Leading Senate Republican: McCain offers a third Bush term on the economy

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What's the top message priority for Democrats hoping to win this year's presidential election? When it comes to defining John McCain, it's pretty obvious: he'd offer more of the same. On the key issues, McCain and George W. Bush share a script.

McCain is aware of the dangers here — no one wants to be closely associated with the most unpopular since the dawn of modern polling, and no one wants to run on a "stay the course" platform when four out of five Americans believe the country is on the wrong track.

With that in mind, it's always encouraging when some leading Republicans seem anxious to make it easier for Democrats to hammer their message home. Take Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the second highest-ranking Republican in the House.

As a rule, Republicans are supposed to disagree with the Democrats' central criticism of the GOP presidential candidate. But if Blunt & Co. want to tell national television audiences that we're right, I couldn't be more pleased.

As Faiz explained very well:

McCain is promising more of Bush's economic agenda —

unaffordable massive tax cuts

for the rich that offer no help for the

average family

.

The McCain economic agenda includes:

$1.7 trillion tax cut

for corporations, $300 billion a year in tax cuts that

aren't paid for

, and a plan that delivers

58 percent of the benefits to the top 1 percent

of taxpayers and only 9 percent to the bottom 80 percent.

All of this sounds familiar, of course, because it's the same approach embraced by the Bush gang for the last eight years. McCain isn't in a position to deny his support for Bush's economic policies, and apparently, neither are his campaign surrogates in the Senate.

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/

[GaryC 7]

Yah!!!! Bush's tax cuts are needed!! Keep the good news coming Steven!!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Yah!!!! Bush's tax cuts are needed!! Keep the good news coming Steven!!

hehehe...Third Bush term, baby! Yeah!

[GaryC 7]

Yah!!!! Bush's tax cuts are needed!! Keep the good news coming Steven!!

hehehe...Third Bush term, baby! Yeah!

Keep up with that mantra Steven. Only the far left believes it. It will be your undoing.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Yah!!!! Bush's tax cuts are needed!! Keep the good news coming Steven!!

hehehe...Third Bush term, baby! Yeah!

Keep up with that mantra Steven. Only the far left believes it. It will be your undoing.

One of your GOP leaders just said it on national television...and in case you didn't catch this nugget of a post earlier...

GOP getting crushed in polls, key races

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1831955

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Yah!!!! Bush's tax cuts are needed!! Keep the good news coming Steven!!

hehehe...Third Bush term, baby! Yeah!

The Republican party really needs to alter its image as an pro wealthy, pro big business, pro lobbyist, and pro excessive spending type of party. They have a great platform and message, but it really gets lost in the shuffle due to the poor and deliberate choices the Republican Party as a whole makes. To be honest, the Republicans have a better message, but they preach to a choir that is not inclusive of all Americans. What a shame! That's a memo...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The pro-growth message will ring very hollow with the majority of Americans who were left behind during the economic expansion under Bush. People want economic growth that they actually benefit from. Bush and the Republicans haven't provided the framework for that. People know. They are quite capable of doing the math.

[GaryC 7]

The pro-growth message will ring very hollow with the majority of Americans who were left behind during the economic expansion under Bush. People want economic growth that they actually benefit from. Bush and the Republicans haven't provided the framework for that. People know. They are quite capable of doing the math.

And the dem idea of raising taxes to cure the problem will? I doubt it.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The pro-growth message will ring very hollow with the majority of Americans who were left behind during the economic expansion under Bush. People want economic growth that they actually benefit from. Bush and the Republicans haven't provided the framework for that. People know. They are quite capable of doing the math.

And the dem idea of raising taxes to cure the problem will? I doubt it.

I think the concept is to re-arrange who benefits from tax cuts rather than raising taxes. To be honest, if Warren Buffett ends up paying a higher effective tax rate than his secretary (which he currently does not), I won't lose any sleep over it. Neither will he, by the way.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The pro-growth message will ring very hollow with the majority of Americans who were left behind during the economic expansion under Bush. People want economic growth that they actually benefit from. Bush and the Republicans haven't provided the framework for that. People know. They are quite capable of doing the math.

And the dem idea of raising taxes to cure the problem will? I doubt it.

