Tax cuts for the wealthy? Don't you dare!

[Mass]

Latest JK email


Dear Friend,

"More tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans are off the table." Those are the words that America is waiting to hear from President Bush. At a time of crisis and enormous need, it should be an easy decision for him to make. He could make the announcement tomorrow.

There is hurt and suffering all around us. Estimates are that it will cost as much as $150 billion to help the hard-hit people and communities of the Gulf Coast get back on their feet following Katrina's devastation. And the Bush administration's failed policies in Iraq are draining billions of dollars from our treasury every month.

But still, Republican leaders refuse to abandon their obsession with granting still more tax cuts to the wealthy and well-connected. Don't let them get away with it.

Sign our "Don't You Dare" petition right now.

http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/taxcuts.php

Believe it or not, with all our nation is going through, there are Republicans still pushing to put tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans on Congress' agenda this fall.

Republican leaders were forced to postpone plans for an immediate vote this week on eliminating the estate tax. But, they haven't backed off their larger plan for more tax cuts to benefit the wealthiest Americans.

This is a test of what kind of country we are. Are we an America that responds to crisis by helping the most vulnerable in times of need, or do we just give more to those who have the most?

Please join today in demanding that Republican leaders forego any and all plans to lavish tax cuts on the wealthy at this moment of crisis.

http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/taxcuts.php

What can they be thinking? Why haven't President Bush, Senator Frist and Speaker Hastert taken off the table the outrageous notion of bestowing more tax cuts on the wealthy at a time like this? How long will it be before they start telling us that tax cuts for the wealthy can provide just the stimulus we need to get the Gulf Coast economy moving again?

Going forward with the GOP's next round of tax cuts for the wealthy would be a bitter betrayal -- a slap in the face to the hundreds of thousands of Katrina survivors struggling to put their lives back together. It's time for the President and his Republican colleagues to send a clear, unambiguous message that they understand the situation our nation is facing. The American people want to hear from them now -- and, until they back off of their tax cuts for the wealthy, we'll make sure they hear from us.

http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/taxcuts.php

All around us, there are signs of American courage and American compassion. People who lived through hell are finding the strength to carry on. People who know what their fellow Americans are going through have reached out in one of the most far-reaching displays of generosity in our nation's history.

Yet here the Republican Party's leaders sit back in Washington, desperately clinging to the hope that they can force through another round of tax cuts for the chosen few. They shouldn't wait a day longer before they make a clear commitment not to pursue more tax cuts for the wealthy. And, until they come to their senses, we'll keep the pressure on.

http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/taxcuts.php

We've got to stop these tax cuts from diverting resources that are needed for vitally important priorities such as helping those who have lost so much -- and have so far to go before they are on the road to recovery.

I hope you'll sign our "Don't You Dare" petition today demanding that Republican leaders abandon their plans to lavish more tax cuts on the wealthy. There has never been a more important time than this to give voice to your values.

I hope you will stand with us.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

P.S. After you sign the petition, please forward it to everyone you can think of who might be willing to sign. The more signatures we gather, the more quickly we can force Republican leaders to take tax cuts for the wealthy off the table.

[ginnyinWI]

1. done

This is a really good response. While others are talking, Kerry's looking forward and doing something constructive.

[beachmom]

2. Heard about the estate tax cuts agenda on NPR on Tues.

It was on Marketplace, and you wouldn't believe the whining these people were doing about how they weren't going to get their tax cuts, and what was the big deal since it didn't amount to that much money. Well if it didn't amount to that much money, precisely HOW is that going to "stimulate" the economy????!!!

Petition signed.

[Mass]

3. I really wanted somebody to propose that, so I am very happy he did

but I still really would like to see him talk on the Senate floor.

Kennedy this morning laid the social aspect of this catastrophy. We need Kerry to come and address the "mess" aspect now.

[TayTay]

9. I have a feeling we might see Kerry tomorrow or Friday

They have that big friggin Commerce, Justice and Science bill to discuss. That is in his bailiwick. So, he might speak on that and on the need to not make more foolish tax cuts at this time.

I jest have a feeling and I could be wrong. (My Kerry-dar could be out of whack. It's been a long five weeks after all.)

[karynnj]

4. Got it and signed it

I'm surprised the Republicans can even think tax cuts make sense. None of what's needed is in the budget. I loved this line, which you know will happen:

"How long will it be before they start telling us that tax cuts for the wealthy can provide just the stimulus we need to get the Gulf Coast economy moving again?"

