Democrats Would Be More Likable If They Didn't Suck

Want to make this a relic of the past? Do something smart!

Did people read this article the other day? I just about freaked out when I read this part right here:

In theory, the budget presents the Democrats their first real opportunity to rewrite the administration’s policies, especially on tax cuts, that they have been attacking for six years.

But in practice, Democrats know that the only way they can find the revenue to restore the administration’s proposed spending cuts would be to cut back on military spending, delay their stated intentions to balance the budget or rescind the Bush tax cuts in future years. They are not especially eager to do any of these.

The most likely result, even some Democrats acknowledge, will be a limited reshaping of the budget by restoring some proposed cuts in a variety of domestic programs, including children’s health care, Head Start and home heating assistance for the poor and the elderly.

But few Democrats are expected to look for new revenues by calling for an end to Mr. Bush’s tax cuts, instead of extending them as the president proposed Monday, or to deal with the looming costs of Social Security and Medicare as the postwar generation retires, all of which pose huge budget problems in future years.

What. The. Fuck. Haven't we spent the past 6+ years reading about how many tax programs this administration has devised that provide new and creative ways for rich people to keep their money while the income gap widens, the national deficit goes up, and we cut domestic social programs to pay for a fraudulent "war" sold to the public on a foundation of lies? Why aren't Democrats doing everything in their power to reverse these horrible trends? We're punishing the poor and helpless while the wealthy get further out of sight. And how about the opportunity costs--think about how many smarter programs have gone underfunded or have been cut because we needed the money to put soldiers in harm's way, smack dab in the middle of an emerging civil war that we incited. Is it really that hard to build consensus on these issues? Fiscal responsibility can and should be a hallmark of Democratic governance because Republicans have manipulated just about everything within their power to help rich people while spending has soared.

Since 2003, I've been advocating the pie-chart method: Democrats should prepare a brief series of easily understood graphics the lay out the worrisome economic policies perpetrated by the Republicans. Show us the money the richest of the rich have kept. Show us the disproportionate burden that the tax code places on people who make low wages. Show us the money that hasn't been spent on education, healthcare, actual homeland security, and everything else while we've paid for a sham "war." Kos hinted at this yesterday:

Reuters -- The Bush administration on Monday sought a cut of $4.9 billion, or 8 percent, in education, training, employment and social services grants ... the White House's five-year plan foresees $66 billion in cuts to Medicare, a program for the elderly, and $12 billion in cuts for Medicaid, the state-federal program for the poor.

Reuters Alert -- As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan grind on and their costs could hit $662 billion by the end of next year ... This year, fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could total around $170 billion.

Put that shit on a chart, have a press conference, pass out electronic copies for newspapers and bloggers to publish, and take ten minutes to say, "For every dollar we spend in Iraq, we don't spend a dollar on X. For every dollar we don't tax rich people, we take away a dollar from Y program that poor people need to get help and get out of poverty."

I know this is a simplistic critique, but the elemental thought should be no less resonant.

Seriously, Democrats blow.

And also:
- Peep game: Keepin' It Right Radio

- Peep slept on game: I don't know why I didn't see this sooner. Jay Smooth is awesome.

- Peep important Michigan basketball game: Hire Rudy T. You know damn well that Amaker is incompetent. If you feel like I so, help make a change. Start by signing this petition.

- Peep interview game: The Clipse are just ridiculous. I mean, can you recall reading an interview like this? Lots to mine from here...