Jennifer Killpack-KnutsenBreathe a sigh of relief, then get to work
It’s important to remember that there are significant problems within the Democratic Party as well, though without the obscene level of corruption that haunts the Republicans. We have to remember that Bush was able to get away with so much with the help of compliant and/or afraid Democrats. It takes courage to do the right thing, and I hope that the new batch that we’ll be sending to office will help to ignite that in the other Dems.
It’s up to us to keep the Dems on task and trying to undo all the damage done. I hope to see the following addressed quickly:
- repeal the Military Commisions Act of 2006
- restore checks and balances and install safeguards to keep greedy politicians from seizing too much power as Bu$h and Co. have done.
- investigations into corruption, war crimes, war profiteering and suitable steps taken against those found guilty
- Get to work on climate change issues, going beyond Kyoto. We’re responsible for much of it — it’s up to us to take the lead in trying to correct the situation, and encourage other nations to follow our lead
- Getting us out of Iraq and quickly and safely as possible. We still need to pay for what we broke, but contracts should be awarded to Iraqi companies first and companies from other countries in the event that Iraqi firms are unable to do certain jobs– we have too much of a history of scandal and war profiteering.
- Repeal the PATRIOT ACT, dismantle the NSA spying program against citizens.
- Shut down the facilities at Guantanamo, provide the inmates there with attorneys and trials , and release those found not guilty with reparations for torture and inhumane treatment. Those found guilty should serve fair sentences taking into account the punishment and treatment that they’ve already received.
That’s just off the top of my head. Beyond those, Bu$h & Co. have done a lot of damage that needs cleaning up. I’m sure we’ll be cleaning up the mess for years even with the best of politicians. We’ll need to continually pressure the new House, and hopefully new Senate, to keep them on task.
November 8th, 2006 at 11:15 am
Jennifer - this is a really smart to do list! I hope it happens. Let’s start pressuring our new congress to make it happen.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:21 pm
Here, here. Great starting list.
November 8th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
The problem here, Jennifer, is that a huge number of Democrats are not behind most of these agenda items. Even after the 2006 elections, there will not be a majority for repeal of the PATRIOT act or shutting down unlawful detention camps. Quite a few Dems supported the withdrawl of Habeas Corpus rights and the war in Iraq.
November 8th, 2006 at 9:22 pm
Which are just few of many reasons that I’m not a Democrat, and all the more reason why us ordinary folk can’t afford to get too celebratory. We’ve got our work cut out for us in the next two years. It’s going to take a lot of public pressure on the bad Dems to get them to see the light.
November 8th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
Responding to Brian, it may well prove that those dems supporting the patriot act and rape of habeas were merely acting through political expediency, under the circumstances. That may all well change soon enough!
The house AND the senate!!! LOL LOL LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!