Top Democrat Call For Repeal of Bush Taxcuts

[kentuck]

Not really. But why shouldn't that be a headline? What are they waiting for? A sign from God? They just got it! Are they in a coma? What else do we need to give the Americans a different message? Populism is a death knell? The people don't matter anymore? Only corporate interests can win elections?

[zara]

1. Great post.

Dem leaders (an oxymoron) will wait for Rethugs to make the call so they can jump on the bandwagon. : (

[autorank]

2. This is their "rope a dope", but really they're just being dopes.

They should stand together and demand this, now. * is on tee vee saying, "cut the budget." That is inherently ridiculous and the public knows it. Let's see who might pony up: Feinstein, LIEberman, maybe Ben Nelson...

The Senate Democrats have done one good thing only in the * administration: killed Social Security reform. That was vital. A few strayed and were brought back into line quickly. They can do it but they won't.

We do have Conyers, Byrd, and now Pelosi who are showing leadership and expressing outrage in the second tier leadership but they get no traction. My God, Pelosi called Bush dangerous and she was dismissed or, in the case of KO, well, dismissed. Nobody stood up for her.

At this point, they may actually have something missing that prevents them from doing this. I think it's time to look at this possibility. They don't because they can't?

[Bumblebee]

3. Bill Clinton did. Hope it's a sign.

[NYCGirl]

4. Here's one who did (and we see how well that worked out in the primaries:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110003920

We can do better. As president, my economic policies will be focused and clear. I will begin by repealing the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, and using the revenues that result from the repeal to address the needs of the average American, invest in the nation's infrastructure and, through tax reform, put money in the hands of those most likely to spend it.

The task of meeting the needs of American families begins with health care. My plan will not only insure millions of Americans who are without adequate care today, it will reduce costs for small business, states and communities--freeing up funds that can be used to grow businesses and meet other national and local priorities.

An important part of my program for a full-employment recovery will be extending a helping hand to states and communities. My policies as governor kept Vermont strong fiscally; but all over America, the financial resources of other states and cities are strained to the limit. Teachers are being laid off, highways lack repairs, firehouses are closed. Instead of tax cuts that have not created jobs, we need to make investments in America. I will increase federal aid for special education, and provide more temporary help to the states--for homeland security and school construction and infrastructure modernization. And I will increase the availability of capital for small businesses, so that they can invest in new technology and create more jobs.

No program for economic recovery and growth can ignore the tax system, particularly the bizarre collection of tax expenditures, preferences, credits and deductions which has directed revenues away from the federal treasury and into uneconomic tax avoidance schemes. Average Americans pay their taxes through withholding or quarterly estimates. Meanwhile, corporations and multinational enterprises take advantage of elaborate tax shelters, and billions go uncollected. The need for reform is obvious and compelling, and I will give tax reform a top priority in my administration. But unlike the tax initiatives of the current president, my program of tax reform and relief will be targeted to the average Americans who are struggling to make ends meet--not those whose needs are well provided for.


(And BTW, he continues to say this)

Edited to add:

In a speech 9/7:
We need a plan to rebuild America. We need to restore accountability. We need to make moral choices. How could Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist even think of extending the estate tax? If there's $750 billion available, we should use that to rebuild America.

http://democrats.org/a/2005/09/governor_dean_s_2.php

[fedupinBushcountry]

6. And so did Kerry

and continues to this day.

President Bush, Majority Leader Frist and Speaker Hastert,

It is totally unbelievable to me that, at this time of pain and suffering for so many people in our nation, Republican leaders have yet to forego their plans to lavish more tax cuts on the wealthy and well-connected.

Such tax cuts at this time would be a total betrayal of American values – and a slap in the face of people in the Gulf Coast who have lost and suffered through so much and have so far to go on the road to recovery.

I demand that the leaders of the Republican Party act immediately to take the idea of tax cuts for the wealthy off the table. And I won’t stop working until you do.

Our message to those who would even contemplate bestowing more tax cuts on the wealthy at this time is clear and unambiguous: Don’t you dare!


Come on this is nothing new for top Democrats.

[TwilightZone]

7. "Nothing new for top Democrats"

Very true. I'm not sure why people continue to "forget" that.

[TwilightZone]

5. Clinton did. Does he count as a "top Democrat"?

n/t

[kentuck]

8. Yes...if we could only get other elected Democrats to follow ?

It could be a very effective message for the American people...but I won't hold my breath.

[TwilightZone]

9. I wouldn't be so sure.

If the Democrats put together a competing plan for Katrina relief, and they would be stupid not to, the centerpiece will almost assuredly be repealing Bush's tax cuts on the rich.

Edit: they don't have much choice - there aren't exactly a lot of other options available.

I suspect we'll hear more in the next few days. Personally, I'd prefer that they put together a coherent, intelligent plan rather than rushing out with only the "repeal the tax cuts" part of it in place.