Since when is repression the same as "reform?" -- Lafcadio T. Lion and Strawberry Sage and Friends Fun Forum

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Date Posted: 17:01:17 02/13/02 Wed
Author: Citizen Lion... concerned
Author Host/IP: qam1b-sif-86.monroeaccess.net / 12.27.214.87
Subject: Since when is repression the same as "reform?"

Today, the Congress of the United States is debating what they coyly call a "campaign reform" legislative package. It should be more likely called a "Cover My Entrenched Arse" bill because that is what it really is.

Consider these elements of these so-called "reforms:"

Soft money reforms:

They have finally come close to needed reform in that they would prohibit political contributions to political parties by corporations, unions and anyone else. The secret is in the sneaky way they word the prohibitions. These groups could not give to political parties, but they could continue to run ads under their own names as sponsors. No longer would the DNC or RNC use these funds to pay for ads espousing a specific viewpoint, but others would be able to continue to do so. Political action committees would be prohibited from doing so, thereby outlawing the right of groups of average citizens with a viewpoint they wish to be heard from expressing it. The language of the legislation, as crafted by specific Congress critters would exempt certain types of groups... specifically so called (and improperly, in my opinion) "Pro Choice" groups, Gay and Lesbian Alliances, Sierra Club and oter politically correct groups.

Issue Advertising

Within 60 days of an election - specifically at the time when the average American voter actually begins to pay attention to political campaigns - NO ONE would be allowed to run politically oriented advertising devoted to a specific "issue." In other words, if candidate A is the incumbent and supporters of Candidate B, the challenger, decide to run ads providing confirmed, documented, irrefutable proof of corruption, mal- or misfeasance, outright lies or whatever information about either candidate, NO MATTER HOW ACCURATE AND TRUTHFUL IT MAY BE, they could be put in jail for attempting to do so.

Incumbents don't need to spend as much of their money to wim the nomination of their party. The power of incumbency works to allow them to conserve funds for a general election campaign. It is not that way for challengers. By the time primaries have ended and the general election campaign is at its peak, the candidates are protected from embarassing truths. The infamous "Willie Horton" ad of the Bush/Dukakis campaign was one such ad. It would become a crime to reveal such truthful information under these so-called "reforms."

THAT'S NOT ALL! It would also become illegal for newspapers to publish news stories about these matters within sixty (60) days of an election... NO MATTER HOW TRUTHFUL AND ACCURATE THEY MIGHT BE! We are all aware that over 80% of journalists, especially on a national basis, identify themselves as liberal Democrats. We have seen how they all had to be dragged kicking and screaming to covearge of the excesses and sleaziness of the last president before Bush redux. They still defend that slimebag. They refuse to do any analysis of the efforts of Tom Daschle and a handful of other obstructionists to hold Americans hostage to their political agendas. The average American newspaper and television news organization is little more than a conduit for Democrat candidates and party hacks. It takes real work on the part of American voters to learn the truth about what is going on, what has been done and who did it unless it is possible to slant coverage to make it appear that a Republican did it.

I was incensed when Alan Colmes whimpered that "compromise," for Republicans, means to agree with their viewpoint, or be called "partisan." The national Democrats have done just that for decades now and continue to do so. Recently, Senate Plurality Leader Tom Daschle learned that a number of Senators equalling more than half of the members of the Senate (a MAJORITY by definition) were in favor of the President's economic stimulus package. These included Republicans and Democrats (NON-PARTISAN support by standard definitions worldwide). Daschle changed the rules of the Senate to block passage, requiring a SUPER MAJORITY (2/3 of all Senators) in order to even consider the legislation. Acknowledged alcoholic and political sleaxeball Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) threatened to filibuster if the bill was brought to the Senate floor for open and public debate, enabling Daschle to pull off his political sleight of hand. Naturally, his troops paraded before fauning television cameras and like-minded print "journalists" to claim the package was "partisan" and did not "address the needs of the average American." That is easily translated into "non-taxpayers" who see their sugar teat drying up.

I refuse to buy the mouthings of the Congressional thieves who claim one thing while doing the exact opposite. It is time to stop them before we cannot. We must tell tehse people that we DO need to defend this country from terrorists, but we can do so without stealing away our freedoms. Yes. It is more difficult to accomplish that way, but SO WHAT!?!?!?! These people remind me of teh powers that were in California following teh overwhelming passage of Proposition 13 - a voter initiative placed on their ballot over the objections of the political power structure. The law of unintended consequences reared its ugly head as a result of a concerted campaign of punitive actions by entrenched politicians. Proposition 13 limited the overall level of taxation the politicians could impose on the citizens who paid the taxes. The pious pythons in power reacted by CUTTING ESSENTIAL SERVICES that voters support and protecting the very abuses of taxpayers' dollars that caused their objections. Naturally, the liberals howled in indignation, caliming that Proposition 13 caused the cutbacks when it was really the knowingly punitive actions of their packmasters at the heart of the cutbacks. NOT ONE SOCIAL PROGRAM that were the darlings of the leftist liberals suffered a penny of loss following the massive voter mandate to rein in taxation. Californians bought the lies and now they want us to pay for their foolishness so that they can continue their odessy of idiocy.

As we say in the deep south, "that dog don't hunt here." But, sadly, he may unless Americans start THINKING and paying attention to what the words of these creatures of consciencelessness are REALLY saying.

What can you do? Look in your phone book and get the address of your Congress critters. Sit down and write them a letter demanding what you are paying for - REAL service to this nation and its people, not protection of their political backsides and those of their entrenched cronies whether they are Democrat or Republican. Then, vote in a way to let them know that you can understand basic English and know a lie when you see and hear one.

Tell Tom Daschle and his minions of maintaining their power that you don't accept him, or anyone else, slamming the President in a time of war. People finally saw through his efforts to hold us hostage to his political agenda with the tax cuts and the econmic stimulus bills. Over 9% of voters now identify themselves more with the Republican party than the national Democrat party according to several recent independent polls. Daschle and friends read those polls and they are frightened by the trend. Instead of reacting positively, he and his henchmen are following the advice of James Carville and another Demo "king maker" who advise them to now attack Bush the younger's foreign policy in an effort to erode the unprecedentedly high approval ratings Bush et al are enjoying.

An aside to President Bush... your father said "read my lips" and we did. He lied and he paid the price despite his ostensibly proper execution of the Gulf War campaign against Saddam Hussein. You said, "... over my dead body..." No one wishes your demise, but if you too lie to us and cave in, then your political death is a foregone conclusion. So far, you have been doing a credible job, for the most part, but politcal approval is tenuous, at best. Don't count on my vote unless you are willing to EARN IT!

The same goes for EVERY incumbent, including many I know personally. MY vote is not for sale to politcal hacks or ideological fanatics. I have little use for anyone who values that freedom so little as to shuffle it out of sight for partisan politics. I will vote as an American citizen for the best for America and to Hell with anyone's political party affiliation.

But, then...what the Hell do I know? WAIT!!!!! I DO know these things and have exhibited my willingness to die for these beliefs and freedoms. I am, have always been, and always will be willing to speak out in support of the things I stand for and against those for which I will not stand idly by.

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