Democrats have big plans if they take over in Congress

Lexington Herald Leader ^ | Sept. 2, 2006 | Margaret Talev

[FairOpinion]

If Democrats win one or both houses of Congress in November's elections, as polls suggest is increasingly likely, President Bush's Washington will change dramatically.

Democrats will press to get out of Iraq. They'll mount investigations into the Bush administration's record that could rival those of Presidents Nixon in Watergate and Clinton in the Monica Lewinsky affair. They'll push a boatload of social-welfare legislation, such as raising the minimum wage, that reflects their pent-up priorities, while blocking the Republican agenda on social issues such as gay marriage, abortion and religion.

Those are some of the top plans that Democrats would pursue if they won power, according to interviews with Democratic lawmakers, strategists, staff aides and lobbyists. The tone and temper of the Democrats were reflected well by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the ranking Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee, in a conference call in late August. He'll become the panel's chairman if Democrats take the House.

[JasonC]

Sorry, they can't. The existence of reality is a threat to their power.

[Hydroshock]

Blaming people for not voting for republican who have abandoned conservative principles is like blaming me fro GM's financial troubles because I bought a jeep. Chevy does not get my money and rinos will not get my vote. Period.

[justiceseeker93]

In so far as the overall Senate shapes up, seems as if chances for a Rat takeover there are slim and none. As you say, they have 18 seats to defend vs. 15. But even the most optimistic (for them) Rat talk has five GOP seats changing hands - DeWine in OH, Chafee in RI, Talent in MO, Burns in MT, Santorum in PA - while they hold on to all theirs. And even if all these dominoes fell their way, that would still make it 50-50 and they'd still need to find another jumper like Jim Jeffords a few years back in order to get a 51st seat. Unlikely!

BTW, largely unreported in the MSM, there's a decent chance for the GOP to win a Dem seat in NJ.

[justiceseeker93]

I can understand your frustration with RINOs but there are, practically speaking, only two alternatives as to which party will control the Senate and which party will control the House. If you want things to go the way the Democrats have in mind, as suggested by this McClatchey article, stay at home in November and expose us (including yourelf) to their noxious program of more appeasement of Islamic fascism abroad and even bigger government and loss of liberty at home.

[Hydroshock]

I am fortunate that I have a republican to vote for for senate in November.

[svcw]

You are so correct..no matter how badly the Republicans have or have not messed up they are not democrats. We can not afford to have forty more years of their degradation of the US.
Higher taxes, cut and run foreign policy, social programs that would make the devil blush...no thanks.

[WorkingClassFilth]

True, but the Soviet Union had a pretty bloody run at it for 70 some years. Never assume that idiots aren't lethal and dangerous to your freedom and health.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The party abandoned the principles laid out in the "Contract with America" long ago.

How so?

House Republicans are united in securing the borders.

Bush is perhaps the first President to take on Social Security. He has cut taxes.

Don't punish the party just because of a few RINO apples. There are good conservatives running this year.

[Doe Eyes]

How so?

Term limits? Balanced Budget Amendment?

[justiceseeker93]

The worst thing for dems is to take over just ONE part, the senate or the house.

Not quite. They would still be more powerful than they are today. If they had the House, they could do impeachment, if only to gain revenge (in their way of thinking) for BJ Clinton. And if they had the Senate, they could block any Bush judicial appointment they chose to. And of course, either the Senate or House could block any legislation proposed by the other or by the administration.

So please be careful about what you wish for.

[Dave W]

People like you are so bitter with little knowledge how things work. Your own family probably lives in fear you will take your blessings depend on how they perform. How sad.

[Once-Ler]

As a percent of GDP, federal spending is within historical norms. Considering the duel pressure of war and recession, I was not surprised spending increased. Other war time administration's federal budgets had sharper increases than Dubya. Dubya's tax cuts have done their job and rejuvenated our economy after the Clinton recession. I expect Dubya and the GOP will begin constraining spending, because there is more public support for it.

It is fascinating to see is how Dubya has become the whipping boy for federal spending when the Constitution limits his control to a signature or veto. It is admirable the Dubya doesn't point this out. Republican's up for re-election can point their fingers at Dubya and express their concern about him signing the budgets they passed.

Have a nice day.

[Once-Ler]

I agree with your assessment.

I believe media polls that show low approval for the GOP are meaningless without rat approval polls to contrast. The rats are rock bottom even among rat voters. The only way the rats can ensure high rat base turnout is to attack the administration, or do more kook fringe things like abandon a minimum wage increase to spite the wealthy. All options they can try will also increase GOP base turnout. This election could give us the 60 votes we need in the Senate or close enough to buy off a couple non-suicidal rats

[Total Package]

increasing taxes, socializing health care. Did I say raising taxes?

[justiceseeker93]

The only way the rats can ensure high rat base turnout is to attack the administration, or do more kook fringe things...

You left out other more traditional ways that they can "increase" turnout, e. g., having dead people voting, having non-citizens voting, voting early and often, voting for senile people in nursing homes, keeping polls open late in their districts, etc. As I'm sure you are aware, their big city machines in particular have honed such "skills" down through the years.