If the Democrats take back the entire congress next year,

[Cyrano]

should they spit on Republican politicians the same way that they've been spit on for the past five years?

I'm of two minds about this. On the one hand, if the Republicans retain control, or regain control at some point in the future, they'll immediately return to their thuggish ways.

Conversely, if the Democrats manage to win, the Republican example is no way to govern a country. We should not be sinking into the same sewer from which most of our opponents crawled.

What are your thoughts on this?

[ClassWarrior]

1. Relentlessly firm but fair - beginning with IMPEACHMENT.

NGU.

[The Magistrate]

2. No Mercy, Sir

The enemy must be driven into holes, winkled out of them, crushed to powder....

"We'll give ya a fair trial 'fore we hang ya."

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[porphyrian]

3. While I would personally, I think they should do whatever...

...is in the best interest of the ENTIRE country, rather than just corporate interests. I think they should only twist the knife in the course of doing so. In that case, they should have no mercy, but perhaps some maturity and dignity. There's enough that needs to be turned around to allow Democratic politicians both roads, and maybe they should take both, depending on who they represent.

[RagingInMiami]

4. Impeachment and criminal proceedings against all those who broke the law

[Vincardog]

5. We should return to the RULE OF LAW. Prosecute ALL the criminals.

Pass FAIR election requirements. Paper Ballots Hand Counts.

Pass real election reform Public Financing of elections. NO MORE CORPORATE INFLUENCE.

Then get on with the social agenda.
1) Universal Health care.
2) Universal free public education.
3) Full employment at a living wage.
4) Respect for the Environment
5) Equal Protection for ALL people.
6) Respect for Personal Privacy in all applicable medical and ethical decisions.

That will make a good start.

[Tactical Progressive]

17. Just doing what should be done in this country

will piss off and hurt Republicans more than any amount of blatant retribution.

But the way I've been feeling these past eight years, I'd still like to see some blatant retribution anyway. There's something to be said for hitting back when you've been hit.

I'd say alot of governance along with some retribution.

[Telly Savalas]

27. Bravo.

Despite the example the GOP is setting, Congress isn't a forum for settling petty personal vendettas, it's a place for promoting sound public policy. The common-sense moderate agenda you describe would be a breath of fresh air.

This isn't about grudges, it's about making our country better.

[LiberalEsto]

6. Acting like rethugs is beneath us

Besides, there is too much to do.
The first order of business is impeachment.
After that comes a long, concerted effort to undo the damage of the Misadministration -- restoring environmental regulations, reining in the banking, pharmaceutical and energy industries, bringing back fiscal stability, dismantling the surveillance network, making FEMA functional.
And passing new laws that benefit people instead of corporations: laws on health care, retirement savings, student loans, a living minimum wage.

[CarbonDate]

7. No, but by the same token....

...their agenda shouldn't even see the light of day. Let them go back to what they're good at: being an opposition party. We'll get back to what we're good at: the business of governing.

Both parties have been pathetically ineffective in each other's roles. Time to straighten things out.

(note: meant to reply to the O.P.)

[BuyingThyme]

8. It's impossible for us to spit on them as they spat on us.

They spat on the good and the innocent.

[BigBearJohn]

9. Massive investigations; send the bums to jail where they belong.

[mtnsnake]

10. Impeach after 2006, and THEN spit if we win in 2008!

They need to be on the receiving end before they'll learn any proper respect.

[Poppyseedman]

11. Considering that if the democrats take back the congress, it will

be with razor thin margin, so I think a little professional courtesy will be in order.

Actually, the house seems to work together as well as can be expected except for a few memorable moments this past six months.

The Senate will be a problem even if we take control. Senators are beholden to their entire state population, not like their small district, so they are easy to motivate in a particular direction if enough pressure is put on them.

[Vincardog]

20. razor thin margin MY A$$, We have to Win BIG or they will be able to steal

it AGAIN. The country has to so tire of the FASCIST THUGS that we rise as a wave and throw them all and every psychopathic supporter out of office and in to jail.

[Poppyseedman]

21. Well, we will need a 31 seat swing to win control of the house.

There is a 15 seat difference right now. That in itself would be a miracle.

