The Tipping Point Has Arrived

11/22/2005

Paul Munnis

In our opinion the Bush Administration has reached a tipping point in domestic politics. An embattled, stubborn, unyielding U.S. President is about to be asked to resign from office. The reason is because every policy, every strategy, put forth by his Administration over the past five years has collapsed. In other words, he will be asked to resign because of administrative incompetence in governanace.

The American economy is a wreck and American Foreign Policy is in shambles after five years of Bush/Chaney.

In terms of the American economy, announcements that GM and FORD are on the verge of economic collapse speaks volumes about the failure to manage our economy and to create jobs, healthcare, and benefits. Under Bush the U.S. standard of living has regressed to a 1983 level. We have been setback more than 20 years worth of economic progress. No efforts have been made to staunch the flow of American jobs offshore or to deal with illegal U.S. immigration. Investment in America has stagnated as borrowing has replaced research, development, and capital investment. The Capitalist part of the American economy is also a wreck and it needs to be rebuilt.

In terms of Iraq, there seems to be no basis for the U.S. being in Iraq any longer. Saddam is gone, there is an interim government, a Constitution exists, and national elections are scheduled in December. The Iraqi’s themselves are asking for a withdrawal of American troops in 2006 and American voter sentiment favors following a timetable for a six to 12 month pullout. Most people believe that a continued U.S. presence in Iraq is contributing to instability, giving just cause for resistance, and contributing nothing positive to the progress of Iraq either politically or economically. The U.S. cannot prevent civil war in Iraq and can only worsen the situation as it sides with one faction or the other and thus skews resolution of the issues with bombs, heavy weapons, while contributing to a continued siege mentality.

It appears that a duo of John McCain and Lindsay Graham have the party nod to replace Bush/Chaney. Creating a social contract with the American voter and middle class taxpayer will be their biggest challlenge. From that social contract all subsequent power wil flow.

Both are seen as moderate and centrist Republicans. The feeling is that if they govern more from the center in 2006 then there is some opportunity to salvage the 2006 election for many Republican districts while positioning the party for a substantial run against Democrats in 2008. It is thought that Senator John Warner will replace Bill Frist to head the Senate. Changes in the U.S. House will be more gradual and mostly reflect changes in fiscal policy with impacts on Ways and Means as well as other House Committees such as the House Budget Committee. The future for stalwart Bush supporters and rank neo-cons does not look good.

Democrats will have to battle the new GOP with ideas and programs that we manage to convince the public are good ideas. We will stand in sharp contrast to the McCain/Graham proposals and have to sell ourselves on merit.

Both economic and foreign policy changes will be announced. A timetable for troop withdrawal will also be announced. Much of 2006 will be spent repairing and mending fences with former allies while repairing the U.S. and also world economies. McCain will stump for Key GOP candidates.

Most Americans can see the handwriting on the wall now and are awaiting the Congress to come back into emergency session to vote to retire Bush/Chaney and to appoint an acting set of leaders to replace them. It is expected that the changeover will be sure and swift and that the New Year will see a change in Administration officials. A return to bi-partisan government is expected and those who obstruct it will be brushed aside and stripped of power. That will be true of either Party.

This would appear to be the eve of the end of the neo-Conservative political movement in America, a movement that failed because of a failure to create a positive climate for an American future. Few will mourn the passing of the Bush/Chaney Administration. Much corruption, treasury theft, and other damages will be prosecuted during 2006 and the message will be that crime does not pay. As the troops come home Haliburton will be dealt with.

Legislatively we can expect to see efforts to cut the deficit, restore lost American liberties, and to restore responsible fiscal discipline. Lindsay Graham will spearhead that effort and will be brutal at reigning in government spending. He will want reforms in energy, transportation, and pharmaceuticals. Only after 2008, and only if the GOP wins the election will Graham have a hunting license to deal with Social Security. McCain will be under pressure to bring about a national healthcare system to replace the one that has collapsed under Bush. Major changes will occur in Congress too and people like DeLay and Frist will be retired from their leadership roles and told to go and resolve their legal problems. Karl Rove will disappear to be replaced by less visible strategists.

It is expected that McCain will issue presidential pardons to Bush/Chaney and provide immunity from personal prosecution for crimes commited while in office and likely Libby and maybe to DeLay too will be pardoned. A U.S. pardon for Bush/Chaney will cover their aggression against Iraq but the UN may want to prosecute both in due time and it remains to be seen if a U.S. presidential pardon overrides the international world court.. McCain will not squander his opportunity by spending much political capital on GOP miscreants but instead focus on domestic problems and restoring fiscal discipline to an out of control GOP spending machine..

Americans are about to see our Constitution at work as a nation prepares to redefine itself after a five year assault on the nation and its values. Thank God its nearly over.