WP,pg1: GOP Tilting Power to Right (BIG story re. control,conservo agenda)

[DeepModem Mom]

This entire article is worth reading. VandeHei describes how the Republicans have consolidated power in the hands of a few, with dissent stifled; how control is accomplished; how government departments are little more than political arms, to serve the conservative agenda; how the goal is to put all three branches of government in the service of this conservative agenda; how all of this is being done in unprecedented secrecy.

(Edited to reflect headline change.)


GOP Tilting Balance Of Power to the Right
By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 26, 2005; Page A01


As Democrats tell it, this week's compromise on judges was about much more than the federal courts. If President Bush and congressional allies had prevailed, they say, the balance of power would have been forever altered.

Yet, amid the partisan rhetoric, a little-noticed fact about modern politics has been lost: Republicans have already changed how the business of government gets done, in ways both profound and lasting.

The campaign to prevent the Senate filibuster of the president's judicial nominations was simply the latest and most public example of similar transformations in Congress and the executive branch stretching back a decade. The common theme is to consolidate influence in a small circle of Republicans and to marginalize dissenting voices that would try to impede a conservative agenda.

House Republicans, for instance, discarded the seniority system and limited the independence and prerogatives of committee chairmen. The result is a chamber effectively run by a handful of GOP leaders. At the White House, Bush has tightened the reins on Cabinet members, centralizing the most important decisions among a tight group of West Wing loyalists. With the strong encouragement of Vice President Cheney, he has also moved to expand the amount of executive branch information that can be legally shielded from Congress, the courts and the public.

Now, the White House and Congress are setting their sights on how to make the judiciary more deferential to the conservative cause -- as illustrated by the filibuster debate and recent threats by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) and others to more vigorously oversee the courts....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/25/AR2005052501997.html

[librechik]

1. Wuh Ho--WOW!! page A01!

please let this be the beginning of a beautiful regime change!

[librechik]

46. "BREAKING! US TAKEN OVER BY BRUTAL FASCIST WAR PARTY!

So, I gather this is being talked about all over the media, eh?

(crickets chirping)

[RobertSeattle]

2. That is why (R) next to most Congressmen/women means RUBBERSTAMP

These congressiona (R) drones are only there to do what Delay tells them to do. They occasionally get token legislation like the Stem cell stuff today where they can "show" how independent they are - it's just eyewash. You get paid 150K a year and you barely have to think.

[radfringe]

28. just call them

RUBBERcans...

drink you kool-aid and grab a rubber stamp - don't pass legislation without it

[Pirate Smile]

3. A demonstration of this will be shown tomorrow in the Senate. How

far are the Republican Senators willing to go? Are they willing to effectively neuter the Senate?

From The Washington Note re Bolton:

"following is the expected procedure for the bolton votes tomorrow:
debate will continue until 6 pm tomorrow. final arguments will focus on the fact that the administration continues to stiff-arm the senate with respect to legitimate requests for documents relevant to the foreign relations committee's review of john bolton's fitness to serve as u.s. ambassador to the u.n.

-snip-
the 6pm vote will reveal whether a majority of the senate believes the legislative branch is equal to or subservient to the executive branch.

-snip-
This is now being framed in one of the ways it should: Are the Executive and Legislative branches equal and have mutual obligations and duties to fulfill rowards each other?

Or is the legislative branch subservient to the White House?

There is great tumult and angst on the Senate floor today, this evening, and will be tomorrow."

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/

[DeepModem Mom]

8. A perfect example, Pirate -- thanks for posting this. nt

[MADem]

4. This is why the Gang of 14 scares the shit out of the WH

It interferes with their carefully-crafted, rubberstamp and bully, process.

[BeFree]

5. What's the fuss?

It's good to have all the power concentrated in a small group of people. Afterall they were put there by God.

:sarcasm:

[spinbaby]

26. It's good to have power concentrated in a small group...

It'll be easier to round 'em up to prosecute them.

[renaissanceguy]

40. Good analysis.

It's always the people low on the totem pole who go take the heat, due to decentralization of accountability.

