George Bush must want to raise taxes

...at least, that's the only conclusion I can reach. Because if the President is claiming that Democrats will raise everyone's taxes if they take power, if the GOP is running ads claiming the same thing, then obviously the President is ready to sign tax increases into law. Because that's the only way taxes could actually be raised.

For some reason, every time this is brought up, Democrats strike a defensive pose, saying "we don't want to raise taxes, that's nonsense," essentially reinforcing the frame that Democrats could raise taxes if they wanted to. They have no ability to make laws absent the President's signature, or secure enough numbers to override a Presidential veto. The Democrats need to go on the OFFENSIVE when confronted with this question.

It's real simple, too simple for the media apparently because they've refused to challenge the basic assumption. If a Democratic talking head is asked about the Republican strategy to make taxes an issue in this election, they simply have to answer, "Well, as you know, only George Bush could authorize tax increases by signing them into law. Are the Republicans saying he would do that?" And watch the opponent's head spin. We should demand that they answer the question. "Will George Bush raise taxes? He's the only one who can do so. If you're claiming that tax increases are predicated on the outcome of the election, will Bush decide to raise them if the Democrats win, or will he just raise them anyway. If the Democrats only win one house, will he raise taxes just a little bit?"

Make the question ridiculous. Because the assumption that Congress has the sole power to make laws is just as ridiculous. Heck, in this government, Congress actually has no power. "Will Bush need a law to raise those taxes, or will he just add a signing statement to that effect?"

Now, since any rollback of tax cuts are considered increases to conservatives, maybe the GOP is simply talking about not making the tax cuts permanent. Of course, the 2001 tax cuts are in place until 2010, so they can't be talking about those. In fact, the great majority of the tax cuts already enacted do not sunset in the 110th Congress. So these must be new tax increases George Bush is looking to sign into law.

Maybe the President is banking on the ignorance of the American public with how the legislative process works. OK, more than maybe. But I don't think Americans are that ignorant. At least most of us have seen I'm Just A Bill.

But the people need a little help from the Democrats. This talking point is so absurd that it needs to be challenged and, yes, mocked, thoroughly, so that everyone knows that, yes, checks and balances do still exist in government, and nobody can just institute policy by fiat. In this day and age, that would be an important lesson.