Dear Democrats

[omega minimo]

Dear Democrats,

Today is the traditional First Monday in October. The new Chief Justice was installed, shortly after the next Supreme Court nominee was announced. The President, who was installed after the Supreme Court stopped the 2000 Florida vote count, nominated his own attorney to the Court.

The response from Democratic leaders seemed as lukewarm and noncommittal as the testimony of the first Bush SCOTUS nominee-- and possibly the second.

The real world that Americans live in includes a precarious economy where one can't get a job without experience and can't get experience without a job-- that is, when there is a job to be had.

Yet John Roberts was made Chief Justice of the Supreme Court with a minimal 2 years of judicial experience. The judicial record of the next SCOTUS nominee amounts to none. With Roberts, the nominee's lack of judicial decisions and evasive behavior left the Democrat's with "a roll of the dice." With the President's attorney-- well, she's the President's attorney. Her reported qualification is that she is an excellent corporate lawyer.

Americans are left to guess the meaning and the motivations behind all the Democratic niceties-- with concern that this nomination process will be another case of "going through the motions." Some would like to believe that you are very clever and have a strategy in mind. Some think we need a George Galloway under the Dome to give you all a reality check.

You congregate in marbled halls and hold forth from the TV screens. You make the rounds and deliver your lines and reinforce the deepening cynicism of Americans who believe that you do not represent them.

The Republican Majority Leaders in both the House and Senate are under investigation-- one was indicted last week. The head of FEMA was removed in disgrace after the unspeakably horrific (lack of) Katrina response. The same corporation with ties to the White House received no bid contracts in New Orleans and in Iraq-- where the war based on lies continues to bring death and destruction, rather than democracy. The word "cronyism" is on everyone's lips. Americans are convinced that corporate cronyism runs both Houses and both Parties of the Congress.

In response to the SCOTUS nomination, at least one of the Democratic leaders could have stepped forward and said something of substance. The American people see a corporate President appointed by the highest court in the land appointing his corporate lawyer to that Court. This amidst an ever-shifting shooting gallery of White House and Republican scandal that no one can keep up with. Maybe somebody should?

Do you hear the People slipping away, turning away? Today would have been an excellent opportunity for you to prove your relevance.

[rawtribe]

1. Well said!

Many in the Democratic party suffer from stockholm syndrome. As a party we are becoming irrelevant at best.

[omega minimo]

5. Are we not Dem?

:hi:

The People are not irrelevant. The gap b/w leadership and grassroots appears today as if we're on different planets.

[rawtribe]

9. The people united..

You know the rest.

:hi:

[FloridaPat]

2. I'm thinking of applying for SC justice. I have even less qualifications

then Sm. Miers. I have no legal experience but my brother is a lawyer. That should be enough to quallify me.

[omega minimo]

3. On the job training

I nominate you, FP. B-)

Good night and good luck

[dweller]

7. no, no! Pick me!

i am sorta somewhat almost affiliated with Florida Pat on an internet site, so i am even more less qualified!

:D

i'm a shoe-in.
dp

[omega minimo]

8. Well....do ya know how to dissemble as well as

disassemble (that means take things apart, heh he heh heh)?

[dweller]

11. Believe me

at your own peril, but i am proud of my abilities to take apart any such item and re-assemble it with parts left over to start another ... uh non-working thing.

i'm a walking talking Corollary of a Murphy Law.
dp

[omega minimo]

13. The trick is to take those bits

and make something from nothing :hi:


Who is Murphy?

[dweller]

16. ...

http://www.murphys-laws.com/

dp

[omega minimo]

21. Link not working

:evilgrin:

[Broken_Hero]

10. I was just thinking

of sending in my resume to become a SC judge...now, i might have to mail it to nasa, maybe i can become the head of nasa with my AA degree...

[omega minimo]

14. When you get there

can you find out what planet the Democratic leaders are on?

[Broken_Hero]

46. I hate to say it...

But most of them are probably on planet Chicken Shit....

[FloridaPat]

45. Send your resume to both. I'm sure your one resume would have more

than enough qualifications for both jobs.

[Broken_Hero]

47. Damn don't tempt me...

I have a sub teacher job right now, i jut might apply!

[David Briggs]

4. Harriet probably won't be confirmed.

Lack of experience, Bush crony, and eye makeup worse than Katherine Harris.

