I don’t think Bush was trying to do away with SS. He was trying to change the way it was looked at and run. There was a chance it would be weakened to the point of uselessness, but I doubt there ever was any doubt as to Bush’s plan failing.

As for the rich/class warfare, it is still a club that can carry real weight if it is used properly. The Republicans, as well as many Democrats, have sold themselves out to business at the expense of the average person. Business has so many loopholes, it would take more than all the dikes in the world to plug them.

If the Democrats can come up with soneone with the charisma to carry a “I will plug them” message, aand get the full backing of the Democrat party, it would be a votable issue. With the stench of the Abramof affair still strong, political reform would be another votable issue, but the Democrats are going to have to learn to use those things to their advantage; and they are not doing so now. They are still in the name-calling stage of childish nonsense.

The Republicans are experts at taking an issue and making the Democrats look bad. The Democrats are going to have to learn how to street fight and get their noses bloodied a time or two to understand what they are going to have to do to win in 2006 and 2008.

Sorry about being so long in getting back to this. I think the Repub’s counter of “class warfare” has worked pretty well. Even though Warren Buffet says “Yes, it is a war and my class is winning”, attacking the rich does not seem to generate much traction.

The only thing along these lines that might be an effective point was Bush’s push to basically do away with Social Security. A popular FDR era program that has worked and could be made secure with little changes.

I recall a staunch Republican older woman who was at Bush’s KSU speech being interviewed after the speech on Wichita’s local TV. When asked about Social Security, she said something to the effect of “Well, that is where me and him [Bush] part company.”

So, I think highlighting those areas where strident ideology has been at work in hurting the middle class is needed. The diffuse attacks on “the rich” is not going to hold water, however.

Well Gary,If I have learned anything over the years, the one thing for certain, is that politicians, almost without exception, have an uncanny knack for proving their supporters wrong. I am convinced that they have some sort of secret ceremony where they are required to prove their loyalty by committing an act of betrayal toward those that elected them. ;-)

I really do believe that Mr. Gore would have taken the threats alot more seriously than Fuck-up did. Considering he was involved in predicting that future terrorist attacks might involve airliners.

I really dont think he would have forgotten the study.

But you know I could be wrong.

We need to get rid of almost all of them, we need to take back our country. I for one, am tired of politicians being in the pocket of special interests.

Doesnt sound fair to all the servicemen fighting in Iraq, and all the others who are commited to their duty elsewhere across the world.

Yes, and as a matter of fact that is word for word exactly what I said.

http://www.cnn.com/US/9609/05/airport.security/

What? Let me get this straight. If your an American citizen living overseas, your absentee ballot only gets counted if necessary?

The democrats are going to have to push the class thing again, but do so in a way that placates the middle income voter. How about using Ken Lay, et al, as an example of the morally repugnant right picking tax payers clean? The people earning multi-millions, with deferred payments, no taxes and benefits are going to have to have loopholes closed and start paying. There are so many businesses out there paying little or no taxes, that it’s a free-for-all as to who to use. Big oil, for one: Stop subsidies, royalties, etc, etc.

Make the average voter know their hit will be minimal and the money will come from closed loopholes, ended subsidies and controlled waste and fraud. The moneys out there, but it will take people with major huevos to do what has to be done. The Democrats can do it, but it will take some serious new thinking.

And a serious time-table for getting us out of Iraq.

Walker and others, what should be the Democratic Party’s number one message to voters.

How about:

Working people should be able to afford what they need: housing, health care, food, gasoline, & college for their kids.

Other, better, ideas?