Social Security

Time to Lead

Submitted by Wes Clark on November 9, 2006 - 2:38pm.
| | | |

  


Yesterday, we Americans took a stand against the politics of personal destruction -- rebuffing the onslaught of negative advertising and dirty tricks.

Voters let themselves be heard and ordered a change in government, giving Democrats the opportunity to serve the nation and to provide the leadership that's been missing these past six years in Washington. With this opportunity comes great responsibility, and we must take the challenges ahead seriously, soberly and with clarity of purpose -- on issues like health care, the economy, education, and most of all, Iraq and national security.

It is a mistake for Democrats to celebrate rather than understand the meaning of yesterday's election.

America is looking for leadership right away, and Democrats should push forward a 3-point plan to address the crisis in Iraq and refocus our national security efforts:


  1. Change the course in Iraq. Democrats must pressure George W. Bush to listen to the generals on the ground and the whole range of experts -- not just the GOP -- on how to change the course in Iraq. We must work with regional powers, promote gradual transformation and stability, and regain the 'strategic consent' for the long-term U.S. influence in the region. We must use the situation in Iraq to propel us toward this larger goal, and in doing so, we will also find the right way to wind down our deployment there.
  2. Rebuilding alliances to address the real national security threats. We must bring our allies into the reconstruction of Iraq to ensure shared responsibility for the ongoing stability of Iraq itself and the region as a whole. We must provide real oversight on government contracts in Iraq; we cannot continue to allow no-bid contracts to Halliburton. And by bringing our allies together, we can finish the job in Afghanistan, and more effectively hunt down Osama Bin Laden and contain Iran and North Korea.
  3. Address energy independence and global warming as national security issues. We must put a policy in place to lead us to energy independence and away from the volatile and conflict-ridden regions where, today, the "geostrategic risk premium" is adding billions of dollars to the costs imposed on the American people. Our reliance on oil also impacts global climate change. As I have stated before, global warming has serious national security risks: stretching our military resources to deal with catastrophes (like Katrina) and increasing the potential for conflicts due to the displacement of people, competition for scarce resources, and adverse effects on agriculture.

Thanks to your help, we have a real opportunity to change the course in Iraq and fix our national security policy. And it's only possible because Democrats now have the power in Congress to stand up to President Bush and make change happen. You helped us make history last night, and I can't thank you enough for what you've done.

In this election cycle, WesPAC helped 42 candidates win their races across America, including 25 candidates who flipped their seats from Republican to Democratic seats. Our WesPAC community raised over $1 million for candidates, not to mention the millions of hours of volunteer time members of the Clark community provided to campaigns in every corner of our nation. And I am most proud of the fact that at least 6 veterans were newly elected to House and Senate yesterday. What a tremendous victory for America -- and it wouldn't have been possible without the hard work that you and I and hundreds of thousands of Democrats put in over these last 24 months.

Last night the American people spoke, loud and clear. Now we have our marching orders. It's time to change course.

It's time to lead.

Sincerely,

Wes Clark

» Wes Clark's blog | 60 comments

Former Army Major Declares Candidacy for US Congress in Washington

Submitted by jvaughn50 on April 27, 2008 - 10:28pm.
| | | | | | | |

I am in the trenches assisting our veterans obtain full time employment. Our first priority is to service members that are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. I am fully aware of the problems our service members face and have decided to do something about it. Below is my press release that was posted in the Seattle and Tacoma newpapers last weeek. I can use all the help I can get. My website is www.jimvaughnforcongress.com

If you have any questions, I can be reached at 253.241.9634 (mobile)

www.jimvaughnforcongress.com

» read more | jvaughn50's blog | login or register to post comments

“Opting Out” Undermines Core Democratic Values.

Submitted by Tom Rinaldo on February 26, 2008 - 1:42pm.
| | | |

Most core Republican Party special interests, with a partial exception for some elements of the Religious Right, essentially believe in Social Darwinism. They heap high praise on “The Individual” because they usually are, as individuals, heaped high with special privileges. If not they are wealth groupie wannabes. Which is why Mike Huckabee meets with such disdain from the Republican establishment – he sometimes gives a nod toward right wing populism.

» read more | Tom Rinaldo's blog | 6 comments

The "Roberts" Court: Shoot me now!

