If Democrats were in Control...

Today on Face the Nation, Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell presented the Republican Position Version 2.0 on why they should retain control of Congress.

Because, he said if Democrats were in Control...

Saddam Hussein would still be in Power and murdering his own people.

Since we've been in Iraq Iraqbodycount.net has a minimum estimate that 41,000 civilians have been killed since the War began. Does anyone in their right mind think that Saddam would have caused this many deaths, or created this much destruction if he were still in power? He had No Weapons of Mass Destruction, no impending Nuclear Enrichment Program and no active ties to Al Qaeda. And yet, we have people like Bully O'Leily saying we should be running Iraq just like Saddam. So his remaining in power - and remaining disarmed - would have been a bad thing compared to the state of Iraq now?

He also stated.

It would be more difficult to engage in terrorist surveillance.

Yes, you would have to have that pesky probable cause thingy - showing that the people involved were actually terrorists and get a FISA Warrant. But clearly the Republicans think tracking tens of millions of innocent phone calls, spying on teachers and pacifists who have nothing to do with terrorism is a much better use of our time and resources.

If Democrats were in control...

They would have us treat the Prisoners in Guantanemo better than our own soldiers in the justice system.

Well, actually the Democrats would simply have us pay attention to the 8th and 14th Amendments of the Constitution - which prohibit cruel and unusual punishment and require "all persons within the jurisdiction of the state... the equal protection of the laws", respectively. Republicans thought the 14th was a real handy Amendment when they wanted to block the recount in Florida, but suddenly when it and the Supreme Court (not Democrats) start requiring that the President actually live up to the 14th - they can't handle it.

Just before McConnell spoke on the program Howard Dean had answered questions -

Just look at the angry face that Dean showed you. That's what Democrats do.

1) Dean wasn't particularly angry 2) If funny faces is what the Republicans are really worried about - they're in much bigger trouble than even they realize. One thing that Dean did point out however is that Democrats do have a plan to handle National Security - it's right here - while the Republicans have blocked various Democratic proposals to improve funding and supplies for first responders, and to better protect our ports. He pointed out that Osama Bin Laden- the terrorist who really did attack us on 9-11, unlike Saddam - is Still At Large.

Let me just add that Republicans let Osama Escape from Tora Bora, they've cut back on police. They've mismanaged Iraq and lost $8.8 Billion down a rathole.

If we cut and run, they'll (the Terrorists will) follow us here (to America)

Yeah, I remember how when we cut and ran out of Saigon, the Vietcong followed us right to Santa Ana and starting setting up Nail Polish stores.

That's what Democrats will do (if they gain power), they'll cut and run out of Iraq, they'll raise taxes and they'll Impeach the President.

1) Supposedly Iraqis have finished building their government. With that in place the Democrats want the Iraq Forces to finally Stand on their Own Feet. The Bush Administration has done a piss-poor job of training and equiping them, that needs to change. If it does - and they finally begin to stand up - we can stand down. If we need to set a deadline for them in order to put some fire under their ass - so be it. But no Democrat has proposed we leave without getting that job done.

2) "Raising taxes" by putting them back to where they were when we were running at a Surplus that would have protected Social Security for the next 70 years, and created over 12 Million Jobs - isn't a a bad thing. Giving tax breaks to corporations for shipping jobs overseas is a very bad thing and it needs to stop. My feeling has always been that we shouldn't simply repeal the Bush Cuts, Democrats should follow John Kerry's proposal to provide tax breaks and benefits to individuals and companies who invest in America. If people invest in Alternative Energy and Fuels, if they provide Health Care and protect the Pensions of their workers, if they help them pay for college and hire people off of welfare - they should get tax breaks. But if they want to go off and party like Paris Hilton - they should pay the full fare.

3) Oh God, I hope so...

Vyan