If only the corporate media would pick up on this... Oh well, we'll just have to wait for Al Gore's network.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/472476

[renaissanceguy]

41. Good analysis.

It's always the people low on the totem pole who go take the heat, due to decentralization of accountability.

If only the corporate media would pick up on this... Oh well, we'll just have to wait for Al Gore's network.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/472476

[Pirate Smile]

6. nominated

This is the part that I really can't believe:

"Every president grabs for more power. What's different it seems to me is the acquiescence of Congress," said former representative Mickey Edwards (R-Okla.), a government scholar at the Aspen Institute.

and more

"Bush has demanded similar loyalty from GOP lawmakers -- and received it. Republicans have voted with the president, on average, about nine out of 10 times. Critics and some scholars charge that the Congress now seldom performs its constitutional duty of providing oversight of the executive branch through tough investigations and hearings.

This has coincided with a dramatic increase in overall government secrecy. In 1995, the government created about 3.6 million secrets. In 2004, there more than 15.5 million, according to the government's Information Security Oversight Office. The White House attributes the rise in information the public cannot see to the security threats in a post-Sept. 11, 2001, world.

-snip-
"We have never had this kind of control over information," said Allan J. Lichtman, a professor of history at American University. "It means policy is being made by a small clique without much public scrutiny."

[BR_Parkway]

25. "Critics and some scholars charge that the Congress now seldom performs it

constitutional duty of providing oversight of the executive branch through tough investigations and hearings."

So how do we, the people, fire Congressman who aren't doing their job? Isn't that what it all comes down to?

[DeepModem Mom]

33. Wonder if Congressional Repubs could be branded lily-livered cowards?

They're robots, at the service of the Bush cabal, Rove, DeLay, and the "Religious" Right. (In fact, the same could be said of the Republican "noise machine" of pundits and writers.) This realization should be reflected in the public perception of these people.

[keopeli]

7. DING DING DING DING DING

[Griffy]

9. WOW.. dare I hope... this could lead to them opening the truth!

with Conyers on the media march, perhaps the crack is widening.. the Downing st. Memo is not going away, the media forum yesterday madeit clear that the next step is not to hope they cover it, but to DEMAND they cover it!

my rose colored glasses see this as a stepping stone, since they are blaming the power imbalance on the congress.. NOT the 4th estate.. who can now step in.. and be the hero, and they hope the public at large wont notice they could have told us long ago!

[bpilgrim]

10. this has been our evil DU'ers point for 4 frigg'n years and counting

do our leaders still read the old newspapers :shrug:

peace

[DeepModem Mom]

34. Indeed, it has been our point, to this effect --

:banghead:

[Straight Shooter]

11. What's interesting is that VandeHei probably took his time writing this.

IOW, a lot of research, a lot of editing, crafting his words precisely, checking and doublechecking his facts. To me, it means this article was in the works before the Newsweek debacle and is probably not a result of WaPo exercising a bit of revenge against bush for calling out Newsweek. Instead, it is a positive sign that the media is beginning to emerge from the suffocating influence of the White House.

I'm thinking, I'm hoping, I'm praying that the media is truly beginning to see the light. Having bush's boot on your throat is a most unpleasant position.

Page A01. :thumbsup:

[wellst0nev0ter]

13. I'm Surprised Van DeHei Wrote This At All

Since he was a known Bush operative during the election last year.

[DeepModem Mom]

35. Thanks for that reminder, well. nt

[Straight Shooter]

38. That's interesting ...

I wonder what his agenda is. Is he leaving the Dark Side, or working surreptitiously on behalf of it still?

[Miss Chybil]

12. This is scary stuff. When did the people lose control of the democracy?

I guess we never really had it, but this is getting worse by the day.

[Algomas]

14. Yee Haw!!! Who slipped the viagra into their sleeping pills?

Could this be the tipping point??? It would be smart for all dissidents to make a lot of noise in support of this media outburst. It may encourage other media cowards to make a stand.

[Hapameli]

15. Paper trail this story! Media Blast!

Activists activate!

[Nothing Without Hope]

16. I am wondering how this came to be on Page A01. That represents an

editorial decision. What was behind it? The Wash Post kisses up to the Bushies on all too many issues - why this article in front now?

