Well, the Democratic party is getting schooled

[MadHound]

For the past six years, the Republicans have schooled us in how to be the majority party. They rammed through page after obscene page of legislation, ramming a war down our throats, tax cuts, resoulutions that are having a dire effect on the middle class and poor, and judicial appointments that will sadly linger with us for years if not decades. They used raw, naked power, brute force, stealth, arm twisting, stealth and poisonous rhetoric to do so. And sadly, for the most part, the Democratic party simply rolled over and took it, throwing up our hands and uttering ten different kinds of excuses saying why they couldn't dare to be the party of opposition.

Now that the Democrats are in power, they're getting schooled again, this time in how to be the minority opposition. The Senate vote yesterday was just the beginning. They whipped their people into line, marched to the front, and blew us, and the American people away. Meanwhile, the Democrats are dithering around, promising bipartisanship, promising to continue to fund the war, while it seems that most of their concentration is taken up with the '08 elections rather than the here and now.

They need to get it through their goddamn thick heads that we the people elected them to stand up and fight. Did they not get the message last November? Are they not reading their mail, the papers, the polls? The vast majority of Americans want this war to end, by any means possible, and goddamnit, we elected them to perform this job, not sit on their thumbs and spin!

These so called leaders have absolutely got to stop worrying about the '08 election and start focusing on the here and now, otherwise people will become seriously disgusted with them also, and will either go elsewhere or stay home on election day. They have a perfect example of how to play hard ball majority politics sitting before them. Time that they wised up and learned something from it.

[Beelzebud]

1. If their only purpose is to get elected in 2008, they'll be in for a rude awakening...

[Horse with no Name]

3. You can bet your ass they will

Because I plan to vote AGAINST everyone that I can that will not stand up to these murderous thugs.
I know I am not alone--the American people spoke. And they spoke loudly.
There is only one reason the Repubs are doing this and it is NOT for the sake of the country, it is to marginalize the Democrats so that people will not see any difference when they vote in 2008.

[MadHound]

4. I'm sayin'!

The past six years the Dems were afraid to block debates for fear of being labeled partisan and uncooperative, scared of retaliation. Yet here we are with the 'Pugs not giving a damn, beating their flock into line and lining up an effective block on a non-binding resolution. So effective were they that they got Hagel, a sponsor of the bill to fall in line against his own bill!

And the Dems huff and puff and say that they'll be an Iraq debate at some time in the vague future:eyes:

And meanwhile the war grinds on, as Hillary promises to end it in '09. Hey Hillary, how about stopping the goddamn war NOW and saving some tens of thousands of lives! Oh, yeah, you've got an election to worry about:eyes:

[babylonsister]

2. 100% agreement here; thanks for expressing how I feel! nt

[soothsayer]

5. I worry that there's really little or no difference between the two

parties. Not sure who's running this country, but it sure ain't the american people.

[MadHound]

6. There has been a narrowing of differences between the two for years and decades now

As I like to say, we're living under the two party/same corporate master system of government. And yes, in this "Great Democracy" of ours, we the people have very little say, and it is getting smaller everyday.

[screembloodymurder]

7. I hope they read your post. Come 2008 I'll be voting for someone with balls.

Do you get the message, Hillary?

[The2ndWheel]

8. It's a good thing you said away

Of course they have to worry about 2008. Everything we do is about the future. Our whole way of life is about the future, because it's unknown, and we have an incredible need for control.

"Did they not get the message last November?"

The power the vote gives them is all that matters. Once they get that vote, why do they need to do anything?

[MadHound]

11. "Once they get that vote, why do they need to do anything?"

So that they won't have to worry about the future! The future of their jobs that is. Because quite frankly many, many people will not vote Democratic in '08 if the party doesn't start doing something with the power that they have in '07. Tens of thousands of people are dying as they continue to sit and spin, and frankly the American people are sick of it. If the Democrats want to retain their power, they need to end the war ASAP. Fail to do so will mean that the Dems will once again be banished to the political wilderness.

