Draining the GOP Swamp

[Dardedar]

DAR
Repub's have been complaining that the Demo's don't have any ideas. Nothing like the "Contract With America". But people forget that the "Contract" wasn't unveiled until about a month before the election. So now is the time for the Demo's to start rolling out their agenda. I think these ideas are going to go over well:



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Pelosi Says She Would Drain GOP "Swamp"
By David Espo
The Associated Press

Friday 06 October 2006

Washington - Franklin Roosevelt had his first hundred days.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is thinking 100 hours, time enough, she says, to begin to "drain the swamp" after more than a decade of Republican rule.

As in the first 100 hours the House meets after Democrats - in her fondest wish - win control in the Nov. 7 midterm elections and Pelosi takes the gavel as the first Madam Speaker in history.

Day One: Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."

Day Two: Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Time remaining until 100 hours: Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step. Cut the interest rate on student loans in half. Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.

Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds - "I hope with a veto-proof majority," she added in an Associated Press interview Thursday.

All the days after that: "Pay as you go," meaning no increasing the deficit, whether the issue is middle class tax relief, health care or some other priority.

To do that, she said, Bush-era tax cuts would have to be rolled back for those above "a certain level." She mentioned annual incomes of $250,000 or $300,000 a year and higher, and said tax rates for those individuals might revert to those of the Clinton era. Details will have to be worked out, she emphasized.

"We believe in the marketplace," Pelosi said of Democrats, then drew a contrast with Republicans. "They have only rewarded wealth, not work."

"We must share the benefits of our wealth" beyond the privileged few, she added.

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[Doug]

DAR
Repub's have been complaining that the Demo's don't have any ideas. Nothing like the "Contract With America". But people forget that the "Contract" wasn't unveiled until about a month before the election.

DOUG
In addition, the Republicans didn't deliver on their "contract," as conservative George Will is fond of pointing out.

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

Funny how the press keeps talking about "100 days" - FDR got his 100 days because the Congress - Dem & R alike - was terrified that if something wasn't done about the economy/jobs situation the nation would rise up in a Russian-style communist revolution. Since then, Rs get whole terms and Dems get 100 hours (I'm not Clinton got that much).

Good for Pelosi. She's not as progressive as I would like, but she's only just right of center (like Hillary Clinton, Bill was just left of center) - not falling off the right edge, like the group currently in charge. The things she wants done in the first 100 hours are good - the only thing missing is to reverse the recently-passed detainee/torture bill.

As to the Contract with America - true the Rs didn't deliver on it, but if America had been given more than the section titles, it wouldn't have given the Rs the authority to do it.

[Dardedar]

As to the Contract with America - true the Rs didn't deliver on it,

DAR
Hmmm... Scarborough, who was in on that, says and details in his book that they did follow through on most if not all of it and rather quickly. Perhaps much of it has fallen aside now?