[« About Them Pesky Mosquitos…] [Shamelessly Funnie... »]
06/07/2005: A Study in Contrasts:
In a place where “perception is reality”, Home-Boy, Denny Hastert clearly had the WRONG reality as you contrast these two blurbs from US News Wire:"House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) today issued the following statement in response to the latest efforts by Democratic leaders to halt America's economic growth:
"Democratic leaders must be living in their own fantasy land to believe that obstructing progress will do anything to help the American people. It's the Republicans' pro-working family agenda that continues to help America's economy. Unemployment is now at 5.1 percent, the lowest it has been since before the September 11th attacks. We've had steady job growth the last two years, and a record number of Americans now own a home of their own. I urge the Senate Democratic Leadership to join the Republicans who operate in a reality where the American people are put first."
The Senate has yet to consider the following House-passed initiatives:
-- H.R.6, ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005
-- H.R. 8, DEATH TAX REPEAL PERMANENCY ACT OF 2005
-- H.R. 27, JOB TRAINING IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2005
-- H.R. 366, VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE ACT
-- H.R. 748, CHILD INTERSTATE ABORTION NOTIFICATION ACT OF 2005
-- H.R.1544, FASTER AND SMARTER FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ACT OF 2005"
[ US News Wire.]
Compared to this recent study (also dovetailing with the previous study linked here) and you’ll get the idea of where the GOP and the bAdministration has taken the stray path to the National goals of Average Americans:”The Feldman Group released a survey Thursday showing that voters share a set of national ideals. Sixty-two (62) percent believe America is the greatest country on Earth and cite self-determination and equal rights as core ideals on which American Exceptionalism rests.
Voters are deeply critical of elected officials, as 72 percent believe that elected officials in Washington do not see the nation's problems and opportunities in the same way they do. They believe the country is divided (62 percent) but they lay much of the responsibility for divisions on politics and politicians.
"As challengers, Democrats should be speaking to the failure of Republican incumbents to stand up for our shared ideals, rather than advocating for a particular class or group," said pollster Diane Feldman. "In the wake of September 11, voters want their leaders to pull the country together around common ideals and common challenges."
Democrats who define themselves clearly around shared ideals will find an audience who embraces their policy priorities. Voters worry that the ideal of self-determination is at risk in an economy that demands more skills and more knowledge. Consequently, they believe that investing in education and job training will help the economy more than cutting taxes by a 69 percent to 25 percent margin.
In addition, voters see the cost of health care and retirement insecurity as top threats to the American Dream for themselves and their families. By a 67 percent to 28 percent margin, voters think the federal government needs to play a larger role in making sure that all Americans have affordable, quality health care and a secure retirement rather than leaving the responsibility to individuals.
------
Diane T. Feldman is president of The Feldman Group, a highly regarded national political research firm that has worked with Democratic candidates, unions, issue campaigns, and initiatives across the country."
[ US News Wire.]
This is the main disconnect: That the GOP IS NOT operating in any reality where the policies proposed match the concerns of the majority of the electorate. It's time for the Prez and the GOP to get on the "National Agenda" for the benefit of all Americans and put aside these divisive and *loser* propositions which cater to only their extremely small conservative base or issues for the wealthy few.
Karen on 06.07.05 @ 06:23 AM CST
