Democratic Party Vindictiveness?

[Jeff Higgins]

So, the Democrats now hold majorities in both the House and Senate, and as a result chair all the committees. How many "investigations" are they going to open pertaining to alleged Republican "abuses" over the last six years? Sounds like damn near every committee might have one in its area of jurisdiction. Apparently the only thing Pelosi has labelled out-of-bounds is any kind of impeachment effort. Everything else appears to be fair game.

So is this the depths to which partisan politics has sunk? While they will try to sell this to the American people as some form of the good guys swooping in to clean up the mess left by the (hitherto unchecked) Republicans, in an effort to make everything right again, it will be no more than a partisan witch-hunt.

I have found this to be typical of the approach taken by the Democratic Party of late. This will be the ultimate expression of their "at least we are not Republicans" non-platform. Monday morning quarterbacking at its worst. With no real direction, no real leadership, and no real clue, they will attempt to deconstruct the last six years and focus attention on the past, rather than provide direction for the future. Investigate rather than legislate. Look back rather than forward.

Much like the liberals inhabiting this board (and serving as a micrcosm of the liberal movement) they will prove absolutely unable to provide any viable new ideas. They may blow the dust off of, and try to re-hash failed liberal dogma from the past, but they will provide nothing new. In the place of new ideas, they will attempt to present their criticisms of past decisions and actions taken by others as such. With the benefit of hindisight, they will present what "should have" been done, and try to dupe the American people into believing that is exactly what they would have done, had they been in power. And they will ruthlessly "investigate" those who made the tough decisions at the time, without the benefit of a crystal ball. Let the show begin...

[Rearden]

Here's a list of potential investigations, as outlined by the new committee chairman:

http://www.democrats.reform.house.gov/investigations.asp

[the]

The dems have proven quite adept at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory for many years now . . . I wouldn't be surprised if they use their newfound power to follow that pattern. But we'll see.

[Joeaksa]

The 2008 democratic convention Itinerary

7:00 P.M. - Opening flag burning.

7:15 P.M. - Pledge of allegiance to U.N.

7:30 P.M. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

7:30 till 8:00 P.M. Nonreligious prayer and worship.
Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton.

8:00 P.M. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

8:05 P.M. - Ceremonial tree hugging.

8:15- 8:30 P.M. - Gay Wedding-- Barney Frank presiding.

8:30 P.M. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

8:35 P.M. Free Saddam Rally. Cindy Sheehan -- Susan Sarandon.

9:00 P.M. - Keynote speech. The proper etiquette for surrender.
French President Jacques Chirac

9:15 P.M. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

9:20 P.M. - Collection to benefit Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant
fund

9:30 P.M. - Unveiling of plan to free freedom fighters from Guantanamo
Bay. Sean Penn

9:40 P.M. - Why I hate the Military, A short talk by William Jefferson Clinton

9:45 P.M. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

9:50 P.M. - Dan Rather presented Truth in Broadcasting award, presented
by Michael Moore

9:55 P.M. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

10:00 P.M. How George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld brought down the World
Trade Center Towers-- Howard Dean

10:30 P.M. - Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

11:00 P.M. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

11:05 P.M. - Al Gore reinvents the Internet.

11:15 P.M. - Our Troops are War criminals-- John Kerry.

11:30 P.M.- Coronation of Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

12:00 A.M. - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

12:05 A.M. - Bill asks Ted to drive Hillary home.

[HardDrive]

I think there is important business in front of the country at the moment, and we need to move forward.

But I think its a bit unfair of blame any investigations solely on the democrats. I consider myself fiscally conservative, and I would like to see an investigation into where the money has went in Iraq. There have been massive outlays of public moneys, and I think there are definitely some questions as to where the money went.

But looking at larger pictures, I sure as hell hope the dems don't get bogged down in the blame game, or investigating how we got into the war. It water under the bridge. We need to accept where we are a look at solutions for getting out.

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by Joeaksa

12:05 A.M. - Bill asks Ted to drive Hillary home.

LMAO!

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by VINMAN
LMAO!

Or she could go hunting with Dick Cheney!!

