I'll be speaking personally with Tom Daschle next Tuesday

[RapidCreek]

and would like your input.

I live in a small Western South Dakota town. Occasionally Tom hosts little get togethers in the community and for some reason his people keep calling me on the phone and asking me to attend. I say "for some reason" because I am not a Democrat but an Independent. I have been since I lost faith with the party about 8 years ago.

I should say, I am not happy with Tom Daschle presently. I will not go into why, here and now, as it is not the aim of this post. That being said....for a South Dakota Senator he is about as liberal as one might ever hope for.

It is rare that any of us has the opportunity to ask questions of a US Senator face to face, much less offer our opinion. It is almost unheard of that we might enjoy this opportunity when that Senator is the majority/minority leader. For this reason I seek your input.

This particular get together is intended to address the economy....most specifically the exportation of US jobs. A second but no less important theme shall be health care.

What questions would you like me to ask Mr. Daschle? What points would you like me to make? What solutions to todays problems can you offer? Keep in mind that I am fully willing to ask Mr. Daschle uncomfortable questions....and make uncomfortable points but I will, under no circumstances, treat him with overt disrespect.

Those here who know me are aware of the fact that I can be pretty saucy in my argumentative style. I do however recognize the importance of decorum and will, when the situation warrants it, make every effort to act and speak within its boundaries. Remember, this is an opportunity to get the ear of a powerful person, who's making the time to listen and respond. It should be the goal of any communication with him to inspire his action...not his contempt and anger. If you have a criticism, put it in the form of a courteous well informed question or recommendation which is based upon verifiable facts. I shall do my best to express your thoughts.

I am hoping I get a good response to this post. I apologize...I am not terribly eloquent this morning...I'm not feeling very well. I figured it would be best to get your input as soon as possible though, so I have the weekend to mull, refine and polish my presentation.

RC

[Cocoa]

1. ask him who he thinks sent him the anthrax n/t

[Joanne98]

3. voting machines

Is supporting Bob Graham's bill. If not, why not.

[RapidCreek]

15. These are good questions but they are not related to health care

or job exportation. Not directly, anyway.

If we make the stretch that Jobs will keep going overseas if Bush cheats again, I suppose it might be plausible to suggest BBV is relevant. That being said. What is the name and number of Grahams bill?

RC

[gristy]

54. S.1980

One can read the bill (and learn its name) at www.senate.gov
I don't remember its name (shame on me).
But it's late Friday, and the brain is not fully functional at this time.

[RapidCreek]

59. Yea...I'm kinda shell shocked today myself.

not at my most eloquent, that's for sure.

RC

[el_gato]

2. ask him why he's such a mealy mouthed wimp

[RapidCreek]

31. To what exactly are you referring?

can you give me examples? What did he say or do...or what did he fail to say or do that makes him a mealy mouthed wimp?

RC

[Media_Lies_Daily]

49. How about when he stated that Junior was doing a good job in Iraq?

[Bonhomme Richard]

4. I would ask.......

Senator Daschle, would you agree that the Democratic Party might be better off if the minority leader did not come from a red state? With all due respect it would appear that your comments regarding this or any conservative administration might be hamstrung since you have to consider the conservative views of so many of your constituents.

[RapidCreek]

20. That is a VERY good point!!

His hands are tied behind his back by his constituants. One has to wonder why the party selected him...

RC

[pmbryant]

5. Please thank him for speaking out forcefully on Bush's misuse of science

See this thread from yesterday for details: Daschle: Bush Prefers "Vending Machine Science"

We need more of this!

Thanks,
Peter

[RapidCreek]

21. I'm gonna go read that article....sounds interesting

RC

[eissa]

6. Pat him on the back

and check to see if there's a spine.

[RapidCreek]

32. What do you mean?

Are you saying he has no spine? If so...why are you saying this...specifically. Give me isseus, dates, times, places. What would you do or would you have done differently. How would you have addressed the situation....what would you say or have said which would have been more effiective?

It's easy to sit around and make smart ass remarks. Takes no brains or spine.

RC

[Sagan]

7. Didn't he say something about * doing a good job, recently?

I seem to remember it was about the Iraq war. I would like to know why he felt the need to praise such a horrible "President".

[RapidCreek]

22. Yea he did...

elaborate. You tell me what exactly he said that pisses you off, when he said it and where he said it....and I'll ask him why he did.

The idea here is to nail things down...so there is no wiggle room. If you ask half a question you'll likely get a quarter of an answer....in which case you've accomplished nothing.

