When we win, what should we do first?

[garthranzz]

Let's assume that, somehow, despite the attempt once again by Rove and Bush and Cheney to steal the election - through voter suppression and intimidation, through hacking of machines, through all the methods *irrefutably* proven to have been used to steal the election of 2004 (and tested in the selection of 2000) - let us assume that the numbers are just too big and that we take over the House of Representatives by, say, 30 seats and the Senate by 1 (51 Democratic Senators).

What should we do?

I know that Nancy Pelosi has proposed a 100-hour legislative spree. But even if it all passes the House and it all passes the Senate and there are no parliamentry delays - and should we doubt that throwbacks and bigots won't filibuster? - Bush, or more honestly perhaps Cheney, in pique and Nixonian desperation will surely veto much of it. We cannot legislate our way out of Iraq, short of cutting off funds; the battle for health care, minimum wage, in short all domestic issues, will require negotiation, debate and a winning of the media that, whatever its herd mentality, will turn slowly to the truth.

And, as has been posted here, we still must be cautious of a "president" in pique, one growing increasingly desperate to salvage his self-worth, one already delusional. Nixon gains credit for this much - however manipulative, criminal and despicable, he recognized the rules and played - or rather was forced to play by Barry Goldwater and Hugh Scott, as some pundit noted - to play by the rules. Unsupported by "his" Supreme Court and being the architect, though not the contractor, of his power, he had no spite of last resort. Those that supported, even idolized, Nixon, while they villified the anti-war protestors, did not see Nixon as their only "salvation." He had no oxymoronic doughboy and his imitators that fed off the detritus of presidential defiance.

So we must be wary of Bush/Cheney attempts to seize power, to weigh the scales by claiming a level playing field.

We must in effect neutralize - neuter - Bush/Cheney, create an environment, despite not because of the media, which renders them ineffective, irrelevant.

Our first order of business, I contend, is to demonstrate - irrefutably - that Bush and Cheney seized power and hold office illegitimately.

Exposure of election fraud, of the theft of 2004, the attempted theft of 2006, of the theft of 2000, must become the cause celebre'. Having won, we can't be accused of "sour grapes." Yes, it will raise the specter of impeachment - a risk since we don't have the votes in the Senate, until the hurricane (Katrina's revenge, how sweet from here in New Orleans) begins to storm ashore - but the underlying thread will be, must be, transparency and accountability.

Democrats who cheat or steal (shall I look at my own district?) must be held to the same standards as Republicans. The first, the most important step in eliminating the 'culture of corruption' is restoring trust in government. And the first step in restoring trust in government is restoring trust in the election process. All else - cleaning up Congress, the lobbyists, etc. - follows as a matter of course.

And once the facts are revealed and the people see that not only did Bush, Cheney, etc. lie us into war, they lied themselves into power - no one will believe or obey them.

And that justice, that irrelevance, that consignment to the hell of their making - that they are neither saviors nor savants, but betrayers, abusers and self-deceivers, will be but the natural consequence of their actions.