Our unexpected chance

[youngred]

Since the 1980s part of the reason that Republicans have been so hard to beat is their unwavering loyalty to each other, summed up best in Reagan's 11th Commandment 'thou shall not speak ill of another republican' But, as any group that ruthlessly seeks power knows that the coalition that brought you to power often splinters as each part seeks to gather the spoils of it's aide. The religious right is showing off in spades with attacks on such dangerous pieces of anti-Americanism as Spongebob as part of it's braoder campaign against gays and lesbians.

The Democrats, in a shirking minority, who have never had the ability to stand together, especially when it's needed most, may not be the biggest threat to Bush's second term goals...Indeed, the disintigration of the Republican party's hold on it's backbenchers may be Bush's biggest hurdle in the next four years. Bush has pissed off many in his own party on issues such as Social Security, and the spending. Now this offers the Democrats a huge chance that we didn't see in the blinding runup to fearless leader's faux mandate. The Republican coalition is splintering somewhat, and now is our chance to reach across the aisle and create a coalition that can beat George Bush and his cronies back a little. Now, make no mistake, I am not advocating the Democrats going back to being the spineless fools that allowed Bush to run roughshod over the country and the world in his first term. But I am noting the dissention in the GOP ranks and see in there an opportunity. Reaching across on issues where we may not agree with the rebellious Republicans, but we can both agree that Bush's vision is wrong. Part of the reason Bush had such ease in advancing his agenda in the first term, and that the Republicans could so easily obstuct Clinton was their conformity to the principle of advancing their own party, with Bush less and less likely to try and woo back his own members (and remember Bush hates disloyalty to himself more than anything) we may see many defections from the grand GOP coalition at a time when we need it most.

Strong Democratic opposition, Proactive plans on what we want to do (rather than let Bush control the debate), alternatives to Bush's plans, working with renegeade Republicans on issues where they disagree with Bush, and direct appeals to the people provide a winning game-plan for insuring that George Bush doesn't get a chance to screw the country up in favour of his moneied cronies for four more years.

[Tigress DEM]

1. NO Senator - DEM or repub should pass HR418 section 102

The House DEMS let it slip. But that provision must be removed and any repub with a lick of sense or a shred of integrity or the desire to appear that that have one or the other should get that section OUT OF THERE or so Specifically tied down that it can't be abused.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/5/15448/41910

The text of Section 102 is below:

SEC. 102. WAIVER OF LAWS NECESSARY FOR IMPROVEMENT OF BARRIERS AT BORDERS.
Section 102(c) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1103 note) is amended to read as follows:

`(c) Waiver-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall have the authority to waive, and shall waive, all laws such Secretary, in such Secretary's sole discretion, determines necessary to ensure expeditious construction of the barriers and roads under this section.

`(2) NO JUDICIAL REVIEW- Notwithstanding any other provision of law (statutory or nonstatutory), no court shall have jurisdiction--

`(A) to hear any cause or claim arising from any action undertaken, or any decision made, by the Secretary of Homeland Security pursuant to paragraph (1); or

`(B) to order compensatory, declaratory, injunctive, equitable, or any other relief for damage alleged to arise from any such action or decision.'.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. I guess Bush went against the Reagan rule

when he slammed John McCain to death in 2000. :eyes: They use each other and then backstab each other in the back after they're used. The reason why republicans won in 2000 is because of what happened in Florida and the Supreme Court and them being sore losers and everything with this year. I don't call winning by two percent a "mandate" and a reason for them to be crying victory. They should be counting their pennies.

[youngred]

6. The primaries are a different ball game

I don't call it a mandate but they've been kicking our asses politically for a long time because they're disciplined and play the game better.

[Guaranteed]

3. They're not split enough, yet, though. We need a couple of

issues to jam right in between them, one of them being illegal immigration, I'm sure. If we could find one or two more, that would be great.

Of course, we'd actually have to have a strong position on those issues, too, if our hammer is going to have some weight.

[Champion Jack]

4. Maybe the split has already started...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x105587

[Patiod]

5. Also, what about Christie Todd Whitman's book

It's My Party, Too: The Battle for the Heart of the GOP and the Future of America. Saw her on The Daily Show (which I only get to watch while out on the road). She is complaining about the disinfranchisement of Republican moderates (translation = blue state/urban Republicans)

[youngred]

7. exactly the divisions we need to exploit nt