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Democrats to Push Pocketbook Issues
Washington Post ^ | 11-19-06 | Amy Goldstein and Lyndsey Layton

Posted on 11/19/2006 1:12:22 AM PST by xtinct

After retrieving control of Congress for the first time in a dozen years, Democrats will set out to redefine the domestic agenda through policies they say would address the economic needs of middle- and working-class Americans.

Striving for a few quick legislative victories in January and longer-term goals whose details -- and viability -- are not yet certain, Democratic lawmakers want to shift the dialogue on Capitol Hill to workers' pay, college tuition, health-care costs, retirees' income and other issues that touch ordinary families.

Their success is not assured. Democrats will hold a tenuous 51 to 49 majority in the Senate, where Republicans and the Bush administration will be well-positioned to thwart their legislation, and Democrats in the House already are showing signs of division. Democrats will face a conflict, too, between the cost of some of their policies and their pledge to tighten federal spending rules.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: collegecosts; collegetuition; energy; mediabias; minimumwage; ordinaryfamilies; retireesincome; taxes; workerspay
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1 posted on 11/19/2006 1:12:24 AM PST by xtinct
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To: xtinct

That's right, they'll push their way into our pocketbooks. Try to, at least.


2 posted on 11/19/2006 1:19:17 AM PST by quesney
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To: xtinct

But will they do it without raising taxes? I think not!


3 posted on 11/19/2006 1:55:39 AM PST by newzjunkey (Speaker Pelosi thanks cannibalistic conservatives for her victory.)
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To: quesney
workers' pay, college tuition, health-care costs, retirees' income and other issues that touch ordinary families.

Can't you just feel the greasy talking points memo these phrases came from?

No bias here! (/sarcasm)

4 posted on 11/19/2006 1:58:02 AM PST by newzjunkey (Speaker Pelosi thanks cannibalistic conservatives for her victory.)
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To: xtinct
They are doing the right thing to maintain power. How many Republicans stopped to question spending enough to try and embarass the President and all the tax & spenders?

If they get serious about it, they may very well maintain their power. If they manage to cut taxes, the Republicans are through.

I doubt the latter scenario, but if the rats get smart, the stupid party is finished.

5 posted on 11/19/2006 2:00:28 AM PST by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: xtinct
The Democrats WANT to increase spending. They've already said ethics reform is "a load of crap." Just think how seriously they'll take their promise of fiscal discipline. Their liberalism demands they fund entitlements to the hilt.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

6 posted on 11/19/2006 2:05:43 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: xtinct

What? To 'push' the money out of my pocket into theirs?


7 posted on 11/19/2006 2:07:49 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: xtinct

Can't figure out why, but the word draconian just popped into my head.


8 posted on 11/19/2006 2:09:46 AM PST by GoLightly
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To: Caipirabob
If they manage to cut taxes



When did a RAT ever cut taxes?????

They wouldn't know how to start.

If you'd said they'd want to increase taxes, now that I could believe without any problem.
9 posted on 11/19/2006 2:40:23 AM PST by AmeriBrit (Soros and Clinton's for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington = SCREW.)
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To: AmeriBrit
I believe John F Kennedy was the last rat to push through tax cuts.

Yet I also believe that the rats are more interested in consolidating power than whatever their platform is. If they decide to mask themselves as conservatives, they could destroy the Republicans in the next election cycle as well.

They are smart enough and have enough party discipline to do this.

10 posted on 11/19/2006 2:45:12 AM PST by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: xtinct; smoothsailing; Just A Nobody; jazusamo; W04Man; RedRover; GitmoSailor; rwsteel

Not a word about money for our troops except that we've cried wolf.


11 posted on 11/19/2006 4:20:24 AM PST by freema (Marine FRiend, 1stCuz2xRemoved, Mom, Aunt, Sister, Friend, Wife, Daughter, Niece)
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To: freema

Dems will also push legislation proclaiming that 9-11 never happened.


12 posted on 11/19/2006 4:34:59 AM PST by RedRover (Proud pinger of patriots.)
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To: xtinct

A more honest title would be "Democrats plot purse-snatching".


13 posted on 11/19/2006 5:14:30 AM PST by George W. Bush
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To: xtinct; ancient_geezer
There is a possibility that Dems will attempt to claim tax reform as their own.

The more the electorate is educated, the more we want to dump the income tax for an nrst.

14 posted on 11/19/2006 5:16:53 AM PST by Principled
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To: xtinct

Issue that touches every single American family: the war. Until the Democrats address THAT issue to my satisfaction they won't get the time of day from me, much less my vote.


15 posted on 11/19/2006 5:19:39 AM PST by brothers4thID (Being lectured by Ted Kennedy on ethics is not unlike being lectured on dating protocol by Ted Bundy)
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To: xtinct
They know this won't work. This is about 2008. They will push these items and then blame the Republicans for their failure and use that as an issue in 2008. Minimum wage, healthcare, Social Security; these are all election year topics that the Democrats use only to garner votes. Once in power, they could care less if these things pass.

Between 1992 and 1994, the Democrats held all three branches of the government but passed next to nothing of their so-called agenda. For two years, they had the ability to enact their agenda but didn't. It's all for show folks. Nothing more. The Democrats love power for power's sake. They couldn't care less about actually governing.

16 posted on 11/19/2006 5:31:49 AM PST by Reaganesque
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To: xtinct

"pocketbook"...is a code word for taxes.....

that is the only issue they all know!!!!!


17 posted on 11/19/2006 5:44:24 AM PST by hnj_00
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To: xtinct

Dick Cheney will have to stay close by when the Senate is in session to break deadlocks. I hope the GOP Senate acts with more of a backbone now that RINO's Chaffee and DeWine are gone.


18 posted on 11/19/2006 5:51:09 AM PST by Combat_Liberalism
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To: newzjunkey

"Striving for a few quick legislative victories in January and longer-term goals whose details -- and viability -- are not yet certain, Democratic lawmakers want to shift the dialogue on Capitol Hill to workers' pay, college tuition, health-care costs, retirees' income and other issues that touch ordinary families."

How about privatizing Social Security? Or letting us have our own medical expense accounts?

Let's start with those two since those are the two things that are going to bankrupt this country in 20 years.



19 posted on 11/19/2006 6:08:05 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz (I thank the RNC for freeing me to vote my values rather then political party. It is liberating!)
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To: Caipirabob

Demcorats are going to spend the next two years positioning themselves for 2008. The way the Senate is made up right now, in 2008 the Democrats can pick up another 10 seats.

That's 60. And now add Hillary.

Be afraid.


20 posted on 11/19/2006 6:10:12 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz (I thank the RNC for freeing me to vote my values rather then political party. It is liberating!)
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