What are going to be some of the top issues for the Presidential election in '08? From my observations, I've noticed the Democrats are coming out firing about their own issues. In the past several elections, the Democrats have run not as Democrats but as "not Republicans." I think that's the main reason they have been so unsuccessful. From the Republican side I've been hearing a lot of the same national security rhetoric. I think that is going to get old. They need to maintain that they are the party that will provide better security, but they need other issues to hammer.

 

I'll start with one. The Democrats are determined to make universal healthcare the election issue. The problem for Republicans is that is hard to argue against. They will have to go into a lot of technical reasoning as to why they are against it while the Democrats simply have to say "we want everyone to have healthcare." I think the Bush proposal for tax deductions for healthcare is the starting point for the Republicans to level the playing field, if you will.

What are going to be some of the top issues for the Presidential election in '08? From my observations, I've noticed the Democrats are coming out firing about their own issues. In the past several elections, the Democrats have run not as Democrats but as "not Republicans." I think that's the main reason they have been so unsuccessful. From the Republican side I've been hearing a lot of the same national security rhetoric. I think that is going to get old. They need to maintain that they are the party that will provide better security, but they need other issues to hammer.

 

I'll start with one. The Democrats are determined to make universal healthcare the election issue. The problem for Republicans is that is hard to argue against. They will have to go into a lot of technical reasoning as to why they are against it while the Democrats simply have to say "we want everyone to have healthcare." I think the Bush proposal for tax deductions for healthcare is the starting point for the Republicans to level the playing field, if you will.

 

Bush's healthcare plan is DOA. It won't help those who need it and will only effect about 3o million taxpayers. It won't bring market forces into play because there is no competitive market by the insurance carrriers or health care providers. I persoally believe that this and many other social issues will stand a better chance at success once you remove the illegal recepiants from the programs.

Bush's healthcare plan is DOA.

I agree. I think one of the biggest problems with his plan is it's designed to punish people for having good health plans. And from what I've heard, the 30 million figure is high.

 

Speaking of Bush and his SOTU address, I've also seen where his ethanol plan is badly flawed. First, we can't produce enough corn to make a real dent. Second, ethanol would only make us more dependent on oil because it would reduce the price of gasoline which would lead to higher usage.

 

What I'd like to see:

1) Revamped tax code (ain't going to happen)

2) Education turned back over to state and locals (kill NCLB)

3) Serious government study on climate change (does it exist, what's causing it, what can we do)

4) Drop all specific viral disease funding and spend the money on back to basics virus studies. (let's cure an easy virus before we tackle a big boy like HIV)

5) Strengthen the military, especially retention.

... In the past several elections, the Democrats have run not as Democrats but as "not Republicans." I think that's the main reason they have been so unsuccessful....

 

I've got to ask - when you say the Democrats have been "so unseccessful", what would it take to impress you, in terms of success? I mean, three months ago, they gutted the Republicans in the November elections, and if things don't change - and soon - they will roll all over the Republicans in 2008 as well. That is why the Republicans in Congress that are up for re-election in the next cycle are using steel wool to get the "Cheney/Bush" stickers off their bumpers right now.

 

One of the problems with W's health care plan is that it smacks of socialism (you have no idea how good it feels to say that).

 

Otherwise, I agree with HHSDad, other than his 4th bullet point.

 

 

Frances

I agree. I think one of the biggest problems with his plan is it's designed to punish people for having good health plans. And from what I've heard, the 30 million figure is high.

 

Speaking of Bush and his SOTU address, I've also seen where his ethanol plan is badly flawed. First, we can't produce enough corn to make a real dent. Second, ethanol would only make us more dependent on oil because it would reduce the price of gasoline which would lead to higher usage.

 

What I'd like to see:

1) Revamped tax code (ain't going to happen)

2) Education turned back over to state and locals (kill NCLB)

3) Serious government study on climate change (does it exist, what's causing it, what can we do)

4) Drop all specific viral disease funding and spend the money on back to basics virus studies. (let's cure an easy virus before we tackle a big boy like HIV)

5) Strengthen the military, especially retention.

 

Decreasing oil dependency by 20 % by 2020 does not work either because experts agree our demand for energy will increase by 50% in that same time frame.

It is all too easy to say you have this great idea for our nation but lets see someone with an action plan on how they intend to get this country back on track. I once heard him say (quote) "Its true more and more imports are coming from overseas..." Well, ding bat where else do imports come from?