RC

[KoKo]

8. My #1 Question and Only Question I would want answered would be this:

Why, when Jim Jeffords switched over to our Party did the Dems in the Senate not fight harder to stop Bush's appointments and his agenda. It was clear he was running to the "hard right" with his appointments and early programs, but our Dems seemed to have no heart to stop him, and so Jeffords switch did nothing for us.

(I know you can't ask him that, but that would be what I would want to know). So, here are a few others.

Second Question: What has happened with the Anthrax Investigation?

Third Question: The Stealing of the Senate Memos. Why isn't that more of an issue (even though they are trying..see Marshall's TPM today)?

Fourth Question: Are the Democrats in the Senate making sure that whenever the building is evacuated that sound device bugs aren't being placed in Dems Offices and that the computers and files aren't being gone through, because with what we've seen the Repugs will stop at nothing to get information on Democratic plans and strategy.

(Probably none of these questions would be appropriate given that you would be viewed as a "conspiracy theorist." But maybe the Anthrax question would seem like a valid one to ask since it's been so long since we've heard anything)

Good Luck. I can't stand him, but if he's the only liberal you've got then you're stuck with him!

[yardwork]

9. Thank you Rapid Creek

If you have a chance, please tell Senator Daschle for me:

The Democrats have a great opportunity with the health care crisis in the country. The Republicans say that expanded health insurance benefits will cost the country money. That is not true!

Providing better health care coverage will SAVE America billions of dollars! Chronic illnesses like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and ashthma respond well to comprehensive, continuous care. Chronic diseases, which are epidemic in the U.S. right now, reach crisis point when health care is postponed or interrupted.

The tens of millions of Americans with no health insurance do postpone care. They do interrupt their care. They can't afford to go to the doctor, so they don't. They can't afford to take their medications as prescribed.

When their illnesses reach crisis stage, these Americans have no choice but to seek care at hospital emergency rooms. They end up much sicker, with more days in the hospital, than if their illness had been controlled in the first place.

Our current system is the most expensive imaginable, in all ways, including money, loss of productivity, and human suffering.

The alternative - to provide all Americans with high-quality, comprehensive, continuous care - would save us billions of dollars a year in crisis care and lost productivity.

The Republicans claim to be the party of fiscal integrity and compassionate conservatism. Everything about our current health care system is the opposite of that.

The Democrats can use this issue to THEIR advantage! Please urge Senator Daschle to consider this.

[RapidCreek]

19. You bet.

Good points....you present a scenario, back it up logically and supply an easy to understand, appealing way in which to communicate it to the average joe.

RC

[salin]

10. Several

per jobs... how does one stop the trend to blanket corporate tax cuts/breaks with no targeting of behavior that is beneficial to the public? For example, in the medicare/prescription drugs bill there was to be a provision to encourage companies to continue offering healthcare to retirees rather than ending those benefits programs - keep retirees covered and get a tax cut. In the end the bill gave the tax cut as a blanket with no incentive to keep paying retiree benefits - so the tax payers now shoulder more of the tax burden, AND the medicare program continues to be over extended.

Can't bush desired tax cuts be put into incentives such as keeping jobs in the us. Or investing in R&D (for the company) in the U.S., etc.?

Ask him what plans he (and democrats) have for strengthening small businesses, and area that often spurs new job creation?

Ask him what are the plans for the poor who can not find jobs, but whose (welfare) aid is about to run out - do we just let these people and their children starve and go without housing? Does he know what the statistics for South Dakota are regading rural poverty? (or can you find that out and bring it to the meeting?)

[salin]

11. Also - this is big

tell him that you are disappointed in his work to help Bush pass the Energy Bill - which will further weaken consumer protection, state oversight of utilities, which gives little investment in long-term alternative energy investment that would enable us to become less dependent upon the middle east for oil? Does the bill still have provisions to increase the use of immenent domain where the govt on behalf of corporations can "take land" at below market value to be used for pipelines and electrical transmissions lines?

[RapidCreek]

17. Thanks Salin...I shall

He supports the energy bill to make the corn farmer happy in SD. They want federal funding to build ethanol plants...also some sort of tax deal I think. Ethanol is rather a joke in my opinion...for a couple of reasons...not the least of which it prolongs and validates the persuit of fossil fuels. We live in the Great Plains....in one of the windiest states in the country. Instead of pissing money down the toilet on Ethanol Plants we could be building vast wind farms and selling energy to the rest of the country. The only folks building wind farms in SD are the Sioux. Us whiteys are farming corn, no one wants and refineries to get rid of it.

