The middle class HATES Bush more than ever

I love when my blog can give you an exclusive report on something, like my visit to the protest in Bridgeport on Wed (for which I made the front page of the Connecticut Post), or my Trip to the Jefferson Jackson Baley dinner in Hartford. Now I can give you some insight into how a cross-section of 750 people feel about Bush’s handling of the economy.

Sure, you’ve seen the numbers. Those who approve his handling of the economy are usually right down there with the general approval ratings, around mid 30’s to low 40’s. My dad does taxes for middle class workers, teachers, and retirees mostly. He has heard constantly complaints on Bush this year, unique to previous years. They complain that his tactics of pandering to big business has left them unprotected. While Bush supports exploding pays of CEOs, people get laid off if profits are down. Wages are generally stagnant compared to last year. I’ve personally seen this when I organize their files, looking at 2 year comparison reports.

The middle class is suffering the brunt of the tax shortfall. The estate tax has been repealed, capital gains taxes are down to 15%, interest income and dividends are down. Sure, a few of his clients benefit from this. But most of them are saving $35, or some insignificant amount. Most don’t have any significant interest income or dividends, and capital gains are rare. What is common though is the alternative minimum tax. This was a tax put in place to prevent rich people from avoiding taxes by taking excessive deductions. Because the tax is not adjusted for inflation, it is encroaching on the middle class with alarming growth. This means higher taxes for almost all of the middle tax, while small tax cuts land on the poor, and huge tax cuts affect the rich.

People. Are. Pissed.

Sure, he’s been terrible for years. But this is the first time my father has heard it from lots and lots of tax payers. This is how you get angry voters to the polls. This is how you keep angry Republicans from the polls, or to defect against their party. This has change election written all over it.

And to fix the problem, Menendez of NJ has proposed a bill to reform the Alternative minimum tax, instead of abolishing it. We need the tax revenue, but it should come from the rich. Bravo senator, just another reason I like Senator Menendez, after his awesome speech and rejection of Samuel Alito. Either way, this is something to pounce on, and will get those people usually agnostic in politics to the polls. I’ll get more info on this and tell you what should be done. But this is great, and unreported news.

Republicans care about public opinion now?

The Republicans are very worried about their public opinion falling to all-time lows for the administration. Right before an election year, there is also strong sentiment to kick out old members of congress. When asked who people would prefer in control of congress, they answered 33% for Republicans, and 49% for Democrats. The other key factor in a huge election is conservative voter turnout. We know angry Democrats and independents will turn out, because they more than ever want a change. But will Republicans? Republicans are angry at the budget deficit, handling of the war.

For the first time in this poll, people trust Democrats to better handle national security than Republicans. Finally, people are seeing the light! The Democratic plan for national security focuses on fighting terrorism, expanding the national guard and reserve troops, adding spies and special forces, and ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I completely agree with all of this, as long as it’s coupled with a huge reduction in military spending (we don’t need nukes, bases all over the world, and 1.5 million troops.) Let’s bring them home to protect our borders and airports, serve as police where needed, and be on reserve to serve on UN peacekeeping missions.

Budget Problems

The 2007 fiscal budget has been put on hold for a while, while there is a recess approaching for congress. The hold up appears to have come from Republican infighting. As we know, when elections come, and Republicans need to get more support, they mimic Democrats to fool voters. Some moderates want extra money for health and services. Also, the $70 billion in tax cuts appears to have failed. This is great news, as the tax on Capital gains goes back up to 20%, and dividends are counted in normal income. The benefit of this is that this affects the rich, who are able to fund the government without interrupting their livelihoods, instead of our usual “screw the poor and middle class” Republican philosophy. This will help keep our deficit in the “terribly bloated” range, and not in the “criminally excessive” range. I’d have no problems with a deficit to fund constituent services, and not our $547 military bill.

Also to note: this could be the last budget that the Republicans completely control. Next budget should have a Democratic House to work with!

Bribes against public good

I know one way to cut drug costs, and therefore state debts and healthcare costs! Stop drug companies from spending $44 million to influence state parties, who have summarily balked at passing price reduction legislation. That’s a huge investment return for drug companies, and a huge burden on tax payers and people who use prescriptions. Meanwhile, drug companies are one of the most bloated profitable industries, like the oil industry, that is getting a break from the government at our expense. This shows why more than ever, we need a Democratic government.