[The2ndWheel]

14. Ah, but if this is the situation...

"As I like to say, we're living under the two party/same corporate master system of government."

then they don't have to worry much. The instituion isn't going anywhere, and that's why they don't have to do anything. We're not going to be altering or abolishing the government anytime soon.

There is a price to be paid for everything, and this is the price of large scale specialization. It allows 1 person in Congress to "represent" an average of a few hundred thousand or a few million people. Not only why, but how could they listen to that? It's white noise at this point. It's not as if we're storming the castle with those numbers.

[kentuck]

9. The "minority opposition" ?

Perfect!

[BlameCanada12]

10. I've seen newbies TS'ed for opining these same thoughts.

I fortunately have a job where I can spend 2 hours a day on this site - it is by far the best site I've ever seen. The level of intellect here is amazing. The production value of this website is clearly light years ahead of any other site I've seen - it should be the model for political discussion forums.

Having said that, I have seen a few/some posters (always with low post counts) who get immediately tombstoned for mentioning that there might be some collusion between the Democratic and Republican parties. I question why some people get the axe, while other's don't.

At what point do you look at the blue sky and say , "ahh yes, it IS blue!"???. What more evidence does a person need that our political overlords have nothing but contempt and scorn for us pawns? I mean, Hillary saying she has a plan for withdrawal in the FUCKING YEAR 2009???!!!! C'mon! Pure opportunistic, sadistic bullshit. Get the troops out TODAY.

Where is all this funding for the war going? BILLIONS & BILLIONS of $$$'s - Where is it? Why no outrage form the Democrats or even the few humane republicans? COuld it be they are GAINING FINANCIALLY?

Christ...wake up people.

"Meet the new boss - Same as the old boss".

[MadHound]

12. Welcome to DU!

I'm an ornery oldster, and I'm going to speak my mind. Hell, I was preaching two party, same corporate master back when I was a newbie, and they've let me stick around. It is a fine line to walk, but one can do so. One can make predictions about what will happen, you just can't advocate for people to take that action.

[Jonathan50]

15. That's why I'm voting Nader in 2008

I live in one of the reddest of the red states so it makes not a whit of difference who I vote for. I can't recall seeing a sticker for a Democratic candidate in months and I see ones for Dubya all the time.

I'm a libertarian leftist and to tell you the truth, my views don't fit very well with either party.

Both parties seem to want a nanny state, they just vary as to what the nannying is going to be about.

Both parties want to intrude into my private life, they just slightly differ over what part.

Both parties are sucking on the corporate teat, they don't even differ that much on which teat.

My main issue, for which I have personal reasons, is ending the drug war and releasing the hundreds of thousands of non violent prisoners incarcerated for drug violations. Neither party is addressing that here in "the land of the free".

Bill Clinton actually expanded and intensified the drug war. Why should I expect any different from any other Democratic candidate?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

21. Please Don't Use DU Bandwidth To Promote The Election Of Piece Of Shit Green Candidates.

Thanks.

:hi:

[MadHound]

24. I don't see any "promotion" of Green candidates.

What I see is a statement of intent, and some very logical reasons why the person is taking such actions. Frankly, I agree with the reasoning, and apparently one of the last ways that we have of holding our so called leaders accountable is by the use of the ballot box.:shrug:

Or should we just continue to line up behind a party that has little spine and whose views are drifting ever further rightward? Are you really willing to wait around to '09 for this war to end? Or beyond? Sorry, but I put the lives of tens of thousands of innocents ahead of party politics any day of the week and twice on Sundays. We have been promised that in return for our support for the party that they would end the war when they came into power. Yet here we are, with a Pelosi promise not to cut off funding, and a Senate that can't even get its shit together to pass a non-binding resolution. Yet this is the party that is going to end the war? Give me a break!

