DASCHLE'S LEADERSHIP 101: IDENTIFY PROBLEM, BLAME REPUBLICANS & OFFER NO SOLUTION

DASCHLE'S LEADERSHIP 101: IDENTIFY PROBLEM, BLAME REPUBLICANS & OFFER NO SOLUTION

While President Bush Advances The American People's Agenda, Sadly, Daschle Is Content To Practice Partisan Politics As Usual

THE NEW YORK TIMES CALLED SENATOR TOM DASCHLE'S (D-SD) PERFORMANCE AS MAJORITY LEADER "SHAKY."

"Mr. Daschle's performance in the spotlight has been shaky. He failed to round up the votes to pass a bill providing prescription drugs for the elderly. He could not win passage of an overall budget resolution to set spending levels for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The worst part, for him, was that these defeats came as much at the hands of Democrats as Republicans."
(Editorial, "Congress's Mixed Handiwork," The New York Times, August 3, 2002)

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle Asserted That "Everyone Expected" The Economic Growth Of The Clinton Administration To Continue. "Under the Clinton administration, the markets had been booming. We saw growth in an unprecedented way. And we expected, everyone expected, that growth to continue."
(Senator Daschle, Congressional Record, September 18, 2002)

The Chairman Of Clinton's Council Of Economic Advisors, Joseph Stiglitz, Agreed That The Recession Started On President Clinton's Watch. "It would be nice for us veterans of the Clinton Administration if we could simply blame mismanagement by President George W. Bush's economic team for this seemingly sudden turnaround in the economy, which coincided so closely with its taking charge. But . . . the economy was slipping into recession even before Bush took office, and the corporate scandals that are rocking American began much earlier."
(Joseph Stiglitz, "The Roaring Nineties," The Atlantic Monthly, October 2002)

Joseph Stiglitz Contradicted Daschle's Claim That The Bush Administration Is Responsible For The Recession. Stiglitz noted that during the Clinton Administration "the groundwork for some of the problems we are now experiencing was being laid. Accounting standards slipped; deregulation was taken further than it should have been, and corporate greed was pandered to. . . ."
(Joseph Stiglitz, "The Roaring Nineties," The Atlantic Monthly, October 2002)

The Bush Administration's Tax Cut Softened The Negative Effects Of The Economic Recession Initiated In President Clinton's Term. President Bush's efforts have softened the impact of the recession that began under Clinton's watch. The Bush tax cut prevented 800,000 additional jobs from being cut. The Bush economic stimulus package extended unemployment benefits and incentives for businesses to invest and create jobs.
(Council Of Economic Advisors Fact Sheet, September 2002)

Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan Credited Republican Tax Relief For Spurring Increases In Income And Productivity. "Household spending was boosted by ongoing increases in incomes, which in turn were spurred by strong advances in productivity as well as by legislated tax reductions and, in recent months, by extended unemployment insurance benefits."
(Alan Greenspan, Testimony Before The Senate Committee On Banking, Housing And Urban Affairs, July 16, 2002)

Daschle Charged That Two Million Jobs Have Been Lost Under The Bush Administration. "Over the last 2 years-actually the last 18 months-we have lost 2 million jobs-private sector jobs in this country."
(Senator Daschle, Congressional Record, September 18, 2002)

Daschle Charged That Long-Term Unemployment Numbers Have More Than Doubled Under The Bush Administration. "In January of 2001, the number of long-term unemployed was 648,000. In August of this year, that number had more than doubled to 1,474,000 people."
(Senator Daschle, Congressional Record, September 18, 2002)

Daschle Charged That Under The Bush Administration The Nation Has Lost Jobs For The First Time In 50 Years. "[Y]ou would probably have to go all the way back to the 1930s to see the last time in our Nation's history when we last witnessed a loss in private sector jobs over the course of the life of an administration. . . . Over the last 50 years, in every administration since Dwight Eisenhower, we have seen private sector job growth. . . . We've actually seen a decline in the number of private-sector jobs for the first time in 50 years."
(Senator Daschle, Congressional Record, September 18, 2002)

