A Democratic compromise of our own (Torture Bill). [View All]

[yebrent]

Most of what I have read at DU on this subject since the Rethug "compromise" (more like cowardly caving) is that the Dems need to do everything in their power to stop this bill. (Which I assume means filibuster). That they shouldn't care what happens to them in the upcoming election, that they should shut down the government over this issue.

IMO, this strategy seems like a huge gamble with the Dems currently set to make giant gains in both the House and Senate.

I'd like to propose a compromise of our own. Don't vote for the bill, but also don't filibuster it.

Let it pass on a party line vote. Let the Rethugs tie their own long-term noose by passing the bill. Filibustering it would hurt the Dems in the upcoming election, with a constant Rethug and media blast that the Dems are weak on terror. By voting against it, but not filibustering, the Rethugs and the media won't have as powerful of a spin. The public won't be as interested, because there is no stalemate on the issue. Without the filibuster, the story won't be as intriguing and get as much air-time.

Once it passes, then the Dems can constantly refer to the Rehugs as the Torture Party. It will eventually sink in with the general public that the USA has become a country that tortures (it can take a year for these ideas to cement firmly in the public's mind). The Dems will have political cover for voting against it, (unlike the authorization to invade Iraq). We could label them the Party of Torturers for at least a generation. However, it is key that they have no bipartisan cover. THIS CANNOT BE ANOTHER IRAQ AUTHORIZATION. All the Dems need to vote against it, except Lieberman of course. Lieberman can vote for it if he wants. That will just further support the meme that he was no longer a Democrat, and it was good for the Party to purge him.