This is beyond party politics friend, this is the reality of live and death for many, many people. We cannot afford to have the Democratic party continuing to dick around to come up the proper way to tell the little snot in charge that he can't play soldier any longer. We have to be firm, aggressive, and simply snatch the war away from him and his cohorts. Yet the party seems more pre-occupied with positioning itself for the '08 election than doing the right and moral thing. And meanwhile as all this posturing is going on, people are dying. They can't afford to wait to '09 when Hillary may or may not end the war. It has to be done NOW, otherwise it will be too late.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

26. Blah Blah Blah, Blah Blah Blah. And It Was Endorsing. Same Damn Difference.

Those who want to firmly declare their electoral support for the piece of shit nader can do so on some green underground site. I believe you make a right at 'already cost us one election and helped to destroy America' lane. It's off of 'Nader's a selfish and ignorant piece of shit' parkway. You can spot it easily by the 3 other people standing there talking to themselves.

[MadHound]

28. Way to truly ignore the point of my post and this thread

And instead try to pin the whole goddamn thing on Nader. Good job to ignore the reality of what is happening in this country!:eyes:

So, are you indeed willing to let tens of thousands of people die while the Democrats continue to play party politics? Are you willing to vote for a pro-war candidate just because they have a D behind their name? Are you willing to let the party slide on the issue of the war, when the overwhelming majority of Americans want us the fuck out of Iraq ASAP? And do you believe in holding your representatives accountable for their actions, and if so, how else do you do it other than at the ballot box?

And please, no more straw-man shit, thanks.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

33. ...

:boring:

[MadHound]

34. Sadly, that's strangely appropriate.

Even sadder that is the position many of our so called leaders are taking right now. Hey, at least you're still towing that party line:eyes:

[Heywood J]

70. Sometimes, it is possible to talk

about something, voice concerns, and not endorse it. Otherwise, this site would constitute the majority of the 23-percenters.

[entanglement]

73. self delete

n/t

[Jonathan50]

40. You might have tried to pursuade me

You might have tried to pursuade my to your way of thinking by mentioning a Democratic candidate that supports the position nearest and dearest to my particular heart.

I wonder why you didn't do that?

Could it be that there are no Democratic candidates that advocate ending the drug war?

[femmedem]

49. I think Kucinich is your Dem candidate.

http://leftindependent.blogspot.com/2007/01/democrat-kucinich-stands-alone-against.html

[DancingBear]

51. You're right!

The intended purpose is to promote the continued election of piece of shit Democratic candidates.

And you DO lead the parade on that one - gotta give you that.

Just so you'll know - everytime someone posts some asinine litmus test it drives more and more folks away.

You know, off to vote for piece of shit third party candidates.

So, keep it up and remember - if the Democratic Party puts up yet another mealy-mouthed wishy-washy corporate shill for President, and droves of people cast their vote elsewhere in search of a candidate who they actually believe in, you be sure and blame it on the voters for NOT BEING LOYAL.


:rofl:

[alcibiades_mystery]

72. OMC's

a douchebag.

It's not his fault, though. It seems genetic. I suspect most people pay him no mind.

[fooj]

38. You might want to look into all of the money Nader has received from Repubs...

as well as those infernal CORPORATIONS.

[femmedem]

71. You're going to really like this:

drug hawks' worst nightmare: Kucinich hearings will raise a ruckus
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=218x2245

[BlameCanada12]

16. Thank you. I think I'll just have to censor myself on this issue -

Better that way than having the heavy hand come down.

(Best robot voice) - "I am an automoton, I am a robot, I will blindly follow my Democratic leaders because they are not republicans...I am a robot"

[senseandsensibility]

22. I hate to read posts like yours

Not because they're not true, not because I find them "offensive" or unfair, and certainly not because I disagree with them. It's because I hate to go down that path. I'm afraid what I might find at the end of it. I don't want to become so paralyzed with anger and fear that I can't continue fighting. I wonder if others react with "tombstoning" and whatnot for similar reasons, whether they realize it or not.

[femrap]

69. Welcome to DU....

and I agree. RFK, Jr. said about DC's elected: About 95% of the repugnants are corrupt and about 75% of the democrats.

And I think that is about right, don't you?

Sometimes I think that the US of A is just plain over....it's the fall of the Roman Empire all over again. And it's just not the political situation, but our disgusting culture as well.

I am in need of some good news.

