Democrats better hedge bets

Washington Times ^ | Saturday, October 28, 2006 | By David Limbaugh

[JohnHuang2]

The real question for voters in November is whether Democrats will be able to do to the entire legislative branch what they've done to their party. The agenda-less party is infected with a paralyzing negativity born of its singular hatred for President Bush. Will that mindset be permitted to seize control of our legislative branch? Will disgruntled conservatives collude to make this happen?

How many times have you heard Democrats decrying the Bush administration for having no plan to win the peace in Iraq? We might have executed the initial phase of the war masterfully by removing Saddam Hussein, they now grudgingly concede, but we didn't anticipate and plan for the problems that would arise after his removal.

Putting aside a debate over that assertion, let's apply the same standard to their agenda for America today. Shouldn't we ask: "Democrats have a potentially masterful plan for removing Republicans from majority control, but what is their plan for action if they win?"

Let's just look at the most important issues: the war on terror, including Iraq, the economy, social issues and immigration. In each category, they either have no plan or are unwilling to publicize it for fear Rovian Republicans will pick it apart and expose its flaws.

On immigration, no matter how poorly Republicans have performed, the Democrats' approach would be significantly worse. They would open the borders wider, discourage assimilation further and promote amnesty harder.

On the economy, they would increase domestic spending even more. And in their compulsion to punish the "rich," they would raise their taxes at the inevitable expense of choking the life out of our robust growth

[kingu]

Vote for us because they're worse... Yes, it's valid, yes, it is true, yes, it details what horrors a liberal congress can bring, but it is just as agenda-less as the Democrats.

Put forward goals, folks. Tell us what a Republican congress will do over the next two years. Set a task, and plan on how to accomplish it, and move forward.

I'm grossly sick of Republicans treading water.

[DakotaRed]

One question we need to keep asking all is, Where Do Democrats Stand?

[kingu]

One question we need to keep asking all is, Where Do Democrats Stand?

Where does a liberal stand? In the wrong. On almost any issue, at almost any time, they're wrong. I don't concern myself where a liberal stands. What I do concern myself where we stand, where Republicans stand, and where conservatives stand on issues. Goals and planning to implement those goals is what gives the party momentum. It gives direction.

So the question we never need to stop asking is: where does our party stand, and where are we going?

[staytrue]

Tell us what a Republican congress will do over the next two years

The republicans goals are to continue what they have been doing and finishing unfinished business.

1. continue to appoint sane judges (unlike the insane ones the dems appoint) 2. keep tax cuts in place 3. keep the US terror free 4. eventually bring Iraq to a conclusion 5. make a new effort at social security reform 6. make a new effort at border control with a guest worker program 7. continue to see the deficit decline 8. make a better effort at spending control 9. continue education reform 10. continue low unemployment rates and record stock market highs.

[Southack]

"I'm grossly sick of Republicans treading water."

You should get more current news.

Presidency of George W. Bush -- the first 48 months

 

President Bush signing a federal ban on Partial Birth Abortion

Banned Partial Birth Abortion

Reversed Clinton's move to strike Reagan's anti-abortion Mexico Policy

Stopped foreign aid that would be used to fund abortions.

Supported and upheld the ban on abortions at military hospitals

Signed E.O. reversing Clinton's policy of not requiring parental consent for abortions under the Medical Privacy Act

Killed the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty

Killed U.S. involvement in the International Criminal Court

Killed Clinton's CO2 rules that were choking off all of the electricity surplus to California

Killed Clinton's "ergonomic" rules that OSHA was about to implement; rules that would have shut down some home businesses in America

First Missile is Installed For NMD on July 23, 2004

Killed the U.S. - CCCP ABM Treaty that was preventing the U.S. from deploying our ABM defenses

Built ten ABM silos in Alaska and California so that America has a defense against North Korean nukes

Killed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty so that the U.S. can once again test our nuclear weapons

The Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act (less romantically known as H.R. 5382) ultimately allows average Americans to hitch a ride on a civilian space craft at their own risk. The federal ban on such citizen travel was repealed by HR 5382 in 2004. The President signed that bill into law two days before Christmas.

