Al Franken: “I Think We’ve Ceded Too Much Ground” In Deficit Debate

[Donnachaidh]

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/06/17/al-franken-i-think-weve-ceded-too-much-ground-in-deficit-debate/

MINNEAPOLIS – Sen. Al Franken will give a speech tomorrow at Netroots Nation about the need for progressive infrastructure as a firewall to protect the middle class. In this excerpt from tomorrow’s speech, he is unsparing in even subtly questioning the patriotism of those who would threaten the survival of the middle class:

Medicare, and Medicaid, and investment in infrastructure, and public education, and workers’ rights, and civil rights, and equal under the law – these aren’t just good progressive ideas, they’re examples of traditional American values.

And when Republicans talk about destroying these things, they’re talking about turning their backs on the America we’ve built. They’re talking about ripping apart the fabric of our society. They’re talking about a transformation of our country – about undermining our tradition so radically, they might as well be tearing stars off the flag.

I talked to Franken via phone today, as he returned home from a funeral for a soldier killed overseas. His remarks tomorrow are really connected to the fear that we are seeing a flickering out of the American dream. “We have the greatest disparity in income since the 1920s. The middle class dream is fading, and we’re losing the argument on the economy. We need to gain back the initiative, and convince people that it’s ridiculous to be gutting Medicare, to essentially end it, in order to give huge tax cuts.”

More at the link --

[MNBrewer]

1. The MN Senator of whom I am more proud.

GO AL!!!!!!

[Warpy]

2. He's absolutely right

and the fact that the contention is coming from the party that is solely responsible for 80% of the national debt is beyond ludicrous.

The last thing we need to do is listen to any of those scumbags say anything at all about the economy. They had their chance and they wrecked it completely.

[Fumesucker]

3. Ha, ha.. Very funny, Al

Do not go gentle under that good bus..

[unkachuck]

4. "...it’s ridiculous to be gutting Medicare, to essentially end it, in order to give huge tax cuts."

....thank you, Al....I don't believe for one minute what this lying government of ours says about deficits or the cooked numbers and scenarios they use to scare us....

....when it comes to giving money to the corporations, the rich or for war, there's never a problem, we always seem to find the means....

[janet118]

5. Tell that to your little friends . . .

in the Democratic Party and the White House. This talk from the Progressive Democrats about raising the age for Social Security is truly disturbing. Before Democrats give another inch in the war against the middle class - Bush tax cuts must be repealed, Elizabeth Warren should be confirmed and her office funded, and our military need to be out of Iraq and well on their way out of Afghanistan.

[awoke_in_2003]

6. Al, get with the program...

that's what democrats do. Seriously, though- I wish he were my senator.

[spedtr90]

7. Wish he would join the Progressive Caucus

Bernie Sanders is the only member from the Senate. The Caucus has a budget which was ignored by Democrats. It's fine to say "we need to convince people", but until Democrats unite and find their voice it means nothing - as we have seen year after year - and without a voice there's no way to be heard, no way to effectively fight. They had a great progressive budget handed to them that they could have fought for. 108 House Dems voted against it in April. As far as I know the Senate never voted on it. What coverage did it even get except in places like DU? What chance did it get- despite the fact it does exactly what polls say people want? Democrats should have been loudly behind it...but they were not. Republican Senator Hatch said more about it than I've heard from any Democrat.

Hatch said on May 25:
“What budget would the majority of Senate Democrats support if they could? It is the House Progressive Caucus’ budget — an intellectually honest presentation of the liberal fiscal policy position. For interested folks, take a look at pages H2862—H2870 of the Congressional Record of April 15, 2011. There you will find the House Progressive Caucus budget’s fine print and the debate over it. I ask unanimous consent to include a copy of that budget in the record. The Progressive Caucus budget is real and it is ambitious. It is also politically risky. Like the House budget developed by Chairman Ryan, it took political courage. It’s a statement of policy principles and numbers.”

Did any Democrat in the Senate say as much? I really like my Senator Al. I admire Congressman & Progressive Caucus member Keith Ellison more. I think Hatch asks a great question.

[LadyHawkAZ]

8. Next head on the chopping block: Franken

we just did the sex scandal. I wonder what Franken's downfall will be.

[liberation]

10. Al talks a good game

but he tends to fall in line when it comes to voting. I.e. he voted to re-authorize the patriot act, for example.

He is fairly centrist for the most part, which displays how much to the right things have moved in this country when he looks down right progressive in comparison to the majority of the other Dem senators.

He is totally correct in this assessment though.

[provis99]

9. well tough shit, Al. You're in the minority.