Posted on 11/25/2002 6:38:12 AM PST by vannrox
Feinstein to Demos: Time to get tough
Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross Sunday, November 24, 2002
In the wake of the Democrats' Nov. 5 election defeats, Dianne Feinstein has some advice for her fellow party members: Take off the gloves.
"We haven't done near enough of a job tagging the Republicans," the senior senator from California said this past week while back home in San Francisco.
As a result, President Bush "was very much able to obfuscate on the whole issue of the economy with his pre-election push for national security issues," Feinstein said.
Now, she said, the time has come for the Democrats to step back up to the plate.
"We need to be the party that stands for a free, fair and open marketplace. We should be the ones who say if he doesn't appoint strong and full advocates for the commissions that oversee the marketplace, then we should filibuster and kill any appointments until he does."
Feinstein said even the issue of putting the brakes on Bush's tax cuts for the rich -- something a lot of Democrats don't want to touch -- should be put back in play.
"I mean, I've never had a person who makes over $200,000 tell me they need a tax cut," Feinstein said.
That's not the only place where Democrats need to step it up, she added.
"Remember Whitewater? They spent, what, $60 million on an investigation of the president and nothing ever came of it.
"Meanwhile, now there has been virtually no criticism of (Vice President Dick) Cheney with respect to that energy bill that he put together," with the supposed help of the very energy companies that would benefit, Feinstein said.
"We have to follow up on that," she said.
She also thinks the Democrats should continue to stand firm on the idea that the United States should not go it alone in Iraq.
"The reason the president got 77 votes (in the Senate) on his Iraq resolution -- and that includes mine -- is that he agreed to a diplomatic initiative with the United Nations, which was essentially what we Democrats had been saying all along," Feinstein said.
"None of us, I don't think, is all that supportive of doing in Saddam Hussein -- that is, assassinating Saddam -- nor are we supporting a unilateral action by America alone."
Speaking of going it alone, since Feinstein sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, we thought we'd ask her about the rumors that the United States already has special operations forces in Iraq.
Her response: "I can't answer that."
And that talk of assassinating Hussein?
"That was the initial thrust of the administration," Feinstein said. "But I haven't heard it mentioned lately."
On another front, there's been a lot of talk since the election of who should be the voice of the Democratic Party.
And on that point, Feinstein openly admits that "right now we don't have that individual."
She clearly doesn't think it's the party's current chairman, Terry McAuliffe -- in fact, she thinks the job should be split between two people, although she didn't say who.
As for who she might like to see get the Democratic nomination in 2004?
"Well, John Kerry of Massachusetts might be one, but I don't want to be evaluating candidates in your column," Feinstein said.
How about Al Gore?
"Too early to tell. I can't quite figure out yet who he is."
Joe Lieberman?
"I mean, I know who Joe is -- but I don't know. . . . Look, I don't want to say all of this on the record. We'll talk about it some other time. You're just trying to get me to say something so you can make news for your column."
She's in the Senate because Pete Wilson, when he became Governor, appointed John Seymour to be the interim Senator to fill the remainder of Wilson's Senate Term. Wilson's "Republican" administration IMHO helped the Democratic party in California more than anything.
Dim dem to Di; "Er, ah, Ms Feinstein, we just LOST to that party!"
That's because they work !! They don't have time to beat a dead dog with a worthless commie bitch like you Ms. Fienstein.
If I did meet you face to face however, I would rather spit on you than try to converse with you.
What really kills them is that they know from their polling in this election that they have NO advantage over the Republicans on the economy. The public is spilt dead even on which party can better deal with economic problems... throw in the GOP advantage on foreign policy issues, and the Dems don't have a leg to stand on.
Then let me be the first.
The reason is because it was political suicide not to.
She better not try to get on the ticket in 2004. Hillary has that in her cross-hairs.
And how many people who earn less than $200,000 have been telling you that they need a tax cut...and have you been listening to them?
I think this election said in some way that people who DON'T make $200,000 a year are saying that their employers, and the companies represented in their 401-Ks, need a tax cut.
The dems are reacting in a way which will take them straight to oblivion in future elections. The sheeple, THEY ARE AWAKE NOW!
Only problem is, more and more people can remember vividly what Bill Clinton left this country. And it wasn't much more than a stain on a blue dress and a national security apparatus that was asleep at the switch.
Unless one considers the "diversity" quilt at CIA a security blanket.
THe democrats have never been more shrill than they were prior to the last election. I fervently pray they heed ol' turkeyneck's advise.
"Too early to tell. I can't quite figure out yet who he is."
Definitely a nugget worth saving. And bringing up when Algore wins the 'Rats' 2004 nomination...
The simple truth is, they DID get their message out - but the voters weren't buying it this time.
The first step in solving a problem is admitting to oneself what the problem is. So far the dems. appointed spokespersons - OwlGore, Dashole, Feinstein et. al. - haven't been able to do that.
Let's hope and pray that continues to be the case.
Yawn...
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