Charles Schumer's 3-step plan to sustain Democratic majority

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT/AP: Democrats Now Look to Sustain Majority
By JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press Writer
November 11, 2006

....Democrats came into power calling for a change in course in Iraq. They promised to clean up government, create better economic conditions for the middle class and ensure cheaper drugs for the elderly.

"People are open to a longer term Democratic majority," (Senator Charles) Schumer said, "but we have to seal the deal."

Schumer proposed a three-step plan for Democrats.

It would begin with modest plans to increase the minimum wage, provide more tax breaks on college tuition, encourage greater energy independence and require drug companies to negotiate for lower Medicare drug prices.

Democrats then must work in bipartisan fashion to confront the war in Iraq and government deficits, Schumer said.

"Thirdly, we have to try our best to come up with a full vision and platform that points toward '08," he said.

To some Democrats, the party's biggest task is maintaining credibility on national security....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_top12nov11,0,2279155.story

[JeffR]

1. Pretty thin soup...

:shrug:

[longship]

4. I agree, thin soup.

Let's drop some of that raw meat into the pot.

Raw meat #1: hearings
Raw meat #2: subpoena power
Raw meat #3: investigations
Raw meat #4: special prosecutor(s)

Then, as that mix bubbles away, the people may very well call for even more raw meat.

Raw meat #5: impeachment inquiry
Raw meat #6: articles of impeachment

etc.
Let it all happen naturally.

[JeffR]

6. Now that's good eatin'

:9

[longship]

9. "Is it soup, yet?"

Not yet, but the pot's gonna get to the boil soon.

[Selatius]

8. "It's what's for dinner." n/t

:thumbsup:

[Kagemusha]

2. The full vision part is important. Both parties are fumbling for identity

But well, the new Congress won't even sit until next year so there's not a whole lot that can be done in terms of setting the agenda right this minute.

[Selatius]

3. Once again the Repubs reinforce the notion that they're for big business

"A poll that Anderson's firm conducted in 12 of the most contested congressional races on Nov. 5-6, right before Election Day, showed the depth of voter anger. When voters were asked which party was "controlled by big corporations," 8 percent said Democrats, 51 percent said Republicans and 25 percent said both.

But the difficulties had been evident for weeks and the voters who were taking flight were independents. Indeed, exit poll surveys by The Associated Press and the networks found that 26 percent of voters who were with Bush in 2004 went for Democrats this election."

That notion has been one that has been reinforced since before the Great Depression.

[Mass]

5. Nothing wrong in what he proposes, but why do Democrats always seem to apologize

when they do what they had promised to do and to be afraid to say what they stand for?

[lapfog_1]

7. Personally, I think the people sort of expect

Congress to roll back the entire pile of crap foisted off on the US over the last 6 years.

The tax cuts that favor the rich (almost exclusively).

The War. (all except that Afghanistan part, and we need to do better there)

The assault on our liberties. Patriot Act 1 and 2, The MCA. All of it.

The "No Child Left Behind" POS.

The "Medicare Reform" POS.

The "Clear Skies" POS.

(I'm sure there is more, but you get the idea).

Let's start by undoing the whole pile of shit.

Then we can talk about new stuff.

[Trillo]

14. I think the "average voter" is likely smart enough to realize

that what (in your list) doesn't get undone means tacit democratic party approval, leading to the perception of little difference between the parties.

This would seem one big trap for democrats in 2008.

[OzarkDem]

10. How about affordable health care for everybody?

Not just cheaper drugs for the elderly. Drugs are expensive for sick people of all ages, especially when they have no health insurance. Come on, Chuck, you can do better.

[Cha]

11. Didn't know Iraq was gonna

come back and bite ya in your dlc ass, didya chuckles?

[fujiyama]

12. Nothing wrong with those things

but we need some more, like Hearings on war profiteering by Halliburton, etc and money lost in Iraq.

People also want ACCOUNTABILITY! People are sick of this arrogance of power that has taken hold of the GOP.

[tsuki]

13. Three prong approach:

Keep your gunpowder dry.

Keep dry your gunpowder.

Dry Keep your gundpowder.

[wisteria]

15. What happened to why we were elected? To do something about Iraq

and national security.
I like the minimum wage idea, but our Governor in my state has done this himself. And, besides, we were placed back in power to deal with Iraq. Taking on this minimum wage issue is the equivalent of Bush's tax cuts, in the end, if Iraq is still a mess, it isn't going to matter so much that some people are being paid better.