Reply #59: Pelosi has chosen some good issues for the first 100 HOURS.

[DemBones DemBones]

More time is needed to educate voters about many other issues. I doubt that most Americans are familiar with many of the other issues being mentioned in this thread. The media has not done what it should to educate the public and Democrats have rarely had a chance to appear on talk shows to discuss these issues.

Habeas corpus? How many understand what that is and what has happened?

Warrantless wiretaps? How many understand that warrants are easily gotten through FISA as needed? They've been sold as a way to "find out who Al Qaeda's talking to," playing on Americans' fears.

Warrantless secret searches? Same as with wiretaps.

Fairness Doctrine? Some aren't old enough to remember the Fairness Doctrine, some don't realize we ever had one, others may not realize we don't have one now. ("Well, the opposition party always gets to have a speaker on after the president gives the State of the Union address -- isn't that fair? Why do we need a Fairness Doctrine?")

And so on and so on.

Americans aren't dumb but most watch a little TV news, maybe glance through a newspaper; they don't follow the news like DUers do. They don't trust the media but they don't always realize how much the media focuses on fluff stories, parrots White House press releases, and ignores serious issues.

That doesn't mean Americans don't care. Americans were shocked by the government's unpreparedness and apparent indifference toward helping Katrina victims and refugees. Obviously, a majority have had it with the Iraq war. Many are aware and indignant that our borders are unprotected, cargo uninspected, checked baggage uninspected by airlines while passengers are made to take off their shoes. They know about jobs being outsourced. They know prices are rising faster than paychecks.

It's going to be up to Democrats to educate Americans about the issues they don't know about and to give them more information on the issues they are aware of.

Let the party leaders -- Pelosi, Dean, whoever will lead the Senate -- know what issues we want addressed and ask how we can help educate the public about the importance of these issues.

Also tell them we don't want them being too bipartisan, too cozy with the people who have done away with habeas corpus, approved warrantless wiretaps, etc. We'll have to keep after any Dems wearing pink tutus and let them know we'll work to put another Dem in their seat if they don't work for party principles.

But first congratulate Pelosi on her plans for the first 100 hours of the new Congress. Don't be ungrateful for a good start.