Whoever Wins, They All Offer a Third Bush Term

Today the American people take their first, long-awaited step toward electing a new President. While none of the Republican candidates have generated much excitement on the campaign trail, one thing has become crystal clear: whoever wins the Republican caucuses, a vote for any one of them is a vote for a third Bush term. 

On issue after issue, while Democrats are offering real solutions and new ideas for providing the American people the change they want, all of the Republicans have promised four more years of President Bush’s failed policies.  The American people want a new direction in Iraq, but not one Republican candidate has a plan to end the war.  The voters may be looking for leaders with new ideas for helping more than 47 million uninsured Americans get health care coverage, but none of the Republican candidates have offered a plan to extend coverage or reduce health care costs.  While the American people expect a return to fiscal discipline, all of the Republicans have promised to extend President Bush’s budget-busting handouts for the super wealthy and their special interest friends. 

No wonder Democrats are generating more energy, money and enthusiasm on the campaign trail.  Democratic candidates are attracting more voters to their events, raising more money than the Republican field [$223 million, compared with $152 million for Republicans] and are better organized.  [Wall Street Journal, 12/31/07]  Some estimates are predicting record participation in today’s Democratic caucuses.  All of this stands in stark contrast to a divided Republican field and a general lack of enthusiasm among Republican voters.  Four in 10 GOP voters have switched candidates in the past month alone, and nearly two-thirds say they may change their minds again. [AP, 12/27/07] Meanwhile, polls show voters across the country are “far more likely” to trust Democrats than Republicans when it comes to key issues like the economy and health care. [AP, 12/28/07]

No matter how you look at it, one thing is clear: the voters want change, not a third Bush term.  Americans see that Democrats represent the future while Republicans represent the past.  As this memo shows:

• No Republican Candidate Has a Plan to End the War in Iraq;
• No Republican Has a Plan to Expand Coverage and Cut Costs;
• All of the Republicans Favor Privatizing Social Security and Cutting Benefits; and
• All of the Republicans Favor More Budget-Busting Tax Cuts for the Wealthy.