A sample of the output from the Democratic Party. A press release from yesterday. Remember the Washington definition of partisan (supporting Republican positions) and non-partisan (supporting Democratic positions.)

Take Out the New Bipartisanship and Bring Back the Old Republican Playbook of Personal, Partisan Attacks



GOP Strategy Memo, RNC E-Mail Signals End of Bipartisanship

Washington, DC -- The evidence is now crystal clear, after failing to jam billions of dollars in corporate welfare and special interests goodies through congressional Democrats, Republicans from the White House, the RNC and now Newt Gingrich's pollsters have ended all bipartisanship and returned to the politics of personal attacks.



In a single sentence, we have already invoked corporate welfare (letting a corporation keep the money it has earned), special interests (that is, the special interests that don't vote Democratic), and even Newt Gingrich, who has been long gone from the political scene, but is still attacked by the Democrats out of habit.

"I am extremely disappointed in the Republicans' return to the politics of personal partisan attacks," said DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe. "Democrats have an economic recovery plan that focuses on economic growth, creates jobs and helps those 2.2 million Americans who have lost their jobs or health insurance this year. After failing to pass billions in corporate welfare for a few big companies, the GOP has launched a partisan campaign of name-calling and personal attacks. Congressional Democrats have stood up to this giveaway and stand ready to work with Republicans to pass a recovery plan that is targeted to people and businesses hurt by the recession and provide immediate relief.

I'm not going into the economic details of the Democratic "recovery" plan. Suffice it to say you don't help someone get a job by taking money away from employers and handing it out as government benefits. Note again the use of the term "corporate welfare." Real corporate welfare is giving a corporation money taken from other taxpayers, in the form of some sort of benefit or subsidy. Allowing a corporation to keep their own money instead of paying it in taxes, or returning their tax money to them, is NOT corporate welfare. Of course, this more precise definition is not very useful to the Democrats.

"The Republican memo contained warnings of their political weaknesses in the upcoming 2002 elections. They called on Republicans to finger-point and name call to hide the weakness of their failed attempt to provide more raids on the Social Security Trust and other deficit spending for the special interests."

Again, "special interests" are the guys who vote for the other party. To be fair, Republicans also use this definition.

"It is obvious that Republicans are already running scared in 2002," said McAuliffe. "It is a shame that they have to resort to such desperate and transparent tactics as a way to try to influence the American people. At a time when Americans are counting on their political leaders to provide strength and support, the Republicans have again turned to finger-pointing and have let down the American people."

Yeah, the Republicans are shaking in their boots. I noticed that no link to this Republican "memo" or direct quotation was provided, and I was unable to locate it myself.

Right now the Democrat's worst fear is that the economy will improve. Even worse would be if it began to improve without a "stimulus package," something it shows every sign of doing next year. This would be the equivalent of Chanticleer sleeping through the sunrise, and showing the barnyard exactly how important he really is.

So, they have to obstruct a Republican plan, but risk jamming the bill up so long that people suddenly realize that it's unnecessary. A tough spot.

Oh, by the way, for the Republican take on this, see here.