An idea for Congress
Do you suppose Congress would improve its standing in the eyes of the public if its members did something besides try to destroy George Bush?
Has anyone informed them that Bush is not running for re-election in 2008?
L. Fish, Englewood
George Bush has already destroyed himself in the eyes of the vast majority of both the US & the world. Suggestions for Congress:
1) Pass the Patriot Corporation of America Act that rewards the companies that don't screw their employees and weaken the country by moving the jobs to China and elsewhere. Article after article has bemoaned the fact that the US is falling behind in the tech industry - and the lousy quality of both the offshore support & the goods (anyone planning to buy Mattel toys for their kids for Christmas this year?)
2) Resolve the illegal immigration issue. Recognize that there are 4-8 million people waiting to come here legally (some 20 years or more), who, with their immediate family members could probably cover the majority of the jobs that business has chosen to hand over to illegals to increase their profit margins. Clear the waiting lists BEFORE allowning businesses to whine about needing workers. Most of us realize that most illegal immigrants are here for a better way of life because the economics of their homelands is lousy - however, until the US can handle the infrastructure of this country, along with the health, education & welfare of its own citizens, we need to take care of the citizens & legal immigrants first. It's very much like the warning given on a plane about putting on your own oxygen mask before assisting others.
3) Use the money that has been collected for roads, social security & medicare for what it was intended instead of using it to fund pork projects.
4) Enact legislation that prevents dumping of pensions on the US taxpayers (because of legal underfunding of those pension plans) while giving platinum parachutes to upper management. Insist that if XYZ company 'needs' to dump the pension plan, all money to CEO & upper management is to be repaid & put in the pool, so that they too face living on 1/3 of what they expected.
5) If all of Congress truly believes that the war on terror is as crucial to national security as the current administration has claimed, first, reinstate the draft (this time include females) to give the current members of the military - some of whom are on their 3rd or 4th tour of Iraq or Afghanistan & second rescind the tax cuts which benefit corporations & the ultra rich (who also tend to be underrerpresented in the military) to fund it. If this is as crucial as they say, shouldn't everyone be 'sharing the pain'?
6) Look at other countries health plans - dump what doesn't work, implement what does. There is no logical reason that the US pays double or more (based on GDP) what other industrialized countries do for healthcare only to have shorter life spans & higher infant mortality rates, while health insurance costs regularly outpace inflation. The argument that against government rationing health care seems to ignore that currently, insurance companies ration health care. Pick your poison - I prefer it be rationed by someone not profiting from how cheaply they can pay out benefits.
7) I dare Congress to pass legislation that holds candidates liable for the mudslinging of both their campaign machines & the PACs that support them. If a candidate slanders or libels an opponent (by either lies or half truths), that candidate should be able to be sued.
Those are just a few of the things that top my issue list - the more of them that a candidate stands up for, the better chance that I will vote for them.
Posted by Mary on August 20, 2007 04:29 AMwow mary a true liberal at heart to reinstate the draft. Why? currently its an ALL VOLUNTEER choice and there are not a lot of people forced to enter the service.
howard dean would be proud of you for repeating all of his talking points.
and just think if the government ran health care more than they do now. yep lets go for socialism and see if we can make it work as it hasnt work for anyone using it so far.
Wow another conservative, too macho to oppose the war, too chicken to actually enlist and fight in it. Of course without a draft and continuing to wage war against sovereign states who never attacked us (but we dislike their politics) we can do what? Offer $20,000 sign-up bonuses? Continue with ridculously long tours of duty and burnt out troops? Or just maybe all of then rightwing gung-ho war enthusiasts could maybe enlst and actually support what they seem to want? I'd love to see those who want this war to actually put up, or shut-up and quit fightintg the war from their livingrooms in Denver! You wnat this war? Get to over to Iraq and start fighting it!
Posted by on August 20, 2007 06:51 AMGee, I don't know Mr or Mrs. Fish...
Did you ask this same question of the GOP controlled congresss in 1996-2000 when it was spending more than $60 milion dollars trying to destroy Bill Clinton?
Didn't THEY know that Bill Clinton couldn't run for re-election?
And that was all over some extra-marital sex...not thousands of people dead in a war that was started on lies.
Eliminate about 600 so called civil servants and start over
Posted by on August 20, 2007 07:52 AM6:51AM...
RIGHT ON AND WELL SAID!