Submitted by richsezclark4prez on April 27, 2007 - 12:02am.
| | | | | | | | | | | |

richsezclark4prez's picture

Tonight I heard an extraordinary interview on The Peter B. Collins Show with Martin Garbus, one of the best trial lawyers in the country, called America’s “most prominent First Amendment lawyer” by Newsweek, the National Law Journal and other media. Garbus discussed his new book, The Next 25 Years: The New Supreme Court and What It Means for Americans (at BuzzFlash Premium). Just this week we have seen how this US Supreme Court has already placed ideology over medical science.

» read more | richsezclark4prez's blog | 2 comments

Wrong End of the Telescope: Boyd Cycles and Democratic Candidates

Submitted by Cristian Brown on February 12, 2007 - 12:56pm.
| | | | | | | | | | | |

It has been repeated so often as to become a rhetorical tic:  "Iraq will be the number one issue in the 2008 elections."  If that is true, we're looking into the wrong end of the telescope.  And we're going to pay for it.  Worse, if Democratic candidates remain focused on Iraq, our party and our nation are going to get shot down.  Just ask John Boyd.

» read more | Cristian Brown's blog | login or register to post comments

This Battle Is For You!

Submitted by 55 and Better on October 12, 2006 - 4:31am.
|


Welcome to 55 and Better

The "55 and Better" series focuses on the issues that effect everyone sooner or later. With that in mind, it is important that we join together in tackling the problems and looking for the solutions as we plan for the future. All of us have inherited a system including Medicare and Social Security from those who have fought the "good fight," now it remains up to us to continue the promise so that the years after 55 will be even better.

This Battle Is For You!

A Brief History Of Social Security

In the long fight to win retirement security for average Americans, there have been many soldiers that came to heed the call. The “Poor Laws” made the voyage to our shores with the early settlers, and gave birth to the many new ideas that would one day bring Americans a program that worked, Social Security. Democracy’s great friend, Thomas Paine, published the pamphlet “Agrarian Justice” that proposed an inheritance tax that would fund 10 pounds sterling to be paid to those over 50 as a hedge against the poverty of old age. In 1890 when Americans faced an economic collapse, an unsuccessful Ohio politician (pre-Diebold) entered the fray.

Pirate or Patriot? Meet Jacob Coxey.

» read more | 19 comments | 55 and Better's Community Series blog entries

Vote Your Wallet.

Submitted by Hogfan on October 5, 2006 - 2:24pm.
| | |

Hogfan's picture

If you choose not to read this post, I strongly urge you to click the link at the bottom. It’s a must-see video comparing the incomes of the richest people in America to yours and mine. Mind-blowing stuff.

I know, most of you vote in every, single election. But for those who don’t, let me try to explain why it’s not good enough to simply vote every 4 years. I'm not lecturing. I'm just irritated that lots people think democracy is some kind of spectator sport. Most of the issues that impact our lives on a personal level, particularly issues regarding our money, are decided by Congress. And our members of congress are elected every 2 years.

» read more | Hogfan's blog | login or register to post comments

Bush: 2007 Plan Privatizing Social Security

Submitted by early-bird on September 11, 2006 - 4:22pm.
|

early-bird's picture

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2006/sep/09/social_security_to_be_phased_out_in_2007

Social Security to be Phased Out in 2007
By Josh Marshall | bio
Still don't believe Social Security is on the ballot this November?

In an interview published today in The Wall Street Journal (sub.req.), President Bush told editorial page editor Paul Gigot that next year he plans on partially phasing out Social Security and replacing it with private accounts, and that he thinks he can do it as long as the Republicans retain control of Congress, which he thinks they will.

» read more | early-bird's blog | login or register to post comments

Ahoy Maties! SS Piratization Still Sails!!

Submitted by LJM on June 23, 2006 - 3:38pm.
|

LJM's picture

Just when you thought you could pack away the pirate duds and kick back for
the next Pirates of the Carribean movie, IT'S BACK!! Yup, the Republicans have
their sites set on social security privatization again after the 2006 elections.
No doubt it's the promise they've made to the financial industry to get them to
pony up the campaign donations to try to keep them in power.

We have to take the house and congress in November. Any questions?

http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=SOCSEC-REFORM-06-23-06

Arrrrgh!!

posted by Mad Bess Rackham

» LJM's blog | 5 comments
Syndicate content