Democrats Making a Difference.....

**map57** · 11.20.06, 01:36 PM

Now that our democrats have taken charge in the house and senate, what will happen over the next two years. Yes I said "our" because we as a people elected them. I didn't vote for them, but it's over now. This is their time to prove why they should be in power. Good or bad, post articles or quotes from them here. Also, make these current. What has happened in the past should not influence what happens over the next 2 years. This is not an opinion thread. Facts ONLY!!

I'll start with one I found today......

Democrat to introduce Bill to reinstate military draft
AP

Washington: Americans would have to sign up for a new military draft after turning 18 under a Bill the incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee says he will introduce next year.

Representative Charles Rangel, a New York Democrat, said on Sunday he sees his idea as a way to deter politicians from launching wars.

"There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way," Rangel said.

Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War who has unsuccessfully sponsored legislation on conscription in the past, has said the all-volunteer military disproportionately puts the burden of war on minorities and lower-income families.

Rangel said he will propose a measure early next year. While he said he is serious about the proposal, there is little evident support among the public or lawmakers for it.

In 2003, Rangel proposed a measure covering people age 18 to 26. It was defeated 402-2 the following year. This year, he offered a plan to mandate military service for men and women between age 18 and 42; it went nowhere in the Republican-led Congress.

At a time when some lawmakers are urging the military to send more troops to Iraq, "I don't see how anyone can support the war and not support the draft," said Rangel, who also proposed a draft in January 2003, before the US invasion of Iraq.

**map57** · 11.20.06, 01:54 PM

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12

The Democrats—incoming majority leader Senator Harry Reid of Nevada; incoming Armed Services Committee chairman Senator Carl Levin of Michigan; and incoming Foreign Relations Committee chairman Senator Joseph R Biden Jr. of Delaware—said a phased redeployment of troops would be their top priority when the new Congress convenes in January, even before an investigation of the conduct of the war.

“We need to begin a phased redeployment of forces from Iraq in four to six months,” Levin said in an appearance on the ABC News programme “This Week.” In a telephone interview later, Levin added, “The point of this is to signal to the Iraqis that the open-ended commitment is over and that they are going to have to solve their own problems.”

**hatchetforce** · 11.20.06, 02:21 PM

**sixstring** · 11.20.06, 02:22 PM

Democrats...Republicans...pffft...what's th difference...

**Viking** · 11.20.06, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by sixstring

Democrats...Republicans...pffft...what's th difference...

I concur. There isn't a nickles worth difference between them.

**PlexiBrown** · 11.20.06, 05:34 PM

Get rid of politics and organized religion and you will see a better world. It amazes me that so many people still buy into all the political and religious bullshit, but then again, these two groups are glad people buy into their BS. So many millions killed because of politics and because of religion and people killing in the name of God. Everybody thinks their political party is the best and everybody thinks that their religion is the only one holding the truth. WAKE UP!!

**PlexiBrown** · 11.20.06, 06:29 PM

I didn't vote for them, but it's over now.

Yeah....right.

**cyberfiddl** · 11.20.06, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by PlexiBrown

Get rid of politics and organized religion...

YEAH!! Just like Josef Stalin!! Liberals will be the death of this country.

**mistere** · 11.21.06, 12:14 AM

So why then are we ostensibly liberating other countries?

You act like conservatives don't know how to crash a wagon.

**Red** · 11.21.06, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by PlexiBrown

Get rid of politics and organized religion and you will see a better world.

Like Sucka said in another thread......"Wow".

**vh resurrection** · 11.21.06, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by map57

Democrat to introduce Bill to reinstate military draft
AP

I'll bet 10-to-1 it doesn't pass. Nor should it in my opinion.

At a time when some lawmakers are urging the military to send more troops to Iraq, "I don't see how anyone can support the war and not support the draft," said Rangel, who also proposed a draft in January 2003, before the US invasion of Iraq.

I can see that for sure. Those who enlist in the military know that the possibility of war and mobilization exists when they sign on the dotted line. Many of those who don't enlist probably don't want to go to war. While there are some who enlist and try to back out when the going gets tough, the majority, I believe, likely do their jobs. I would much rather have those brave souls over there fighting than some punk who's name was pulled out of a hat.

**FORD** · 11.21.06, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by cyberfiddl

Liberals will be the death of this country.

Liberals CREATED this country!!

George Washington - LIBERAL
Thomas Jefferson - LIBERAL
Ben Franklin - LIBERAL

Abe Lincoln - LIBERAL
Teddy Roosevelt - LIBERAL (compared to current Republicans anyway)

FDR - LIBERAL who saved this country from the Great Depression. The only other country to pull themselves out of such conditions was Nazi Germany. Perhaps you would have preferred THEIR approach?