President Bush pledged to Israel on 4/14/2004 that it could keep parts of the West Bank, giving international legitimacy to Jewish settlements there

Denied Palestinian refugees any right of return to what is now Israel, saying they should be resettled in a future Palestinian state instead

Part of coalition (Russia, Israel, EU, Palestine, USA) for Israeli/Palestinian "Roadmap to Peace"

Pushed through THREE raises for our military

Increased Defense Dept funding which had deteriorated during the previous 8 years

President Bush's Grand Strategy (click here)

President Bush's Environmental Record - 2004 (click here)

Signed TWO bills into law that arm our pilots with handguns in the cockpit

Currently pushing for full immunity from lawsuits for our national gun manufacturers

Ordered Attorney-General Ashcroft to formally notify the Supreme Court that the OFFICIAL U.S. government position on the 2nd Amendment is that it supports INDIVIDUAL rights to own firearms, NOT a leftist-imagined *collective* right

Told the United Nations we weren't interested in their plans for gun control (i.e. the International Ban on Small Arms Trafficking Treaty)

Signed the 2004 Omnibus Budget 1/26/2004 that now MANDATES that gun buyers' background check information be fully and permanently destroyed within 24 hours of the completion of the check, no matter what.

Repealed Gun Controls Against Active, Retired, and Off-Duty Law Enforcement Personnel Carrying Weapons Into Local and State Prohibited Zones (7/28/2004)

Enacted powerful tort reform legislation that moves many class action lawsuits from state to federal courts. Requires federal courts to hear cases where the amount of the dispute is more than $5 million, and when the defendant and any of the plaintiffs live in different states.

Disarmed Libya of its Chemical, Nuclear, and biological WMD's without bribes or bloodshed

Won an agreement that U.S. Navy sailors may now freely board thousands of commercial ships in international waters to search for weapons of mass destruction under a landmark pact between the United States and Liberia, the world's No. 2 shipping registry (signed Feb 11, 2004), and Panama 5/10/2004 http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/11/international/americas/11ship.html).

Approves The First U.S. Counter-Intel Plan

Successfully executed 2 wars and rebuilt 2 nations: Afghanistan and Iraq. 50+ million people who had lived under tyrannical regimes now live in freedom...epitomized by their own free and democratic elections.

Provided Billions in aid, machines, and manpower to tsunami victims.

 

Executed a WAR ON TERROR by getting world-wide cooperation to track funds/terrorists (has cut off much of the terrorist's funding and captured or killed many key leaders of the al Qaeda network)

Bush Administration diplomacy led to the 5/25/2004 peace accord that ended a massive 20-year civil war between Sudan's Islamic north and Christian south after two million deaths Click Here

  Delivered vital emergency aid to millions of survivors on multiple continents (e.g. Africa, SE Asia) of a devastating Tsunami caused by a 9.1 earthquake near Sumatra.

Brought back our EP-3 intel plane and crew from China without any bribes or bloodshed

Started withdrawing our troops from Bosnia and has announced withdrawal of our troops from Germany and the Korean DMZ.

Bush and Putin sign historic anti-nuclear treaty

· Largest ever missile cuts agreed
· Russia stands by Iran relations
· Putin jibe over US help to North Korea

Staff and agencies
Friday May 24, 2002


Russian president Vladimir Putin (left), and US president George Bush shake hands before signing the treaty. Photo: Yuri Kochetkov, AP.
 

Presidents George Bush and Vladimir Putin today signed a landmark treaty to make the largest reductions ever in US and Russian nuclear arsenals but public differences were voiced over Iran.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/bush/story/0,7369,721544,00.html

Initiated comprehensive review of our military, which was completed just prior to 9/11/01, accurately reported that ASYMMETRICAL WARFARE was critical.
Created NATO's Rapid Response Force
Changed the tone in the White House, restoring HONOR and DIGNITY to the Presidency

Reorganized bureaucracy...after 9/11, condensed 20+ overlapping agencies and their intelligence sectors into one agency: the Department of Homeland Security.

Initiated discussion on privatizing Social Security and individual investment accounts.

Improving govt. efficiency with .8 million jobs put up for bid...weakening unions and cutting undeserved pay raises. Wants merit based promotions/raises only.

Orchestrated Republican control of the White House, the House AND the Senate.

Killed the liberal ABA's role in vetting federal judges for Congress.

GWB signed an executive order enforcing the Supreme Court's Beck decision (re: union dues being used for political campaigns against individual's wishes)

Turned around an inherited economy that was in recession.

Passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account as a result of corporate scandals.

Signed 2 income tax cuts ---- 1 of which was the largest Dollar-value tax cut in world history

Reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains

In process of eliminating IRS marriage penalty.

Increased small business incentives to expand and to hire new people

Eliminated the Estate Tax (AKA "Death Tax") that was taking small farms and businesses from families

Signed into law the No Child Left Behind legislation delivering the most dramatic education reforms in a generation (challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations)

Reorganized the INS in an attempt to safeguard the borders and ports of America and to eliminate bureaucratic redundancies and lack of accountability.