Also, note that this was for the 2003-2004 election cycle, when Republicans received 66% of the pharmaceutical campaign contributions. Republicans currently get 68% for this election cycle.

Bush in Bridgeport

Today I have no national news headlines – well, sort of. This morning, we in Bridgeport had the honor of hosting the President. When I first heard he was coming to Bridgeport and holding an event with Chris Shays, I was nervous. A fundraiser like this could bring in a million dollars for Shays, and could tilt a close race. Of course there would be a backlash against Shays, due to Bush’s incredibly low approval ratings, coupled with Shays’ assertions that he is a moderate Republican.

It turns out that Shays was only at a town hall style Q+A with the president. So he only gets the backlash, and none of the money. Excellent news for all. Ironically, none of the audience were from Bridgeport, or any of the fourth district of CT, where Shays represents. The Q+A session dealt with Health Savings Accounts, which allow tax breaks to help pay for medical bills. Of course, those who can save money like this are the people who have health care already, so this does nothing for those without health care. For the President to come to one of the poorest cities in the country and talk about this plan shows that he has no serious plans for healthcare. Shays getting caught up in this was a terrible idea for him, and quite telling of his “moderate” stance. Shays was also for the war in Iraq, privatizing social security, No Child Left Behind, etc.

Afterwards, Dianne Farrell, Shays challenger, held a press conference. It was quick, and she outlined a plan for Universal Healthcare, which is part of the Democrat’s national agenda. She spoke about Massachusetts, which yesterday passed a plan for near universal healthcare. Businesses over 10 employees that don’t provide healthcare pay $295 per employee. The money is used to give those without health insurance free or reduced price state health insurance. They estimate 95% of the uninsured will be covered.

Also, Farrell spoke about a plan for withdrawal. Unfortunately, she didn’t say “lets get out immediately, or at the end oft the year.” What she did suggest was a timetable based on events, such as Iraqi’s getting security, electric power, water, employment, and oil production necessary to finance a portion of their government. I haven’t heard a similar approach, but it seems like a quite reasonable one. She took questions, and although it was hard to hear much else, it was a great press conference and a great political move.

I look forward to seeing the President again, although I only got to witness his motorcade speed in and speed away. There was a good sized group of between 50-100 protestors, and we were interviewed by the Connecticut Post. I’ll let you know if I’m in it tomorrow!

Climate change exists for Republicans too?

Congress has finally begun debate on climate change, starting in the Senate Energy Committee. I suppose this is historic, as this is a Republican led Senate acknowledging reality. The steps were minor, and are hampered by Republican committee leader Pete Domenici, who “has warned it would be "impossible" to pass legislation to cut heat-trapping gas emissions in 2006 because of election-year gridlock.” My take on that is, he won’t be able to receive as many utility company campaign contributions if he proceeds with legislation (I’m assuming he’s like the rest of Republicans, who receive 85% of the oil and gas industries' campaign contributions).

He did state that we can start legislation in 2007, which is somewhat promising. The plan to fight climate change is a mandatory cap on emissions. Those who release under that cap can sell their excess to those who fail to go under the cap. This system adds cost to “dirty” power like coal, and subsidizes cleaner energy, but all takes place in the private sector. Objections were raised as to who pays for the technology, that we already have, to be implemented. Another problem to be worked out is how high the caps will be, how expensive the credits will be, and when this will go into effect. The good part is, this system seems imminent. It is suggested that this could go into effect as early as 2010. Comically, the argument was made that mandatory caps are not necessary, because corporations are doing this themselves. That’s a joke; it’s obvious that government stimulus is the only way to do this effectively and quickly.

In other news, California is working on legislation to cut emissions by 25% by 2020, in a variety of sectors. This is similar to the Northeast, which has created the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which cuts power plant emissions gradually in future years.

Delay is gone

Tom Delay, disgraced former Republican congressional leader, will not run again in 2006. This comes in the midst of many legal/ethical troubles. This is bad for Democrats, because this would have been a good takedown, and a moral booster. A new candidate, without Delay’s baggage, has a much better chance.

