Democrats to roll out action plan - Program on domestic issues part of strategy to retake House

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 6/12/6 | Marc Sandalow

[SmithL]

Washington -- Democrats will introduce a domestic agenda for the 2006 campaign this week, confident that their opportunity to pick up seats is the best in a generation, yet divided over how much an agenda will matter.

The Democratic program will consist of bread-and-butter priorities: increasing the minimum wage, cutting costs of prescription drugs, reducing interest rates on student loans, rolling back subsidies for oil companies, and pay-as-you-go budgeting, according to party officials.

Party strategists hope the timing will contrast favorably with the Republicans' recent push on social legislation such as constitutional bans on gay marriage and flag burning.

With President Bush and Republicans in political free fall, others in the party believe what Democrats do and say is of far less consequence than the price of gasoline and the daily casualties from Iraq.

Last Tuesday's House special election north of San Diego where Democrat Francine Busby came within 5,000 votes of beating former GOP Rep. Brian Bilbray in a solidly Republican district did not settle the dispute over whether Democrats can win the majority simply by exploiting GOP weaknesses.

Democratic strategists are split among those who believe the party must aggressively show voters that they offer a reasonable alternative and those who warn against providing a target that might rally opponents.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

LOL LOL . . . I could write something without a source like that and sign your name to it too.

Here I will do it:

I fear myself being attracted to goats of late. It has grown far worse on a daily basis. I think it is George Bush's fault. Merry Christmas" MNJohnnie.

What a maroon.

What's more you can find my screen name all around Germany. There are probably hundreds who use it of all political stripes. It is merely the first 3 words to the national anthem. Of course I seriously doubt you would have taken the time to have figured that out.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

see post 21.

[Little Ray]

I have a lot of issues with President Bush (as do most Paleocons):

1. Proposing amnesty for illegal immigrants.
2. Proposing path for citizenship for illegal immigrants.
3. Doing little or nothing about illegal immigration beyond trying to help the illegals.
4. Congressional Spending Sprees (esp. Katrina, No Child Gets Ahead, Drugs for Geezers, and Farm Subsidies).
5. Political Correctness in the War on Terror ("Islam is a religion of peace" and apologizin' for usin' the word "crusade" is gonna haunt him forever! Putting up with cr@p from the MSM about Abu Ghraib and Haditha is pretty bad, too.).
6. Trying to hold Israel to the idiotic "Roadmap" when its perfectly obvious the Palis are still at war with Israel.
7. Subversion by the Main Stream Media.
8. Harriet Miers.
9. "If it (the renewed Ugly Gun Ban) reaches my desk, I'll sign it." (Clever stratagem, but not very reassuring to us NRA members...)
10. He signed the McCain / Feingold Incumbent Protection Act, (aka Campaign Finance Reform).

One thing the MSM misses: Just 'cause I'm dissatisfied with President Bush, doesn't mean I'll vote for Democrat who would be even worse.

Doesn't mean I don't like him. He has principles and guts. But these are most of my issues with him.

Corollary 1: Just 'cause I won't vote for a Commie Pinko Democrat, don't think I'll vote for liberal (or insane) Republican.

Corollary 2: If the next Democratic Presidential candidate runs as a Zell Miller clone, the Republicans are toast.

[Little Ray]

I believe the polls, somewhat. However, what they miss is that whatever I may not like about President Bush, on those same issues, Democrats are even WORSE...

My dissatisfaction with President Bush does NOT translate into support for Democrats.

[oblomov]

I'm familiar with the German national anthem. It was your reaction that prompted my response.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

oblomov - I didn't send you to that post nor make a comment on the anthem.

Little Ray - I agree with your points.

Seems like the silent LMJohnnie is the only one left out.

Maybe off with the goats.

[.cnI redruM]

Yeah, that GWB is toast in 2008!

[Little Ray]

Don't be silly. I'm worried about Guiliani and McInsane. If they're what the GOP offers for presidential material, I'm skipping that line on the ballot.

[EQAndyBuzz]

'The Democratic program will consist of bread-and-butter priorities: increasing the minimum wage, cutting costs of prescription drugs, reducing interest rates on student loans, rolling back subsidies for oil companies, and pay-as-you-go budgeting, according to party officials. "

Basically, the same agenda they have had for the past 40 years. I will go to war against that any day.

[.cnI redruM]

They seem to have forgotten that too much bread and butter can give you a waistline resembling Bill Clinton.

[MainFrame65]

Nice summary of my thoughts about the President - my tinfoil hat must have slipped a little while I was sleeping....

[phillyfanatic]

I cannot imagine any of this old trumped up leftist agenda inspiring voters on the fringes, new kid voters, some Independents, richer Dems, and any Red Staters salivating to vote for the DNCers. This is a rehash of the New Deal. New voters will not even know that's what it is. My guess is, that Nov. will actually see a lighter turnout for both parties than is now expected.

[VRWCmember]

The way you put it the President's poll ratings and that for Congress should be sky high. What do you think the problem is?

What is the problem? The problem is with the media that drives opinion polls rather than reporting the news. Yes, based on ALL the FACTS, the President's poll ratings should be much higher, but the media gives all the attention to the Cindy Sheehans and distorts good economic news as if it were bad news. The people being polled are for the most part ignorant and also too lazy to bother to get the facts.