The Democrats Plan

[PVK]

http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/03/real_security_t.php

[mike_c]

1. I certainly hope the Green Party runs a good candidate...

...because I will not be voting for ANYONE'S vision of an Amerikan security state.

[Sullivan4Congress]

17. Did you actually read the plan?

I know it's 100+ pages, but at least take a look at it before you start firing off this sort of anti-Democratic rhetoric.

It's actually a very solid proposal, something solidly in the HST/JFK/WJC tradition.

[mcscajun]

2. The site may be Democrats.org, but it's "The Democratic plan"

:)

[Adelante]

3. Excellent statement by Dean

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:

"The failed policies of President Bush and the Republican-led Congress have undermined the safety and security of our country and left Americans less safe. From their permanent commitment to a failed strategy in Iraq to a pre-9/11 mindset that has kept them from closing vital gaps in our homeland security, Republicans in Washington have proven to be dangerously incompetent when it comes to protecting the American people.

"The American people are looking for change, not more of the same misleading rhetoric and failed leadership offered by Republicans. Today, Democrats are offering a new direction by providing a bold agenda for keeping America safe. We will make sure 2006 is a year of significant transition to Iraqi sovereignty; we will rebuild our military and National Guard; we will provide our troops and veterans the benefits they have earned; we will make sure our first responders have the equipment and training they need to keep our communities safe; and we will promote a real plan to make America energy independent by 2020.

"Democrats understand that homeland security begins with hometown security. We offer a bold vision for a safer America. We will not only hunt down the terrorists and provide our troops with the tools they need to stop future attacks, but we will do a better job of securing our ports and our nuclear power and chemical plants. Instead of their continued failure to take the steps necessary to protect the safety and security of our communities, President Bush and Republicans in Washington should join Democrats in fighting for an agenda that will provide Real Security for the American people."

[humbled_opinion]

4. Scary

The plan looks pretty hardcore.

[FrenchieCat]

5. Which part is "Hardcore"? cause I don't seem to find what you are

alluding to that one might find :scary: in a National Security plan-- can you please clarify? :shrug:

Personally, I'm thinking "Thank Goodness the Dem's Security plan is not "Soft"core...cause now that could be a problem, considering the Dem's reputation and the voters lack of patience with it...

So can you point out the scary part, please? Thanks! :hi:

WAR ON TERROR
To Defeat Terrorists and Stop the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction, we will:
Eliminate Osama Bin Laden, destroy terrorist networks like al Qaeda, finish the job in Afghanistan, and end the threat posed by the Taliban.

Double the size of our Special Forces, increase our human intelligence capabilities, and ensure our intelligence is free from political pressure.

Eliminate terrorist breeding grounds by combating the economic, social, and political conditions that allow extremism to thrive; lead international efforts to uphold and defend human rights; and renew longstanding alliances that have advanced our national security objectives.

Secure by 2010 loose nuclear materials that terrorists could use to build nuclear weapons or "dirty bombs."

Redouble efforts to stop nuclear weapons development in Iran and North Korea.
http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/03/real_security_t.php

OR

IRAQ
To Honor the Sacrifice of Our Troops, we will:

Ensure 2006 is a year of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty, with the Iraqis assuming primary responsibility for securing and governing their country and with the responsible redeployment of U.S. forces.

Insist that Iraqis make the political compromises necessary to unite their country and defeat the insurgency; promote regional diplomacy; and strongly encourage our allies and other nations to play a constructive role.

Hold the Bush Administration accountable for its manipulated pre-war intelligence, poor planning and contracting abuses that have placed our troops at greater risk and wasted billions of taxpayer dollars.
http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/03/real_security_t.php

OR

HOMELAND SECURITY
To Protect America from Terrorism and Natural Disasters, we will:

Immediately implement the recommendations of the independent, bipartisan 9/11 Commission including securing national borders, ports, airports and mass transit systems.

Screen 100 percent of containers and cargo bound for the U.S. in ships or airplanes at the point of origin and safeguard America's nuclear and chemical plants, and food and water supplies.

Prevent outsourcing of critical components of our national security infrastructure -- such as ports, airports and mass transit -- to foreign interests that put America at risk.

Provide firefighters, emergency medical workers, police officers, and other workers on the front lines with the training, staffing, equipment, and cutting edge technology they need.

Protect America from biological terrorism and pandemics, including the Avian flu, by investing in the public health infrastructure and training public health workers.http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/03/real_security_t.php

OR

IRAQ
To Honor the Sacrifice of Our Troops, we will:

Ensure 2006 is a year of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty, with the Iraqis assuming primary responsibility for securing and governing their country and with the responsible redeployment of U.S. forces.