But most conservatives are chicken hawks.
You know what really cracks me up about conservatives?
They will rant and rave about "tax and spend" (YAWN!) liberals trying to raise their taxes to pay for social programs that benefit their fellow citizens.
But when a conservative president starts a war that has cost this nation more than $453 BILLION dollars and thousands of lives...to destroy and then try to futiley rebuild another country....that some how makes sense to them.
I do want to destroy Bush, Blair, Lott, and lard a$$e$ Cheney and Hastert. They are war criminals, just like Hitler and his posse.
Posted by centennialslavebehinddacottoncurtain on August 20, 2007 08:02 AMmary you just libel and slander George Bush by repeating liberal lies.Why can't you find out the facts before you write you rediculous post?
Posted by Keith on August 20, 2007 08:59 AMI know you lefties have a short attention span, so I'll make this quick. Clinton should have been shot by Hillary and jailed for felony perjury...he was pursued for sex with a minor in the Oval Office. If conservatives are the chickenhawks, how come 90+% of service members call themselves conservatives? Do you know any libs who are in or have been in the military? Do you know any liberal politician who wants to protect American from illegal immigrants or Islamic terrorists? I love it that the new liberal Congress has a lower approval rating than the much maligned Prez. Bush. Unfortunately, what they are proposing will empty our wallets and get us killed.
Posted by Buff Driver on August 20, 2007 09:28 AMThomas. Did you find a survey somewhere that stated that most conservatives are chickenhawks? Pretty broad statement if you ask me. Based on your comments, I'd guess that you haven't found anything you would be willing to fight for. I'm glad that there are still Americans who are willing to do what you won't. Every morning when you wake up, you should thank a veteran for the freedom and prosperity in this country where even people like you are allowed to express an opinion.
Posted by Guess who on August 20, 2007 09:37 AMDamn it Keith. Mary articulates her thoughts so coherently in a long letter (grammar perfect) and you can't spell correctly one word in a sentence. It is "ridiculous" Keith. Capitalize "Mary" you idiot. I'm so fed up with your "find out the facts" crap. I'm ready to take back my vow to protect your First Amendment Right to utter your idiocy. I will have plenty of support from every poster in this forum. You are an embarrassment and pain in the ass.
Posted by jvb on August 20, 2007 09:41 AMGuess Who,
I do thank a veteran - my brother...a hard-working liberal who served two tours in Vietnam.
And my other brother, who served in the U.S. Army for 6 years in Germany.
Now, let's remember how many tours of service the following guys gave us: George Bush, Dick Cheney, Bill Owens, Dan Quayle, John Ashcroft, Karl Rove, Ken Starr, Newt Gingrich, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Bill O'Reilly, Tom DeLay, Dennis Hastert, Trent Lott, Phil Gramm, Bob Barr, Mitch McConnell....
That would be a combined total of ZERO!
Posted by Thomas on August 20, 2007 09:59 AMGuess Who, you are wrong about Thomas. He is willing to fight for equal rights, as in same sex marriage.
Posted by on August 20, 2007 09:59 AMjvb
Why is always people from the left, the self proclaimed guardians of freedoms, who are calling for the censor of others? Even the fool who calls himself An American, aka the Unhinged One, doesn't call for censorship of those who oppose his positions.
Your are a self made contradiction of political philosophy. If you can only support your positions (or in this case, the excellent of Mary) by ranting about the dialog of keith, you diminish the strength of your own position.
CA
CA
Posted by on August 20, 2007 10:03 AMTo the anonymous poster at 9:59am
Yes, I would fight for equal rights, as in same sex marriage, because equality is a fundamental building block of any civilized society.
And just so you know...there are alot of other things I would fight for...but NO, I will not point and fire a gun or drop a bomb on someone else just because some self-centered jerk in a suit in Washington who dodged serving this country themselves
has a political/personal agenda.
I would fight for this country, but I will not fight for people who I believe do not have the best interests of this country at heart....and that is the current administration.
Mary and her supporters need to realize that the last point she made is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has already ruled on that. Congress is legally allowed to lie. It makes sense since Mary's "half truths" would basically be a repeal of Freedom of Speech. Look at these boards. The leftist tell their version of what's going on while the conservatives tell theirs.
Look at Mary. She states that Bush has already destroyed himself to.... That is one of those half truths she would have us be allowed to sue people for.
