“Thems Fightin’ Words”
I haven’t mentioned lately how much I like Jan Schakowsky. She’s a feisty lady with spine and that’s what the Democrats need more of - backbone. In her recent newsletter, she’s hopping mad at President Warmonger’s latest unbalanced budget (he’s at least consistent.) Read the President’s Dangerous Budget.
President Bush has produced a dangerous budget that puts Americans at risk. The budget cuts programs vital to our economic well-being, sinks hundreds of billions more into the war in Iraq without fully equipping our troops, and puts us further in debt to other nations. This budget must be stopped.
The President’s budget gives the Pentagon $623 billion, an increase of 62% since he took office. The budget sinks another $145 billion into the war in Iraq - another sign that the President has no plans to bring our troops home before the end of his term. Even with the massive increases in the Defense budget, the President still leaves behind our troops. Just last week, an Inspector General’s report concluded that our troops in Iraq still do not havethe equipment they need to defend themselves after four years of war
The President’s budget not only endangers our soldiers in the field, but it also threatens Americans at home. This budget takes money directly out of vital domestic investments by cutting education by $3.1 billion, slashing food assistance for 440,000 seniors, and reducing child care assistance for 300,000 of the working poor. Furthermore, it includes cuts of $280 billion to Medicare and Medicaid. The President won’t allow Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices, but he’s content to make the elderly pay more and to limit health care coverage for the poor.
A list of who is affected by the President’s budget cuts is availablehere.
The Washington Post does a one-two punch on budgetary concerns with today’s coverage: Bush Plan Reigns In Domestic Spending, and A Closer Look at Where the Money Will Go. (Domestic spending? Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do - Go to Disneyland and leave all the war stuff to the President?)
Jan’s not the only one bristling. The Act For Change people are collecting petition signatures in support of the War De-Escalation Act of 2007. After Downing Street (ADS) reports on several non-violent peace rallies occurring in congressional offices of war supporters. Even Democratic darling Barack Obama had a few visitors, according to Democrats.com. ADS offers their own petition for impeachment.
Several states are jumping on that particular bandwagon. Maine has an impeachment site, as does a New Jersey group. There’s a whole list of state motions of impeachment. Approve or not, the wagon’s rolling.
Sen. Harry Reid notes how the Republicans in congress are blocking a motion for a up-or-down vote on Bush’s escalation plans. He has his own petition to counteract recalcitrant elephants and open the floor for debate. (I can almost hear the conservative shine about the First Hundred Hours and how the Democrats didn’t play fair. That’s playground thinking, immature. Because of this bogus blockade, soldiers are dying. Let’s all count how many Americans die during this debate debacle, as a direct result of Republican hubris.)
All in all, there’s fighting words all about. Americans, by way of a Democratic majority, are waking up to this nightmare and wishing they were really asleep. At least then, there’s hope of awakening.