Once was bad enough but electing him for a second term. You get what you voted for, maybe Al Gore would have declared a war on the atmosphere, just a joke. We (Nation) are laughed at all over the world.

 

Most of the Gov needs gutted and cleaned up. How can anyone support this administration is beyond my finite knowledge.

 

Our nation needs to take care of its own first and foremost.

1. Health Care

2. Education

3. Security

4. Military

5. Simplify the Tax Code

6. Borders

7. Have a Nation where once again the Majority voice ruled

I've got to ask - when you say the Democrats have been "so unseccessful", what would it take to impress you, in terms of success? I mean, three months ago, they gutted the Republicans in the November elections, and if things don't change - and soon - they will roll all over the Republicans in 2008 as well. That is why the Republicans in Congress that are up for re-election in the next cycle are using steel wool to get the "Cheney/Bush" stickers off their bumpers right now.

 

First, when I said unsuccessful, I meant no insult or condescension. You are right about the "Bush/Cheney" stickers, which is part of my point. In '04 we had an unpopular war and an unpopular President and the Democrats could not capitalize. In this last election Bush was even less popular, and while the Democrats took control of Congress for the first time in twelve years, most sitting Presidents, who were not nearly as unpopular as Bush, lose more seats in Congress than they did. I sincerely think that if they ran more as Democrats, touting their own plans an iniatives, than as just "not Republicans," we would have seen Congress and the Presidency flip in '04.

 

One of the problems with W's health care plan is that it smacks of socialism (you have no idea how good it feels to say that).

 

I wasn't trying to lift up Bush's healthcare plan up as the be all, end all of plans. I am simply saying that the Republicans have to do something. They will not win if their rebuttal to universal healthcare is calling it socialism. They have to show that they can do something tangible that is different than the Democrats.

Habib -

 

I took no insult from your phrasing. I was merely confused by it.

 

 

Frances

I wasn't trying to lift up Bush's healthcare plan up as the be all, end all of plans. I am simply saying that the Republicans have to do something. They will not win if their rebuttal to universal healthcare is calling it socialism. They have to show that they can do something tangible that is different than the Democrats.

 

Universal health care is socialism. Is see no problem with calling a spade a spade. The problem occurs if you don't offer an alternative that will improve the current system.

 

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.

 

Winston Churchill

You know something - the truth of the matter is that EVERY form of taxation, regardless of how the funds are used, is a form of socialism. If the government levies taxes to build the interstate highway system, that is (effectively) a form of socialism.

 

So, the real question is, how much "socialism" are we willing to accept, in our efforts to improve our lot in life? There are obviously items (i.e. national defense) that are acceptable to us, so the difference is simply where we draw the line.

 

 

Frances

Abortion for me.

Abortion for me.

 

 

This is not really on the topic, so dont blast me to hard over it. I witnessed these two ladies talking yesterday in the hospital. One of course was pregnant and was telling the other that she was filing charges against her boyfriend for attempt of murder because he was beating her and hitting her in the stomach b/c he didnt want the child. As I sat there listening to this story, I wondered why it is so right and so legal to commit murder via abortion, I went home and did some research and found out that abortions are performed in the name of rape or incest in this country was only at 3%, which suggests that other millions of babies being murdered every year is about , well, birth control?

This is not really on the topic, so dont blast me to hard over it. I witnessed these two ladies talking yesterday in the hospital. One of course was pregnant and was telling the other that she was filing charges against her boyfriend for attempt of murder because he was beating her and hitting her in the stomach b/c he didnt want the child. As I sat there listening to this story, I wondered why it is so right and so legal to commit murder via abortion, I went home and did some research and found out that abortions are performed in the name of rape or incest in this country was only at 3%, which suggests that other millions of babies being murdered every year is about , well, birth control?

It might be interesting to take your post and start it's own thread as this discussion is very deserving of it's own thread. I would also include the stats that you found with the necessary link.

Universal health care is socialism. Is see no problem with calling a spade a spade. The problem occurs if you don't offer an alternative that will improve the current system.

 

They won't win doing that. They need their own initiatives.

 

Abortion for me.

 

What role do you think the next President will have concerning abortion?

They won't win doing that. They need their own initiatives.

 

 

 

What role do you think the next President will have concerning abortion?

I like Huckabee's view. Sign into law any law that is constitutional as the issue is now viewed. GW signed into effect the partial birth abortion law that Clinton had vetoed twice.

 

Also, to continue to appoint judges that might have a different view on abortion rights from a Constitutional perspective.

 

I also think the President can be a leading voice in changing the mindset that abortion is not a birth control measure.