RC

[montanacowboy]

12. Ask him why he wear's a pink tutu

Truly this guy has got to go - we need a leader, a real leader and not some pansy assed wimp - believe me we are so sick of this guy out here - he is about as popular as tom delay -
He never got the message -

Tell him not to let the door hit him in his ass on the way out.

[Caution]

13. tell him to grow a spine

[Skittles]

14. ask him how he survives without a spine

nt

[pmbryant]

16. Ok, I think we all get the 'spine' jokes

RapidCreek wrote in the original post:

If you have a criticism, put it in the form of a courteous well informed question or recommendation which is based upon verifiable facts. I shall do my best to express your thoughts.

Are there more specific criticisms to offer that RapidCreek can use in the presentation?

--Peter

EDIT: replaced 'his' with 'the'

[RapidCreek]

18. Thanks for pointing that out.

RC

[Skittles]

23. f*** Daschle

his performance since the theft of the election has been a disgrace.

[Cocoa]

24. except for when he's done good

n/t

[Skittles]

27. he's been so polite to this lying, thieving piece of SHIT administration

I think he must think he's at a tea party.

[Cocoa]

28. civility is not timidity

or so says Ted Kennedy...


http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/12/con03390.html

Civility is not timidity. Tom Daschle may speak softly, but few people are working harder -- or more effectively -- to stop the radical right steamroller. The White House knows this, and that's why Rush Limbaugh and the right-wing media have attacked him so viciously.

[Skittles]

30. I would say the results

speak for themselves

[RapidCreek]

38. In what way, specifically

Dates, times, places. Please confine your sitations of disgracefull performance to those relating to health care and job loss. What would you do differently to quell job loss and provide health care to Americas citizens? How would you make it happen? What is you plan?

RC

[Skittles]

41. I AM NOT THE ONE IN POLITICAL OFFICE

WHAT WAS *HIS* F***ING PLAN ????????????????

[RapidCreek]

42. This is what is on his website

Daschle on Health Care:

Is leading a bipartisan effort to support meaningful, enforceable patient protections for millions of Americans under managed healthcare plans.

Authored several important bills to expand health services in rural areas.

Authored and passed legislation to protect seniors' health security by regulating the sale and marketing of Medigap policies to guard against fraud.

Introduced legislation to prevent companies from canceling retiree health benefits without notice.

Is helping to lead the fight against Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Here is a bill he introduced on Health Care: http://olpa.od.nih.gov/tracking/senate_bills/session1/s-1833.asp

Here are some of his thought on the plight of those in the middle income bracket who seek health care: http://12.42.224.225/HealthNews/Reuters/20040121elin030.htm

His work to see that Nurses overtime is not done away with:


Congress Fails to Act on Rule to Block Overtime Pay; ANA Vows to Continue Battle
2/04/04
The Department of Labor (DOL) will implement a controversial final rule to change overtime provisions outlined in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) by the end of March after the Senate failed to maintain language prohibiting the rule in its final 2004 omnibus appropriations bill, which passed on Jan. 22. ANA has vowed to continue fighting the new rule and will work with Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) who said he plans to attach an amendment aimed at blocking it onto future legislation.

Citing concerns about the negative impact on nurses as well as their patients, Patricia J. Hefner, RN, C, and Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) member, testified on behalf of ANA against the final rule at a packed Senate subcommittee hearing on Jan. 20.

ANA and its constituent members have been outspoken opponents of the proposed revisions, citing concerns about the impact on nurses as well as their patients. ANA believes that under the new rules, employers would increase the dangerous practice of forced overtime for nurses since they would not be required to compensate them at time-and-a-half. In addition, such changes would further erode nurses' working conditions, exacerbating an already growing shortage of nurses.

Daschle on the Medicare reform bill: http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:szXiI5zhPW8J:www.healthlawyers.org/hlw/issues/031212/031212_02_top_Medbill.cfm+tom+daschle+.gov+healthcare&hl=en&ie=UTF-8


Here is the description of the Patients Bill of Rights, wich he introduced in 1999: http://www3.cancer.gov/legis/sept99/healthcare.html

Here is what he deals with from the fascists in our state: http://southdakotapolitics.blogs.com/south_dakota_politics/tom_daschlewheres_the_cloutfails_to_deliver/

RC

[Skittles]

44. he has always been good at talking the talk

it's the RESULTS that suck. It's time for him to GO.

[RapidCreek]

45. Perhaps so

So what would you say to inspire him to win on isseus...you know keeping in mind the Rethuglicans control all three branches of government? Aside from cussing and name calling, which is something any idiot can do.