Since a large percentage of American don't even know what the word "fascist" means and if they do, they don't think bush doesn't fit the definition, I don't expect a tidal wave anytime soon.

[Vincardog]

23. Well we have to tell them. How do they feel about Tax cuts for the Rich

paid for by food stamp cuts?

How about personnel Bankruptcy being off the table while the corporate Parasites use bankruptcy to default on their pension requirements?

How about their children dieing in bush's illegal immoral war?

How about the endless growth of governmental powers and its' reach into you death bed?

NeoConvists are not Conservative. They are not Fiscally responsible. They are Liars Thieves and bullies.

Only a small percentage of our country is co dependant or sick enough to vote for them when their true motives are exposed as they have been now.

[Poppyseedman]

26. You make a very good point

Personally, I think we waste our time being for everything anti-bush rather than being for things that you listed.

Most people turn a deaf ear for calls for impeachment, bush is a Nazi rhetoric, elections were stolen, etc, etc, etc, etc.

Those things may gin up the political astute or activist, but your average joe six pack rather not bother to figure it out.

Our political points need to be positive, up lifting and simple. Ranting that bush is a Nazi will not get a dog catcher elected in most districts.

Just my humble opinion

[stepnw1f]

12. I'll Tell Ya What's Fair

A Fair trial for everyone of these criminal bastards. They are traitors to the Constitution of the United States of America.

[bridgit]

13. we're not going to sink into no sewer with them...

we're going to drag them onto the leafy grass of a summer commons beneath gentle blue skies with puffy white clouds, clamp them into common stocks with their names on them, and throw rotten fruit & vegetables into their consternated faces. and 'if & when', or assuming they exhibit proper contrition, we'll let them witness the internal workings of what American Civil Governance really looks like

:rofl: :patriot:

[Lindacooks]

14. There's no need to spit on them - just follow the rule of law

and the Constitution, and most of the Repukes who were in power would be in jail.

[Golden Raisin]

15. You're assuming

that elections will not be rigged a la Ohio and Florida and Lord-knows-where-else. Democrats may not be able to get into power again, even if they win. Gore "won"! I sincerely hope I'm wrong. Bush got "elected" twice, and press, people and Congress rolled over and didn't lift a finger to protest. The only ones who acted were the Supreme Court and they raped us, separation of powers and democracy.

[mikehiggins]

16. Unless we get progressives elected there will be little change

Oh, how I hate to sound like Nader in 2000, and maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt just replacing GOP apparachniks with DLC-type Dems will make any difference in the short run. It'll still be too risky to end the war, and step back from the neo-fascism now spreading throughout the Government. The lobbyists will still be there with their buckets o' bucks and it'll still be easier to "go along to get along" with the powers-that-be.

What we need is a bunch of Kuchinich-clones and I don't think the general public is aware enough of the dangers BushCO represents to their freedom and economic future for such a golden age to dawn.

Just my opinion, of course. I could be wrong.

[Walt Starr]

18. They should be kind and loving to the moderate Republicans

while spitting on assholes like Santorum and Frist.

[warrior1]

19. repeal

every bill bush has sign into law. Return President Clinton laws that bush deleted, one by one.

[unkachuck]

22. I would say yes....

....spit on 'em in a loving kind of way....but it all depends on what Dems get elected and who they'll be working for....us or the corporations....and you know what the odds are....

[in_cog_ni_to]

24. As I always say..."Playing "nice" got us where we are today."

AND, evoting machines.:grr: The repukes started this shit with the 8 year witch hunt on Clinton. I would spit in their faces and make them wish they had NEVER been in power. They should be made to rue the day they decided to shred our Constitution. :grr:

[MN ChimpH8R]

25. The rats should all be flushed out

and it should be done with scrupulous adherence to the appropriate legal and constitutional procedures. All their evil doings should be explained and set forth in the fashion that the House Judiciary Committee used in the Nixon impeachment hearings. Impeachment, trial, removal from office, the directly to the Hague for the entire lot of them, after which they can enjoy a term of life imprisonment for war crimes and crimes against humanity.