Making the point
More of this please.
This just makes sense, both practically (as I proffered a couple of weeks ago) and, more importantly, politically. If the Dems can get this fight public, they win on both sides, with those who think the minimum wage should be raised (a majority of Americans,) and with those who think that Congress shouldn't get pay raises either for incompetence or on principle.
It also puts the blame for both the minimum wage and Congressional raises where it belongs, squarely on the Republicans. I think this is a winner all the way around.
Senate Democrats on Tuesday vowed to block pay raises for members of Congress until the minimum wage is increased.
This just makes sense, both practically (as I proffered a couple of weeks ago) and, more importantly, politically. If the Dems can get this fight public, they win on both sides, with those who think the minimum wage should be raised (a majority of Americans,) and with those who think that Congress shouldn't get pay raises either for incompetence or on principle.
It also puts the blame for both the minimum wage and Congressional raises where it belongs, squarely on the Republicans. I think this is a winner all the way around.
posted by mikevotes at
7:54 AM
8 Comments:
I have been assuming that the Dems do have a strategy prepared and a timeline for the roll-out. There is a campaign strategy developed over the past decade or so, styled the ‘small target’ approach, that is, if the opponents don’t know your policy positions they can’t attack them.
John Howard took it to the extreme in one election and revealed nothing until after the election when he launched the Iraq agenda.
In the game of political poker it is good to see the Dems might have an ace or two to play, even if they don’t reveal all. On the other hand, I can’t see why they would hold back on pushing a social agenda.
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Cartledge, at 10:37 AM
Right. And I've been a proponent of the same, that they ought to come full on with their agenda late like in September. But, I do think you need to lay some groundwork now and I think that's what this is.
Mike
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mikevotes, at 1:17 PM
I still think we need a more charismatic leader to pound the Republicans.
Mr. Reid doesn't exactly motivate me. His monotone speaking is not exciting the Dem.'s base or the country.
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Unknown, at 1:41 PM
Yes. Agreed. I do really like Harry Reid, I think he's honest and smart, but he's not the sort of leader I would follow into battle. Any nominations?
From the inside, I like Obama, just for his ability to capture crowds and come across on TV. He always comes across to me as an incredibly smart and passionate guy without that "Senator speak" that so many of the longer serving congressmen have.
On the outside, I'm an unabashed Gore man, but he's obviously sitting this probably nasty and partisan election out in his effort to reach across the aisle on his issue (and presidential bid.)
Mike
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mikevotes, at 2:06 PM
I think this is part of their bag of tricks as Cartledge points out. Clearly they will try to appeal to their traditional base, and populists moves will be quite common. Clearly too, they will shame the Republicans for giving in to executive power. They will try to pin Bush's mistakes on the Republican's in congress.
There are loud murmurs of this on the house floor (i.e. H4300 introduced and deafeated by Maurice Hinchey. (You have to scroll down to H4300, it is almost at the bottom but worth reading) I don't suppose this guy would have a chance in the traditional thinking, but mabye this kind of guy could actually get something going.
Obama is charismatic, but he is too much of a war hawk for me.
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Praguetwin, at 4:03 PM
I'll buy that about Obama. I don't think he'd be a good majority leader either because his obvious ambitions would get in the way when dealing with other Senators with similar ambitions.
But speaking just from a 2006 midterms perspective, I think he could be a great front man to lay out message, and, obviously, the media people just love to have him on the shows.
I don't know Hinchey at all, but that is interesting.
Mike
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mikevotes, at 4:42 PM
I don't know him either, but he looks to be a maverick of epic proportions. His credentials look pretty good. I wonder where the skeletons lie.
I think you are right, Obama could be a decent front runner. The Democrats will need to keep the mudslinging down to a minimum in the primaries if they want to carry the election. Perhaps Obama will keep it light.
Maybe Gore will come in as a last minute independent, but I doubt it. Fun fantasy though.
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Praguetwin, at 6:38 PM
And Gore, even in his current climate campaign, could well impact the 2006 midterms without saying a word directly. This issue has become a partisan issue (which it shouldn't be.)
If, god forbid, there's another heavy hurricane season, the party which has been more right on environmental issues may well benefit.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 9:05 AM
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