joanne98]

6. Great! A police state contest!

[rodeodance]

7. its save your own butt time in Congress! -not the peoples business

[rodeodance]

8. Pelosi: "Our fight is with the Republicans,"

.....Ron Bonjean, a spokesman for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), said it is not politics but a confluence of events that has forced the security focus on Congress, including the foiling of the London bombing plot, a federal judge's ruling against the NSA surveillance program and the Supreme Court's ruling against the administration's military tribunals.

"There's a certain acceptance on both sides of the aisle that we're looking at the House floor as a political arena in the next month," said a senior House Republican leadership aide who requested anonymity because he was not cleared to speak in political terms. "This will be a test of ideas on military security and homeland security."

Democrats will counter with maneuvers to push for a vote of no confidence on Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and with multiple calls to fully implement the recommendations of the bipartisan commission that investigated the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"Our fight is with the Republicans," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said. "They have weakened our military, hurt our position in the world, spent away our children's future and again not made America safer."

[rodeodance]

9. "said it is not politics"---and bush said his speeches were not polically

motivated. yahoo! how dumb do they think we are?