Have you anything of value to contribute? Tell me what you would like to say to the man...with a bit of civility. It might very well be time for him to go...I've said that myself. When he does he will most likely be replaced with John Thune or someone similar. Perhaps that would be preferable to you?

RC

[Skittles]

46. I dojn't have a thing to say to Daschle

the fact that all 3 branches of the government are controlled by republicans is testament to the failure of people like Daschle, too timid to criticize a lying, incompetent, thieving "president". TIME FOR NEW BLOOD..

[RapidCreek]

55. Interesting

So I guess what you are saying is we should make no effort to communicate with our elected officials outside the voting booth untill the next election.

That's a pretty easy way out. Sadly all you bitching and moaning on this board doesn't reach their ears. I make the attempt to parallel mine with actual communication. I suppose that's why they invite me to their get togethers....In spite of the fact that I am critical of their actions.

After campaigning for Tim Johnson I lambasted him on international television for voting to give Bush the right to circumvent the congress in his zeal to go to war. 7 Democrats in the room walked up to me and thanked me for doing so. 3 asked me how I knew what I knew about our sales of bacteriological and fungal seed cultures helicopters etc. to Iraq. They learned how that day....and were gracious for the information.

At the last meeting Daschle had here in town...the drug companies sent a few of their shills. I took the oportunity to blow them out of the water...publically in front of 186 people....on the lies and deception they were attempting to broadcast about "health care reform". I got a standing ovation. His aid approached me after the event and spent 10 minutes waiting to talk to me and 30 minutes discussing health care there after. I was the only person under 50 at the event.

I guess you can rant without point and call names and cast aspersions on bulletin boards...that is certainly your right. I fail to see how it accomplishes anything beyond that respective board however. I rant myself...I've ranted about Daschle (if you doubt it do a search). That said I myself intend to make the most of whatever politician is currently representing me regardless of whether I like them or not.

RC

[goodhue]

25. Ask him about the likelihood of a draft in 2005.

[RapidCreek]

34. I will if it comes up

he'll be here to address healthcare and job loss though.

RC

[Bandit]

26. My question would be about supply side economics

Does he agree that you can't raise taxes during economic down turns and if he does why did Clinton do it successfully and why hasn't the Republican's supply side theory proved out? If Tax Cuts are the panacea we have been told over and over by the GOP why are we going deeper and deeper in debt? How does he propose for us to get out of debt without cutting into the bone all social programs?

[RapidCreek]

33. That's a good one...

RC

[Brian_Expat]

29. "Mr. Daschle, how do you breathe with that pink tutu drawn so tight?"

n/t

[qb]

35. Respectfully ask him to use his minority leader position to speak out

and continue speaking out for the vast majority of Americans who have been harmed by Bush's fiscal policies. He has better access to the press than any other Democratic senator (aside from Kerry) and he should use that access to the fullest extent possible.

I would hope he can see that there is much more at stake here than pleasing his constituents.

Ask him to follow Kerry's example - stick to your guns even in the face of vicious attacks from the GOP, and you will eventually win, because you have the truth on your side.

[RapidCreek]

57. Absolutely!

How about we compose a meme for him or a script? I can submit it in person. Much better than email or regular post.

This is an opportunity for all of you to write a letter to this man and have it hand delivered. I invite ALL of you to do so. I will print them and give them to him.

RC

[AP]

36. As him what you can do to help get Democrats elected.

[moondust]

37. Ask him if somebody from a solid blue state

would be a better anchor as majority/minority leader than somebody from a relatively conservative state who must always be looking over his shoulder and treading very carefully so as not to jeopardize his chances of reelection.

[RapidCreek]

39. It's not relatively conservative

it's damn near fascist.

RC

[RapidCreek]

40. That's it eh?

That's all DU's got?

RC

[Hotler]

43. Before you you meet with him...

stop by the hardware store and pick up a couple hundred 2 inch hex nuts and a bundle of 2x4's and a spool of twine. Tell him the nuts go in the front pants pockets and the board straps to the back. Ask him to put on a set and pass out the rest to the other Dem's on the hill. It's to give them bigger nuts and show more back bone. To much ass kissing and not enough ass kicking on the hill theses days. Their silence speaks volumes. :evilgrin:

[leesa]

47. Ask him why he says Bush is doing a good job in Iraq when it is

an illegal invasion of a disarmed nation. Ask him why he thinks lying to get us into a war and then murdering 22,000 Iraqis is a "good job". Ask him what planet he is from.

[RapidCreek]

58. Tell you what....

Why don't you? Put it in a letter and send it to me via PM. I'll hand deliver it to him.

