Need help convincing an Independent

[Eurobabe]

Okay, here's the deal, he's a PA swing state voter: this guy is late 40s, close to retirement age (has 22+ yrs. in with defense contractor) He says he will vote for "whoever will help his 'company' do well to ensure a good pension." My classic line, (thanks Wes) is 'if you want to live like a Republican vote for a Democrat.' But we need better arguments than that.

I know this guy has voted Democratic before and he is NOT fond of Cheney, but his motivation for voting seems a bit selfish at this point. He needs to hear: 1) he is NOT thinking of his daughter's futures 2) Kerry is not going to cut the defense budget.

Can you guys help? I need some good zingers. -Crozet

[poliguru]

1. How far does he want that pension to go?

Under Bush we have had higher debt and the return of the deficit, so his money is going to end up not going as far with increased inflation. Under Bush we have nearly doubled the price of oil, which means that those rising gas and heating costs are going to dip into his pocket. Under Kerry he will get better tax breaks than under Bush, esp. as a retiree.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. BTW, isn't that Harry Truman line? nt

[JohnKleeb]

5. yes

[Killarney]

3. The economy does better under a Dem president

it's a fact.

There was a recent article on msnbc.com which rated all the modern day presidents and the performance of the economy under them and the Dems were the top 3 (clinton was #1) and repukes were the bottom 3.

Also, there's a great chart in Carville's book Had Enough that you could photocopy that shows the number of jobs created and whether the pres was D or R. The worst D record was still better than the best R record.

Also, you could Google an article about how the stock market also always performs better under Dem presidents. That was in Carville's book as well.

Good luck.

[Eurobabe]

6. Cool, yeah I have that book, will do. thanks for reminder.

[volosong]

4. Social Security

Tell your friend that after Bush privatizes Social Security he can kiss his retirement good-bye.

[Eurobabe]

8. What do you mean by this?

elaborate?

[sangh0]

7. Kerry wants to expand the military

Kerrey wants to add 40,000 troops to the military, and someone is going to have to equip them.

[wryter2000]

9. Is he counting on any social security?

Point out that Whistle Ass has blown the surplus, even though he swore he wouldn't. During the 2000 debates, Gore said he wanted to put a "lock box" around that surplus. WA looked like a bobble-head doll, "Oh, yes. I'd do that, too." He was already spending it by March 2001. Well before 9/11.

WA's croneys have destroyed folks' 401k's through their corporate looting, and now outfits like United Air Lines are trying to get out of living up to their obligations re: their employees' pensions, too.

Also, his medicare bill doesn't allow for bargaining for the best prices for medicines. And he won't allow folks to get medicine from Canada. He wants to make sure that all of us -- including seniors on a limited income -- pay the maximum for medicine.

WA is the absolute worst for someone who wants to retire.

[Minimus]

10. focus on pension issue

whose portfolio is better now than under Clinton? (excluding the halliburton whores)