I find most of the ads done by politicians to be full of half truths (both sides). But there is no way to stop it short of censorship which is okay with most people as long as it is someone who agrees with you doing the censoring.
As for the comment about reinstating the draft it appears to be a bit premature. First congress needs to authorize a larger military and then see if we can fill the slots. If we can't do it with economic incentives, then perhaps you could consider a draft. But that isn't the real reason those of the left want to reinstate the draft. They want to resurrect the Vietnam sized demonstrations and they haven't been able to with a volunteer force.
In fact, there were bigger lines waiting for the iphone to go on sale than for the anti-war demonstrations.
Posted by Jim on August 20, 2007 10:12 AMThomas, What you say:
I would fight for this country, but I will not fight for people who I believe do not have the best interests of this country at heart....and that is the current administration.
I agree with you totally. Too bad the mass media is diametrically opposed to this statement. They will fight for the shadow government all the way to this nations grave.
Fish militates against Congress; however, I militate against current administration policy so erroneous it needs regime change now. Hitler/Bush "final madness" Re. Surge is an exercise in futility. The mad man ... .
By plane, train, cars and buses thousands of ImpeachBush.org members are traveling from all 50 states to Washington DC for a massive march on September 15 demanding Impeachment and an end to the war in Iraq.
If you need a ride to DC it is urgent that you contact a volunteer transportation center in your area now and buy your bus ticket on one of the many chartered buses coming to Washington DC. Click this link to find a transportation center near you. The buses have to be paid for now so it is important that you make a reservation and get your ticket.
If you would like to be a transportation contact for your area, click this link.
The link didn't transfer; I can send it to you.
If we reinstate the draft, and include jobs for people not able to go into combat, then all kids get college educations and VA medical all their lives.
All kids get training in jobs they can do later on in life.
Mary, cowboy up cupcake, don`t let the bastards get you down.
I see the usual crowd never mentioned your points. Anon did, but only to be nasty to you.
I would add number 8, end the insane drug war on pot and all the conservative mind set that goes with it.
Notices a conservative never adds anything to these lists.?
Posted by Sharon B. on August 20, 2007 11:10 AMBetter get your suggestions in quick, ladies and gentlemen, because:
Last night, on Channel 9's newscast, we got a glimpse of our "national security" as the likes of Jonesy would have it work.
Just "denounce" those who, you SUSPECT, MIGHT BE doing something that could be seen as "against national security". The Office of poison pen, poison rumor, and poison whisper - also known as "Homeland Security" - now has a website available.
Their spokespeople were on the air, to inform everyone that, "Things have changed".
You don't have to worry about libel, slander, or such nonsense as Constitutional Rights!
They are now there to receive your denunciations, and SUSPICIONS; which you now can freely express by filling out their forms on the Internet.
Constitutional Rights, such as free speech, or freedom from warrant less intrusions, no longer exist.
You, too, can become an adjunct to the domestic spy department! Just go on the web; and fill in the blanks!
Don't believe me? Get to Channel 9, and ask them to put that segment of the 10:00 PM News on their own website.
Posted by Old Grouch on August 20, 2007 11:35 AMOld Grouch
I repeat my response to your posting of this under "Government for...":
I missed that apparent enlightenment regarding the reinterpretation of our constitution that you referred to above. It sounds as if we have a reincarnation of sorts of the Nazi Youth Movement in the formative stages if we have moved on to anonymous reporting of one another with impunity.
Hitler found that to be very beneficial in aenhancing the security of the Fatherland. I wonder if we'll find the same benefits extending to our Constitutional Republic - not!
In the words of a famous American immigrant; "Ieyee, Caramba -- you got some 'plainin to do, Lucy".
Posted by Trinity on August 20, 2007 12:19 PMSorry about the miss spelled words in the 12:19. It should be enhancing, not aenhancing. My typing sucks.
Posted by Trinity on August 20, 2007 12:22 PMTHEY THOMAS you forgot to list your sweetie pie billy clinton. how come?
Posted by on August 20, 2007 01:45 PMMary,
Great response, but I need to respond to you now.
1. Forget it. A true Global economy will eventually take out the need to move jobs off shore. If everyone has a competitive wage market, the incentive will be to stay in the US. But if people either won't do the job for market value, or don't do it as well, it is still the responsibility of the corporation to make the most money it can. Besides, who wants to work on a factory line assembling toys?
