Stop Howard Dean?

[deminflorida]

Why haven't the candidates gone after Howard Dean on his most vulnerable issue, Middle Class Taxes?

On the CBS News Site:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/18/opinion/main589318.shtml

"Can Dean be stopped? A stop-Dean movement may appear quixotic, but it's not. Dean has no lock on Iowa, and a lead even as large as Dean's in New Hampshire is always precarious. Many Democrats are terrified that a nominee who vehemently opposes the war, likens the Bush administration to the Taliban, and plans to raise taxes on the middle class can't be elected. But they've been scared into silence by Dean's tough talk and momentum."

"The worst offenders on this score are Dean's Democratic opponents. Dean is vulnerable on at least two issues, taxes and the war. But his rivals have confronted him effectively on neither. At the Democratic debate in New Hampshire last week, Kerry was asked by ABC's Ted Koppel why he hadn't raised his hand to show he thinks Dean could defeat Bush. What an opening! Kerry was free to insist, before the largest New Hampshire audience he'll ever have, that Bush would crucify Dean on the tax issue. But he lamely explained the reason he didn't raise his hand was his belief "in my vision for the country." Only when interviewed after the debate did Kerry attack Dean's tax hike proposal, declaring taxes the chief difference between himself and Dean. It was too late. No one was watching."

They have a debate coming up in South Carolina...It will be nationally viewed...who's coming after him there on this issue?

[onebigbadwulf]

1. Nothing can stop Dean

He will destroy corporatism, fascism, and media conglomeration... resistence is futile.

[Bombtrack]

6. the way he "destroyed corporatism" in Vermont?

by being a yes-man for polluters and IBM, and turning into a corporate tax haven ala Bermuda?

Actually, I'm being silly, Dean couldn't beat Bush without a miracle occuring, which he'd be required to do, you know, get elected, before he does or doesn't "destroy corporatism" or any of the other grand schemes you purported he would

[arewethereyet]

11. Dean can stop Dean

and he seems hell bent for leather to make this happen. Thats what happens when you're pissed off all the damn time.

[fearnobush]

2. All 9 are very similar on taxes.

They all have basically the same tax plans.

[deminflorida]

5. Not true, Dean proposes repealing the entire Bush tax package..

Clark proposes repealing it for people who earn above $200,000 a year.
Look at their websites.

[newyawker99]

23. Hi fearnobush!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Dagaz]

3. It's a severe lack of leadership

Everyone saw how Dean caught fire and decided to play me too!, especially Kerry. Holy Joe ha sbeen consistant but his time came and went already. To me Kerry is the biggest disappointment and Clark is a late entry who needs to get a coherent message together. Gephart is kinda like the Bob Dole candidate...served his time, is solid on party issues but puts people to sleep. Edwards is inexperienced and it shows but he's a good guy from what I can tell.

[Cheswick2.0]

4. what is wrong with rolling back those awful tax cuts?

Taxes are the price we pay to live in a decent and equitable society. You could live in a country where they have no taxes, like Haiti.
Pay your taxes and be happy about it.

[deminflorida]

7. Thanks, Pay your taxes and be happy..I sure hope that's the

message ole Howard puts forward in the south.

[frustrated_lefty]

9. These same tax dollars

help support HeadStart, which IS actually viewed favorably in the South. And the Bush administration is on record as saying it wants to screw with a universally acclaimed educational program.

Any candidate could say "do you want fewer taxes, or do you want HeadStart?" There are other issues. The south is not as black and white as you portray.

[deminflorida]

12. Well, I never said the South was Black and White, but I seem to

remember someone who threw a confederate flag into the discussion one time.

[frustrated_lefty]

More innuendo.

He stated poor southerners should stop voting in favor of a party that does nothing to protect their interests. But you knew that.

[KittyWampus]

8. Pay Your Taxes And Feed The Military Industrial Complex

Dean certainly seems happy with that arrangement.

[frustrated_lefty]

10. You neglect to even consider

what Dean did with tax dollars in Vermont. Maybe you can provide some foundation for such slander?

[corporatewhore]

17. Dean has said he would not cut the bloated pentagonbudget

in reponse to kucinichs plan to cut the pentagon budget back to when clinton was in office

[Bucky]

13. Kerry explained this in a couple of debates. It's bad policy

Kerry explained how the middle class tax cut was something that the Democrats in Congress fought hard for in the bizarre Bush giveaway to the jillionnaires. They had to force those cuts into Bush's bill, which had only sought to reward inherited wealth, not hard work.

The real damage to the budget deficit and economy was done by the top bracket giveaways. To the extent that there's any movement in the economy now, it can be credited in part to tax breaks to the middle and working class who actually spend their money in the retail consumer markets in ways that help the country.

Dean's tax break repeal idea is a pretty bad idea. It'll hit the people who can afford it less. If he becomes president, the bill he submits to Congress to repeal the tax breaks will be DOA.

[bearfartinthewoods]

21. i'm not middleclass

but i'm not at all sure that my 'working poor' taxes won't go up too because of the loss of the marriage penalty.

[Rose Siding]

14. Funny you should mention...

...because Dean is right. Just today the CBO was warning of how dire the situation is and saying that there will still be trouble when ALL the cuts expire:

www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-long-range-deficits,0,6923125.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines|Newsday]

WASHINGTON -- The government's three chief benefit programs are so huge and growing so fast that without raising taxes to historic highs, today's spending policies will probably be unsustainable in coming decades, the Congressional Budget Office said Friday.

In a look ahead at the next 50 years, Congress' nonpartisan fiscal analyst also concluded that the problem is so immense that economic growth alone will not be enough to solve it.

The three big programs -- Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid -- are all expected to undergo dramatic increases as the aging, 76-million strong baby boom generation begins gradually relying on them at the end of this decade. Expenditures are also being driven higher as health-care costs continue to balloon.
snip>
But highlighting how dire the long-range budget picture is, even the scenarios that let trillions of dollars in tax cuts enacted under President Bush expire -- bringing in piles of new revenue -- would mean that "fiscal stability is not assured."

[KaraokeKarlton]

15. If they can argue the "Bush Tax" with Dean, I say let his opponents

"bring it on"!

www.bushtax.com

[LuminousX]

16. We struggled hard to prevent it from going through

But boy, once some DUers got their $300 check, they were SOLD on the Bush tax cut. They don't care that it wasn't a cut, that it was actually a loan taken out that will have to be paid back. They don't understand basic economics. All they know is the gubberment ain't gettin' its stinkin' hands on the money - the money that before the Bush tax package went through, they were eagerly encouraging their congressmen to vote against.

People are funny.

[ClintonTyree]

18. Here's what Bush's "tax cuts" mean to the average American.........

Bush's tax cut for middle wage earners is a sham, it SHOULD be repealed. Here are some figures (provided by the Dean campaign of course) but I see no glaring weaknesses in his position.


Dean talking to voters in Iowa earlier this week - photo by Ryan Witt/ Dean For America.com

Dear

George W. Bush talks a lot about "tax cuts," but he doesn't mention how much his fiscal irresponsibility costs. Call it the "Bush Tax" - it's what we are all forced to pay because the president gave away your money in tax breaks mostly for people making over $300,000 per year. The Bush Tax shifts tax costs to states and communities, which then raise your taxes to make up the difference.

The only way to get rid of the Bush Tax is to get rid of George W. Bush - and the first step is for Howard Dean to win the Iowa caucuses 31 days from now. Your contribution today brings us closer to fiscal sanity and real tax fairness. Please contribute now:

http://www.deanforamerica.com/contribute

Because of the Bush Tax, the typical American family will owe $52,000 more on the national debt. Because the President refuses to fund his own education plan, property taxes have skyrocketed more than 27% in Dallas, 25% in Houston and 18% in New York City. Find out how much the Bush Tax is costing you:

http://www.bushtax.com

The Bush Tax is huge - many times greater than most people's so-called tax refunds. George W. Bush did not give you a refund - he spent all the money you sent to Washington, and then took out a loan in your name to cut you a check. You have the power to stop the Bush Tax. Yesterday Governor Dean announced his plan to restore fairness to our economy - read it at:

http://www.deanforamerica.com/newsocialcontract

This week marked the 230th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, when Americans stood up against a government that taxed unfairly and favored the special interests over the people. Now we must stand up again. The fundraising bat is up until midnight Tuesday - step up to the plate and whack the Bush Tax today!



P.S. Forward this message to your friends and family, and let them figure out how much the Bush Tax is costing them.

[tedoll78]

19. With all of these bashes on Dean..

one would think that one of the other candidates could put-together a strong counter to Dean's strength. I support Dean, and I readily admit that there's enough material to go after him with, but a credible offense isn't being played by the others. What gives? Are the other candidates that inept?

If Clark can beat Dean, that's great; it means he's a better campaigner. Same goes for Kucinich, Gep, Edwards, Kerry, Lieberman.. where are these peoples' campaigning skills? Did they go out the window?

And then people will whiiiine, whiiiiine, whiiine.. about how awful Dean is. Well folks, the facts on Dean are out there. You have your ammo, and you still aren't taking him down. A pretty sad statement.

[quaker bill]

20. Because Dean has a very credible response

Because he has a credible response, Kerry did not want challenge him on stage, but did so later in the one on one, when Dean could not respond directly.

You may not agree with Dean's approach to this issue, but he explains himself well enough. When Dean can respond, Kerry's attack is diluted sufficiently that it does not stick. Based on the polls, no one is moved, except perhaps for the emotions of the Kerry Choir, and they were already voting for him. Kerry actually made a better choice here in saving his comments for the one on one.

Unfortunately, you are right, the audience has tuned out by then, so while he can get his point across better there, few people are listening.

[deutsey]

22. Stop George Bush?

Why haven't the candidates gone after George Bush on his most vulnerable issue, the total illegitamcy of his fascism-with-a-smile administration?

:evilfrown:

RE: tax cuts...

http://www.bushtax.com/
http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=11077