If the threat to change filibuster rules doesn't motivate Dems on 1/6 ...

[Casablanca]

... nothing will.

If Repubs deliver on their "nuclear option" threat on filibusters - and any Dem who doesn't believe that that is a very likely possibility is an idiot - then any Dem opposition in Congress will be effectively neutered for at least the next two years. They will have nothing to show for their impotent votes against what will be the most openly fascist regime in American history, and the MSM will pull no punches in letting the electorate know that the Dems have been completely marginalized. Democratic Senators like Nelson will be seeking reelection with that kind of record, and will have a slim to nil chance of it.

This is why Dobson is essentially shooting blanks right now with his feisty talk. Dobson and his supporters aren't the threat by a long shot - it is the imminent, systematic, and permanent marginalization of the Democratic Party as a whole by the Repub majority. The Repubs will not accept bipartisan politics in the next Congress because they won't have to, so the only chance the Dems have is their own nuclear option on Jan 6.

I hope all Democratic members of Congress fully realize now that the only effective CYA tactic for them is an all-out, by-any-means-necessary assault on the Repubs.

[AndyTiedye]

1. Motivate the Dems to Do What?

> This is why Dobson is essentially shooting blanks right now

We don't even have blanks left to shoot.
They are running us out of town.

[IStriker]

10. ...to do what? To stand up and declare the election fraudulent?

IF they have any proof by then, they won't need any motivation. If they have nothing but allegations, standing up and declaring the election fraudulent is political suicide.

[Obviousman]

2. You're right. They will have NOOOOO voice

Cable TV will make them an absolute laughing stock. It'll be hard to win in 2006 with that kind of press coverage.

[autorank]

4. You know what the press will cover the next two years.

(1) Absurd bills like the one from the odious Sen. Brownbeck saying any American having stem cell treatment outside the country will not be allowed back in;
(2) Larger and larger deficits, exponentially so, that will frighten even the know-nothings;
(3) More corporate welfare like the Medicare discount cards, which seniors already know is a joke.

All in the context of either a vicious quagmire in Iraq or, worse, a hasty retreat when the millions of Iraqis with automatic weapons decide to organize.

And did I mention, as reported on Thom Hartmann today, sales of US goods are down in Europe by 20% with the reason given by Europeans being their dislike of * and what America now stands for (they're just getting started).

Whatever they do, we can undo in 2006 and on. Let the Republicans be Republicans; they are our best commercial.

[AndyTiedye]

11. Not A Bit Of It

> You know what the press will cover the next two years.

Anything except what matters. Just like the last 4 years.

> (1) Absurd bills like the one from the odious Sen. Brownbeck
>saying any American having stem cell treatment outside the country
>will not be allowed back in;

They'll cover Booosh** signing the bill. That will be the first
most people will hear about it.

> (2) Larger and larger deficits, exponentially so, that will
>frighten even the know-nothings;

<crickets>
They never wanted to bother us with those before. Why start now?

> (3) More corporate welfare like the Medicare discount cards,
> which seniors already know is a joke.

So they'll have a bunch of Marcus Welby types on the tube telling
us how much we need whatever it is.

> All in the context of either a vicious quagmire in Iraq or,
> worse, a hasty retreat when the millions of Iraqis with automatic
> weapons decide to organize.

They'll go on spinning it just like they have been doing the past
couple of years, but now they'll start talking up the draft.

> And did I mention, as reported on Thom Hartmann today, sales of US
> goods are down in Europe by 20% with the reason given by Europeans
> being their dislike of * and what America now stands for (they're
> just getting started).

I have commented often on this. Pissing off your customers is bad
for business. Boosh** thinks it's OK to be hated as long as you
are feared. Caligula and Darth Vader didn't need to take customer
goodwill into account. Booosh** seems to be following their lead.

> Whatever they do, we can undo in 2006 and on.

We will not be able to undo the damage they will do to the Supreme Court,
or the damage that court will do to the Constitution.

The only remaining vestige of the two-party system is the
filibuster in the Senate. That may not survive the week.

[autorank]

14. WOW...a thoughtful response, and to one of MY posts. I'm honored.

I left out an essential piece of my analysis as to why we will get some press upcoming. The bad press Nixon got wasn't just great and courageous journalism, it was allowed and then unpleased when it became apparent to certain power centers in this country that Nixon was a fucking lunatic. Just remember, he had just used his Secretary of the Treasury to "strong arm" corporations for huge contributions to a campaign he was going win in a walk. People were really upset with him and some of "the big boys" didn't like his crap. Well, in my message, I mention that we're losing marketing power in Europe (and probably elsewhere after the Tsunami arrogance). That's the bottom line along with the financial situation. Billions stand to be lost because of Bush and his stupidity (note that there has not been a Wall Street insider at Secretary of the Treasury in his entire term...Snow is a clown).

It is because of both the hit to our overseas sales, now clearly documented as connected to Bush, and the threat he poses to the financial markets, very real whatever your political stripe, that I make the claim that the press will be loosened up and then unpleased to go after Bush. That's how it worked in the past and I see no change now.

When that happens, you get a big shift and some really pissed off Democrats in the House and Senate. At that point all sorts of good things can happen. Remember, just with the conflict of interest for taking gratuities from current/future litigants, Scalia and Thomas could both be removed. It's just a matter of sustained coverage (it's all been mentioned) and pissed off Democrats.