Insist that Iraqis make the political compromises necessary to unite their country and defeat the insurgency; promote regional diplomacy; and strongly encourage our allies and other nations to play a constructive role.

Hold the Bush Administration accountable for its manipulated pre-war intelligence, poor planning and contracting abuses that have placed our troops at greater risk and wasted billions of taxpayer dollars.
http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/03/real_security_t.php

OR

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
To Free America from Dependence on Foreign Oil, we will:

Achieve energy independence for America by 2020 by eliminating reliance on oil from the Middle East and other unstable regions of the world.

Increase production of alternate fuels from America's heartland including bio-fuels, geothermal, clean coal, fuel cells, solar and wind; promote hybrid and flex fuel vehicle technology and manufacturing; enhance energy efficiency and conservation incentives.
http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/03/real_security_t.php

OR

21st CENTURY MILITARY
To Ensure Unparalleled Military Strength and Honor our Troops, we will:

Rebuild a state-of-the-art military by making the needed investments in equipment and manpower so that we can project power to protect America wherever and whenever necessary.

Guarantee that our troops have the protective gear, equipment, and training they need and are never sent to war without accurate intelligence and a strategy for success.

Enact a GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century that guarantees our troops -- active, reserve, and retired -- our veterans, and their families receive the pay, health care, mental health services, and other benefits they have earned and deserve.

Strengthen the National Guard, in partnership with the nation's Governors, to ensure it is fully manned, equipped and available to meet missions at home and abroad.http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/03/real_security_t.php

[mike_c]

6. it's nationalist, militarist, and it buys into the imperialist view...

...of an embattled fortress America that is threatened by the rest of the world, marketed elsewhere under the generic name "war on terror." In contrast, a rational "security plan" would seek to address the injustices imposed by American foreign policy and make America a partner in solving the world's problems, rather than the creator of many of those problems. Make America secure by defending against the rest of the world, or by working with the rest of the world to seek solutions that work for us all? I see lots of the former in this "plan" which differs from republican versions only in the details, but not at all in philosophy. I see none of the latter. I won't support ANYONE'S version of an Amerikan security state.

[Cocoa]

9. there's not a whiff of nationalism or imperialism in that document

you're just throwing out derogatory adjectives.

And when you spell America with a k, what do you mean by that? Anything?

[mike_c]

10. yep, I mean Amerika as a fascist militaristic state...

...which is probably precisely what you thought I meant.

From the fourteen defining characteristics of fascism:

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Fascism/14_Characteristics_Fascism.html (parenthetic comments are mine)

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism -- Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

(Seen many of those yellow magnetic ribbons lately? Got one on your car? How about flag stickers, marquees that say things like "United we stand" or "Support our troops?")

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights -- Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to 'look the other way' or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

(Any of that ring a bell?)

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause -- The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

(This democratic "security plan" buys directly into #3-- it begins with the assumption that we must unify against EXTERNAL THREATS. It utterly ignores the fact that the source of those threats is our own foreign policy, generated INTERNALLY.)

4. Supremacy of the Military -- Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

(Have you looked at the Pentagon's budget lately? Here's a hint: the U.S. spends more on it's military EVERY DAY than it spends for much of the year to insure the welfare of its citizens.)

7. Obsession with National Security -- Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

(Yep, that's the biggie. Tell me again how dems differ from republikans in that respect?)

[Cocoa]

11. the dems actually care about national security

that's how they differ.

[mike_c]

12. but "national security" is a smoke screen to keep you focused...

...on being a good german in times of national crisis in the fatherland.

[Cocoa]

13. "being a good German" means restrictions on our behavior

is there anything in that document about ordinary citizens' behavior?

[mike_c]

14. like supporting militaristic, fascist "security plans...?"

The authorities only have our best interests at heart. We have always been at war with Eastasia....

on edit: is this what you really want? An American security state, buttoned down and protected from the terrorists whose hatred of Americans we ourselves create?

[NativeTexan]

7. Frenchie, I am right there with ya.

I believe in hardcore security. Something that is more about protecting Americans instead of bowing to corporate boardrooms and concentrating on the security of their profit-margins, which are the security priorities of the Village Idiot and his minions!

:kick:

[Clarkie1]

8. I would expect nothing less than hardcore. n/t

[orleans]

15. it's about time--they've got to get hardcore for a couple reasons

first--we need real national security and real leadership (especially to quell the fire from the rest of the world that bush keeps fueling)

second reason--if they didn't come up with any solution then we're toast in 06 and 08

[FrenchieCat]

16. Kicking....cause we need to read it and understand it......

cause if we don't, "they" really won't!