The 1st Rule of Politics "COUNT" & How The Gang Of 14 Screws The Left

[althecat]

BOTTOM LINE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TODAY, AND IT COMES DOWN TO THE FIRST RULE IN POLITICS "COUNT".

Ever since the gang of 14 invented itself the outcome of today was inevitable. And it is inevitable on any further attempt at a filibuster. Forget about it... this is all about 2006 now.

The gang is - predominantly - made up of centrist senators... centrists are by definition spineless.

Internally given the choice of doing something with principal or acting spinlessly a majority of the gang of 14 - COUNT - will always choose the latter course.

A minority could choose to leave the group on the basis of principle but this is VERY UNLIKELY. For the would be brave Senator to do so would be:

1. probably pointless (they would quickly be replaced by some other spineless moran - they are probably queing up to join already... only the gang knows how to COUNT and doesn't need any more members - YET.)
2. a strategically difficult decision to arrive at given that being part of the gang gets them TV time and endless opportunities to pose as protectors of the constitution (note... it matters not that this is a lie.... the media is predisposed to enable this particular deceit as much as they can.)

Meanwhile the gang also has the numbers - COUNT - to decide whether cloture gets passed or not. And everybody knows that.

Unfortunately for people like Harry Reid who know how to count - all the above is as obvious as light and day.

That said Reid and the rest of the democrats not in the gang are wrong not to fight as hard as possible... indeed they are wrong - fundamentally and strategically - not to try to get this undemocratic gang of f***heads closed down.

However it is a tall ask for the same two reasons expressed above. Being in the gang is something every Senator now wants to do... because being a gang member has its benefits. Meanwhile opposing the existence of the gang is likely to be cast as being anti-compromise & anti-constitution which is something few senators would like to risk.

I would think that Byrd would be the most susceptible Senator to buy into the above argument. But I will not hold my breath.

TIS SAD BUT TRUE. FOR THE REASONS ABOVE THE ONLY REAL GAME IN TOWN IS THE 2006 MID TERMS. AND THEN IT IS VITAL THAT THE VOTING SYSTEM IS CAPABLE OF COUNTING THE VOTE PROPERLY - SOMETHING I FOR ONE HAVE LITTLE FAITH IN AT THIS POINT.

[althecat]

1. nt

:kick: