Idea 1: Close off "bad" research
After you take off department of defense research for the military and NASA, you have the department of energy and HHS (cancer research)
But hey, lets give you credit for trying, so lets say all research done outside the military and NASA is completely bogus
Harry Reid says to scrap it all, and save a whopping $60 billion dollars
Conservaderps Jim Imhofe (R-OK), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Pat Roberts (R-KS) all raise objections, saying such cuts will destroy agricultural research that is crucial to midwestern jobs and the farming states of the US
They notify Mitch McConnell that they intend to filibuster, and after wrangling for weeks, a vote is called and all the farming senators get together and block any vote on the proposal
You know have wasted at least a month of the Senate's time, and you have nothing to show the American people, and conservaderps on OT are mocking you "he hasn't done shit to help anyone"
Idea 2: Close tax loopholes
As soon as you mention closing ANY tax loophole, David Vitter (R-LA) rises to the senate floor stating that there are more than 40 republicans who have signed pledges not to raise taxes, which includes closing off loopholes without reducing rates for the exact same amount
After weeks of wrangling, every Republican votes to filibuster any consideration of closing tax loopholes
Now after your second defeat, people are saying Washington is broken, and its your fault just as much as anyone elses
Idea 3: "attacking agencies" and "reducing redundancies"
The president gets on TV stating that no defense agencies will be cut while we're in two wars, and 9/11 9/11 9/11
Given that defense is by far the largest agency, already you are at a severe handicap
In health the FDA says any cuts will endanger meat inspections, and there has just been news reports and angry voters calling about 20/20 reports of kiRAB getting sick from tainted beef
Department of Education cannot take anymore cuts without having to jack up interest rates on all students trying to attend college
State Department notes that much of its efforts are tied up in Afghanistan and Iraq and cuts in services it provides would be taken up by other agencies
Other departments all cite recent cutbacks as putting them with no margin of error, and any further cuts would require crippling programs that have overwhelming support from the American people
In Congress widespread disapproval foments as a $161 billion deficit in 2007 is being used to try and support dramatic cuts to vital services when we're spending $200 billion in Iraq/Afghanistan and have $400 billion less revenue because of tax breaks for the rich
The idea doesn't even get out of committee as no one is able to convince committee leaders or the American public that we have to cut student loans, NASA funding, FBI budget, or the CDC when we have a $161 billion deficit
Indeed, with gas prices spiking as summer 2007 happens, almost all the feedback you are getting from the voters is to find a way to lower gas taxes and increase the deficit so people don't have to pay so much at the pump
Idea 4: Reduce entitlements
AARP and practically all of Congress goes into full red alert as reductions in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are considered
Elderly voters are calling into radio shows and saying how they need Medicaid or they'll lose their nursing home, Medicare or they'll die without medicine, and without Social Security they won't have food
Angry right-wingers and moderates tell reporters they paid Payroll taxes all their life and deserve the entitlements they paid for
Republicans quickly take the offensive, saying Democrats are trying to cut Medicare so they can pursue more socialist ideas, they promise voters they won't see any cuts under their plans, just "privatization" where people can make their own decisions and no one for 20 years will experience any cuts
Result: After wasting a year trying unpopular reforms, only the opposing party looks better, and the average voter says "I voted him in to change Washington, and all I got was higher gas prices"
Congratulations, you've just become an unpopular politician kicked out and the only thing you accomplished was helping the opposing party pick up seats
