Plum Crazy

The Democrats have announced that they will propose an alternate stimulus plan on Monday, one day before the Bush administration formally proposes its plan. The announcement of the impending announcement is, however, light on details. House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi, said of the plan, "It will be fair. It will be fiscally sound. It will create jobs ... and it will grow the economy." Great! But what will it encompass?

Now I realize that they are going to be announcing that on Monday, but the Bush administration did release some details of its plan prior to the formal announcement. I wish the Democrats had done the same thing. Instead, most of the pre-announcement is centered around criticism of those details of the Bush plan that were released.

"The speculation that I see doesn't indicate that there's much stimulus in the package," Pelosi said, commenting on accounts of the president's plan.

I agree. I'd just like a little more meat to digest before Monday than this tiny morsel offered by Tom Daschle:

"Democrats know the key to restarting economic growth: tax relief for middle class families; business incentives to create new jobs, and investments in human talent," Daschle said, according to a transcript of his comments released by his office.

Ah well. I suppose patience is a virtue, and the President spoiled me by releasing some details of his plan before the official announcement. Look for this to be the first big political fight of the new year, though.

Thursday, President Bush lamented what he described as "class warfare," responding to Democratic criticism that his tax breaks disproportionately benefit wealthier Americans.

Countered by this.

[Pelosi] dismissed the plan as a "Trojan horse to wheel in some tax breaks for the high end that they're so fond of."

Ladies and gentlemen, start your rhetoric.