Article: Democrats united on the issues

[ProSense]

Posted on Thu, Dec. 15, 2005
Demos show rare unity on issues

SUPPORT FOR BUSH'S AGENDA WANES AS GOP MODERATES HELP BLOCK BILLSBy James KuhnhennKnight RidderWASHINGTON - With time running out for Congress this year, Democrats are displaying rare unity and influencing the legislative agenda in ways that were unimaginable during President Bush's first term.

Their cohesion, together with rebellion from some moderate and maverick Republicans, was evident Wednesday as lawmakers continued to frustrate Bush's agenda on anti-terrorism legislation, foreign-detainee policies and oil drilling in Alaska's wildlife refuge.

Republican leaders also are on the verge of delaying nearly $100 billion in tax-cutting legislation to next year, depriving the party of a signature issue as it heads into the 2006 elections. Republican leaders downplayed the hitch, arguing that there was no urgency to act now.

Faced with unyielding Democratic opposition, House and Senate negotiators also were making little progress Wednesday on a package of budget cuts that would reduce spending on food stamps and other anti-poverty programs by $35 billion. Democrats also showed no cracks in their opposition to drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and the Republican moderates who joined them were standing fast as well.

Wednesday evening, the House handed Bush yet another setback, endorsing bipartisan legislation that would ban cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of foreign detainees. The Senate approved the provision 90-9 in October.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/mercurynews/news/nation/13412134.htm?source=rss&channel=mercurynews_nation


Rare? The Democrats have effectively killed Bush's agenda, starting with Social Security.

[MissMarple]

1. Signs of progress. Getting that out to the public will be hard, though.

Publicizing a unified democratic/progressive message is going to be tough, but it can be done. It's similar to formulating talking points to counter bogus, slimy Republican spin.

This is no job for the timid. Democratic/progressive values are American values.

[ProSense]

2. New Poll: 2006 Democrats Lead Republicans 43%-33%

New Poll: 2006 Democrats Lead Republicans 43%-33%
Dec 15, 2005
By: Phil Singer, DSCC

A new poll released today by the National Journal shows generic 2006 Democratic Congressional candidates leading their Republican opponents by 43%-33%. In addition, voters have a more favorable general view of the Democratic Party than they do of the Republican Party and, by a 6-point margin, those polled believe that we “would be better off” if Democrats controlled Congress.

At Least Five Other Polls Have Shown Democrats Ahead in 2006. At least five separate polls released by independent organizations in recent months have shown generic Democrats leading Republicans by up to 17 percentage points on the 2006 ballot.

NATIONAL ISSUES WILL DETERMINE OUTCOME OF 2006 ELECTIONS. According to today’s National Journal poll, voters will look at candidates’ positions on national issues when determining their vote in the 2006 midterm elections by a 20-point margin over local issues.

Republicans Are Consistently Coming Up Short On National Issues. According to a CBS/New York Times survey released last week, voters trust Democrats more than Republicans to handle the most important issues, including Iraq (40%-35%), the economy (45%-37%) and Medicare (54%-24%).


http://www.dscc.org/news/roundup/20051215_poll/

[blm]

3. Dems are WAY more united than corporate media wants the public to think.

.