[Tobra]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Or she could go hunting with Dick Cheney!!

even better

[Moneyguy1]

a. All winners are , to some degree vindictive

b. All losers hope the winners fall on their faces (the sour grapes syndrome)

c. Neither extreme comes to full fruition

Karl Rove was called into the Oval Office on the 8th to explain the election results to the President.

"So, Karl, how did it go yesterday?"

"Well, Mister President, there is good news and there is bad news."

"The bad news?"

"We came in second."

What is the good news?"

"The Democrats came in next to last."

"That's good. isn't it?"

"Yes sir..it shows the strength of our positions on just about everything."

[hardflex]

Gosh the Republicans are playing the "Victims" card already....

[Moneyguy1]

It is hard to change direction sometime. In my opinion, (given freely and worth every penny), it seems a bit partisan to hope the party in power fails, no matter which party that is. Party trumps patriotism again.

[cool_chick]

Originally posted by hardflex
Gosh the Republicans are playing the "Victims" card already....

Already? That's all they do! They really have no concept of accountability.

[Lothar]

Originally posted by hardflex
Gosh the Republicans are playing the "Victims" card already....

Hardflex, the American people continue to be the victim of both parties. When private citizens continue the partisan blame/victim game, we sink just a little bit further.

When private citizens start to look at what has happened over 60 years of being asleep at the switch, perhaps we can truly make victims of politicians who put themselves above service to America.

The Republicans got what they deserved. However, Democrats are as bad and frequently worse. They can't even talk the talk, much less walk the walk. They will get theirs.

[cool_chick]

The truth of the matter is the ONLY way to keep it to a minimum is BALANCE. The democrats in full control is just as dangerous as republicans in full control. It's not a matter of if the corruption will happen, but when.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Precisely why there should be no political parties. Period.

[john70t]

I think the Republicans began getting really nasty during Clinton (who was just following Reagans "untouchable demigod" legacy) and it has just gotten worse since then.

The Dems have been just as corrupt, but it was usually on more smaller issues, and much less blatant.
-The V.P.s private company given multi-billion exclusive, no-bid contacts?
-DeLays daughter given $1mil/yr. as a "consultant"?
-etc, etc.... and that's just with corruption.

The problem is that too many people are picking from the apple tree at once, and have started to use axes.

[Lothar]

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
I, for one, would welcome more contrained spending, if the Dems stick by what they are saying. That remains to be seen, however...

They will never stick by what they were saying. The election is over. They will now run back their tax/spend/regulate/tax again ways.

[cool_chick]

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
I read recently that the Dems are gearing towards a "spend as you go" plan, which is upside down from traditional Democratic spending, and backwards from the Republicans who have basically given away the fort with defense spending and drug plans (just to name two).

I, for one, would welcome more contrained spending, if the Dems stick by what they are saying. That remains to be seen, however...

-Wayne

That would be good news, indeed. I for one plan to hold them to it. They're accountable to ME. None of this "let them spend their asses to oblivion cuz they're Republicans" we just lived through....

[Rearden]

Originally posted by john70t
-The V.P.s private company given multi-billion exclusive, no-bid contacts?

Halliburton is a public company, and they are the world's best company at military support services. So, of course they will be awarded contracts.

If investigations show that there was corruption in the execution of these contracts, then they should be appropriately punished. And there will be PLENTY of investigations in the next two years.

[Jeff Higgins]

The Democrats have an opportunity here; one of which they can take great advantage. I hope they do so; the "spend as you go" approach sounds like a fresh, worthwhile idea. Let's hope they take the high road and introduce more of that; more thoughtful, "outside the box" legislation.

They have, however, already announced plans for some sweeping investigations. This is no "sour grapes" on the part of the Republicans; it's straight from the horse's (donkey's) mouth. Nobody is whining about anything on the "losers'" side; the victors have made it clear they are going after the losers from their newfound position of power and the resultant committee control they have gained. How can it be "sour grapes" to point out their own words?

I, for one, am ready for a change. I think the division of power between the parties has to be better than any one party's absolute control. I just hate to see the Dems squander this by focusing more energy and resources on investigating than on legislating. That would be a terrible mistake on their part. I think particularly with the partisan witch hunts of the Clinton era still in the public's memory, that the next party to try it will pay dearly. We've had enough; they need to run the damn country like they are elected and paid to do, and quit hounding each other on our dime.