This is my last post of the day. Not to encourage any fellow Democrats to drink hemlock or anything. But Dear Leader Bush and Dark Lord Dick Cheney are already making it explicit: Bush claims mandate to pursue sweeping agenda by Ron Hutcheson and William Douglas, Knight-Ridder 11/03/04.
Over the next four years, Bush intends to set Iraq on the road to democracy, defeat global terrorism and send a wave of freedom across the Middle East. At home, he plans to extend his tax cuts to future generations, revamp the nation's legal system, bring free-market capitalism to Social Security, enact a producer-friendly energy policy and overhaul the federal tax system. ...
Bush has made it clear, publicly and privately, that he has no intention of going out with a quiet, steady-as-she-goes second term. By his calculations, he has two years to push his ambitious domestic agenda through Congress before his power wanes and attention shifts to the next presidential election.
A guide to BushSpeak on these issues:
Set Iraq on the road to democracy: four more years of guerrilla war, with the end always said to be in sight and the corner being turned again and again.
Send a wave of freedom across the Middle East: War against Iran, war against Syria, a big draft. Massive numbers of draft-age Republicans coming out as gays and lesbians. They can call it the "you don't have to ask, we're telling" movement.
Extend his tax cuts to future generations: A further and intesified drive to free the wealthiest Americans from the terrible, painful burden of having to pay taxes to support their country.
Revamp the nation's legal system: Gut consumer-protection laws. Aka, "tort reform."
Bring free-market capitalism to Social Security: Gutting Social Security with a scam scheme for "private investment" accounts to pump more public money to brokerages.
Enact a producer-friendly energy policy: Conservation is for wusses. And don't believe all this liberal propaganda about air pollution being bad for your lungs. Terrorists steal nuclear waste? Hijackers slam planes into nuclear plants? No way, nuclear power is good for poor people and the environment. Except there's nothing wrong with the environment, and so what if the globe warms up? We have air conditioners, don't we?
Overhaul the federal tax system: See Extend his tax cuts ...
The article discreetly notes at the end:
Of all the unknowns facing Bush in a second term, Iraq looms as the most worrisome. The next big test will come about the time Bush takes the oath of office for a second time on Jan. 20. His promise to hold national elections in Iraq in late January will likely be tested by terrorist attacks, spreading chaos and power struggles among Iraq's various ethnic and religious groups.
A successful election would help put Iraq on the path to stability, but a disputed outcome could embolden insurgents and terrorists and further divide the country. Continuing problems and a rising American death toll could make Iraq Bush's Vietnam in a second term, draining his political clout and casting a pall over his presidency.
Even if things go well overseas, budget realities at home will complicate Bush's efforts to push his agenda through Congress. Budget projections show massive federal deficits for the foreseeable future, raising the bar for almost any proposal that costs money. Nevertheless, a push to extend or expand Bush's tax cuts is almost certain.
No one expects Bush to be deterred by the obstacles in his path. If Bush's first term showed anything, it showed his willingness to think big and act boldly.
Four more years. We might as well start bracing ourselves now.
2 comments:
As always, I love your work, Bruce!! Thanks for being YOU!!
That Sad Chica,
Marcia Ellen
Not to mention that the senior prescription drug plan cost doesn't kick in for another two years. Somehow though, they forgot where the money was going to come from to pay for it.
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