[mikehiggins]

13. What did you expect?

Lots of us have been railing for years against the "beltway dems" or, as some refer to them, the "vichy dems". Well, those guys (and gals) are still there, people, and their "lives and sacred honor" are wholly invested in the way things are done inside that highway. Like the Dems and GOPukes in the NYS legislature (Dems control the lower house, GOPukes the state Senate) their lives are ones of accomodations and backroom deals, not public service or the people's interests.

Want change? Then you have to dump almost all the incumbents at once, and replace them with sincere people committed to progressive causes. The only problem is those folks have very little chance of making it through the primary system due to the fact that the people/corporations with money have a very clear idea of what is in their best interests, and donate accordingly.

2006 was a good start for progressives, but only a start. There is a lot more work to do.

[driver8]

18. "Vichy Dems" is a perfect word for them.

We, as the people of this country, are royally fucked!

We've got no one looking out for our interests. I know that their are some bright stars (Feingold, Kucinich, etc..) but they are few and far between.

[nolabels]

19. Not this much progress, this early lesson should prove valuable

For people who thought a congress was going to solve some problems, welcome to the new day because not much else is new.

I would think this sentence here sums it up well for the diagnosis

"The only problem is those folks have very little chance of making it through the primary system due to the fact that the people/corporations with money have a very clear idea of what is in their best interests, and donate accordingly."

It is called buy out the opposition and compromise them if your product and message is weak.
Very common business practice and Joe the Liarman should be the poster child :shrug:

[Individualist]

30. We need more like Feingold and Kucinich

For several years the DLC has been trying to turn the Democratic party into a subservient branch of the republican party. Apparently they're succeeding.

[MadHound]

32. It is people like Feingold and Kucinich that keep me in this party

And sadly they are becoming an ever rarer breed. You're correct, corporate influence has corrupted the party, almost to the point of no return.

[Mandate My Ass]

17. Suicide Chess

The game pieces move the same as in regular chess, but the object is to lose. If you watched two players engaged in this game without them announcing to observers what they were doing, you would be very perplexed--UNLESS YOU KNEW THE OBJECT OF THE GAME WAS TO LOSE ALL YOUR PIECES BEFORE YOUR OPPONENT.

First they couldn't accomplish anything because they were the minority, now it's because they don't want to appear partisan. Do the math.

[MadHound]

20. Interesting analogy, I've never seen such a game

But it does seem to be applicable to what is happening with the two major parties today.

[leftofthedial]

23. we routinely decry the incompetence of the bush cabal here

but we rarely point out the most politically inept, utterly failed group of the last 12 years--the Democratic Party.

The Congressional Democrats have been an utter embarassment and a complete failure since the Gingrich revolution. Pelosi's "Hundred Hour" agenda was a minor, lukewarm exception. Otherwise, they have shown themselves to be rudderless, leaderless, clueless, endlessly gullible, and without commitment to a discernible set of principles.

[MadHound]

25. And it is really sad too, this used to be a great party,

And there are some individuals within that still are. But as a whole this party has become pre-occupied with not looking like wimps, with not looking like whackos, with not appearing to be anything remotely close to what the RW spin machine portrays them as. As a result, they have become afraid of their own shadow and can't even pass legislation that an overwhelming majority of Americans support due to their fear of what the likes of Rush and Hannity will say. The conservatives continue to define the party, and that is a trap that this party has to get out of before they can again return to greatness.

It would also help if they would stop sucking off the corporate teat. Being in bed with the ones whom you are directing legislation against makes for weak, watered down legislation at best.

[leftofthedial]

27. the overarching vector of our times is a class war

at one time, the Democratic Party were the champions of the common people. That legacy is the main reason most of us are "Democrats."

Sadly though, that is no longer true. Today's Democratic Party is trying to walk an impossible line of appearing to be for the common good, while growing ever more dependent on the money they can only get from corporate capitalists. They have allowed themselves to be marginalized. I've been a Democrat my whole life and I'm no longer sure what they stand for.

Other than reelection, that is.