Signed trade promotion authority

Committed US funds to purchase medicine for millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS in Africa

Passed Medicare Reform (authorized $39.5 Billion per year for preventive medicine such as drugs and doctor visits as well as included a ten year Privatization option)

Urging federal liability reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits

Supports class action reform bill which limits lawyer fees so that more settlement money goes to victims

Submitted comprehensive Energy Plan--awaits Congressional action (works to develop cleaner technology, produce more natural gas here at home, make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy, improve national grid, etc.)

Endorses and promotes The Responsibility Era ("In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. My hope is to change the culture from one that has said, if it feels good, do it; if you've got a problem, blame somebody else -- to one in which every single American understands that he or she are responsible for the decisions that you make; you're responsible for loving your children with all your heart and all your soul; you're responsible for being involved with the quality of the education of your children; you're responsible for making sure the community in which you live is safe; you're responsible for loving your neighbor, just like you would like to be loved yourself. " -----this quote was too good to leave out)

Started the USA Freedom Corps

Initiated review of all federal agencies with a goal to eliminate federal jobs (completed September 2003) in an effort to reduce the size of federal gov while increasing private sector jobs.

Challenged the United Nations to live up to their responsibilities and not become The League of Nations ( in other words, completely irrelevant)

Nominated strong, conservative judges to the judiciary.

President Bush opened up an additional part of Alaska for domestic oil drilling. In 2004, the National Petroleum Reserve, an area west of the existing Prudhoe Bay field, was approved for new energy exploration and production.

Increased U.S. Oil Drilling Permits 70% Above Clinton-era

Changed parts of the Forestry Management Act to allow necessary clean-up of the national forests in order to reduce fire danger.

As part of the national forests clean-up, the President restricted judicial challenges (based on the Endangered Species Act and other challenges) and removed the need for an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) before removing fuels/logging to reduce fire danger.
New Forest Rules Gives States Power Over Federal Forests Inside Their Borders
Significantly eased field-testing controls of genetically engineered crops.

President Bush signed the workplace verification bill to prevent hiring of illegal Aliens
S. 1685, the Basic Pilot Extension Act of 2003, was signed by President Bush on December 3, 2003.
It extends for five years the workplace employment eligibility authorization pilot programs created in 1996. It expands the pilot programs from the original five states to all 50 states.

U.S. Forces In Baghdad

---

2nd Term Supplimental (incomplete)

---

Broke the Chinese Yuan to Dollar currency peg

CAFTA - President Bush signing CAFTA

Bolton to the UN

Has CONSTRUCTION in process on the second group of eight ABM silos in Alaska and California so that America has a land-based defense (in addition to our sea-based SM-3 and AEGIS systems) of 18 ABM's against North Korean nukes (note: China itself currently only has 24 -out of several hundred- nuclear ICBM's capable of reaching the U.S.)

Energy Bill (new tax cuts...after 5 years of opposition)

Immunity For Gun Manufacturers From Crime-Related Lawsuits

5% unemployment
3.4% annual (after inflation, 5.5% actual) reported GDP Growth

Syrian Troops forced to withdraw from Lebanon

Russians Troops Peacefully Withdraw From Georgia

Brought North Korea to the Negotiating Table and won their agreement to dismantle their Nuclear Weapons Program

Chief Justice John Roberts
Justice Sam Alito

Dramatically improved U.S.-India relations via a breakthrough nuclear agreement

Signed Bankruptcy Reform Into Law

Waived Make-Work Enviro Studies For New Oil Drilling

Full Immunity From Frivolous Lawsuits For Our Domestic Gun Industry
Click Here

Fed Chairman Bernanke

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1518385/posts
Iraqi's Thank America (Wow, this is moving!)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1518877/posts
Iraqi Kurds thank the United States for liberation in New T.V ads (From MoveAmericaForward)

US forges trail-blazing UN condemnation of Hizbullah

US rules out extra pledges on global warming

Bush-appointed Judges: Most Conservative On Record, New UH Study Finds

Using Closed Bases For New Refineries, Cutting Refinery Red Tape

The Essential President Bush (click here)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/06/20060623-10.html

Executive Order: Protecting the Property Rights of the American People

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to strengthen the rights of the American people against the taking of their private property, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to protect the rights of Americans to their private property, including by limiting the taking of private property by the Federal Government to situations in which the taking is for public use, with just compensation, and for the purpose of benefiting the general public and not merely for the purpose of advancing the economic interest of private parties to be given ownership or use of the property taken.

Sec. 2. Implementation. (a) The Attorney General shall:

(i) issue instructions to the heads of departments and agencies to implement the policy set forth in section 1 of this order; and

(ii) monitor takings by departments and agencies for compliance with the policy set forth in section 1 of this order. ...

