Anybody else remember what happened in the Senate in 2003 during debate on tax cuts for the wealthy?

[Sparkly]

This may have been the 2001 tax cuts -- I can't recall which now...

Democrats stood up, one after another after another, offering amendments to shave just a TINY bit -- like .5% -- from a PORTION of even the top .5%'s wealthiest's proposed tax cuts, in case various things occurred. In other words, could the wealthy get a little less of a windfall IF:

- there were a war;
- we had a natural disaster needing funding;
- education needed more funding;
- veterans needed more funding;
- the SURPLUS was gone and DEFICIT spending pushed the DEBT up further.

What did Republicans say? One proposal after another: No, no, no, no, no.... It was all political theatre, but I figured this was getting Republicans on record for making every penny of tax cuts for the wealthiest take precedent over EVERYthing else the country could face.

We all saw what happened!! They spent us into huge debt while deregulating corporations, leading to this disaster we're in now.

And now they blame Democrats and whine about the national debt!! At the time I remember arguing with rightwingers, saying "Pay down the debt and then talk to me about tax cuts." (We didn't NEED a "stimulus" then the way we do now, anyway.) Their reply was just, "It's our money, we overpaid the government." Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.

So why do Democrats never say, basically, "We told you so?" Why don't they recount these recent events? Why don't they get a few key phrases to repeat, every one of them at every opportunity, to stick in voters' minds the way Republicans do?

Meanwhile, the irony and hypocrisy of the whole thing is infuriating, and the Democrats' weak fight back is frustrating. (They need to pick up on Obama's speech but with soundbytes -- we need a Frank Luntz! http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100717/pl_nm/us_obama_republicans.)

[Skink]

1. Didn't the Dems actually filibuster?

[Tansy_Gold]

2. Would you vote for a presidential candidate who actively and enthusiastically supports

Just for starters ---

1. An immediate cease-fire and structured withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq, accountability from military "contractors," and a major reduction in the Pentagon budget?

2. Without qualifications or hedges, a true single-payer health plan for the United States and promises to work toward a Medicare-for-all program regardless how loud the insurance companies scream?

3. Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by executive order ON INAUGURATION DAY, allowing GLBT persons to serve openly and honorably in our nation's military?

4. EVERY woman's right to choose whether or not to carry a pregnancy to term, including the right to obtain an abortion covered by her health care plan?

5. A fair and equitable income tax structure that treats income from wages, salaries, and small business profits as earned income subject to a lower tax rate than unearned income derived from investments and inheritances?

6. American workers' jobs, benefits, and safety ahead of corporate profits?

7. Innovations within the public education system that would keep our schools truly public and accountable but free of corporate manipulation and undue influence?

8. Research and investment in viable renewable energy programs to lessen everyone's dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels and dangerous nuclear power?

9. Appointment of cabinet members and administration staff and advisors who have liberal and progressive records and experience, rather than corporate-friendly stooges?

10. Nomination of federal judges whose records indicate they favor justice for all over privileges for a few?


Tansy Gold, just askin'

[EstimatedProphet]

7. We would. Not many other people would.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. We have/had our own "Frank Luntz". It is the oft-ignored George Lakoff

It seems to me (<-- meaning it is my OPINION, not fact) today's Dems (in elected office) are more interested in giving BJs to the repubs in the name of bipartisanship than in actually winning on any damned thing.

[moose65]

4. Interesting article from March 2001 on the first Bush tax cuts

The House vote was mostly on party lines - 10 Dems voted for the tax cuts, and of course no Republicans voted against it:

http://tech.mit.edu/V121/N10/taxes.10w.html

[unlegendary]

9. Two words

Blue Dogs..
Dems allow repubs to take office with the Democrat name.
We keep electing the cock suckers and begging them to play ball with us knowing damned well they won't then cry when they wont and meantime we have the wing among the Dems who want the pres to do EVERYTHING they want and if he doesn't get it ALL done we'll just go ahead and hand the whitehouse back to the cock suckers without so much as a whimper.

[moose65]

5. The Senate passed the 2001 tax cuts through reconciliation

The vote was 58 - 33 with 2 votes of Present and 7 not voting. Guess which Republicans voted against it? Chafee and...... McCain!! Also, 12 Democrats voted for the tax cuts, so we're not innocent either. Of course, this never would have come up for a vote if W hadn't proposed it.

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00170

[Stinky The Clown]

6. "Of course, this never would have come up for a vote if W hadn't proposed it."

That's what it comes down to, isn't it? If the president proposes it.


Single payer, anyone?



And some like to say Obama is like Bush. Feh .......

[napi21]

8. Some Dems Are saying those things back to the Pubs, and of course their

response always is HOW LONG ARE YA GOING TO BLAME SOMEONE ELSE?

The other bog problem as I see it is that in poll after poll, no matter how often it's asked, a major complaint of the American people is the LACK of bi-partisaanship. "Why can't they work together?"

Both sides blame the othe for not working together to get things done.