Daschle Charged The Bush Administration With Precipitating Increase In Foreclosures Affecting Workers Across The Economic Scale. "We also have seen something else we never thought we would see, a dramatic increase in the number of foreclosures. . . The thousands of layoffs have caused an increasing number of . . . [workers] to suffer in another way, the personal pain of losing their home. At the end of last year, 1.15 percent of mortgage loans were in foreclosure. By the second quarter of this year, that number had grown to 1.63 percent, an increase that affects not only lower income workers but workers across the economic scale."
(Senator Daschle, Congressional Record, September 18, 2002)

The President Took Action To Create Jobs And Boost The Economy By Providing Major Tax Relief For All Working Americans. "The President proposed and signed tax relief that boosted our economy, created jobs, and put money in people's pockets when they needed it most. The President also signed an economic stimulus bill giving short-term help to displaced workers and long-term stimulus to create more jobs across America."
(The White House, "A Record Of Accomplishment For The American People," August 3, 2002)

The Council Of Economic Advisers Describes Tax Relief As An Important Tool For Raising Personal Savings, Attracting Business Development And Creating Jobs. "Reduced tax rates raise workers' take home pay, facilitating household purchases of housing and autos, raising saving[s], and aiding entrepreneurs. Business expensing makes it more attractive for businesses to invest and create jobs."
(Council Of Economic Advisors Fact Sheet, August 12, 2002)

The President Proposed And Received Trade Promotion Authority. The President proposed and signed "Trade Promotion Authority legislation to help create new American jobs and boost our economy by opening foreign markets to U.S. products and services."
(The White House, "A Record Of Accomplishment For The American People," August 3, 2002)

President Bush Proposed A Five Percent Increase In Funding For Job Training That Targets Disadvantaged Youth.
(Office Of Management And Budget, "Budget Message Of The President: FY 03, Department Of Labor," February 2002)

Current Job Loss Figures Are Lower Than What Is Anticipated In Typical Postwar Recessions. The fraction of jobs lost is smaller than in the typical postwar recession. The number of long-term unemployed is below that in the previous recession and has recovered faster than the typical postwar recession.
(Council Of Economic Advisors Fact Sheet, September 2002)

Under The Bush Administration, Home Ownership Is Near Its Peak And The Number Of Problem Loans Are At A Level "Well Within Their Historical Bounds." The value of real estate - the most important asset for most families - continues to rise, and the homeownership rate remains near its peak 68.1% in the third quarter of 2001. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, problem loans are well within their historical bounds.
(Council Of Economic Advisors Fact Sheet, September 2002)

Daschle Charged The Bush Administration With Presiding Over A Decline In Market Value From $16.4 Trillion To $11.9 Trillion. "When this administration took office in January 2001, the overall market value, the market capitalization in those two markets alone was $16.4 trillion. . . . [O]ver the last 18 months that $16.4 trillion pie has now shrunk to $11.9 trillion. We have lost $4.5 trillion in market capitalization just in 18 months."
(Senator Daschle, Congressional Record, September 18, 2002)

Daschle Charged That The Impact Of The Loss Of Market Capitalization On Worker Savings Equals 1/3 Decrease Of Their Retirement "Nest Egg." "If you look at an individual worker's retirement savings-that is what we are talking about when we talk about the loss of market capitalization-the impact is profound. If that worker had a $100,000 retirement fund invested in the market in 2001 and kept it there during the 18 months this administration has been in office, that loss in market capitalization would mean the worker saw the value of his retirement savings decline by more than $31,000. In other words, the worker in just 18 months has lost nearly a third of the nest egg he was counting on for the balance of his retirement. . . ."
(Senator Daschle, Congressional Record, September 18, 2002)

President Bush Signed Aggressive Legislation To Restore Investor Confidence And Thwart Corporate Abuse. "[This] legislation ... [will] jail cheating business executives and regulate the accounting profession through an independent board with broad new powers. The corporate-accountability bill ... impose[s] the strongest federal regulation over American finance since the New Deal securities laws in the 1930s. It is intended to help restore public confidence in corporate America."
(James Kuhnhenn, "Senate, House Agree On Bill To Whip Corporations Into Financial Shape," Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, July 25, 2002)

