Webloggin » Lib Bloggers on Democrat “New Direction”

Deflated It is the plan they have all been waiting for with baited breath since 2002. Chuck, Nancy, Barbara, Dick and Harry finally got together and unveiled the much anticipated Democrat Plan to take back America.

Nancy Pelosi calls it the “New Direction”. Liberal contributors to the Huffington Post from the netroots Courage Campaign call it underwhelming.

But as many positive things as there are to say about the “New Direction” plan, I still find myself a bit underwhelmed. Am I the only one out there wondering “is that all you got?”

Is it really any different from the safe third way losing strategy that has plagued us since 2000? I’m not convinced.

Perhaps they are waking up to the same realization as the rest of America. The Democrats don’t have a plan. Not a new one, not an old one and certainly nothing different than the bleating mantra that has been circling liberal circles for years.

The New Direction includes the following blockbuster initiatives:

Democratic candidates will be “independent representatives for their districts,” (i.e. they can’t agree on anything so they will each go their own direction)
The Democrats’ plan would increase the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour from $5.15 (i.e. implement anti-capitalist wage controls that are sure to damage a hot economy, reduce competition, increase unemployment and put many small businesses out of business).
Grant authority to the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prescription-drug prices with pharmaceutical companies for those in Medicare’s drug program. (i.e. Implement Canadian Style price caps on those evil pharmaceutical companies. The end result will be higher costs for the rest of us who to offset the lost revenue as well as less innovation from an industry that is under the same kind of anti-capitalist attacks that have besieged the gun and tobacco industries).
Cut student-loan interest rates — rising to 6.8% in July — by half. (i.e. Lessen the ability of the government to generate revenue from low interest loans, reduce available funds for future students and make the impact of defaulted loans more damaging by reducing the cushion provided by the interest payments).
Enact recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, formed after the 2001 terror attacks, to boost national security and funding for it. (i.e. Pretend that the Democrats are tough on homeland security even though many of the sensible 9/11 commission recommendations have been enacted already. But whatever you do, don’t profile terrorists at airports, bus terminals or train stations).
Eliminate about $18 billion in tax breaks and subsidies for oil companies. Pelosi said savings would go to develop alternative fuels. (i.e. Put our grubby hands on the $18 billion for another other bloated government project instead of cutting $18 billion in taxes. Never give the money back to the public.)