[MadHound]

29. Don't feel alone, I and many others are in the same boat you're in

I started working for the party before I could even vote, when I was twelve and I got swept up in the McGovern campaign. Yet it seems that each year since then the party has continously drifted away from the support for the everyman, and instead has drifted ever rightwards and ever more corporate. There are still a few good people left, Kucinich comes to mind. But by and large I hardly recognize the party that I started working for and supporting all those years ago.

This is why I would love to see publicly financed elections in this country. Take the money out of the equation, and let the parties return to their roots, their base. Otherwise both parties will continue to worry more and more about the needs of their corporate masters, and the rest of the population will be ignored and abused.

[leftofthedial]

31. I completely agree

:thumbsup:

[Bandit]

35. Time that they wised up and learned something from it.

Or What???:shrug: You going to vote Republican to get rid of them? They got us by the gonads and they know it. They are no different than Bush* in that they are going to do what they damn well want and there is absolutely nothing you/we can do about it...

[scarletwoman]

37. "Or what???" Yes, that is precisely the question.

And I sure don't know the answer.

Giving up doesn't seem to be the correct answer. But we are truly running out of time for implementing a longterm strategy for a "progressive takeover" of the Democratic party. The National Security Corporate/Police State has been built up around us over the decades, all the while we've lulled into thinking that our "democracy" and elections were something other than the sham they've become while the rich and powerful go about increasing their riches and consolidating their power.

They own us, they manipulate us, they use us, and in the end ignore us as they serve their own ends. There is but one party in power in our country, it is the two-headed party of the corporatist MIC.

There will no "or what", not in this nation of distracted sheep.

sw

[MadHound]

42. We the people, despite all of that corporate money, still have one means of control

And that is the ballot box. We have absolutely got to start holding our so called leaders responsible for their actions, and if that means withholding our vote from them, so be it.

It would also behoove us to work on implementing nationwide publicly financed elections, take the corporate money and hence corporate control out of the equation. Make government of the people, by the people and for the people more respondsive to the people.

[paulk]

36. so... do you have a strategy to stop the filibuster

the Republicans are currently employing? Do you have a way to get those 49 Republicans to vote for "our" side?


ps - ranting on anonymous internet discussion boards doesn't count!

[MadHound]

41. Oh gee, I don't know

One would think that with committee control, a little bit of horsetrading would go a long way. Or perhaps the dreaded "nuclear option" Or even the bully pulpit, God knows the 'Pugs use it against us plenty of times. There are a number of different ways to get this puppy going, but sadly none are being employed.

I do know that if you keep arguing your limitations, sure enough they're yours. Time to stop thinking in terms of what we can't do, and more in terms of what we should and can do. Too much is at stake right now to do otherwise.

[paulk]

46. maybe those things take more than a month...

[MadHound]

47. Then you don't walk into a vote, on a non-binding resolution no less, without them

That this, a non-binder, didn't even get to a debate is a huge slap in the face to the party and the people of this country. The Dems should have known that such a stunt was possible, and headed it off before it even had a chance to develop. That they either didn't anticipate this outcome, or failed to take the necessary measures says volumes about the current "leadership", none of it good.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[depakid]

39. This will never change until we've gotten the right wing enablers

and those who would legitimize right wing ideas either out of the party or suitably marginalized.

That means a rejection of the DLC and the Ben Nelson's and Lieberman's, et al.

Until the party leadership gets serious about discipline- and makes certain that its members know that it's unacceptable to embrace and forward Republican schemes and policies (which is what the voters told them in 2006) this sort of timidity will continue- and their majority will be threatened.

[Imagevision]

43. The new house and senate seem to be wimpy baby-crying Dems

After six years you would think they would know how to deal with the repugs...

[BlameCanada12]

44. Reading the replies here actually gives me some hope....

More and more people are starting to wake up. It's a good start.

[Selatius]

45. The Democratic Party is poorly led with very conflicted leadership and a total lack of direction

This is not the same party that fought for the Great Society and the New Deal. The 1990s and early 2000s will be remembered as one of the weakest periods for the Democratic Party since before the Great Depression. The only saving grace was the fact that the Republicans were so corrosive that people actually voted for the Democrats. When you're winning based on the incompetence of your opposition instead of your unity of direction and a clear stand or lack of direction or even lack of a stand, you're not going to get too much credit. You'll just be remembered as the "Not Republican" Party, and that's not something with which to be flattered.