White Sands missile test 'phenomenal'

	The rising sun lights a contrail pattern made by a missile test launch at the White Sands Missile Range in the sky over Phoenix, Ariz., early Wednesday (7/12/06). The launch was a test of the Missile Defense Agency's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system. (AP photo)

AP

July 27, 2006: John Walsh, right, gives a thumbs up as President Bush, left, looks on during a signing ceremony for the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act in the Rose Garden at the White House.

U.S. govt gets giant cross in San Diego [with President Bush's signature...........]

Algeria has held its first competitive presidential election, and the military remained neutral.

The United Arab Emirates recently announced that half of its seats in the Federal National Council will be chosen by elections.

Kuwait held elections in which women were allowed to vote and run for office for the first time.

Citizens have voted in municipal elections in Saudi Arabia and parliamentary elections in Jordan and Bahrain and in multiparty presidential elections in Yemen and Egypt.

700 Miles of Border Fencing Approved And Funded

New Civil and Military Space Policy (includes using nuclear power for long-range space exploration)

Implemented "clean diesel" EPA mandates that reduce diesel air pollution by up to 97% as well as enable U.S. refiners to profitably use U.S. coal or natural gas to produce diesel in a move that aids our environment as well as enables the U.S. to gradually wean itself from Middle-East oil

[DakotaRed]

My whole point is, they don't stand. They just attack and smear. Sheeple need to realize they stand for nothing, just their own power.

[nopardons]

bttt

[kingu]

Most of those aren't goals, they're accomplishments. It's a list of what they've done, not what they're going to do. But let's look at the list...

1. continue to appoint sane judges (unlike the insane ones the dems appoint) - Thankfully Harriet Meyers wasn't in that grouping, but we have plenty of vacant federal benches, still no breakup of the insanely large 9th, still judges sitting around waiting for confirmations. Not sure how much I'd want to put this first on the list.

2. keep tax cuts in place - Most of the tax cuts are taxes that should never have been charged in the first place. Married couples having to pay higher taxes? What a moronic plan to begin with.

3. keep the US terror free - By leaving the borders effectively open for half a decade? By not doing anything to streamline the insanely burdensome immigration courts? By not targeting people already ordered out of the country who still refuse to leave?

4. eventually bring Iraq to a conclusion - The Iraq war ended the day there wasn't a member of the Iraqi government to sign a surrender agreement. Formalizing the end of that war should have been the top goal of the state department, yet to this moment, there is no official peace with Iraq. Semitics, I'm sure, but it needs to be done.

5. make a new effort at social security reform - What? By expanding it further? Walmart is doing more to cut the costs of prescription drugs than Congress has accomplished.

6. make a new effort at border control with a guest worker program - So, someone has finally started applying for the existing guest worker programs? Yeah, yeah, I know, they're recruiting in Asia and India right now - fine for tech programs, but why farm workers? One of the few areas of expansion I'd actually support would be multiplying by five the size of the embassy in Mexico and actually start processing the already authorized work permits, and increasing the size of ICE to enforce the visas issued.

7. continue to see the deficit decline - If you project an incredibly huge deficit and only deliver a deficit that is larger than the gross national product of half the nations on the planet, that is not deficit reduction, that's playing with numbers. Cutting pork projects, cutting the size of government and controlling future obligations would bring about real deficit control, but those aren't even up for discussion.

8. make a better effort at spending control - Has Bush vetoed a spending bill yet? Has the Republican congress not increased every segment of spending? Actually, the most disgusting thing is that over the past five years, Congress has succeeded in increasing the size of their own budget by more than double, almost triple, what it was when Bush took office.

9. continue education reform - The only real educational reform in action right now is in Washington DC with their limited voucher program. Of course, the rest of us don't qualify for such things. But I'll certainly give ya one here - standardized testing has clearly demonstrated even to the most liberal that their stupid ideas on teaching are harming our kids.

10. continue low unemployment rates and record stock market highs. - I'm seriously tempted to go through and count the number of new government employees (direct or indirect) created over the last five years. My guess is that it'll account for twenty to twenty-five percent of the job 'gains'. Add in the number of people who took themselves out of the workforce and are no longer seeking jobs, the percentage of youth not even seeking a job, plus the millions of jobs being squatted by illegals... I see numbers that could have been vastly different. The stock market might be at record highs - but what of it? How much of the stock market is compelled investment these days, money coming in from retirement funds that must purchase stock each quarter? If the overall economic health was so strong, the Fed would be reducing interest rates to combat inflationary pressures. Yet another hollow victory.