[omega minimo]

6. Harriet?

Yes, I understand she's a Trojan Mouse.


Link to suggested caption for photo of Bush and nominee
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4962964&mesg_id=4964070

[omega minimo]

12. Some redemption courtesy of the esteemed Congressman Conyers

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4965246

:patriot:

[ladylibertee]

15. Nobody fans a flame when it's burning just fine on it's own. Hey,

Has it ever dawned on anyone that our leaders just might know what the hell they are doing? Our senators and Congressmen are literally on the case.It almost looks like they have been assigned different areas of attack and they are doing it.I have seen, our top Democratic Senators,many congressmen from other states,democratic strategist,as well as some news commentators speak out on different issues that point out the "failure" of the republican party as a whole.Not only that, I have been watching as Republicans literally debate and quarrel with each other while they discuss Bush screw-ups and how much trouble the White House as well as the Party as a whole is in.So,I don't see all this negative stuff that everyone else is seeing because I have cable T.V. I guess.:shrug:

[omega minimo]

17. Encouraging. Did you see any strong statements today on the nomination?

Reid's comment and Schumer's performance on JL NewsHour were underwhelming. We can't afford to "hope" that Dems have some trick up their sleeve.

Where's Galloway?

[ladylibertee]

18. It's a total scheme.We are literally taking the all the "positive"

reputation away from the repubs.We now look like the rational thinkers,the calm ones with a plan.Now, the repubs look all irate, arguing with each other,pissed off at Bush for his nominee, That's a total act.we are finally playing them at the games they tried to use against us.

[omega minimo]

20. By acting so cool and neutral

the Dem leaders don't send us any signals that they will not let another unsuitable SCOTUS nominee slide in-- and then who's been played?

Feinstein came out and said, "So far I don't see any problems with her." Um, well, maybe the fact that she's the president's lawyer?

Is it RUDE to point out the problems with that?
Do we have to go through the play-acting and HOPE that Dems get tough when it counts?

Today on AAR I heard the comment that David Sirota is saying the Dems should have hammered on Roberts lack of experience-- well, :wtf: good does it do to hear that now? I mean, weren't we saying that at the time? Who the hell listens to us?

[ladylibertee]

22. Sweetheart, either you are not listening to them, or you do not have

cable.Look, if we expect them to "yell" at the top of their lungs and say "yeah yeah,Uh huh thats right dawg ,look at yall look at yall now, who corrupt now yo" we will be disappointed.As far as the dem's not hammering on Roberts, that's not true.We knew, and could see from the start, he was not about to open his mouth.Boxer kicked his ass.We confronted him.We told him, in a very professional way, he is full of shit right to his face.We called him on his tactics.Did you watch the hearing?We did all but jump over the bench and slap the shit out of him.Our Liberal base is strong and faithful.It is also very important and cannot be taken for granted.I just feel that most of us liberals are not seeing the big picture.Our base is secure, we want to GAIN moderates so what do we do? steer to wards the middle.Play sweet and nice.be the opposite of the Republicans who are "ALL OVER THE PLACE " dealing with corruption, failed agendas, questionable Sc Nominees,de Lay indictment(S), Rove,Frist and few others under investigation,we have to be the "calm" "clear minded" "solid plan for the future"...Hey, real power is when you have the power to destroy, you "appear" to show mercy.That shit wins over these right-wingers.Let-em act.Just you sit back and enjoy.:popcorn: :popcorn:

[omega minimo]

23. Your imagery is pretty bizarre and not what is being suggested at all

Again, the impression being sent to the folks who aren't all plugged in and see the MSM versions is :boring:

It's a mistake to count on:

"Our Liberal base is strong and faithful.It is also very important and cannot be taken for granted."

Weak performance and mealy mouthed bleatings like we saw from Reid, Feinstein and Schumer have people heading for the exits.............

[ladylibertee]

24. Prescription for :omega minimo/ Take two tsp of Optimism and

call me in the morning.The performance is not for the liberals.This is why it is weak.The performance is for the moderates, swingers, and disappointed republicans.Look, we are trying to win an election here.The strategic target is not the Liberals and that's why it's not a liberal message.