President Bush Proposed And The House Approved Legislation Protecting Workers' Retirement Savings. The President's plan required companies to:
(1) set one standard for executives and employees;
(2) give a 30-day notice before any blackout period;
(3) hold company executives responsible for treating workers' assets as carefully as they do their own;
(4) provide independent investment advice for workers; and
(5) regularly give information to workers about their accounts. The House approved a bill "based on principles President Bush outlined for pension reform."
(President Bush, Radio Address To The Nation, February 2, 2002; "House, Senate Begin To Take Measure Of Fallout From Enron," National Journal's Congress Daily, April 11, 2002)

The Republican-Led House Quickly Passed A Bi-Partisan Pension Reform Measure Based On The President's Proposal With The Support Of 46 House Democrats.
(H.R. 3762, Roll Call #92: Approved 255-163: R 208-2; D 46-160; I 1-1, April 11, 2002)

Daschle Has Yet To Act On Pension Reform. Daschle says the that the Senate may take up pension reform "as soon as a homeland security bill is completed," which could be as late as October.
("Daschle: Pension Reform Will Follow Homeland Debate," National Journal's CongressDaily, August 1, 2002)

DASCHLE DESPERATE ATTACK #4 -- BUDGET DEFICIT DASCHLE'S FAILED LEADERSHIP FANTASY

Daschle Charged The Bush Administration With Squandering The Surplus And Increasing The Deficit. "[I]n the space of 18 months that projection has grown from $36 billion to the new projection issued last month of $3.8 trillion. That is the record. We have gone from a projected $5.6 trillion surplus to a $400 billion deficit and from $36 billion in projected debt by 2008 to $3.8 trillion."
(Senator Daschle, Congressional Record, September 18, 2002)

The Congressional Budget Office Reported That The Economic Recession, Not The Republican Tax Relief, Caused The Federal Budget Deficit. The CBO reported August 13th that 80% of the change in revenue projections for FY 2002 was due to economic and technical changes, not tax relief. OMB agrees that a continued sluggish recovery could cause receipts to decline even further in future years than recently projected in the Mid Session Review. CBO's numbers also show that if there never had been a tax cut, the budget would still be in deficit today.
(Congressional Budget Office, "Budget And Economic Update," August 2002)

Daschle Charged The Bush Administration With Presiding Over Prescription Drug Price Inflation At Triple The Overall Inflation Rate. "We see a similar trend when we look at the rising cost of prescription drugs. While the Consumer Price Index has gone up 1.6 percent since this administration took office, the cost of prescription drugs has grown by 5.7 percent, almost four times greater than the overall inflation rate.
(Senator Daschle, Congressional Record, September 18, 2002)

Last Summer President Bush Proposed Prescription Drug Benefits For Seniors. "These are principles which will strengthen one of our nation's most sacred obligations, the health of our senior citizens. We'll protect seniors now, offering exciting new services and more choices to seniors in the future, and guarantee prescription drug coverage. . . . That's my administration's commitment today, and its exciting new vision for health care in America."
President Bush, Remarks By The President On Medicare, July 12, 2001)

The House Approved A Prescription Drug Measure.
(H.R. 4954, Roll Call #282: Passed 221-208: R 212-8; D 8-199; I 1-1, June 28, 2002)

Senate Majority Leader Daschle "Dashed The Hopes For New Prescription Drug Coverage To Help Older Americans. . . ." "The Senate yesterday dashed the hopes for new prescription drug coverage to help older Americans this year . . . . [F]or the fourth time in eight days, the Senate failed to agree on the broader goal of subsidizing drug costs for the elderly. . . . [T]he foundering of proposals to provide drug coverage for older people marked a failure of the Democratic-led Senate to deliver on a top objective."
(Amy Goldstein and Helen Dewar, "Drug Plans For Seniors Defeated," The Washington Post, August 1, 2002)

LOL!!! Actually I like NU better than Penn State! Having grown up in OH, I was not happy to see Penn State brought in to the Big Ten. But now I am Big 12 person for the most part and a huge Sooner fan!