2. It is not the responsibility of the Government to take care of the people. Was it not John Kennedy that said famously "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country?" Seems as appropriate today as it did then. Ease the process of immigrating into the US. Get rid of most of the red tape, and let's start handling visa applications based on technical skills and employment need. We don't need more house-keepers, tradesmen, or agricultural workers. We have a prison system full of people that we can train, or use as punishment laborers to do that work.
3. Dead on kiddo! I'm with you 100% I would add that those Congresspeople that brag about how many projects they bring back to the state, should automatically be voted out in the next election cycle, and instead focus on how to cut those taxes so we don't spend so damn much on crap.
4. I would disagree 100% with this. It is as much a responsibility of the Union that is dealing with a pension plan, as previously bargained "rights" and benefits need concession to be "dumped" as you say. Instead dump the union, and if you are a "worker" put your money in your own savings account, 401K or IRA.
5. I will wholly disagree with this point. To mandate service didn't work very well in Vietnam, I can't IMAGINE it would work any better now. Those that serve in the military do it because that is the job they chose. I would instead recommend pay increases and a drastic cut in domestic "social programs" and instead reinvest that money in national security as that is the primary objective of the Federal Government, hence it's inclusion in Article I section 8 of the Constitution. But do NOT take away from the tax cuts that have both reinvigorated the economy, and have lowered the amount of those obligated to pay taxes (especially those making between $38,000 - 52,000/yr) lowering it a full 3% (the same as the HIGHEST tax bracket) and provided additional write-offs for children and married couples.
6. Allow for states to work in their own health care systems, for what each STATE needs to do. It is NOT the responsibility, nor should it be, of the Federal Government to get into the business of Health Care.
7. Agreed
I would add the following:
8. Enact term limits. No more than two terms for President / Senators, no more than 8 years for Representatives. I would like to see a return to "of the people, by the people..." instead of an elitist system continually rewarding greed and corruption.
9. Eliminate the IRS, and the unconstitutional collection of payroll taxes. Implement a national sales tax on goods and services so everyone "pays their fair share."
10. End party allegiances. To stop partisan bickering end partisan loyalty. Be a representative of the people that elected you, not of the party you belong to.
11. Stop knee-jerk reactions to "make it look like they are doing something" and start legislating with proper due diligence. I would rather see only a few things accomplished, but accomplished with full research, than shabbily and hurriedly put together.
12. End this endless cycle of election campaigning. The Presidential election is in November 2008, and we have already had numerous debates, featuring candidates that don't have a prayer of getting elected. We will all be burnt out on this campaign with our "up to the second" news outlets, and our tremendous lack of patience for the process. I'm done with them already.
Posted by Dan2 on August 20, 2007 01:47 PMThomas,
Of the Presidential candidates currently running for office, who has ANY military experience?
Answer: 2. Chris Dodd and John McCain.
Of the candidates that have a serious chance in BOTH parties, there is not one candidate with military service.
Only Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, going back to FDR, were the only men to be President and not serve in the Military (FDR did not serve either).
Posted by Doubting Thomas on August 20, 2007 02:05 PMWell said! The Democrats and their kook fringe will stop at nothing to castigate the Bush administration, even in time of war.
Posted by Brian Stuckey on August 20, 2007 02:57 PMAll we do is go around and around with these posts, The conservatives will suport Bush no matter what he does including runing our country into bankruptcy. He has done this with every company he has been involved with, he has failed at every position he has held. Bush is a hypocrit of the highest order, he will state how precious life is and he is a pro life president. Yet he put to death more prisoners in Texas under his watch then any other state in that time. he started a war of choice killing thousands and then tries to save terry Schaivo. What a hypocrit... Bush is a failure at every turn, Worst President ever!!!!
Posted by Mike D. on August 20, 2007 03:51 PMmike d.,How did you become so stupid?Bush is fixing all of clinton's failures.
Posted by Keith on August 20, 2007 04:49 PMever wonder why we are so divided and people are monumental aps nowadays ?
see the above postings for a GREAT sample of why we are all retards with no sense at all.
our rulers in washington are laughing all the way to the bank.
the ONLY answer at this point is revolution
Posted by Fresh on August 20, 2007 05:31 PMHey Keith, ya great response, Clinton is the reason Bush failed at every company his family ever invested for him. Clinton was reading My Pet Goat during 9/11. Clinton was in control during Katrina, Clinton outed a CIA agent, Clinton wanted Alberto Gonzales, Clinton started a war in Iraq when the terrorists were in Afghanistan and let Osama go. You really made your case how he has to clean up Clinton's mess... Even Rove is jumping ship before it goes down completely....
