Dean calls out the Republicans for trying to defund the government

[Lefty48197]

I'm not a huge Dean fan, but he's been saying some pretty intelligent things lately (when he's not talking about other Democratic candidates - that is), and I wanted to give him 'his props'.
In this USA Today article, Dean really took it to the righties. His comments reflect what I've felt for a long time, and it didn't take a genius to figure it out. Dean pointed out that the reason the Republicans are hell-bent on cutting taxes is so that they will effectively DE-FUND the government.
Not only can the righties cut taxes for their rich friends, but they can also eliminate a social program by doing so.
Dean asserts that the Republicans are specifically targeting Social Security and Medicare. I think you can throw in just about everything else too: Road building and maintenance, police patrols in poor neighborhoods, food for the hungry, enforcement of civil rights, workers rights, and environmental protection laws etc. etc. etc.
The Republicans know it is unpopular to suggest eliminating these programs, so they are trying to defund them by running off with the money out the back door.
Kudos to Dean for pointing this out. I'm surprised all of us Democrats aren't saying this every single day.
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20031017/5598990s.htm

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

1. Dean says a lot of things that need to be said

I'm a proud "Deanie-bopper" mostly for that reason. No offense to anyone else's personal candidate preferences --- that's just why I like him.

[pruner]

2. here's a link to some comments from his meeting with the USA Today editors

lots of great quotes in there.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2003-10-16-dean-excerpts-usat_x.htm

[bloom]

3. If there was not a presidential election coming up next year...

Would nobody be talking about this?

What's up with that?

[Skwmom]

4. They're intelligent because they were in a Krugman article. e/o/m.

[madfloridian]

5. Date of the Krugman article, please. DUers were saying this last year.

So were other Democrats. There are just so many ways to say the same thing. In fact, many of us who are activists on the Medicare/SS issues have been saying this since Bush came into power.
I don't know which candidate said it first, but it was being said a whole lot for a long time. A long time.

We have been saying their goal is to eliminate social programs. They are not going to say it. If Krugman said it he should have. All of them should have.

If you have not heard it, I am surprised. It is about time it was said loudly.

[unfrigginreal]

6. Is the message wrong?

If not, then why the hell aren't more of our candidates saying it? Christ, I don't know if Dean formed this opinion after reading Krugman or before, but what difference does it make?

[salin]

8. for some... it means everything

sadly there are a few who are against each candidate (that is each candidate seems to have a cadre of dedicated, reflexive detractors) - who must spit on any thread that might be viewed as positive for their particular target. Sadly just about every dem candidate has a few very negative detractors on this board. Its to the point where the comments often appear as nonsequitors.

[bread_and_roses]

7. I am happy to hear Dean say this

and I too wonder why the rest of the Dems aren't shouting it from the rooftops (and I am not and am unlikely to be on the Dean bandwagon). Yes, as above poster said, many progressives have been saying this for some time, since well before Bush was annointed, in fact. If there is one thing that most ordinary Americans don't want to see crumble it is the SS/Medicare program. Why the Democrats are so timid about stating the bald reality of the agenda from the right is a mystery to me. I hope that Dean's statements are a harbinger of what's to come from the others as well.

[Upfront]

9. Dream on.

Did you notice how meny Democrats voted for the Bush* 87 billion bail out plan today? You now have your answer as to why they are not speaking out. Republican lite ring a bell? How about bought and paid for, or I can't lose if I play it safe and support Bush on his war for oil. Sorry for the rant, I am just so pissed.