[Just mythoughts]

As I recall before we ever entered Iraq a significant number of liberals were opposed. Was not their A.N.S.W.E.R. groupies seeking to initiate bloodshed right here on our own ground to prevent the removal of Saddam.

I remember the cries, wales, and moans about N.Korea was worse and more of a threat than Saddam, and even some of these who supposedly swore an oath and allegiance to our Constitution went to the that land of confusion pretending to play a role of human shields.

Then when Baghdad fell, what sent these liberals over and around the bend, no protection of museums.

Every step of the way these liberals have joined the insurgents as though they were one and the same.

[kingu]

A pretty comprehensive cut and paste listing, mostly detailing the accomplishments and goals of President Bush. But just like gop.org, most of it is a rehash of the 2004 party platform (which is still what you'll get when you click on 'party platform' in the information section.) It is, as I said, treading water.

For all their insanity, at least the Democrats are articulating at least one goal for the next two years (an insanely stupid one, but still a goal.) The lack of a voice to set goals prevents failure, of course, and is likely why there is no new platform, or stated goals, for the next two years.

I've got a flood of campaign materials - my mailbox keeps getting stuffed with the junk, and they, just like your pasting above, details what has been accomplished, not what will be accomplished. Well, with the rare exception of Tom McClintock's Lt. Governor flier - but almost all of his 'visionary statements' are out of reach from a position that has nearly zero power.

I don't think I'm asking for much here.

[sirchtruth]

I'm grossly sick of Republicans treading water.

This is understandable, but there has to be a clear, undeniable goal that Repubs stand for, that is to DEFEAT terrorist, in their region not ours.

Has Bush and repubs articulated this well, for goodness sakes, no way, but if you don't understand what this WAR is all about "spiritually" then it's not going to matter WHAT Repubs say or do. I think Bush has pointed Americans in the right direction, but he can not force them to believe...

[cschroe]

1. continue to appoint sane judges (unlike the insane ones the dems appoint) - Thankfully Harriet Meyers wasn't in that grouping, but we have plenty of vacant federal benches, still no breakup of the insanely large 9th, still judges sitting around waiting for confirmations. Not sure how much I'd want to put this first on the list.

This is by far the most important thing the Republican party can do. Bush still has 2 years, so holding the Senate is paramount. If Stevens or Ginsburg goes, there'd be a chance of gettikng a Supreme Court that can undo some of the atrocious "jurisprudence" of the last 30 years.

2. keep tax cuts in place - Most of the tax cuts are taxes that should never have been charged in the first place. Married couples having to pay higher taxes? What a moronic plan to begin with

Correct, but many expire in the next 2 years. If the Dems take the House, they don't have to vote on raising taxes, they just let them expire (and you know they'll claim "I never voted to raise your taxes!"). Gotta keep the House if we can.

beyond that, I prefer the House and Senate accomplish very little, bi-partisan or not.

[kingu]

Terrence Boyle, Michael Wallace, William G. Myers, Norman Randy Smith, William J. Haynes, and Peter D. Keisler. Renominated in late August for various open seats on the circuit courts of appeal, withdrawn yet again in early October.

I've yet to find a Republican running for the Senate who commits to confirming these nominations. Six vacancies that can't be filled? Come on, Senators. Put them to a vote. I'd find it so refreshing if the Senate leadership promised an up or down vote on any Bush nominee within a hundred days of nomination.

[been_lurking]

Nice whine, but where's the cheese?

Why don't you tell us what the Republican's goals should be?

[kevkrom]

This goes hand-in-hand with the Washington Post decrying negative campaining (from the GOP only, of course). The fact is, if you refuse to define yourself, your opponent will gladly do it for you.

[q_an_a]

you da man- great post especially in that it covers hundreds of things that would not be in place if a liberal John Kerry was President.

What is most important is that he has fought every day to elect Repbulicans he did not care if they are conservative or RINO he WORKED hard to keep the RATS out of Washington. That is conservative to me.

As to all the small government only libertarians out there don't forget that many of them want no drug laws and think gay marriage is OK with them. Two ideas that do the our country and it's young people no good.

[centurion316]

You have performed a great service to FR, Sir. Well done.

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

All valid points, but why have we not heard any of this from the GOP?

I suspect they will dodge a bullet this election and then return to business as normal as if they learned nothing from a near-death experience. Exhibit 1 will be Mike DeWine. We will return the scum to the Senate and he'll thank us with a poke in the eye at every turn.

[longtermmemmory]

Thanks!

BTW serious question, since GWBush has come to office how many RINOs have left,lost, or retired.

I know a number of them are out there pushing for McCain (christine todd whitless for example)