I'm not a starry eyed optimist, I'm just recalling what happened to Nixon when he became a problem and, in general, how second terms go in this country.

Thanks for the reply.

[AndyTiedye]

15. Nixon Faced Democratic Majorities in Both Houses

With the Congress we have now, and the media we have now,
Watergate would have been buried within a day,
Spiro Agnew would have finished his second term in 1984,
and Reagan would have been seen as a moderate by comparison.

The finance sector was bought off by the promise of privatizing
Social Security. The media was bought off by the promise of
buying up more TV and radio stations and those pesky independent
newspapers.

Bush is not even practicing trickle-down economics. Not only does
nothing but sewage trickle down, but nothing good is happening at
the top either, except for those firms with personal connections to
the regime. This is not capitalism, this is kleptocracy, but the
media is in on the caper.

Then there is the process of counting votes, which has become a
"faith-based" program, under the control of the Dominion.

This has left the Democrats powerless. Even if all the "moderate"
Republicans sided with the Democrats, it would be for naught, because
the hardliners have an absolute majority in both houses.

[autorank]

17. Hmmm...

We may be arguing about whether the Titanic sinks next week or a few years from now.

We have potential Watergate's all the time. Promises can be made regarding vast rewards through managing "trust fund" accounts or more TV stations but if those folks think that 100% of nothing is worse than 50% of something, they will opt for something every tune. Why would they think that? They have or will either decide that Bush and Co. are complete incompetents or that they're all nuts. In either case, voila, "Watergate." The press is activated and, guess what, it's moderates to the rescue.

I also think that there are random factors that can occur which can change the equation suddenly. Chaos theory and all that.

My real question of you is what is you path to a better world; improved body politic? I know you critique; what is your solution?

[AndyTiedye]

18. I Hope You Are Right, But Then It Should Have Happened Already

If you want to make the rich richer, put Clinton back in office.
He was better at that than anyone. He also made almost everyone
else richer, except the people selling guns, bullets, bombs, and
other weapons of massive and not so massive destruction.

Remember the peace dividend? Remember the budget surplus?
Remember the dot com boom?

If it were simply a matter of bottom line, why would they
turn away from all that? Stability, peace, prosperity.
What's not to like?

But it didn't work that way. It isn't about money. These people
have all the money they can shovel out of our treasury already.
What the financial community thinks no longer matters to them
(obvious, with the plunge in the dollar and the regime's non-response
to it). It is about power. Absolute power for the Dominion.

The power of the Dominion is secure against voter discontent
because they own the companies that make the voting machinez

[McCamy Taylor]

6. Win? Even in safe Dem districts the GOP will decide who wins the Dem prim

[kitkat65]

3. God these repugs love to change the rules when the rules don't work for

them. First Tom Delay and now the filibustering thing. I know I'm stating the obvious but the arrogance is appalling.

[CoffeeCat]

5. I wholeheartedly agree...

...that the Dems need to stop pussyfooting around.

As the Republicans act more emboldened and unapologetic for their fascist ways, I'm more angry at the Dems for allowing this to happen.

People in power have a duty to "We The People" to call out and fight against evil, corruption and fascism. Sitting around and acting like victims is just as unAmerican as fixing an election.

Things didn't get this drastic--simply because the Republicans are bad. By sitting back and doing very little--while these repugnant thugs take over--the Democrats have acted as co-conspirators. They're obligated to point out the bad guys and bastardize the hell out of them.

It's time the Dems stopped treading lightly and politely around Bush--as if he's a lunatic with a hand grenade. He's an uppity little pisher who would be selling shirts at Macy's--if it weren't for his daddy. The man is a loser who can't put two sentences together without shaming us all. That's not a grenade in his hand--it's The Constitution. Now, quit acting like pansies. Run like hell toward him, attack and take back our country and return it to "We The People".

We're not paying you to stand around!

[whalerider55]

7. pisher!

lordy, i haven't heard that word since my grandmother used to call me one!

wlecome, newbie.

and a clearly articulated POV which i hapen to agree with wholeheartedly!

whalerider55

[CoffeeCat]

8. Thanks whalerider...

for the nice welcome!

I've noticed your posts, during my short time here, and I always like what you have to say.

:D

[zann725]

9. I think Dem's SHOULD Filibuster on Jan 6...during EV Vote count!

And as long as it takes, until they get their voice back, and JK as President!

Filibustering is a cornerstone of the checks-and-balances of the Legislative process. "Dialogue" is a Democratic ideal, particularly in the drafting and shaping of Legislation.

In a Fascist regime, though, Filibustering would be 'verboten.'

[bemis12]

12. It's also forbidden

during the EV count, by law.

[lonestarnot]

13. like dis post!

[OKthatsIT]

16. Baby, its over for good...turn your back on this now, say bye bye

Why are Dems so dense?

If we dont stand up RIGHT NOW we've lost any chance of forcing the issue on reform. This means 2006, 2008 elections will be stolen again..completely wiping out the democratic party...with the exception of a few token Dems to make it look like democracy...geeez

Fool me once, shame on you
Fool me twice, shame on me

doh