You just gotta love Karl Rove...

[Yonivore]

A Failure to Lead

The Democratic Congress is more interested in acting out than in taking positive action.

BY KARL ROVE
Friday, November 9, 2007 12:01 a.m. EST

This week is the one-year anniversary of Democrats winning Congress. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid probably aren't in a celebrating mood. The goodwill they enjoyed after their victory is gone. Their bright campaign promises are unfulfilled. Democratic leadership is in disarray. And Congress's approval rating has fallen to its lowest point in history.

The problems the Democrats are now experiencing begin with the federal budget. Or rather, the lack of one. In 2006, Democrats criticized Congress for dragging its feet on the budget and pledged that they would do better. Instead, they did worse. The new fiscal year started Oct. 1--five weeks ago--but Democrats have yet to send the president a single annual appropriations bill. It's been at least 20 years since Congress has gone this late in passing any appropriation bills, an indication of the mess the Pelosi-Reid Congress is now in.

Even worse, the Democrats have made clear all their talk about "fiscal discipline" is just that--talk. They're proposing to spend $205 billion more than the president has proposed over the next five years. And the opening wedge of this binge is $22 billion more in spending proposed for the coming year. Only in Washington could someone in public life be so clueless to say, as Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi have, that $22 billion is a "relatively small" difference.

Let's also be clear about what it means to roll back the president's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, as the Democrats want to do. Every income-tax payer will pay more as all tax rates rise. Families will pay $500 more per child as they lose the child tax credit. Taxes on small businesses would go up by an average of about $4,000. Retirees will pay higher taxes on investment retirement income. And now we have the $1 trillion tax increase proposed as "tax reform" by the Democrats' chief tax writer last month.

Failing to pass a budget, proposing a huge e in federal spending and offering the biggest tax increase in history are not the only hallmarks of this Democratic Congress.

Beholden to MoveOn.org and other left-wing groups, Democratic leaders have ignored the progress made in Iraq by the surge, diminished the efforts of our military, and wasted precious time with failed attempts to force an immediate withdrawal from Iraq. They continue to try to implement this course, which would lead to chaos in the region, the creation of a possible terror state with the third largest oil reserves in the world, and a major propaganda victory for Osama bin Laden as well as for Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.

After promising on the campaign trail to "support our troops," Democrats tried to cut off funding for our military while our soldiers and Marines are under fire from the enemy. For 19 Senate Democrats, this was simply a bridge too far, so they voted against their own leadership's proposal. Democrats also tried to stuff an emergency war-spending bill with billions of dollars of pork for individual members. Now the party's leaders are stalling an emergency supplemental bill with funding for body armor, bullets and mine-resistant vehicles.

After pledging a "Congress that strongly honors our responsibility to protect our people from terrorism," Democrats have refused to make permanent reforms of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that the Director of National Intelligence said were needed to close "critical gaps in our intelligence capability." Their presidential candidates fell all over each other in a recent debate to pledge an end to the Terrorist Surveillance Program. Then Senate Democratic leaders, thinking there was an opening for political advantage, slow-walked the confirmation of Judge Michael Mukasey to be the next attorney general. It's obvious that this is a man who knows the important role the Justice Department plays in the war on terror. Delaying his confirmation is only making it harder to prosecute the war.

Democrats promised "civility and bipartisanship." Instead, they stiff-armed their Republican colleagues, refused to include them in budget negotiations between the two houses, and have launched more than 400 investigations and made more than 675 requests for do ents, interviews or testimony. They refused a bipartisan compromise on an expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, instead wasting precious time sending the president a bill they knew he would veto. And they did this knowing that they wouldn't be able to override that veto. Why? Because their pollsters told them putting the children's health-care program at risk would score political points. Instead, it left them looking cynical.

The list of Congress's failures grows each month. No energy bill. No action on health care. No action on the mortgage crisis. No immigration reform. No progress on renewing No Child Left Behind. Precious little action on judges and not enough on reducing trade barriers. Congress has not done its work. And these failures will have consequences.

Democrats had a moment after the 2006 election, but now that moment has passed. They've squandered it. They have demonstrated both the inability and unwillingness to govern. Instead, after more than a decade in the congressional minority, they reflexively look for short-term partisan advantage and attempt to appease the party's most strident fringe. Now that Democrats have the reins of congressional power, their true colors are coming out and the public doesn't like what it sees.

The Democratic victory in 2006 was narrow. They won the House by 85,961 votes out of over 80 million cast and the Senate by a mere 3,562 out of over 62 million cast. A party that wins control by that narrow margin can quickly see its fortunes reversed when it fails to act responsibly, fails to fulfill its promises, and fails to lead.

Mr. Rove is a former adviser to President George W. Bush.

Here's to he and Joe Lieberman staying on the editorial pages through the next election cycle.