Who is it aimed at? COULD IT BE THE SENATORS that this article is intended to affect? Is someone at the Wash Post worried about upcoming votes? Politics has gotten pretty damn scary - is someone catching on or in on a very terrifying bit of secret plans, perhaps like Voinovich?

[oxbow]

19. It will be on page A26 by tomorrow

don't worry.

[Nothing Without Hope]

21. LOL - probably right. Weird that it was EVER on the front page, though

they don't don that with the truth.

[DeepModem Mom]

32. WP, Newsweek, same company -- could the Koran story episode...

have opened some eyes to the methods used by the cabal, and their disdain for the truth? This thought just occurred to me. Also, last night, after posting this story I heard an anecdotal report of some surprising people (Bush supporters in business) who've become alarmed about the state of the balance of power in this country.

[Nothing Without Hope]

49. We can hope. The Amnesty International Report that names the US as

the worst human rights violator in the world, which just came out, may have had an impact as well. And there were all the Red Cross torture and Koran abuse stories and the blatant - and successful - attempt by the WH to blame and suppress Newsweek. And the filibuster scare. And the reight-wing extremist religious crazies and their insistence that the US become an official "Christian" - but only their TYPE of Christian - country. And the bankruptcy and corruption. And the very reasonable fear that this time the preemptive invasion will involve nuclear bombs...

No one not insane would fail to be frightened by this. And besides, it's bad for business, and those hard-eyed corporate types put that first.

[wellst0nev0ter]

17. Ho-Hum, Old News, Boston Globe Already Covered It

In a heartbreaking three-part series last year. If the kneepad press haven't been too busy examining their own rectums and a certain blue dress, the congressional re-alignment would be standard in civics and political science textbooks by now.

[slay]

23. Wow. That was a great piece by the Boston Globe. All the warning signs

were there and exposed. I guess as long as it didn't involve "swift boats veterans" or gays - the American people, or more so the mainstream media, didn't care.

[lonestarnot]

18. Can it all ever be undone?

[Fovea]

20. Got a gun?

If not, get one.
You'll be needing to save your ass before 07.

[slay]

22. About time somebody in the MSM said it!!

What do they think we've been yelling about for the last 4 years? :mad:

[The Minus World]

24. Democratic Compromise or Republican Tyranny

This man has apprehended the true nature of the GOP. They are wonderfully adept at consolidating power, creating hierarchies, and "getting things done" in general. They are impotent at making concessions, agreements, compromises, and all other things necessary for a healthy democracy to function.

Single-mindedness may be an ideal attribute for, say, a CEO to possess; but attempting to maintain a democracy while simultaneously executing a tyrannical model of governance will undoubtedly confound people as to exactly what sort of system they are living in. That's how news articles like this come to be.

This article says it in the most diplomatic of terms: the idealistic concept of government "by the people, for the people" is no longer being pantomimed by our leaders.

[DeepModem Mom]

36. Excellent post, Minus! nt

[steve2470]

27. This is great !!! Keep this kicked ! nt

[Inland]

29. No kidding. You can predict the repug position on everything

by determining which course increases presidential power and decreases presidential accountability.

[wildwww2]

30. Jesus Christ this headline could have been written 4 years ago.

If we had a real media. And not a lap dog repuklican tool.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[Mountainman]

31. I use to think that the voters were smart enough to understand that

having the government in control of only one party was very dangerous. I don't know if I think that anymore.

My belief is that the media has let the people down by not being tough enough on the right and needs to do so to protect our democracy.

I hope people start to learn that the situation they have created is bad for the country and start to do something about it.

If this article was accompanied by one showing how the repukes control the elections so that their people get into positions of power and how the media has been a tool in promoting right wing agenda it would help.

[Jackpine Radical]

48. Yes, we need a healthy tension between two parties.

Personally, I would prefer that tension to be between the Socialistic Democrats and the Democratic Socialists.

[rocktivity]

37. Co-winner of this month's "You Call This NEWS?" award

Where was this five years ago when it acutally could have done some good?

:headbang:
rockantion

[sinkingfeeling]

39. The GOP is like a cancer that has eaten away the heart and soul

of this country. I'm surrendering...giving up. I really believe that the USA is now a failed democracy and has begun its death spiral.