Tom Delay is a politician I will never forget. Because of him, I decided to go into politics. It all goes back to the new source review law. This law was a horrible handout to the oil refineries, who are perhaps the least in need of money. It said that refineries that expand output are not subject to environmental restrictions that new plants are subject to. The law was in place to prevent companies from expanding refineries without improving their emissions, instead of building a new refinery which would be subject to these laws. Everyone had voted, and the measure to destroy the new source review had failed. Phew! But Republican Denny Hastert didn’t announce the result. This gave time for Tom Delay to yell at Republicans that had sided with Justice, and make them change their vote. This took 45 minutes, and finally there were enough votes to destroy the bill. The Senate had the sense not to pass the bill, so his efforts were in vain. And their was a backlash, me getting into politics, that came from that.

We’ll miss you Tom, but I’m sure another corrupt Republican will rise up to your position of the most criminal member of Congress.

Monday Morning News Bits

Rick Santorum is crazy. Apparently, Europe is being overrun by some unknown force because of their enlightened stance on religious tolerance (secular society), and their culture is dying. Wow. Watch the video, its hilarious.

NASA will no longer censer its scientists, which is very god news. This comes from scandal a little while back involving a 24 year old college dropout (he lied about the dropping out part, and said he graduated) who would force scientists to write “theory” when discussing the big bang. Also, he tried to stop a lead scientist from going to an interview on NPR. I find it the worst that they tried to put a muzzle on science. If we’re paying for the research, which we should, we should certainly led the results be said, unfiltered.

An American company has found a way to make stem cells from testes. The experiment has been demonstrated, but not tested by other scientists, or subject to the same scrutiny that other experiments are. In other words, this is a claim, and we’re a ways away from this being a reality. This could take the ethical debate away from stem cell research though, and get this crucial research on track after long delays by Bush and some Republicans.

And finally, the Supreme Court refused to review a case by “enemy combatant” Jose Padilla. Padilla was held for three years in a military prison and not given his right to trial, because he was deemed an enemy combatant. In January he was transferred to federal prison, and will go on trial in federal court soon. This made the case moot, according to six Justices and the honorable Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. This case would have challenged the President’s power to detain indefinitely without habeas corpus.

Oh, and I shouldn't forget to mention, V for Vendetta is doing very well in theaters, grossing $56 million and counting. I love this movie, if you haven't seen it, go see it soon before its gone. Movies at home don't get the same effect.

Matt Stoller from MyDD has a good post on the immigration debate currently going on. It criticizes the McCain-Kennedy bill, which they say ignores the problem of income disparities between the two countries (US and Mexico) that leads to mass immigration, legal and illegal. It argues that the bill focuses too much on legalizing new immigrants through guest-worker programs, and not enough on the root cause of why people immigrate to America for jobs.

The unanswered question is, how do you fix the root problem of income disparities. It would seem that NAFTA is actually a step in the right direction in that regard. I know that most Democrats are opposed to this, but I have to think this tackles the problem quite well.

I should add, I agree with speeding up legalizing the working immigrants. We should enforce our borders (without machine guns and citizen militias) for security concerns, but also be accepting to allowing new immigrants if work is available.

"Let Bush be Bush"

There is a new White House strategy to get the President’s approval rating up: “Let Bush be Bush.” In other words, ‘don’t pick on him, he’s incompetent. While this may be true, it distracts from the real problem. The conservative political philosophy is what fails. Its not Bush’s fault, its Republican domination in action. Republicans control both houses of congress, the Supreme Court, and the White House. Nothing is holding them back from their policies, so what you are seeing is conservative government in action, not Bush being Bush.

Take the Dubai Ports debacle. This shows who wears the pants in the American government – Republicans in congress. It’s not only that Bush is screwing up, it’s that the Republicans are at the wheel. The Iraq War, the massive, massive deficit, the reverse Robin Hood budget, the destruction of faith in government, our horrible international relations (can you believe we have thorny relations with Venezuela?!), all a Republican problem. So let Bush be Bush, or in other words, an incompetent Republican, and you don’t fix the problem. It’s lipstick on a pig.

Since I don’t see George Bush leaving the failed Republican philosophy, the lets let Bush be Bush. And take down the whole Republican Party with him.