[xrayzebra]

A Failure to Lead


Here's to he and Joe Lieberman staying on the editorial pages through the next election cycle.

Joe told it like it was. I listen to him yesterday. I would
vote for a man like him. But, unfortunately, the dimm-o-craps will blow him off. Power is the most important thing to them, screw the country.

[George Gervin's Afro]

hey karl how did that 2006 election cycle go? what about that permanent gop majority you were working on? No one listens to you karl.. oh wait the kool aid drinkers do

[Yonivore]

hey karl how did that 2006 election cycle go? what about that permanent gop majority you were working on? No one listens to you karl.. oh wait the kool aid drinkers do

Uh, he did tell you how it went:

The Democratic victory in 2006 was narrow. They won the House by 85,961 votes out of over 80 million cast and the Senate by a mere 3,562 out of over 62 million cast. A party that wins control by that narrow margin can quickly see its fortunes reversed when it fails to act responsibly, fails to fulfill its promises, and fails to lead.

It certainly explains the 11% approval rating. You can't win by such a narrow margin and then try to marginalize the center and right as you pander to your nutter base.

[Yonivore]

Joe told it like it was. I listen to him yesterday. I would
vote for a man like him. But, unfortunately, the dimm-o-craps will blow him off. Power is the most important thing to them, screw the country.

He's technically an Independent that is caucusing with the Democrats. There's nothing to say he couldn't be persuaded to cross the aisle.

[George Gervin's Afro]

Uh, he did tell you how it went:


It certainly explains the 11% approval rating. You can't win by such a narrow margin and then try to marginalize the center and right as you pander to your nutter base.

jeez stuck on the 11%.. funny though the republicans make up 50% of the congress so i guess we could assume there is a part of that 11% they own..

karl is a real smart guy yoni..

[Yonivore]

jeez stuck on the 11%..

Actually, it's the Democratic Congress that's stuck on 11%.

funny though the republicans make up 50% of the congress so i guess we could assume there is a part of that 11% they own..

I don't see how, They don't control the calendar, the agenda, or the committees.

If anything the 11% that do approve of Congress do so because of what the Republicans are doing to frustrate Democratic efforts to pass their nutter agenda of surrendering in Iraq, perp-marching the entire administrative branch, raising taxes by trillions of dollars, and taking productive people's money and giving it to deadbeats.

If not for the Republicans, all of that would be law right now.

Karl Rove is a brilliant political strategist.

There, fixed it. You're welcome.

[George Gervin's Afro]

Actually, it's the Democratic Congress that's stuck on 11%.


I don't see how, They don't control the calendar, the agenda, or the committees.

IN MY OPINION If anything the 11% that do approve of Congress do so because of what the Republicans are doing IN MY OPINION to frustrate Democratic efforts to pass their nutter agenda of surrendering in Iraq, perp-marching the entire administrative branch, raising taxes by trillions of dollars, and taking productive people's money and giving it to deadbeats.

If not for the Republicans, all of that would be law right now.


There, fixed it. You're welcome.

I hope karl stays in politics he has been fantastic for the democrats.. in fact bbecuase of him the dems will pick up more senate and house seats in 2008.. we may even win the white house because of the boy wonder so yes you can keep him on your side..but,but he's brilliant..

If anything the 11% that do approve of Congress do so because of what the Republicans are doing to frustrate Democratic efforts to pass their nutter agenda of surrendering in Iraq, perp-marching the entire administrative branch, raising taxes by trillions of dollars, and taking productive people's money and giving it to deadbeats.

find me something with surrender on the legislation. i guess you wanted a willing and rubber stamp bush had for 6 yrs but executive branch is accountable to someone aren't they? what have the dems proposed that would raise taxes.. "trillions of dollars"


you should have juste started your post with "In my opnion"

[Yonivore]

I hope karl stays in politics he has been fantastic for the democrats.. in fact bbecuase of him the dems will pick up more senate and house seats in 2008.. we may even win the white house because of the boy wonder so yes you can keep him on your side..but,but he's brilliant.

We'll see.

find me something with surrender on the legislation.

Every bill they've contemplated on the Iraq war has been publicly expressed -- by them -- as a ploy to get George Bush to withdraw troops and surrender in Iraq.

i guess you wanted a willing and rubber stamp bush had for 6 yrs but executive branch is accountable to someone aren't they?

That's not accountability, that's interference. Why don't they rescind the AUMF in Iraq? Why don't they just pass a bill to defund the war effort in Iraq?

It's all politics, that's why.

what have the dems proposed that would raise taxes.. "trillions of dollars"

Between the Democratic boondoggle known as the Alternative Minimum Tax (a misnomer), taxes will rise from approximately $25 billion per year (collected under this scheme), to an average of $100 billion per year ($1 trillion) over the next 10 years because Democrats don't know how to index for inflation and are resistant to changing the current AMT law. Combine that with allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire, and we're talking trillions of dollars in tax hikes.

