State of the Union and the Democrats

[Utah]

I only watched a bit of President Bush's speech because I find those things to be an incredible bore.

However, I did watch the rebuttal by the democrats. I am not a huge fan of either party, but I was kinda shocked at the democrat's rebuttal. It completely sucked and offered nothing. It seems that they are a party offering no vision for the future. I am trying to think of what agenda they are trying to drive and all I can think of is: a) get out of Iraq, b) dont touch social security and c) we hate Bush so fight him on everything.

Rightly or wrongly, at least Bush has a message and I believe people like to follow those with vision. Until the democrats get a message they are going to continue to get trounced.

Can someone tell me what are the major democrat initiatives?

[natedogg]

"Can someone tell me what are the major democrat initiatives?"

1. Get elected
2. Get elected
3. Get elected.

Same as the Republicans.

[nicky g]

Well, several major Dem figures have wanted to extend some sort of socialised health care to people without insurance, but it's always been blocked. Whatever you think of its merits, a fairly big-idea initiative.

[slickpoppa]

I didn't watch, who gave the democratic rebuttal. I hope it wasn't pelosi again because she sucked hardcore last year

[nicky g]

Plus given that out-of-power parties don;t have official leaders in teh same way they do in the UK for example, and that they often are made up of different wings with different ideas, you can't really assign "official" initiatives to parties; those tend to come with individual candidates. I don;t think Kery would have one any prizes for grand sweeping changes (reversing the tax cuts is all I can think of off the top of my head), but several other leading figures have been advocates of the health care policy I mentioned, for example.

[andyfox]

Pelosi and Harry Reid. Hard to believe, but Reid was worse than Pelosi. Two terrible speakers, two terrible speeches.

The three presentations by Bush, Reid, and Pelosi confirmed, for me, what comedian Lewis Black has said: The Republican Party is the party of bad ideas and the Democratic Party is the party of no ideas.

[CCass]

[ QUOTE ]
Pelosi and Harry Reid. Hard to believe, but Reid was worse than Pelosi. Two terrible speakers, two terrible speeches.

The three presentations by Bush, Reid, and Pelosi confirmed, for me, what comedian Lewis Black has said: The Republican Party is the party of bad ideas and the Democratic Party is the party of no ideas.

[/ QUOTE ]

Andy,

Since SS reform seems to be the big domestic issue right now, I have a question for you. Do you think partially privitizing SS is a bad thing?

[Zoelef]

http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/003746.html

[andyfox]

In principle, it sounds good. The devil, of course, is in the details. If the tax cuts are made "permanent," and Bush's privatization plan as it's been trail-ballooned comes into being, we're looking at increased borrowing on a massive scale. I know Bush has also said he wants to limit government spending, but we all know that ain't gonna happen.

I'd like to see the details of the partial privatization. I do know that Bush's claims that Social Security is in trouble financially is not accurate.

[MMMMMM]

[ QUOTE ]
I do know that Bush's claims that Social Security is in trouble financially is not accurate.

[/ QUOTE ]


This really might depend to some extent on one's definition of "in trouble".