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Democrats need a breath of mountain-fresh air
LA Times ^ | November 2, 2005 | Matt Welch

Posted on 11/02/2005 8:39:46 PM PST by neverdem

FOR MAYBE the first time since the Gingrich revolution rocked their world in 1994, Democrats smell electoral blood in the water.

The conservative crackup over Harriet E. Miers, followed by the indictment of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby — both directly on the heels of the bungled federal response to Hurricane Katrina — have unleashed a long-suppressed crisis of conscience and faith within the Republican church.

After more than a decade of controlling the House of Representatives, and after five years of a White House spending binge that would make even Lyndon Johnson blush, Republicans are coming to the awkward realization that they have become the party of Big Government as we know it.

Instead of balancing budgets, eliminating government agencies and paring back entitlements, Republicans have run up the largest debt in history, birthed the biggest new federal bureaucracy in 50 years and created the most expensive entitlement since Medicare. Instead of "restoring dignity to the White House," as they promised, Republican leaders are being charged with criminal corruption and obstruction of justice. President Bush's popularity is getting lower by the week, and a housing bubble is looming precariously over an already fragile economy.

So how should Democrats take advantage? That's the $500,000 question. New Republic Editor Peter Beinart, for instance, has signed a contract (for which he reportedly received at least that sum) to write a book encouraging the Democrats to out-tough the Republicans in the war on terror. Paul Waldman, of the activist group Media Matters and author of the forthcoming "Being Right Is Not Enough," thinks liberals should embrace their inner "progressive" and demonize conservatives the way Rush Limbaugh has baited liberals lo these many years. Party Chairman Howard Dean wants to revive the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party," whatever that means.

But as an independent...

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


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Arizona; US: District of Columbia; US: Montana; US: New Mexico
KEYWORDS: democrats; independents; libertarian; republicans
MATT WELCH is an associate editor of Reason magazine. Website: www.mattwelch.com.

Pubbies beware! The dems could do something smart for a change.

1 posted on 11/02/2005 8:39:47 PM PST by neverdem
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You need a breath of fresh air if you're smoking what this guy's smokin..


2 posted on 11/02/2005 8:43:10 PM PST by D-fendr
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To: neverdem

That would be a switch.


3 posted on 11/02/2005 8:43:37 PM PST by clee1 (We use 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 2 to pull a trigger. I'm lazy and I'm tired of smiling.)
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To: neverdem

If they do all that, cutting taxes, school choice, etc., then they will be Republicans. How is that for irony?


4 posted on 11/02/2005 8:44:45 PM PST by Angel
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To: neverdem
The dems could do something smart for a change.


5 posted on 11/02/2005 8:46:19 PM PST by thoughtomator (Alito Akbar)
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To: neverdem

"Republicans are coming to the awkward realization that they have become the party of Big Government as we know it".

Republicans have let spending get out of control but to hear a Democrat site that as a reason why voters might turn to them for remedy beggars the imagination.


"Instead of "restoring dignity to the White House," as they promised, Republican leaders are being charged with criminal corruption and obstruction of justice".


That is absolutely correct. Republicans are being CHARGED. I'll reserve judgement. It's a damn sight easier to bring "charges" than to prove them.


6 posted on 11/02/2005 8:47:15 PM PST by saganite (The poster formerly known as Arkie 2)
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To: thoughtomator

OMG! That is soooooooooooooooo perfect! ROFL!


7 posted on 11/02/2005 8:47:24 PM PST by Chena (I'm not young enough to know everything.)
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To: neverdem
"President Bush's popularity is getting lower by the week, and a housing bubble is looming precariously over an already fragile economy."

This one sentence is what will kill the Dems, First off....... POPULARITY has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with LEADERSHIP, if we want popularity, bring back Slick Willy and ignore all the big issues that need to be confronted.

As far as the economy, If it was so fragile why has it been able to continue to grow with all of disasters we have had to face since 2001?