[omega minimo]

28. Alternative for ladelibertee

:boring:

[renie408]

30. What 'strong' comment was there to make?

Nobody knew who the hell she was? How are they going to look coming out strong against June Cleaver when they don't have any hard evidence?

I have to agree with other who have said that apparently some people WANT to see headlines which read, "Democrats Strongly Against Christian Woman for Supreme Court".

[omega minimo]

19. Another thought, ladylibertee

I appreciate your reference to cable and all the resources available to search out info via DU and the "internets".....other sources....

When I listened to AAR and watched the news tonight, I thought of all the folks who are only getting the standard view of the Democratic response-- and it was -- I want to say-- pathetic.

It was disappointing because it was so civilized and vapid-- there was no fire, no spirit, no gumption. Schumer on the NH was unrecognizable as a gutsy member of the Jud. Comm. who (I thought) did some fancy footwork in the Roberts hearings. He was too smooth and lame.

We need to send out the women with some energy-- Nancy Pelosi or Barbara Boxer or any of the other STRONG WOMEN who seem motivated and can motivate the public.

[ladylibertee]

25. That's where the Campaign trail comes in.Did you see the DNC

meeting on CSpan? We are adding more states in the primaries.We are targeting more states.

[MrBenchley]

26. Nothing to keep some people from starting their own third party

or joining the Libertarians or Greens...and as far as I can see, anybody who thought today was a day to attack Democrats is no great loss to the party.

[ladylibertee]

27. Not even Ralph Nader wants to screw this up.Let them vent.Once

they see the ticket only has TWO options, they will come around.LOL

[omega minimo]

29. "Some people"? "Attack"?

:rofl: :rofl:

Attacks do no ordinarily begin with the word "Dear."

The bravado and condescension of those who dismiss alternative ideas-- without being able to DISCUSS them-- is unconvincing, non-productive.

Defensiveness is not a show of strength. That's what THEY do. That's all they got.

Democrats saying "scat" to voices that represent the non-Kool Aid drinkers are not doing their precious Party any favors.

I'll tell you why yesterday bothered me so much. The Dem comments reminded me of when Gephardt and Daschiel used to stand in front of the cameras in the Capitol hall and smile and say blah blah blah de blah. The Dems infamous spinelessness has allowed the Republicans to disassemble the nation.

Condescend THAT.

It's unecessary for Feinstein to say "So far I don't see a problem." A ringing non-endorsement, a back-handed non-compliment from Reid, some eloquent equivocating from Schumer-- were all inadequate and seemed to pander to the process and the president.

Ladelibertee's bizarre racist "yo yo yo" is not the answer. I'm sure the Dems could have come up with some dignified, balanced, yet relevant, comments.

:patriot:

[renie408]

33. No, self-righteous essays start with "Dear".

I respect being frustrated. I think it sucks to have another conservative shoved down our throats. But if it isn't THIS conservative, it is going to be some other, possibly worse conservative. Without knowing a whole lot about this woman, exactly what did you want these people to say?

They have now started out cautiously optimistic. Next week they can say, "Gosh, we were all willing to give Ms. Miers a chance, but after we looked into her background, we found out that she is not qualified/eats babies for breakfast/has a history of ________. So now we don't want to play with her any more." Or not. Depending on what they find.

[omega minimo]

35. Letters do

:boring:

[renie408]

37. Who have you sent it to?

You have to send it for it to really be a letter. If you just post it here, it is more of an essay written in letter form.

[omega minimo]

31. "no great loss to the party."?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4940852&mesg_id=4950761

[renie408]

32. Dear Armchair Quarterback...

I am with you all the way!! BLOCK MIERS!!

Everybody knows Alberto Gonzales will make a MUCH better choice. And they can always cover all the minority bases with Janice Rogers Brown.
:sarcasm:

Thinking logically and without trying to write an essay for the Junior Democrats of America contest, how many times can the Dems block a WH nominee to the SC before they look like obstructionist partisan jerks? Maybe once? So the Dems have one shot. Block Roberts...get Gonzales. Block Miers....get Rogers Brown.

I don't know if you have been paying attention to this administration, but they are not that inclined to pander to the progressive minority. I seriously doubt that there is one single name they are going to put up for the Supreme Court that any of us are doing to like. And while I don't know anything about this woman, I know enough about the alternatives to know that I sure as hell don't want THEM on there.