And this being November 21, I certainly can't leave out John Fitzgerald Kennedy, a proud LIBERAL who had this to say.......

I believe in human dignity as the source of national purpose, in human liberty as the source of national action, in the human heart as the source of national compassion, and in the human mind as the source of our invention and our ideas. It is, I believe, the faith in our fellow citizens as individuals and as people that lies at the heart of the liberal faith. For liberalism is not so much a party creed or set of fixed platform promises as it is an attitude of mind and heart, a faith in man's ability through the experiences of his reason and judgment to increase for himself and his fellow men the amount of justice and freedom and brotherhood which all human life deserves.

I believe also in the United States of America, in the promise that it contains and has contained throughout our history of producing a society so abundant and creative and so free and responsible that it cannot only fulfill the aspirations of its citizens, but serve equally well as a beacon for all mankind. I do not believe in a superstate. I see no magic in tax dollars which are sent to Washington and then returned. I abhor the waste and incompetence of large-scale federal bureaucracies in this administration as well as in others. I do not favor state compulsion when voluntary individual effort can do the job and do it well. But I believe in a government which acts, which exercises its full powers and full responsibilities. Government is an art and a precious obligation; and when it has a job to do, I believe it should do it. And this requires not only great ends but that we propose concrete means of achieving them.

Our responsibility is not discharged by announcement of virtuous ends. Our responsibility is to achieve these objectives with social invention, with political skill, and executive vigor. I believe for these reasons that liberalism is our best and only hope in the world today. For the liberal society is a free society, and it is at the same time and for that reason a strong society. Its strength is drawn from the will of free people committed to great ends and peacefully striving to meet them. Only liberalism, in short, can repair our national power, restore our national purpose, and liberate our national energies. And the only basic issue in the 1960 campaign is whether our government will fall in a conservative rut and die there, or whether we will move ahead in the liberal spirit of daring, of breaking new ground, of doing in our generation what Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman and Adlai Stevenson did in their time of influence and responsibility.

Our liberalism has its roots in our diverse origins. Most of us are descended from that segment of the American population which was once called an immigrant minority. Today, along with our children and grandchildren, we do not feel minor. We feel proud of our origins and we are not second to any group in our sense of national purpose.

- John Fitzgerald Kennedy , Acceptance Speech of the New York Liberal Party Nomination September 14, 1960

The DEATH of this country will result from further raping and pillaging, and transfer of all wealth to the rich, and shredding of the Constitution. You know, the bullshit that's been going on the last 6 years....

We desperately NEED Liberals back in charge of this country, in order to save it. This last election was a good start, but not nearly enough to get the job done.

**map57** · 11.21.06, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by FORD

Liberals CREATED this country!!

George Washington - LIBERAL
Thomas Jefferson - LIBERAL
Ben Franklin - LIBERAL

Abe Lincoln - LIBERAL
Teddy Roosevelt - LIBERAL (compared to current Republicans anyway)

FDR - LIBERAL who saved this country from the Great Depression. The only other country to pull themselves out of such conditions was Nazi Germany. Perhaps you would have preferred THEIR approach?

And this being November 21, I certainly can't leave out John Fitzgerald Kennedy, a proud LIBERAL who had this to say.......

- John Fitzgerald Kennedy , Acceptance Speech of the New York Liberal Party Nomination September 14, 1960

The DEATH of this country will result from further raping and pillaging, and transfer of all wealth to the rich, and shredding of the Constitution. You know, the bullshit that's been going on the last 6 years....

We desperately NEED Liberals back in charge of this country, in order to save it. This last election was a good start, but not nearly enough to get the job done.

Not arguing with you, but are you sure they were all Liberals? We have to keep in mind that Democrat and Republican is not the same as Liberal and conservative. I believe they were all Democrats, but I'm not sure that I would say they were Liberals. Liberals usually are in favor of more gov't programs, making people more dependent on gov't. I believe the forefathers of our country were trying all they could to establish a country where the people were not dependent on the gov't. and get away from being taxed. Most liberals are for raising taxes to take care of certain things. I'm not saying they are wrong or right, but wanting to make a distinction.

**Filthy 150** · 11.21.06, 02:21 PM

[QUOTE=FORD;680683]
We desperately NEED Liberals back in charge of this country, in order to save it. QUOTE]

What will they be saving it from, if you don't mind my asking?

**ZORBA5150** · 11.21.06, 02:25 PM

[QUOTE=Filthy 150;680815]

Originally Posted by FORD

We desperately NEED Liberals back in charge of this country, in order to save it. QUOTE]

What will they be saving it from, if you don't mind my asking?

saving it from our aweful economy with record-low unemployment, low inflation, record high for the Dow, record home ownership, lower taxes, etc. Please someone save us...