Dems in Full Retreat
As Michael Goodwin notes, even as war rages between Israel and Hezbollah, the links between terrorist sponsoring states and entities (Syria, Iran, Hezbollah) have never been clearer, and Iraq's fledgling democracy engages in a do-or-die effort to secure Baghdad from terrorists, the Democrats have laid out an action (or, more properly, non-action) plan: Full-scale retreat.
They demonstrate all the reasons their party simply can't be trusted with national security. They're willing to lose the war on terror just to regain power.
They demonstrate all the reasons their party simply can't be trusted with national security. They're willing to lose the war on terror just to regain power.
posted by LadybugUSA at 8:02 AM
19 Comments:
As I've stated over and over, it's their willingness to support the terrorists that have kept the Iraqis from being able to take over for themselves. It's like cheering for the Raiders...
Thanks in large part to Clinton and the Democrats for gutting the military. At least Kerry would have invaded Iraq, even though it hasn't gone perfectly, but he would have done it perfectly...with his video camera in tow. ;)
"...get back the dollars that have been lost to poor planning, outright fraud and corruption." No doubt, much like the Katrina relief $. Yet, you left wingers still want to create more bureaucracies and more corruption.
And too bad that all the other peace loving "free" countries in the world would rather keep in place things like the largest internation corruption scheme in history "oil-for-food" than to pony up some support for the Iraqis.
Because of the fairness
Carol,
Do you have any comment on the GOP funding the totality of the Green Party senatorial candidate in PA?
Cavalor Epthith
Editor-in-Chief
The Dis Brimstone-Daily Pitchfork
I got one: Vote splitting. Is that somehow wrong?
Okay the time for spin and bickering is over America is roughly three months from a very important election. You will only get questions that seek real answers from this point on and only facts.
Cliff, you mentioned welfare.
What solutions to poverty and underemployment would you suggest? I would start with raising the minimum wage to roughly $8 per hour. I understand this would reduce the profits of corporations but corporations are not people. And would it kill corporations to make a billion or two less if they made 25 billion as Exxon Mobil did?How say you?
Corporations aren't people? Hmm. How do they come to be? Fairies? What of the people who took the risks involved in developing the corporation? People spend their time, money and sweat to build these corporations that employ so many others. They do so with no guaruntee of successs and in the face of numerous unknown hurdles and tribulations. They do so often with a period of no income. You're right. How dare they expect the rewards for all their efforts. Those bastards. Here's an idea: Why don't you start one, and make sure you pay all your people what they think is fair and you take home what they think is fair. And be sure to dismiss all the tax advantages of doing so. And BTW, just how much does it cost to run a major corporation like Exxon Mobil anyway? How long could you run it when the profits AREN'T there? And what's any of this to do with the thread, anyway?
I am sorry to have "outfoxed" you ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the 2006 midterm elections.
Everywhere GOP candidates will want to talk to their constituency about "values" issues and "honor" issues like protecting marriage and "staying the course" in Iraq there will be people like myself turning the ikssues back to what the People want to discuss. The bankruptcy bill that gave draconian power to credit organs will become quite an issue in some states as will this minimum wage hike tied to the estate tax. Oh yes and the people will be asking for a plan in Iraq.
Spin will not be enough and there are only three short months to go!
I would start with raising the minimum wage to roughly $8 per hour
Cheapskate. I recommend raising it to $100,000.00 per annum, regardless of hours work, with full benefits and 20 weeks of vacation.
I'm looking into my crystal ball and seeing "soak the rich"... as if any of that tax money gets to any "poor" person.
Cavalor Epthith, what do you propose we do about low wages and,"poverty"?
Cliff, I'm glad you asked . . .
On wages a realistic increase in the minimum wage for persons over the age of 23 to 11.50 USD/hour.
Some of the most complex social problems in America currently revolve around two major issues.
Health and education.
To finish the work of Lyndon Johnson and give every working American a healthy footing to begin from, every child a full belly as a basis for learning and every family security in their future I would propose to the incoming Congress the following:
I would propose an elimination of filing returns for overpayment of taxes by mainstreaming withholding taxes. Every worker would pay 18% across the board in federal income taxes. All tax deductions would be eliminated and the Social Security Trust Fund would draw its money from the revenues therein generated.
States would be encouraged by the federal government to exercise some of those States Rights they have so long desired to use. each state would be encouraged to raise its income tax by 2%. Those monies would be used to defray the looss of state sales taxes which would be eliminated in favor of a National Sales Tax of 10%. The bulk of this money would be used to support a National Helathcare Initiative which would be a bipartisan effort to repair the decaying heathcare structure for working and middle class Americans.
Corporations in America have had their taxes virtually eliminated through legal loopholes for decades and these loopjoles need to be closed. I would propose corporate taxes be lowered in an effort to get corporations to pay taxes. The monies generated through these levies and levies upon congregations that wish above board to participate in matters public that would waive their tax exempt status to lobby for candidates in the open would be utilized to help parents achieve the best educational opportunities for their children. These would include homeschooling, unschooling, parochial schools and secular private schools as well as mentoring programs.
Equally, I would invite corporations like Microsoft, Exxon Mobil, TIAA CREF, Aetna, and Sony to continue their support of public education by contributing to a consortium that would by 2015 take over the US government educational morass and replace it with a fucntioning educational system that does not "teach the test" or cater to an education union that has failed American children for five decades.
