CAN WE PUSH FOR PERMANENT OBSTRUCTIONISM?

[ciaobox]

Is there any way we can force the remaining Dems in the senate to fillibuster every single bill they try to jam down our throats? Is it feasible to achieve 4 years of gridlock?

[bacchant]

1. No many are already trying to figure out how to appeal the "red" mentality

[Trillo]

4. I grew up with 'the red' mentality.

They cannot be reasoned with: at best they only pretend to listen; at worst we're just plain wrong. They will not compromise: their way is the only way. They are in the right until the day they pass away.

They are the zero-tolerance paradigm. Welcome to the new world! It's more of the same old world.

[puddycat]

2. The Dems by God better resist everything they can

I'm sick of this pansy-namsy Democratic Congress that has sat back and taken the shit of the Republicans. If we are going to lose we may as well lose BY RESISTING EVERYTHING.

Don't give the pukes a free ride on anything.

[lil-petunia]

3. Wrong tactic

One of the reasons why we lost (gosh, that was hard to type) was that the GOP successfully portrayed the democratic senate as obstructionist. They portrayed Saddam as an Al Qaida clone. They portrayed Kerry as a flip flopper who lacked the judgment and ability to lead in times of need.

In short, they lied.

Months ago, I took a lot of heat here. I wrote here that the tepid amateurish response to outrageous attacks in July and August doomed this campaign. But that was not the only reason we lost. The biggest reason was we failed to sell a vision of america that most people in this country share. Not just us DUers. Not just the Democratic party members, but the whole country.

To win, we need to set some goals. To win congress back in 2006, to retool our machinery, do a wholesale replacement of the DNC personnel, to rephrase our message and to pick the right battles, and not waste recources on every single step. Being obstructionist will do nothing to bring us back to power. Selecting those battles involving specific issues will.

Being simple-minded naysayers is not only unproductive, but unattractive and frankly, unreasonable. Like jujitsu, using the power and motion of your enemy sometimes requires compromise, easing up and balance. That has been sorely lacking in the DNC.

[ciaobox]

9. WHO FUCKING CARES?

[lil-petunia]

12. Well, I care. About my country and our future.

Do we throw a tantrum and cry ourselves to sleep in the corner? Or do we deal with adversity in a way that we allow ourselves to win in the future?

Remember, the freepers felt the same way after CLinton kicked but his first AND second term.

[K-W]

5. That is a good way to kill the little leverage they do have.

And make the democrats look like sore losers who care more about partisanship than running the country.

[lil-petunia]

6. and guaranteed to fail.

wasting resources, picking the wrong fights, acting like petty kids, - this is bound to fail.

we are smarter, that is why we voted for Kerry. Now, we have to think more, and act smarter and plan ahead to recoup what we have lost.

[K-W]

8. Well, the Democrats are in a lose lose situation.

If they dont compromise like crazy, they will lose any say in legislation. But if they compromise, the left is just going to get more and more dissatisfied with them.

[lil-petunia]

11. I don't mean roll over and play dead.

I do mean we have a lot of work to do. We just have to be smart about it.

The reality is that even the idiot rednecks who voted this guy in will be depressed and shocked at some point in time. Probably in the next year. And we have to be ready to offer a realistic, rational alternative.

Please allow me an explanation. The Bushites are incapable of not stepping in shit of their own making. So far, they have hidden the bad news on the economy. Same with Iraq, Afghanistan, China, Russia, Israel, Korea and Iran. With geniuses like Perle, Wolfowitz, Cheney, Rusmfeld, Feith and Ashcroft in office, can you imagine them NOT getting into trouble somewhere, sometime soon? I can't. You KNOW that they will fuck something up very soon. It will happen. Give them enough rope and these neocons will hang themselves.

With pragmatism, realistic analysis/planning and fighting only the battles we cannot afford to lose (involving precious constitutional rights, the ecology, and yes, our upcoming economic crisis), and let the victors have the rest of their little games go their way, we conserve our power, we appear to be more rational and right after a major goof up by the GOP, we offer a realistic alternative.

If we squander our energy, our organization and our ability, by fighting each and every battle on every judicial nominee, on every statute, on every decision, we risk alienating potential allies, middle of the roaders and others we need to truly retake control. Plus, we will lose the vast majority of those battles. Each ineffectual loss will be a nail in the coffin of the Democratic party.

To do this right, we have to have a mini-revolution in the DNC. Throw out the old, bring in the new. We also must Inject our current senators with a dose of steel and tungsten. Their collective spines reminded me of an old rusty Slinky ever since each one refused to support the Congressional Black Caucus.

[Roland72]

7. You mean like the Nazis? n/t

[damntexdem]

10. No -- too many of those who are still there ...

will be running for cover, sucking up, or simply giving up.