Posted by Mike D. on August 20, 2007 07:13 PMMike D, Get a grip you idiot.
Posted by on August 20, 2007 08:18 PM08:18 you are the idiot. Brainless and clueless, typical GOP drivel of my Party right or wrong. The Right will destroy this country, I say we run them out when the Dems win in '08
Posted by Free America Now on August 21, 2007 07:46 AMTalk Radio: The guest describes the situation in Iraq whose book chronicles the fiasco. He interviews hundreds of kids who would never have taken up arms. Now they seek money to get to Iraq so they can take up arms against the Americans. Bush's occupation of Iraq is the best strategy ever created for enlistment of combatants.
Bush is so preoccupied with his illegal occupation of Iraq that he ignores the attack coming in the back door.
Illegal Immigrants are not coming in search of work; they are coming to sell drugs, to steal, to plunder, to torture, to kill Americans. Of course they come looking for work; however the gangs of illegal become more menacing in this legacy of a religious freak whose god talks to him and to whom he prostrates himself many times during the day sort of like the Muslim freaks.
A border fence is needed because the criminal element will not be fazed (phased) by law that will curtail their employment.
Equally frightening are those bushites who continue to champion the nation's worst president. Goldwater created Conservatism and takes a dim view of Bush and his ilk:
“There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me ... that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in A, B, C, and D. Just who do they think they are?” -- Senator Barry Goldwater, R-Arizona
Posted by Richard Grimes r22037@yahoo.com, Deicide ffrf.org. Web: http://www.geocities.com/r22037/think.html on August 21, 2007 09:22 AMThe feeble-minded twerp or twerps "An American, Keith, Brian" [I suspect they're all the same obese mental defective stewing in cigarette fumes in their Mom's basement] who seem to have nothing better to do than regurgitate Rovian nonsense and clutter up these boards with their garbage should get a job, or enlist in the Army and go directly to Baghad.
The United States has been divided by partisan venom concocted by Rove, Norquist, and the other propagandists of the Bush cabal, but we are becoming united more than ever in our recognition of their treachery and anti American activities.
80% of U.S. citizens see Bush Inc. as incompetent, dishonest, and criminal. Congress has a low approval rating because they have been unable to stop Bush. Their approval rating would rise immensely if they would follow through on demanding accountability from the 'Cons.
Democratic representatives have done many great things since regaining control, but Senatorial filibusters, the chimperor's [love it!] veto pen, and Repug dominated media have obscured the fact.
Simple point, Neocon morons: Congress has a low approval rating because they have not been able to stop the Bush crime spree. The American People want the Repigs called to account. Congress will "improve its standing in the eyes of the public" when it is successful in calling the Bush-Fraud onto the carpet for lying us into a strategically disasterous war, mismanaging that war, and lying about it afterwards.
Congress will improve its standing in the eyes of the public when it gets Justice. The American People demand JUSTICE, and when we saw a fraud like Bush and his utter contempt for the Public, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, we elected Democrats to put a stop to it. Their efforts have borne some results, but there's a lot of work to do yet, to cut through the barrage of lies coming from cynical, armchair hawk, unemployed operatives like "Brian Stucky, Keith, An[ti] American, et al."
And by the way, I don't have or wear a tinfoil hat. The tinfoil market has been cornered by echo chamber, reality-immune Repubs. How else could anyone continue believing the rubbish they spew?
Posted by Dirk on August 21, 2007 01:17 PMmike d.,Another "child left behind"During the first attack in 93'on the trade center clinton was too busy across the river in New Jersey doing a fund raiser.I know where that money went.Get a clue you democrat fool.
Posted by Keith on August 21, 2007 05:30 PMKeith: Jesus Christ said that anyone who uses the word "fool" will end up in hell. I don't look forward to having you there with me. Mend your ways and ascend; 2nd Coming promised six times within a generation after the dude's assisted suicide plot is just around the corner. Keep up the "vital analysis" only you and Hank can provide. Thanks.
Posted by Richard Grimes r22037yahoo Risen ape/Deicide. Intelligent enough to be atheist but lack courage. on August 22, 2007 02:19 PM