Exceptional students would be separated from the rest and taught at a more challenging level. Average students would be encouraged to excel with smaller class sizes and more hands on learning. Slower students would not be passed along or left behind. Parents and educators alike must come to the "startling" realization that some children are not as intelligent as others and some students do not test as well as others. Perfromance, reading writing and math skills in real world situations should be the measuring rod for education not some clinical fill in the circle test put up by union automatons desperate to keep their jobs.
Painful in some places and not an overnight fix. I would ask churches and synagogues that were not political to become faith based initiative partners in the salvation of hope by feeding hungry families and continuing to counsel people away from drugs and unwanted pregnancy using real world solutions.
No great thing was ever done without sacrifice.
C.E.
CE,
And what of those students who WON'T study, and the parents who WON'T guide their kids, and all the other people who won't conform to your notions because they don't agree with them, or are too lazy? And as corporations have to spend more of their research and expansion dollars paying taxes and higer wages, what of the lack of jobs that will result as the population grows beyond what the slower job expansion will provide? What of those people, now making a higher minimum wage, who spend their increased income as unwisely as their current income? Who's to provide for them when they again put themselves behind the financial eightball? The lack of sacrificing by those who aren't wealthy is more impactful on the economy than the additional sacrifices you insist the wealthy take beyond what they've done on their road to wealth. Your notions of what drives the economy are quite skewed.
Marshall,
You stand as living proof that the GOP, once a paroud party of inclusion, has been highjacked by special interests, religious charlatans, and people seekin g to pay no taxes.
Much of what I propose came from the 1984 Republican party platforn which can be read in its entirety on the CNN website, or through a link at our website. Here are a couple of snippets!
"We oppose taxation of churches, religious schools, or any other religious institutions. However, we do believe that any business income unrelated to the religious function of the institution should be subject to the same taxes paid by competing businesses."
"The Republican Party pledges to continue our efforts to lower tax rates, change and modernize the tax system, and eliminate the incentive-destroying effects of graduated tax rates. We therefore support tax reform that will lead to a fair and simple tax system and believe a modified flat tax -- with specific exemptions for such items as mortgage interest -- is a most promising approach"
Facts 2, Spin 0.
Honestly if you were a liberal i would have done the same thing. it is not that we are hammering one party over another we are hammering bad government gentlemen and ladies and right now the GOP stands as the epitome of arrogant government gone wild.
When the Democrats take over we'll be right here and on our site giveing them, well, Hell for their foibles. America deserves great leadership and politics for the pople not moneyswapping partisanship that mires Americans in philosophical debates about beliefs that at the end of the day do not trump the actions of people bent on doing ill.
C.E.
On wages a realistic increase in the minimum wage for persons over the age of 23 to 11.50 USD/hour.
Why the arbitrary age cut-off? Do you believe that it would pass Judicial muster?
I expect that the age proviso would be challenged in court and overturned in short order. At that point everyone working hourly at the local discount store would get a raise.
Chances are that would be followed with a layoff.
Once again we see the same old saws that when solutions to serious problems require sacrifice conservatives run to the courts or cry Communism!
Sigh.
Do conservatives even want an America left after the coprorations are done sucking the blood and marrow out of the middle class.
I would posit that even Marshall and eLarson in an effort to live a lifestyle beyond their economic means are many thousands of dollars deep in credit card debt.
I find it rather curious that such people never have prescriptions for poverty and want but they do voice opinions that people who serve them do not deeserve an living wage.
How moral a manner to behave is this? What about "rendering unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar?"
I would posit that even Marshall and eLarson in an effort to live a lifestyle beyond their economic means are many thousands of dollars deep in credit card debt.
CE - Sorry: you're wrong. And you didn't answer my question regarding the arbitrary age line you set.
I would ask churches and synagogues that were not political to become faith based initiative partners in the salvation of hope by feeding hungry families and continuing to counsel people away from drugs and unwanted pregnancy using real world solutions.
Given that churches generally do these things anyway, are you suggesting funneling public funds through them? And how do you define "not political"?
You raise many points, but leave many more questions in their wake.
Cliff,
Sure I want Americans to live in a free country. I want freedom for everyone. Freedom for families to raise their children on a living wage with health care and betgter educational opportunities. this is not Communism it is an economic reality. Communism would mean the State would dictate what you did when you did it and eliminated all personal property. This plan i propose only posits everyone pay a flat percentage. but like many Americans the very thought of having to be certain of paying anything for the multiplicity of blessings you have is anathema.
eLarson,
Sorry it has taken me so long to get back. Being an editor requires most of my time here but I did wish to address your questions.
First off I am thrilled, sir, to hear I am debating with someone intelligent enough not to be suckered by the lure of credit and materialism.
The age of 23 is generally the age at which college students come out even if they are in a five year program. The minimum wage I propose should be for adults post college age, 23, who are in the service and other related fields where wages have been low for too long such as the restaurant industry. a scaled wage for younger people that will go up toward the living wage as they work in similar fields is another proposal.
So a kid who flips burgers at BK for $7.50 the bare minimum or "juvenile" minimum as i like to call it would rise four daollars per hour if he keeps his job for six years.
Oh and the churches. Not politicval means staying out of elections away from public policy and sticking to what churches try to do best, saving souls. If you want to be political, chaining people to abortion clinics, passing around voting guides, having members come to speak at rallies, having your Democractic councilman invite you to speak with TD Jakes what ever to raise funds for your campaign you lose the tax exempt status and would be taxed at a rate of 5% of previous year profit the same as corporations.
C.E.
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