What we have are middle-of-the-road types who, while basically good, seem to lack intestinal fortitude to come out with a visionary blueprint of the future beyond simple patch-up jobs and quick-fix solutions to problems that require a wholesale re-examination of how things are done.

If Democrats all over the countryside want to win big, they've got to blow up the old frame of debate and talk about the issues that the New Deal were built on. When you talk about the jobs being lost, the failing public schools, the horrible cost of health care, a deteriorating infrastructure, the greedy fucks who have found every way to nickel and dime ordinary people, a lack of national policy for energy, and a cogent foreign policy that isn't "blow up everything that moves," you can win.

But laundry lists aren't going to cut it. What you need to do is to weave all those things together simultaneously into a grand vision that is easy to understand and encourages the nation to rise up to the challenge. Make a dream that makes people chase after you.

If a political party cannot even do that, then it doesn't deserve to reign. It will simply fight in the arena that the opposition chooses, arenas rigged against that political party, and it will continue to receive a beating.

[tom_paine]

50. Well said! K & R

Not that our Pink Tutus ever seem to learn anything or grow vertebrae.

I have busted my ass and emptied my pockets for the Dems in the last 3 "elections" and I must say I am growing damned disgusted with them.

They are the only game in town and what else can I say but FUCKING EH, MADHOUND!!!

[lovuian]

52. Heres the deal if Congress President & Supreme Court think

that over 70 % of the American people are going to SIT BACK and take this
they are very mistaken

THE AWAKENING has happened

Be it Democrat or Republican that can't figure out Americans want OUT of Iraq
they will be majorly playing with fire

Is this a One Party System Is this just New World Order at work we have seen
Liberman sell out the Dems ... I think people think Americans are dumb
but ALL CREDIBILITY is LOST in this Government

Waxman just showed 12 billion dollars in cash shipped to Iraq and noone knows what happened to it and yet
A Border patrol officer shoots a drug dealer and gets arrested and then put in jail with drug dealers and gets assaulted

Military personel put with Iraqi policemen and are getting shot by them

It goes on and on and on
Americans are getting really really mad

so the congress needs to WAKE UP NOW
Rapid

[maxsolomon]

53. yeah, i'm so mad i'll put the GOP back in control!

:sarcasm:

they don't serve you, they serve corporate power just as every Puke does. and you know it.

ultimately, when the corporations decide this war is over is when it ends. which corporations? the multi nationals that would abandon the US the second our market collapses.

representation of an american congressperson in action:


his master's voice

[file83]

54. One of these days...

...we'll all finally wake up and realize that Republicans & Democrats are two sides of the same coin.

The Dems could stop this war in its tracks, and they know it.

But they aren't.

Why?

They are all on the same side of: The Military Industrial Complex

[Just-plain-Kathy]

58. I could hear Tucker Carlson now...'dems could have stopped the war by stopping it's funding...

but didn't have the balls'.

[Clinton_Co_Regulator]

55. doh

[Clinton_Co_Regulator]

56. It's happening in Iowa also.

All three houses. First trifecta since the sixties. Yet the GOP still is running the show despite solid Dem majorities.

[RiverStone]

57. From your post to Feingold's ears! K&R

Great post MadHound - and I think Russ is one of the very few DEMS who has both the wisdom and guts to represent We The People the way we expect our elected DEMS to!

I'll give Dennis Kucinich and Ted Kennedy kudos here as well. All three can give the majority of the DEMS on the Hill assertiveness training. We need Russ in a leadership position - that would nix all this non-binding posturing. My vote counted last Nov; so should theirs!

[MasonJar]

59. The Senate is barely in the Dem pocket and only because of 2

Independents, one of whom is Lieberman, who of course will not vote for the Dem or Warner resolutions about the Iraq War. Senator Johnson is still in the hospital. The dems do NOT have the power that the Pugs had. However, after the next election, when many pug senators are up for election the dems have a better than even chance of having a substantial majority (albeit maybe not 60) and then we will be cooking.

