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I just can't see Pelosi willing to give up the speakership
I just can't see Pelosi willing to give up the speakership
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“It is no use trying to 'see through' first principles. If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To 'see through' all things is the same as not to see.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man -
Originally posted by DRoseDARs
Murtha has announced his intention to run for Speaker of the House and Pelosi has thrown her support behind him, so there's "new blood" I guess.
Imrans correct.
But as for Murtha as House mojorty leader.
Why not? If Dirty Harry can lead the senate why not Abscam Murtha for the House Majority Leader?"Just puttin on the foil" - Jeff Hanson
“In a democracy, I realize you don’t need to talk to the top leader to know how the country feels. When I go to a dictatorship, I only have to talk to one person and that’s the dictator, because he speaks for all the people.” - Jimmy CarterComment
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Please tell me moreOriginally posted by Bosh
People who don't live in the US don't have to pay any taxes on the first $70Kish of their income. There was some talk a while ago about scrapping it which would be bad. Very very very bad.
"The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists."
-Joan RobinsonComment
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But.. in response to the original question: suck. That's what they're going to do. To a lesser extent than Republicans, but they will suck nonetheless."The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists."
-Joan RobinsonComment
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Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe
Imrans correct.
But as for Murtha as House mojorty leader.
Why not? If Dirty Harry can lead the senate why not Abscam Murtha for the House Majority Leader?
1. Cause Steny Hoyer has been working the trenches for years as minority whip, and to dump him would be high Gingrichism
2. Cause the Dems need to balance Pelosi, not put her pal in place
3. Cause this was apparently a pro forma endorsement of her old pal, not a real war cry"A person cannot approach the divine by reaching beyond the human. To become human, is what this individual person, has been created for.” Martin BuberComment
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I think it will be a challenge to keep the caucus together on anything. The GOP was pretty good at it, but historically the Dems have not excelled in this.I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891Comment
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The Democratic proposal endorsed by Pelosi actually looks like it might have some teeth instead of just a verbal attack on lobbiests before calling them the next day to ask for money which is what the Republican "lobby reform" measure amounted to.Originally posted by Admiral
Of critical importance is passing lobbying reform. We need to pass it now, before the Democratic majority wakes up and finds itself in bed with the lobbyists.
Highlights: Banning all gifts and vacations from lobbiests, bar politicians from lobbying Congress for 2 years after leaving office, force lobbiests to disclose who their meeting with and what was discussed, ban things like the K Street Project where Republicans forced lobbiests to only give money to Republicans or they'd get blacklisted, create an outside and independent body to review all charges of corruption & misconduct by Congressmen (I like that idea but it will need to be given real power to subena people), require lawmakers to disclose when they are negotiating for private-sector jobs, require House-Senate conferences to be open to the public and subject government contracts to public disclosure and aggressive competition.
I especially like that last part though I'd also like to see term limits tossed in so at least we could limit the amount of time individual politicians have to be corrupt. That will never happen though since the incumbants will never vote against their personal interests so unless the constitution is changed to allow a form of direct democracy, like California's proposition system, then the people will never be able to force through things the politicians personally don't want to do.Try http://wordforge.net/index.php for discussion and debate.Comment
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The only period of time they were in the majority over the last half century was the last 12 years. They intially were pretty good at staying together but Gingrich screwed it up and the Repubs ended up divided so Gingrich got tossed out. Next they had Delay who literally bought party loyality using access to funds he'd funnel to them from lobbiests; lobbiests who were giving those funds to the GOP because the GOP was selling legislation. That started to fall apart last year and will now be toast since the GOP is no longer in control.Originally posted by DanS
I think it will be a challenge to keep the caucus together on anything. The GOP was pretty good at it, but historically the Dems have not excelled in this.
In short other then 9-10 of the last 12 years the GOP's record on keeping together hasn't been good. Without Delay's dirty money from selling legislation they won't have money to bribe the wayword.Try http://wordforge.net/index.php for discussion and debate.Comment
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That's the hope. But we need to pass legislation like that at the top of session, while the Dems are still angry over being marginalized on K street. Wait a year, start thinking about reelection, and Dems won't be so eager.Originally posted by Oerdin
The Democratic proposal endorsed by Pelosi actually looks like it might have some teeth instead of just a verbal attack on lobbyists before calling them the next day to ask for money"Remember, there's good stuff in American culture, too. It's just that by "good stuff" we mean "attacking the French," and Germany's been doing that for ages now, so, well, where does that leave us?" - ElokComment
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Oerdin: Notice that you never said anything about the Dems' lack of demonstrated skill in keeping the caucus together. Before 1994, the Dems were notoriously fractured.I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891Comment
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12 years is a bit of time. Also, being shut out of government has likely given even traditionally wayward Dems some perspective. In short, I'm not worried about the short term. However, if the majority is a lasting majority, I expect Democratic unity to fall apart around 2010.Originally posted by DanS
Oerdin: Notice that you never said anything about the Dems' lack of demonstrated skill in keeping the caucus together. Before 1994, the Dems were notoriously fractured."Remember, there's good stuff in American culture, too. It's just that by "good stuff" we mean "attacking the French," and Germany's been doing that for ages now, so, well, where does that leave us?" - ElokComment
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12 years is a bit of time, but the Dem coalition is similar to the one of old.I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891Comment
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Early indications are that the Dems are going to push for a minimum-wage hike, a tax-reform that will benefit the rich, comprehensive immigration reform and a quick withdrawal from Iraq. A lot could change in the month and a half before they take power, however...KH FOR OWNER!
ASHER FOR CEO!!
GUYNEMER FOR OT MOD!!!Comment
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I also didn't mention the sky is blue. That the Democrats are big tent party which has never forced everyone to tow the party line is a given. Everyone knows that. Really the only time any party in the history of the Republic which has achieved (or even wanted to achieve) that was the Republicans from 1994 to around 1996 then once again around 1999-2005 when Delay started bribing people to keep them loyal and cutting off party funds to people who didn't do as Delay told them.Originally posted by DanS
Oerdin: Notice that you never said anything about the Dems' lack of demonstrated skill in keeping the caucus together. Before 1994, the Dems were notoriously fractured.
That's not Democracy and I'm glad that won't be happening again. I think in the long run better policies are hashed out via the old debate and compromise system rather then the be corrupt and bribe everyone to be yes-men system.Try http://wordforge.net/index.php for discussion and debate.Comment
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If by "quick withdrawal from Iraq" you mean endorsing the Baker commission's proposal of a 1-3 year phased withdrawal then you're right. Of course, everyone already knew that was what either party would be forced to do before the election even took place.Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
Early indications are that the Dems are going to push for a minimum-wage hike, a tax-reform that will benefit the rich, comprehensive immigration reform and a quick withdrawal from Iraq. A lot could change in the month and a half before they take power, however...
For the record the official Democratic Party line right now is that the agenda will be: real ethics reforms, a minimum wage increase, pay-as-you-go rules for the Federal budget, and implimenting the 9/11 Commission recommendations.
All in all a nice centrist and achievable agenda. Some Democrats are pushing for tax reform designed to simplify the tax system, give the middle class a tax cut (much of this will likely go to the upper middle class), and repeal the recent tax cuts which only helped the wealthy. That last part isn't officially part of the agenda yet though.Try http://wordforge.net/index.php for discussion and debate.Comment
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