Ferguson: Democrats' `Dream Initiative' gives me nightmares

[Robbien]

Many Americans have grown increasingly frustrated with the performance of President Bush and his GOP colleagues in Congress, and there is no question that the current environment presents Democrats with an opportunity to gain some ground in the fall elections. But there is a problem. We know we aren't happy with the way things are going, but we have been waiting in vain for the Democrats to tell us just how, exactly, they would make things better.

. . .

I have read the document, and I can sum it up for you very succinctly. It consists of two major steps:

(1) Repeal the Bush tax breaks that chiefly benefit wealthy individuals and large corporations.

(2) Take the money saved in step 1 and create new government spending programs to appease unhappy, non-wealthy citizens.

. . .

We have real problems. Serious, dire, emergency-type problems like war, enormous budget deficits and the erosion of our civil liberties. And you want to give us targeted tax breaks and Baby Bonds. How very disappointing. My vote is not for sale. I want a government that can make hard, responsible decisions and tell me what I need to hear, not what they think I want to hear. The last thing we need from our drowning-in-red-ink federal government is a new $500 billion spending program.

Try this campaign slogan on for size: "NO new spending and NO tax cuts for anyone until we get our financial house in order." I believe a lot of Americans would respond to that. We're smarter than you give us credit for.

Color me unexcited about the Democrats in '06 and Hilary in '08. They had an opportunity to step up and show some real leadership and they watched the pitch sail by.

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/15144195.htm

Sorry to say but I agree with him

[Warpy]

1. Some funding needs to be restored

like WIC and the VA. Cuts have been Draconian and counterproductive.

However, nothing will help until the biggest, most bloated, most wasteful part of this government is put on a strict diet: the PENTAGON.

Nobody can campaign on this, of course. Scared little bunny rabbits in the midwest are terrified at the prospect of a military that is no longer spending billions a year to stop the Russians at the Fulda Gap or stockpiling warehouses full of WWII era cotton surgical gowns.

But yes, overall I have to agree with the article. It's horribly sad.

[xchrom]

2. try cutting the pentagon by a third.

[unpossibles]

3. I completely disagree with the summation

furthermore, Bush is spending A LOT more than any President ever. When can the Dems shake that image cast upon them unfairly by the RW spin machine - hell, even lefties believe it.

That said, I honestly have no problem with spending if it helps out infrastructure. The honest fact is, spending (if done properly) does not just assist "non-wealthy" it helps AMERICA which helps all of us - even the 1% of wealthy Americans. By ignoring the "non wealthy" - or in other words the vast majority of people - you create a sinking class of desperate people, and that helps nothing. If we can't afford to spend our own money after giving it to the Robber Baron energy utilities and gas companies, all of us are hurt, even the wealthy.

While I don't like the idea of the Baby Bond (and frankly this is the first I have heard of it), the sad reality is, many people have been financially screwed for the past 5 years, and to more than the tune of $1000.

[Robbien]

4. While your points are creditworthy

None of what you say will be heard against the GOP media machine. A short and sweet and inspiring slogan is needed. This "Dreamy" slogan coming out of the DLC is a nightmare.

[ixion]

5. Repealing the unPATRIOTic Act should be job one

in fact, remove all of the bogus legislation and signing statements created by this administration that have robbed us of our civil liberties.

Step 2: Send BushCo to the Hague to stand trial before the ICC.

Step 3: Start working to restore international respect for our country, which has been so desperately damaged by
a) Closing our gulags, and;
b) Ceasing to act under the so-called 'Bush Doctrine' using "preemptive self-defense" (oxymoron much?) to invade other countries.

See, that's what I would call an opposition party, and a party dedicated to serviing our republic.

[nickinSTL]

6. "We're smarter than you give us credit for"

No, the average American isn't.

Ok, maybe intellectually they might claim to be, but viscerally, when it comes down to it, they'll vote for who tells them what they want to hear, not what they need to hear.