[Mass]

5. They already are

Gregg was on the floor earlier and saying that not cutting taxes would be a drag on the economy.

[whometense]

6. Got it and signed.

And sent it to a pile of people. I don't know anyone who'd refuse to sign that petition.

[wildflower]

7. I just posted this in GD...

then came here. I should have checked here first to ask if any of you posted it there (in GD)? Things move so fast in GD, and the search function isn't working. But I looked through several pages and didn't see it.

Nice direct subject line and letter.

wildflower

P.S. I posted it here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4684070

[Island Blue]

8. Signed, sealed and delivered.

I want a bumper sticker that says "Tax Cuts Kill". I saw that line in a post that someone posted a few days ago and thought it was brilliant - short and to the point.

[TayTay]

10. Whoa! What's this?

And the Bush administration's failed policies in Iraq are draining billions of dollars from our treasury every month.

Hmmm. BTW. I signed and will forward.

[karynnj]

12. Is this the first time he has used the word "failed"

in reference to Iraq. I know he at least three times referred to our last chance. The news has been awful. In addition, it seems almost everyone thinks the US has overstepped its role. I was surprised that the UN and the Iraqis publicly complained that the US had too much input on the constitution - even writing one version!

It is interesting that it was McCain and likely Hagel that he had relatively long talks with on the Senate floor. (McCain looked like he strongly disagreed and he kept shaking his finger at Kerry.)

[wisteria]

13. I don't recall seeing or hearing him refer to Bush's war using failed! n/t

[beachmom]

16. Katrina has killed my hopes that we can makes things right in Iraq

I was the "moderate", nuanced anti-war gal who thought that with the right strategy, we could maybe salvage the mess in Iraq. In my dream scenario, a bi-partisan group in the Senate -- maybe Kerry, Biden, McCain and Hagel could come up with a joint proposal of what changes to make there and present it to the President. * could save face, declare victory, and then implement the bi-partisan ideas. Then things would get better and in a year or so, the troops would start coming home. I can no longer delude myself into thinking such a scenario will happen. And that is because * has the worst combination of stubbornness, arrogance, lack of creativity, pride, and ignorance. And as far as execution goes, even Bill Kristol of the Weekly Standard (yeah, THAT neo-con) said the president has a problem with execution.

Because of who is president, the war is lost.

Looks like Kerry knows this. But what can he do with this? Maybe my dream scenario could happen if the kind of media outpouring over NO were duplicated in Iraq. But because of the dangers for westerners in Iraq, this is unlikely. But think back to Baghdad in 2003 when the looting was happening. There was no political power in Baghdad that could match the mayor of NO, who basically shamed the president into action. Think what would have happened if * had sprung into action and deployed more troops at THE BEGINNING and established law and order. Perhaps the insurgency never would have gotten off the ground. Another what if that will never be answered . . .

[karynnj]

17. I'm not sure that Kerry, Biden, McCain and Hagel

could even agree on goals. I was very disheartened by Biden's speech played on CSPAN earlier this week. Although he agrees on the obvious point that Bush completely messed things up, he also was down on the anti-war people and expressed admiration for Bush's vision expressed in his state of the Union speech. He also is still ok with "reforming" rogue governments. His speech though seemed to go in a million directions.

McCain is probably unlikely to deviate from Bush - as he is obviously expecting a payoff for his actions last year.

So, Hagel might be the most interesting ally. It could really throw a curve into 2008 though if they have a plan to get out quickly. If it gains momentum, and Hillary sticks with staying - it would mean that (like in the 60s & 70s) the anti-war politicians will be spread across the political spectrum. If the Republicans pick (Frist, McCain, J. Bush) and the Democrats pick Hillary, there would be a weird situation of both parties having stay the course politicians while the country increasingly wants to get out.

[wisteria]

14. Good catch! That sentence went right by me. n/t

[rockymountaindem]

11. Signed and kicked.

Go Kerry!

[foreverdem]

15. Signed and kicked

I heard on AAR last night that to partially fund this tax cut that they plan to cut student loans, Medicaid, and food stamps. Nice. These are all resources that the flood victims are going to need to get back on their feet and that lower income kids need to further their educations. Yeah, go right ahead, cut taxes for the wealthy on the backs of the middle class and the poor. Business as usual for them.