Your political heroes at work. But, hey, they've got to pay for socialized medicine somehow.

you should have juste started your post with "In my opnion"

If you're too stupid to differentiate between opinion and sourced facts on a political forum you should probably just quit breathing everyone else's air.

[George Gervin's Afro]

We'll see.


Every bill they've contemplated on the Iraq war has been publicly expressed -- by them -- as a ploy to get George Bush to withdraw troops and surrender in Iraq.


That's not accountability, that's interference. Why don't they rescind the AUMF in Iraq? Why don't they just pass a bill to defund the war effort in Iraq?

It's all politics, that's why.


Between the Democratic boondoggle known as the Alternative Minimum Tax (a misnomer), taxes will rise from approximately $25 billion per year (collected under this scheme), to an average of $100 billion per year ($1 trillion) over the next 10 years because Democrats don't know how to index for inflation and are resistant to changing the current AMT law. Combine that with allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire, and we're talking trillions of dollars in tax hikes.

Your political heroes at work. But, hey, they've got to pay for socialized medicine somehow.


If you're too stupid to differentiate between opinion and sourced facts on a political forum you should probably just quit breathing everyone else's air.

I'm not the one who thinks I'm always right... of course I choose to use my own words while you don't. I guess you think I'm stupid for not believing right wing blogs but i am not the one using them to replace my original thoughts..

in regards to your post refuting mine it's all your opinion so i won't waste my time responding. i do want to mention that your explanation about raising taxes won't transpire during this legislative session so your wrong.

[101A]

I'm not the one who thinks I'm always right...

If you don't think you're right, change your opinion.

[Yonivore]

I'm not the one who thinks I'm always right... of course I choose to use my own words while you don't. I guess you think I'm stupid for not believing right wing blogs but i am not the one using them to replace my original thoughts..

Alrighty. But, for the record, when I steal from blogs that have opinions on factual information, they -- and, therefore, I -- also link to the factual data over which the opinion is being expressed.

So, it's not the "right-wing" blog you're discounting, it's the factual information overwhich they opine that you're refusing to address.

The global warming thread is a perfect example. I've been trying for days now to get someone to engage me on the factual data presented by Professor Carter in the video. No takers.

It is my opinion the facts he presents put lie to the global warming hysteria.

in regards to your post refuting mine it's all your opinion so i won't waste my time responding.

But, when I state my opinion it is usually in conjunction with the factual information over which I'm stating my (or stealing someone else's) opinion.

i do want to mention that your explanation about raising taxes won't transpire during this legislative session so your wrong.

Just because a result doesn't occur during the term of the Congress that caused it doesn't mean they're not responsible. Their actions/inactions will result in a tax hike of over a trillion dollars...unless it's fixed by a future Congress and President.

[George Gervin's Afro]

If you don't think you're right, change your opinion.

There is one thing I know for 100% fact. not everyone is right all of the time including myslef. I don't have much repsect for people who think they are always right. Most problems could be solved if both sides decided to meet in the middle. people like yoni and ray want everything solved the conservative way. well that's not possible because the majority of americans aren't as beholden to that ideology. i am perfectly comfortable with sitting down with a conservative and hammering our a deal where neither side gets all they want but they do get enough to be satisfied. I wish washington was more like this. the ideologues on both sides don't undserstand that thier respective beliefs will not dominate this country. This is part of the reason why i believe that talk radio is just as responsible for dividing this country as anything that has happened over the last 20 yrs. They preach ideology without regard to compromise. They preach how eveil the other side is and how they despise this country. That is just plain wrong and those who believe it are done a disservice. I think we can both agree that there are folks who listen to hush's show and members of moveon.org who are harmful to this country as a whole.

[Yonivore]

If you don't think you're right, change your opinion.

Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark.

[xrayzebra]

He's technically an Independent that is caucusing with the Democrats. There's nothing to say he couldn't be persuaded to cross the aisle.

In his interview yesterday that very question was ask.
And he indicated he would see what the future holds. He
didn't say "he wouldn't". But he is an old time Democrat
and I wouldn't hold my breath till he does. Blue is not
my favorite color.

[Yonivore]

There is one thing I know for 100% fact. not everyone is right all of the time including myslef. I don't have much repsect for people who think they are always right. Most problems could be solved if both sides decided to meet in the middle. people like yoni and ray want everything solved the conservative way. well that's not possible because the majority of americans aren't as beholden to that ideology. i am perfectly comfortable with sitting down with a conservative and hammering our a deal where neither side gets all they want but they do get enough to be satisfied. I wish washington was more like this. the ideologues on both sides don't undserstand that thier respective beliefs will not dominate this country. This is part of the reason why i believe that talk radio is just as responsible for dividing this country as anything that has happened over the last 20 yrs. They preach ideology without regard to compromise. They preach how eveil the other side is and how they despise this country. That is just plain wrong and those who believe it are done a disservice. I think we can both agree that there are folks who listen to hush's show and members of moveon.org who are harmful to this country as a whole.