[understandinglife]

42. It's called a dictatorship. If you're on "US soil," you're in one.

Pleased that the WP has decided to cover the details; wonder when they'll call the Bu$h neoconster regime what it is - a dictatorship.

Maybe they need a metaphor.

Here's how I've been explaining it to various folk since "Neville Chamberlain Day" - i.e., May 23 2005.

While some folk are hugging the 'filibuster tree' (which was lethally infected with the virulent 'extraordinary circumstances' virus on May 23 2005) they have failed to notice that the forest (our Constitutional republic) has been clear-cut.

The logging started in earnest on Saturday, Dec 9 2000, and has not abated for a second.

Everyone can keep hugging that last, lethally infected tree.

Or, they can decide to climb the very steep hill to the RAP tent, see the decimated forest for what it is, and, finally, begin all the legal and peaceful actions required to remove the dictator Bu$h and his neoconster vermin from the land and beginning restoring the forest.

Any doubt any person could have about Bu$h being a dictator should have been readily dashed by his 'catapult propaganda' and 'don't listen to your constituent' comments -- all made in the 24 hours after that remaining tree was lethally infected.

The Bu$h neoconster dictatorship is now clear-cutting civilization.

Only questions remaing -- who and when: who is going to join me in stopping them; and when are we going to start.


It has happened, Mr Lucas


www.missionnotaccomplished.us - how ever long it takes, the day must come when tens of millions of caring individuals peacefully but persistently defy the dictator, deny the corporatists cash flow, and halt the evil being done in Iraq and in all the other places the Bu$h neoconster regime is destroying in the name of "America."

[Q]

43. This is called a ...

coup d'état.

[DeepModem Mom]

44. Yep -- the bloodless kind. nt

[paineinthearse]

45. That's one way of looking at it, but consider

These are just the front men/puppets. The real power does not like with * and Frist and Hastert and DeLay, they are the rethugs' hand and string puppets.

[Dover]

47. They have also convinced the MAJORITY that they are a MINORITY!

These idiots should be easily tossed from power, but they have managed to keep a lid on collective dissent by disempowering the majority (through propaganda, stolen elections, etc.).

[Roland99]

50. 2006 is our chance people! We HAVE to make it count!

Our country depends on it!

[geckosfeet]

51. deceitful and dishonest

I remember having a conversation with a fundy sister in law. I remember broaching the subject of a conservative talking head (Mr. Rush L.) and saying that I had just read one of Al Frankens books about him. She asked "who was the book about ?" I repeated the name,,,, she coldly looked at me and simply denied knowing who I was talking about.

I thought all this was a bit odd since Rush was blaring on the radio when I came in,,, (quickly turned off) and there was printed material around with his name all over it.

Now this incident makes a bit sense more to me. Its all a big secret. I suspected but could not figure out how she could square her fundamentalism with lying and deceit. I guess ideals and principles do not matter to these people.

[GOPFighter]

52. "...with little public scrutiny."

"We have never had this kind of control over information," said Allan J. Lichtman, a professor of history at American University. "It means policy is being made by a small clique without much public scrutiny.

Hell, they don't need secrecy. The MSM and the public doesn't give a damn about the takeover of the government. They're too busy looking for the next runaway bride. :grr:

[cyberpj]

53. This quote proves just how naieve some Repubs are:

"I would remind my friends that you may one day be in the minority and you won't want to be roughshod over," said former minority leader Robert H. Michel (R-Ill.), who served in the House for 38 years, 14 as leader.


They don't yet understand that this admin never intends to give up power again -- and they won't have to as long as they can continue to distract everyone from VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS!

Say it with me fans...

VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS!
VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS!
VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS!
VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS!
VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS!
VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS!
VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS!
VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS!
VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS!.......

[DeepModem Mom]

54. And I think they use far more than election tinkering to hold power --

intimidation, disregard for rules and norms, disregard for the truth, etc. They've played, and continue to play, many cards, as they destroy our system as we've known it. They'll use any card that works, and/or is needed, without hesitation, and, so far, with impunity.