Just so that NU comes back in time to lay it on the school from up North in OK, I will be happy. This Sooner fan wants to see NU win that one in a big way!

I have to say when the Husker fans were here in Norman in 2000 (we beat them in one really great game), they were class acts all the way. Although one lady from NU that stood and yelled and turned around and yelled when they scored the first 14 points sat down and was silent after that! It was hilarious!

Am suspecting that people will be getting very interested when we get to October. This election is so very important that I am sure Freepers will be right there on the front lines once again!

This election is so very important that I am sure Freepers will be right there on the front lines once again!

Many already are, and the rest will be in time, I do believe.

I have something else to share with you and your ping list that I think is pretty darned important, and may even rate it's own thread in the next few days or weeks:

This is something we are doing in Jay Wolfe's race against Rockefeller, and I believe should be emulated everywhere--let me know what you think:

Critical Election Day Ballot Security Issues

In the 2000 election, questions of voter fraud by our opponents arose across the country. Because of this, we are making it our job to ensure that our opponents don’t get away with ANYTHING on Election Night 2002. That is why we are asking our County Coordinators to do two very specific things in addition to the normal all-day operations of our Republican poll-watchers:

1. Legally, it is necessary that one specific individual in every precinct in the State from each of the two major parties be tasked to accompany the ballot box between the Polling Place and the Courthouse—NEVER letting the ballot box out of their sight. However, experience tells us that in many cases Republican officials have been derelict in this duty--allowing Democrat officials to take the box to the Courthouse unaccompanied. To remedy this, we are asking that each County Coordinator task one reliable individual to: a) talk to all of the Republican Precinct Poll Workers before Election Day to remind them that no ballot box can go out of the polling place to the Courthouse without escort by a Republican, and b) that this same individual station themselves at the Courthouse on Election Night with a checklist--to ensure that a Republican shows up with each and every precinct ballot box. Any precinct that does not have a Republican escort should immediately be suspect and open to possible challenge.

2. We are asking our County Coordinators to task one highly competent and reliable individual with a video camera and a tripod to set up in the tabulation area of each and every Courthouse in the State—and to leave the tape rolling from beginning to end of the tabulation process. Past history would indicate that the Democrats who run many of the tabulation operations in many of the Courthouses have allowed the tabulation areas to turn into a party atmosphere, creating a climate that is open to abuse of the counting process. Our experience also is that the presence of a running camera almost automatically creates a serious and secure environment for this most critical of processes. This same individual, or the County Coordinator, should inform Courthouse officials and/or law enforcement before Election Day—making sure they understand that it is legal and right for us to do so.

Please put it as its own thread and I will use this Senate bump list so Freepers can all see this. With all the fraud in the last election, it is very important that everyone be reminded of what can be done!

Be sure and remind folks that a vote for Rockefeller is a vote for daschle/clinton and their obstruction of Homeland Security, money for Defense and Intelligence, and Judicial nominations to name a few.

Welcome!

The 2000 election of George W. Bush, pushed over the top by winning West Virginia's five electoral votes, proved that a Republican with a message of jobs, opportunity and traditional values can indeed win.

This is the year to beat incumbent Jay Rockefeller. As you know, 2002 is a non-presidential election year, assuring a low voter turnout. That's why it is critical that every conservative-minded West Virginian vote on November 5th.

The obstructionism of Senators Tom Daschle and Jay Rockefeller--particularly of the President's judicial nominees--must be confronted head on. They have decided that if they can't have liberal activist judges like the ones who ruled recently against the Pledge of Allegiance, the President isn't going to get any nominations through the Senate!

Together, we can give President Bush the majority he needs.

Jay Wolfe

Website for the next Senator from West Virgina -- Jay Wolfe

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