[deadparrot]

60. Well, it needed 60 votes to pass.

Considering the Democrats hold the majority 51-49 with Sanders and Lieberman. Granted, defections suck, but the Republicans could have lost some votes and still easily have barred debate, while the Democrats would have to have won 9 Republicans to their side, which is harder than it looks.

[Mrspeeker]

61. THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE HAS BEEN IGNORED

Once again, its the same old same old!
Only one Democrat is actually saying anything ABOUT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE BEING IGNORED!

thats right Mr. Kucinich again!
And freaking bring on the flames and what not, I don't care he's the only one we have ATM!

[upi402]

66. Kucinich is the one.

Always was.

[MiniMe]

62. Cheney is the President of the Senate, and as such can make procedural rulings

If the Republican Senate decided to use the "Nuclear" option, he would have sided with them. If the Dems tried to use it now, he would rule against them.

Add to that that the repukes had a bigger majority than the dems do now, we have 1 member in the hospital and unable to vote, and we are saddled with LIEberman.

[puebloknot]

63. Agreed! If the Dems are just going to play around until 2008,

accomplishing nothing, then they don't get my vote.

We have nothing to lose by voting outside the Dem Party if they are going to betray us. And it's looking mightily like they are.

Some are hoping for some hidden strategy to surface, showing us they had things in control all along.

If George Bush is a maniac with a gun in Pelosi's face, as someone has posted, I can't help remembering that she helped to put that gun in his hands.

[autorank]

64. Excellent post.

"Schooled" - I've never seen such a tepid group of people as you've got on the Hill right now.

They were elected by Democrats and independents with a strong message - get the Hell out of Iraq;
clean up the government; and address pressing business like the environmental catastrophes we face.

That's not what they're doing. The cave in on Iraq was a big joke. Why not say - go ahead, make
my day, filibuster the damn bill. Will run ads to get people to watch on c-span. Wouldn't that
be a great move - ads on the networks directing people to c-span to watch the Republicans
promote war.

I say it's time for the weak to step aside and let the strong lead. The strong would be Feingold
and Webb. The rest lack the heart.

This is not surprising to me. First of all, the elected can't even prove that they were elected.
The "electronic" ballots don't really exist and if they did, we'd never see them because the
voting machines are not available for inspection by the public. Second, 1/2 of these folks
voted for the bankruptcy bill, more than 1/2 for the Iraq war enabling act, and many for the
tax cuts. All but one voted to certify the Ohio electors, the biggest election thieves in
history. And they stand by and SAY NOTHING while the world is on a break neck course to
extinction due to environmental neglect.

Why on earth would those who voted with * and the insane clown posse ever stand up and fight
for anything.

There will be a second revolution in this country...it will be the people against the politicians
and it's about to start in two to three months. I've had enough, have you?

[upi402]

65. I want my party back!

:hurts:
Malloy went off about Dems who refused to filibuster Gonzalez and Alito.
Americans have zero respect for the Dems. Wonder why?

[LittleClarkie]

67. And yet one of the reasons the Conservatives were disgruntled

was because they didn't think ENOUGH got done, and so their majority was useless. Nothing good enough. Always saying that the majority leader is a wuss when he couldn't get something rammed down our throats. Think of the things they couldn't do. Couldn't get most of the judges they wanted rammed through. Made Bush have to recess appoint Bolton. Reforming Social Security was a non-starter. No Roe v Wade changes. Couldn't even save Schiavo. Many of the things the far right held dear didn't get done.

I'd hate to do that to our majority now.

[nolabels]

68. Shiva say you must first tear it down before you can build it up

If some of them congress critters had brain (they probably do, just a figure of speech) then they would be using the power they had wisely. Investigating under every rock and into all them little cranny's the republican crooks hid all the evil doings. Making all that money that is being wasted accountable to the penny. They could make congress a fun place to work at even :-)