The Dems are basing their entire platform on LIES, and the LIES they are running on are so easily refuted. We are witnessing the death of the Democrat Party. They literally have no agenda other than trying to capitalize on the perceived failures of the Bush Administration. It's a pathetic and anti-american platform

8 posted on 11/02/2005 8:50:01 PM PST by MJY1288 (Whenever a Liberal is Speaking on the Senate Floor, Al-Jazeera Breaks in and Covers it LIVE)
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To: neverdem

Here you go, partner. Stand back of my mule. I'll give you a breath of somethin' fresh.


9 posted on 11/02/2005 8:57:04 PM PST by Adrastus (If you don't like my attitude, talk to some one else.)
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To: neverdem
the bungled federal response to Hurricane Katrina

There was no "bungled federal response" to the hurricane. There was a bungled local response for which the feds were not prepared. Who knew the extent of their incompetence?

Just more of the ol' "just keep saying it often enough and eventually the stoopid public will believe it" routine from the libs.

10 posted on 11/02/2005 9:00:37 PM PST by PLK
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To: neverdem

Dems smart = No way in hell ...


11 posted on 11/02/2005 9:10:40 PM PST by Deetes (God Bless the Troops)
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To: MJY1288
As far as the economy, If it was so fragile why has it been able to continue to grow with all of disasters we have had to face since 2001?

Exactly, this is another BIG LEFTY LIE to themselves.

I travel extensively, I am amazed at all the construction, renovation and physical infrastructure being built EVERYWHERE I go.

In the late nineties capital investment was tossed into intangibles, dot coms, Internet.

Today I see capital investment put into buildings, brick and mortar businesses, physical profit making tangibles.

Our GDP continues to grow over 3% per quarter.

Our unemployment rate is as good as any of the heady days of the fifties and sixties.

Today I see and experience our overall economy as strong and robust.

And yet just this week I overheard a lefty decry the economy, oh woe is me said Henny Penny.

I shook my head and thought, you can see but yet you are blind.

12 posted on 11/02/2005 9:11:31 PM PST by A message
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To: neverdem

What "bungled federal response to hurricane Katrina" is this dope referring to? There were some logistical issues with the evacuation, care and feeding of surivors, but those were strictly the fault of the locals.


13 posted on 11/02/2005 9:16:25 PM PST by Skip Ripley
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To: neverdem

Man, "The Onion" justs gets funnier and funnier.


14 posted on 11/02/2005 9:40:29 PM PST by noblejones
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To: neverdem
The dems could do something smart for a change.

Man, I am seriously doubting either party can do something smart at this point

15 posted on 11/02/2005 10:24:19 PM PST by GeronL (Leftism is the INSANE Cult of the Artificial)
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To: D-fendr; neverdem
You need a breath of fresh air if you're smoking what this guy's smokin..

Yeah.

I saw this earlier in the paper and can't believe anyone could be so obtuse. Then I saw it was from one of the "reason" crowd.

These guys are among the dumbest box of rocks around.

Those who pride themselves and pronounce their own reason and rationality are always pretty short in those two arenas.

It does show, though, that the liberatarian crowd really like the dem agenda way better than the conservative one and think changing a fiscal policy would make the dems the paty to support.

16 posted on 11/02/2005 10:36:01 PM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: GeronL
Man, I am seriously doubting either party can do something smart at this point

I hear you. Newt still seems to have ideas, but I'm afraid he's damaged goods.

17 posted on 11/02/2005 10:38:00 PM PST by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
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To: neverdem
Don't tell me Newt's running for something.

Mark Sanford '08

18 posted on 11/02/2005 11:21:34 PM PST by GeronL (Leftism is the INSANE Cult of the Artificial)
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To: GeronL
Don't tell me Newt's running for something.

He came out with a new book, and he's on a book tour hitting Iowa and New Hampshire. He was promoting standardized electronic medical records with Hillary.

Who's Mark Sanford? /sarc

19 posted on 11/02/2005 11:37:31 PM PST by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
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To: neverdem
Who's Mark Sanford? /sarc

Some cheapskate who should run for President

20 posted on 11/02/2005 11:43:45 PM PST by GeronL (Leftism is the INSANE Cult of the Artificial)
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