RC

[ramapo]

48. Tax Scam

I'd like to point out that the middle-class has gotten screwed over th epast 20+ years by Republican-driven and Democratic-supported tax policy.

We've all heard about the top 1% ad nauseum but the truth of the matter is that trickle-down economics has been turned upside down and we have trickle-up economics.

The middle/upper-middle class is subsidizing the lifestyles of the rich.
Outrageous tax shelters, nearly unlimited mortgage deductions, low rates on unearned gains (unless you're just a poor sucker with a savings account which is counted as plain income), and a lack of enforcement by the IRS though they like to pick on the wage earner for some easy pickings to get their numbers up.

I submit if the truth be told that people would revolt. American companies hiding profits by moving corporate headquarters to a mailbox that can hold all the intellectual property of the company is a complete outrage.

Money has been gushing out of this country for years, chasing cheap products produced in the second and third world along with an increasing amount of US debt now in the hands of foreign banks and governments.

Meanwhile our infrastructure grows old and we've had a "stick your head in the sand" mentality for decades about health care, energy independance, the environment, and last but hardly least the basic economic infrastructure of our country.

Congress is too beholden to the rich and powerful donors to seriously do anything. Instead they waste time on fringe constitutional amendents (like GMA) that would be nothing more than an insult to the founding fathers, or such dangers to society as nasty talk on the radio.

Tax bills are voted on without discussion or even a basic knowledge of what is contained in the legislation.

I could rant on but this is probably enough.

[Steven_S]

50. I'm sorry you haven't gotten better responses..

But if I could meet with him I would ask:

Is there any legislation in the works to close the door on all of this outsourcing? Could we not offer incentives to business to keep the jobs here?

Is anything being done to close the loop-hole allowing corporations to use off-shore entities as tax havens? We're losing a lot of revenue that way.

I know that there are programs in some states, New York for instance, that offer affordable health insurance to people in the lower income brackets, like on a sliding-scale basis. Can we not come up with something at the national level? With all of these billions of dollars fleeing the country; we can't do that?

The unspoken answer would be:

Not as long as the republican party controls all three branches of government, no, we can't do any of those things.

Good luck on Tuesday, RC, I hope you get to talk to Sen. Daschle.

[brokensymmetry]

53. I agree with you, Steven_S.

This is a great opportunity to give some input to Senator Daschle. We need to make wise use of the chance!

First question - what can be done to stop off-shoring?

Second question - what can be done to begin creating new jobs in America?

Third question - what do we do about the tens of millions without health insurance?

Fourth question - what do we do to fix the trade deficit?

I don't ask much, do I? :)

[RapidCreek]

61. Yea.... I gotta say it's pretty disappointing considering all the

the bitching and whining on this board. You'd think people would jump at the chance to contribute something aside from snide remarks. Hell, I bitch and whine with the best of em....but I make an effort to take it to the next level. Odd, don't you think...that so many have remarked on what an innefective wimp Daschle is...then behave in the same damn way....aside from making some snide remarks. Hell, any asshole can make snide remarks...it takes a bit of intellect to put that hostility to good use.

In any case thanks for the input.

RC

[Andy_Stephenson]

51. Tell him to repeal the Patriot Act

and homeland gestapo.

[RapidCreek]

56. What about joblessness in your state Andy?

and healthcare? What would you like me to ask him about that? What points would you like to make? What solutions can you offer?

How about something near and dear to your heart? BBV. While not directly related to either of the subjects of discussion he plans to persue...it certainly has and effect on both...wouldn't you agree?

RC

[Andy_Stephenson]

62. Ok

all of the above.

[PA Democrat]

52. Ask him about Greenspan's remarks

about cutting social security. Please ask him to talk to the American people about how the surplus of Social Security taxes is being used to fund Bush's tax cuts to the wealthy

Also, why aren't the Dems getting the message out better? I swear every time I turn on CNN or MSNBC, I see Tom Delay or Rick Santorum, or Bill Frist, or Fat Denny Hastert, but almost NO DEMOCRATS. About the only Dem I see regularly is Ted Kennedy.

[RapidCreek]

60. kick...common people!

if you don't want to post here...write a letter and send it to me in a personal message! Now's your chance to have a letter hand delivered...in person...I mean like in his hand...from mine to his. Get it?

RC

[Ravy]

63. Why don't you ask him why he doesn't prepare a Contract II with America?

Where the Democrats can lay out their agenda if they are given control of the congress.

They could add such popular things as repealing the * tax cut on the wealthiest 2%, stopping the drug company subsidy in the Medicare plan, allowing re-importation of drugs, etc.

It could help them take back the house and senate along with a Kerry victory.