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| Pelosi Floats Trial Balloon Donk Agenda | ||||||
| 2006-03-15 | ||||||
| The Republican Party has wondered what's taking Democrats so long to unveil their election-year agenda. Amid press reports that it will happen any day now, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday offered what amounts to a draft version. Americans who find it hard to make ends meet may like the promises they hear from the Democrats. But the companies that employ such Americans may not like the plan. In any case, the Republican Party says the Democrats' real agenda involves the censure and possible impeachment of President George W. Bush. In a speech to the Communications Workers of America on Tuesday, Pelosi mentioned Democrats' opposition to outsourcing. She said Democrats will end tax subsidies for companies that send jobs overseas. She also said Democrats support the "right of all Americans to organize," a sentiment that goes over well with labor unions such as the CWA. To protect workers who want to join unions, Pelosi said Democrats are "fighting" to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, sponsored by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) in the House and Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) in the Senate. "The bill will guarantee that when a majority of workers in a company want a union, they will get a union," Pelosi said. Democrats also support an increase in the minimum wage. Pelosi, describing the income of corporate American CEOs as "immoral," used Wal-Mart to make her point: "I was told that an entry level person at Wal-Mart, who works his or her entire career at Wal-Mart, would make as much as the CEO makes in two weeks. A lifetime of work versus two weeks in the executive suite -- this is not America, this is not fairness, this is not the basis of a strong middle class that is essential for our democracy. We must change that in our country," she said.
Pelosi also mentioned the Democrats' "Innovation Agenda" to maintain America's leadership role in the global economy. America lags behind other countries that have universal broadband deployment, Pelosi said; but the Democrats' agenda "guarantees" that every American will have affordable access to broadband within five years.
Democrats support "energy independence" within ten years;
"In order to make any of these victories, we must have one important victory first -- we have to win in November," Pelosi told the CWA. "And win we will, because the American people want change," she added. (Pelosi then mentioned the Republican "culture of corruption, cronyism, and incompetence" in Washington.) Pelosi attacked Republicans for writing a prescription drug bill that has seniors "paying higher prices on drugs at the pharmacy"; she mentioned an energy bill "that gives obscene subsidies to oil companies" that raise prices for consumers; and she mentioned "tax cuts for the wealthiest people in America" who "certainly don't need them." Pelosi also mentioned the high cost of college tuition and the cost of the Iraq war. "America's working families simply cannot afford George Bush and this Rubber Stamp Congress," Pelosi said. "Democrats stand for "real security," Pelosi said, including port security. "We must have 100 percent screening of our containers that come into our ports," she said.
According to Pelosi, Democrats are "about the future" and making it "better for the next generation." But the Republican Party says Democrats are about censure and impeachment. As Democrats keep promising to introduce their 2006 policy agenda and the date keeps slipping, look what's been happening, the Republican National Committee said on its website: On Monday, Sen. Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat, introduced a resolution to censure a sitting president in a time of war - "over a program that is successfully stopping terrorists," the RNC said. And Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has introduced a resolution that would create a select committee "to make recommendations regarding grounds for possible impeachment" of President Bush. The Conyers resolution, introduced in December, now has 29 Democratic co-sponsors, the RNC said. Democrat incumbents are in full defensive mode for the mid-terms. "Go! Team! Go! Minimize our losses! Let's keep down that over/under! Block that point spread!" | ||||||
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #12 Don't worry. Be happy. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-03-15 18:01 |
| #11 Dem Socialist Pie in the sky. 40 acres and a mule. Who is going to pay for it? Since the Donk agenda is a draft, say 35% submittal, they do not have to put the cost and the means to pay for it in right now. Watch the 65% and 95% submittals. They will not have the taxes required to feed this monster in their platform, either. Of course, the republicrats have not been having any financial discipline either. I sure would like to see and independent movement happen, and boot both parasite parties out, but that is pie in the sky too. Ima so depressed....... |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul back home again 2006-03-15 17:36 |
| #10 Did someone say a broadband equipped pony? Why not, it's California isn't it? And a govenment tit for everyone? |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-03-15 17:33 |
| #9 Well they're talking about communist ideals, arent they? And that raises an interesting point about the Democrats and their modern day roots. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2006-03-15 14:15 |
| #8 By making the ‘Employee Free Choice Act’ one of their core tenants it’s clear the Democrats are already in public fellation mode with Big Labor. There are a couple of interesting proposals in this legislation. Through mandatory “neutrality agreements” it will allow union organizers unfettered access to all companies and to all employees even while on the clock. Most troubling is the “Card-check” proposal. If there is a majority of signatures through this process the union will be the exclusive bargainer for the employees. Through the union authorization card process it means that employees will never get to cast a secret ballot for or against the union. I guess the union bigwigs feel that confidential voting is somehow “un-democratic”. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2006-03-15 14:12 |
| #7 Methinks Karl Rove would like her to take up this platform. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2006-03-15 13:39 |
| #6 Desert Blondie: It sounds like they want to make a National law requiring unions if the majority want it. That way, States won't have a say-so, I guess. One of the reasons (in my book) why Wal-Mart's doing so well is because it doesn't have a Union. Sounds like San Fran-Nan wants to take that determination from the States and give it to the Feds. |
| Posted by: BA 2006-03-15 13:17 |
| #5 Another example of 'Slavery [to unions] is Freedom'.... Here is Washington State unions have a firm foothold - for Teachers you will pay union dues and contribute to the DNC [no matter what your politics] if you want to work in this state. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-03-15 12:05 |
| #4 There you have it - the crux of the issue. "A lifetime of work versus two weeks in the executive suite -- this is not America, this is not fairness" The Dems want equal outcome, not equal opportunity. America is about fairnes of opportunity. Nancy, LIFE isnt fair. Some people are born with the wrong genes ans die soon. Some die in wars. Some are killed in the womb before ever having a chance to draw a breath all for the "conveninece" of theer mother. If all you can do is work in Walmart at the lowest end job they have for 40 year, then you are nto the sort that could ever *create* new wealth on the scale of a Walmart Executive. In other words, In the Dem's world of class woarfare: No matter how much you excel you cannot be allowed to make much more than the lowest. Nancy, they had this once - its called Communism, and it doesn't work. |
| Posted by: Oldspook 2006-03-15 11:42 |
| #3 Well, it kind of depends on the state if they have to belong to one, too. Arizona is a "right to work" state, and even if there was a union, there was generally no requirement to join it. I wonder how their plan aims to change that, if at all. |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2006-03-15 11:38 |
| #2 Robert, in a few words, yes it is already law and no they are not free not to. Once a Union is organized at a particular place they then have the clout to demand a closed shop, which means either you join the Union or you don't work there. One reason I'm not a fan of Unions. I wonder where all the money to pay for all these programs will come from? Increased taxes? Increased tarrifs on imported goods? Tax the Rich to feed the Poor until there are no Rich no more. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2006-03-15 11:16 |
| #1 To protect workers who want to join unions, Pelosi said Democrats are "fighting" to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, sponsored by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) in the House and Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) in the Senate. "The bill will guarantee that when a majority of workers in a company want a union, they will get a union," Pelosi said. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that already the law? And what about the folks who don't want to join a union? Are they free not to? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2006-03-15 10:57 |