But, if you think you're wrong, why would you post the opinion? Does anyone in here think they are wrong when they push the "submit reply" button?

No. You included.

And just because you're unsuccessful in getting me to change my opinion doesn't mean I never admit I'm wrong. It means we only discuss things where you've been unable to make a persuasive argument.

[Yonivore]

In his interview yesterday that very question was ask.
And he indicated he would see what the future holds. He
didn't say "he wouldn't". But he is an old time Democrat
and I wouldn't hold my breath till he does. Blue is not
my favorite color.

He's coming to the realization, just like Zell Miller that the Democratic Party is jettisoning the things that made their party great.

[xrayzebra]

There is one thing I know for 100% fact. not everyone is right all of the time including myslef. I don't have much repsect for people who think they are always right. Most problems could be solved if both sides decided to meet in the middle. people like yoni and ray want everything solved the conservative way. well that's not possible because the majority of americans aren't as beholden to that ideology. i am perfectly comfortable with sitting down with a conservative and hammering our a deal where neither side gets all they want but they do get enough to be satisfied. I wish washington was more like this. the ideologues on both sides don't undserstand that thier respective beliefs will not dominate this country. This is part of the reason why i believe that talk radio is just as responsible for dividing this country as anything that has happened over the last 20 yrs. They preach ideology without regard to compromise. They preach how eveil the other side is and how they despise this country. That is just plain wrong and those who believe it are done a disservice. I think we can both agree that there are folks who listen to hush's show and members of moveon.org who are harmful to this country as a whole.

You might want to talk to your dimm-o-crap buddies
in Congress. They are the ones that wont compromise.
The Republicans including the President has. He even
got the swimmer, you know the expert on drowning, to
write the education bill. Got George a lot of credit
didn't it? You really do need to pick a paper up sometime
and read what is going on and who opposes what.

[xrayzebra]

Oh about me and yoni wont comprimise, I cant speak for Yoni,
but myself, I kinda like what made this country great. You don't
fix something that is broken or change just because it feels good
to spend other peoples money.

[JoeChalupa]

A Failure to Lead


Here's to he and Joe Lieberman staying on the editorial pages through the next election cycle.

I saw this cut and paste coming a mile away. Too bad he's out of the loop now and his repugnants are going down again.

[George Gervin's Afro]

Oh about me and yoni wont comprimise, I cant speak for Yoni,
but myself, I kinda like what made this country great. You don't
fix something that is broken or change just because it feels good
to spend other peoples money.

memo to ray democrats have been partly responsible for making this country great.

[xrayzebra]

I saw this cut and paste coming a mile away. Too bad he's out of the loop now and his repugnants are going down again.

Can we quote you on that Joe?

[George Gervin's Afro]

You might want to talk to your dimm-o-crap buddies
in Congress. They are the ones that wont compromise.
The Republicans including the President has. He even
got the swimmer, you know the expert on drowning, to
write the education bill. Got George a lot of credit
didn't it? You really do need to pick a paper up sometime
and read what is going on and who opposes what.

thanks for proving my point ray.

[George Gervin's Afro]

But, if you think you're wrong, why would you post the opinion? Does anyone in here think they are wrong when they push the "submit reply" button?

No. You included.

And just because you're unsuccessful in getting me to change my opinion doesn't mean I never admit I'm wrong. It means we only discuss things where you've been unable to make a persuasive argument.

When I find that I have been wrong I own up to it. it's very simple to do. you man up and admit you were wrong. i have never seen that once from you so i guess i could assume you feel on this board your are 100% correct?

[Yonivore]

When I find that I have been wrong I own up to it.

So do I. In fact, I was preparing to admit I was wrong about Hillary Clinton supporting Governor Spitzer's plan, and said as much in a post, but, then her campaign came out and agreed with me. What are you going to do.

I think it's just that you tend to gravitate to my posts over which I have very strong opinions and you're just unable to change my mind. Then, you turn that into me thinking I'm always right.

Present me with an irrefutable fact that demonstrates I'm wrong, and I'll admit it.

it's very simple to do. you man up and admit you were wrong. i have never seen that once from you so i guess i could assume you feel on this board your are 100% correct?

I disagree, I believe I've admitted I was wrong in this forum on several occasions.

I was wrong about the 2006 elections. Way wrong. I thought they would turn out different and they didn't. I admitted it at the time. I'm admitting it now. It was a topic that dominated this forum for quite some time and just about everyone of my predictions didn't hold.

There. Please bookmark this post the next time you want to claim I say I'm right 100% of the time.