I think the concept is to re-arrange who benefits from tax cuts rather than raising taxes. To be honest, if Warren Buffett ends up paying a higher effective tax rate than his secretary (which he currently does not), I won't lose any sleep over it. Neither will he, by the way.

Yep. If you polled Americans on Bush's permanent tax cuts for the rich, they are against the tax cuts, but it's not only that - Bush spends like a drunken sailor and McCain has already said things he wants to do if he is President which he has no way of paying for. Americans want an honest economic policy that benefits all, not just the wealthy elite.

[GaryC 7]

The pro-growth message will ring very hollow with the majority of Americans who were left behind during the economic expansion under Bush. People want economic growth that they actually benefit from. Bush and the Republicans haven't provided the framework for that. People know. They are quite capable of doing the math.

And the dem idea of raising taxes to cure the problem will? I doubt it.

I think the concept is to re-arrange who benefits from tax cuts rather than raising taxes. To be honest, if Warren Buffett ends up paying a higher effective tax rate than his secretary (which he currently does not), I won't lose any sleep over it. Neither will he, by the way.

You neglect to point out that Warrens contribution to the federal tax coffers is a lot more than his secretaries. The fact is the top 5% already pay 80% of the taxes. Raising the rate on them further is nothing more than class warfare. Oh, and you also fail to point out that much of Buffetts money is protected from taxes by moving it overseas. I wouldn't quote him as a pillar of social justice if I were you.

[HAL 9000 96]

So then its not raising taxes on everyone as the Republicans want to paint it as usual.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Yah!!!! Bush's tax cuts are needed!! Keep the good news coming Steven!!

hehehe...Third Bush term, baby! Yeah!

Keep up with that mantra Steven. Only the far left believes it. It will be your undoing.

"Only the far left believes it?" I don't think that's true...

McC does need to differentiate himself from Bush policy-wise and to show that he's prepared to offer something more and a little different from the current administration. Bush's approval rating keeps hitting new lows with every week that goes by - so I very much doubt that the far left who are disillusioned with him, or indeed that their disillusionment is just about personal dislike.

[GaryC 7]

Yah!!!! Bush's tax cuts are needed!! Keep the good news coming Steven!!

hehehe...Third Bush term, baby! Yeah!

Keep up with that mantra Steven. Only the far left believes it. It will be your undoing.

"Only the far left believes it?" I don't think that's true...

McC does need to differentiate himself from Bush policy-wise and to show that he's prepared to offer something more and a little different from the current administration. Bush's approval rating keeps hitting new lows with every week that goes by - so I very much doubt that the far left who are disillusioned with him, or indeed that their disillusionment is just about personal dislike.

Um, Bush's approval ratings are only eclipsed by the dem congress's approval ratings. Does that mean we will get a rep congress this time? Most everyone that has been paying attention over the last 7 years has seen that McCain is no Bush lap dog. He has the deserved reputation of breaking with the reps on a multitude of occasions. The attempts to paint him as Bush III isn't going to work.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Yah!!!! Bush's tax cuts are needed!! Keep the good news coming Steven!!

hehehe...Third Bush term, baby! Yeah!

Keep up with that mantra Steven. Only the far left believes it. It will be your undoing.

"Only the far left believes it?" I don't think that's true...

McC does need to differentiate himself from Bush policy-wise and to show that he's prepared to offer something more and a little different from the current administration. Bush's approval rating keeps hitting new lows with every week that goes by - so I very much doubt that the far left who are disillusioned with him, or indeed that their disillusionment is just about personal dislike.

Um, Bush's approval ratings are only eclipsed by the dem congress's approval ratings. Does that mean we will get a rep congress this time? Most everyone that has been paying attention over the last 7 years has seen that McCain is no Bush lap dog. He has the deserved reputation of breaking with the reps on a multitude of occasions. The attempts to paint him as Bush III isn't going to work.

I don't know - we've had 2 years of a Democratic Congress compared with 8 years of Bush. IMO - These resentments need time to significantly impact voter behaviour.

McC is painting himself as Bush III - its early days yet, but so far he hasn't promoted any national agenda that is significantly different than the status quo. Nor is he distancing himself from the President on any of his policies - in fact he's asked the guy to campaign for him in November.