[omega minimo]

34. Dear Scattershot

The conclusions you jump to are your own. Seems to be a trend.

I'm sure the Dems could have come up with some dignified, balanced, yet relevant, comments.

"I don't know if you have been paying attention to this administration" but they are destroying the nation. The main Dem spokespeople yesterday did not need to come out and hold hands with Bushco.

:patriot:

[renie408]

36. Who did you borrow your conclusions from if they are not your own?

What a bizarre response.

Hey, let's play a game! You say what you think the Dems should have said yesterday in response to Mier's nomination and some of the rest of us can pretend to be the White House and the un-liberal MSM and we'll respond?? OK? Won't that be fun?

[omega minimo]

39. You JUMP to conclusions

and you jump those who you can't converse with reasonably.

:hi:

[renie408]

49. Really? ..."Jumped"?

I have to go back and read the post where I 'jumped' you. I just thought I disagreed with you. Possibly in a style that is not as...lengthy as yours, but all the same, in the big wide scheme of the DU, I didn't see it as 'jumping' you.

After having read many, many posts about how the Dem leadership "let us down", I got tired of it. I am getting a little weary of hearing people talk with lofty condescension about the job most Dems are doing as if they could do so much better. Maybe that was not your intent, but that was the impression I got. That you felt personally let down and were a little bitter about it because Dems did not come out strongly against Miers. At a time when they knew little or nothing about her.

If they kiss her ass during the confirmation hearings, I might be right there with you. I just think everybody should give them a little time to figure out what they are dealing with.

[renie408]

50. Ok, yeah, I jumped you...

But when I reread what you wrote, it made me want to jump you again. I am not sure why, maybe its all that 'you walk in marble halls' stuff. It just struck me as pious.

[MrBenchley]

38. In the meantime, with Miers...

You've got a nominee who's in the middle of Chimpy's wartime desertion scandal...

You've got an utterly unqualified nominee who reminds the entire country of the FEMA scandal...

You've got a nominee who's in the middle of Tom Delay's money laundering scheme (as one blogger put it, either she's crooked herself or she was too dumb to recognize lawbreaking whne it went through her office)...

You've got a nominee whose got her own Texas lottery scandal...

You've got a nominee who actually was part of the August 6, 2001 briefing that warned about the 9/11 attacks and which was ignored

And you've got right wingers, who spent last week monaning that Democrats were "viciously partisan", publicly attacking the nominee because she may not be "viciously partisan"

Plus she looks like a goblin!

The only nominees Chimpy could have picked that were more damaging to the GOP were Jack Abramoff or Ahmed Chalabi!

[omega minimo]

40. Mr. Benchley

That's quite a list. When and where do you think it will be brought up? Will the Jud. Comm. Dems touch these-- or not?

:hi:

[gulfcoastliberal]

42. Good observation. She does look like a goblin. I was wondering

what exact foul demon beast she reminded me of. Goblin sounds great. A goblin republic_nt. Buy a vowel.

[omega minimo]

44. Here you go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4962964&mesg_id=4963568



(Don't be a jerk-- that vowel would be "YOU")

[gulfcoastliberal]

41. Kick & Recommend! Thank you!

Succinct with the sweet nectar of truth. Thanks.

[omega minimo]

43. My favorite!

Succinct sweet nectar
B-)

[omega minimo]

48. These LTTE echo my comments

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/04/EDGN7F11581.DTL

San Francisco Chronicle         www.sfgate.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Tuesday, October 4, 2005

Readers chime in on choice of Miers

Editor -- After watching President Bush nominate Harriet Miers for the U.S. Supreme Court, I was struck by the underhandedness of his choice.

My problem with this Bush pick starts with the idea that she is another one of his stealth candidates, which triggers my suspicion that he and this administration are always trying to hide something from the public or that they are once again cheating us out of our public treasure of rights and freedoms.

It also compels me to ask: Is she the best possible person for the job? For years, the Bush White House seemed determined to choose party hacks and partisans whose credentials lacked the merit and experience for most of the jobs they have filled. Miers appears not to be an exception.

Of all the qualified judges and lawyers, President Bush nominates an insider from the White House inner-circle who has almost no public record to explain her qualifications for the position. "Brownie you're doing a heck of a job" still rings in my ears and now I get to watch our president deal from the bottom of the deck. Don't we deserve better?