A Senate slowdown is NOT enough ... we need to do MORE

[Stinky The Clown]

The plan on the table right now, in the event of the nuclear option's passing (and I am of a mind that it will) is to force a reading of every bill in the Senate, effectively choking the Senate's agenda. And that's fine.

But on Main Street, that plays right into the hands of the propagandists. It is easy as pie to spin it against us. A similar tactic by Newt got him in trouble, remember? And while the tactic will work to shut down the Senate, no one on Main Street will really understand the nuance of it.

Remember ..... not only have we no power ... we have no voice. The 'media' ain't our friends, folks.

I'm suggesting we go further. I'm suggesting we not only 'shut 'er down', but that we also leave town. For a long time.

I posted this plan the other day. Please don't take this as a self-promoting kick of an old thread. I really believe in this notion.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3697382

I'd amend it in one way .... rather than *every* Senator and Representative leaving, allow a skeleton crew to stay behind to throw the 'read 'em all' monkey wrench into the senate's cogs. But I want to see the rest back home making their case directly to the people, as outlined in the linked thread.

These are extraordinary times and they call for extraordinary measures. A procedural 'trick' simply isn't enough. Use a procedural trick and suffer the consequences of confusion and disdain for us on Main Street.

We need our elected Dems to be speaking - one on one if need be - to THE PEOPLE.

[in_cog_ni_to]

1. From Fahrenheit 911....."Sit Down My Son"...John Conyers

"We don't read the bills!"

People were PISSED AS HELL when they heard that in the movie. I don't think main street is going to be angry over our Senators actually DOING THEIR JOB for a change. I do agree that our Dem Senators need to tell the PEOPLE what the heck is going on though.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. My worry is that talking to the people from Washington ain't gunna cut it

They'll appear to still be disconnected .... and they'll be dependent on the media (who are NOT on our side) as the conduit for their message.

Nope .... out of town is the only way I can see it being truly effective.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. "out of town" works for me.

I just think the slowing down of the Senate by actually reading the bills isn't going to be bad for us. I agree, our Senator's need to take this to the people. LOTS of town hall meetings.

[Just Me]

20. Nope. Running away isn't strategy IMO.

I'd rather they stay, take a stand, fight by any/every means possible.

[Stinky The Clown]

21. I honestly don't see it as 'running away'

Rather, I see it as fighting harder, but in a *different* way.

They wouldn't be going home to knit or clear brush. They'd be going home to take it to the people ... and that is a lot of work.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. And on a side topic to this issue .........

The time I'm suggesting our people be back home talking long and loud, they could also talk about the BBV issue. Even with all the noise we're making on this topic. I fear most of the people on Main Street are blissfully unaware that it wasn't just Ohio and Florida. In fact. I'll bet a dollar to a donut that they don't even know much about Florida or Ohio ... or they did, they've forgotten it by now.

We have a LOT to 'talk to the people' about. Let's NOT waste time in Washington. let's use the time productively.

Let's talk DIRECTLY to the VOTERS.

[ewagner]

4. Modifications on the theme...

I agree that if the "N" Option passes, we will have not power and any attempt to slow down or "shut 'er down" will result in a propaganda coup for the repubs. However, leaving town will also result in a propaganda coup.

Forgive me for this but I think our best options revolve around playing two roles: VICTIM and PROPHET

Victim in the sense that we need to demonstrate over and over again that the Repubs are paracticing one-party rule. forcing obnoxious and radical legislation on the country with impunity.

Prophet in the sense of WE TOLD YOU SO.....reinforcing what we've been saying all along about this group of radical NEOCONS.

Each role would have to be skillfully played using whatever media we can get......

[Stinky The Clown]

7. No need for "Forgive me for this" .... this is about ideas and yours is

a good one!

Thanks!

[Zorra]

6. If we really want people to pay attention, we should take matters into our

own hands and engage in a two day general strike. Shut the country down.

Get the "nuclear" flu.

IMO, it is THE PEOPLE that need to speak right along side our elected Dems.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. That would be great!

I'd love to see that. Two days of 'nothing'.

Eloquent in its simplicity.

[undergroundpanther]

9. A general

Strike and the Dem's coming out of Washington into the public sphere...

That Together would change things in a matter of weeks.
With the strike workers would have TIME to go to the schools etc to hear the Dem's and TIME to think and TIME to become active.

The only problem what to do to pay mortgage eat etc.If the strike goes on..
One solution...

Find labor friendly Dem Local businesses that sell stuff of survival like food .. willing to take a temporary cut in profit. to sell their stuff to strikers and activists on a deep discount.Tell them you need their help to save OUR country.Fear of poverty keeps alot of Americans complicit in corruption.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. Good ideas, all!

Thanks for being so thoughtful.

[ewagner]

11. Agree 100%

I think a general strike is the way to go but the logistics are almost overwhelming.....

I'm not sure we could pull it off.......

but it IS THE ANSWER!

[tk2kewl]

12. I say introduce acid-test legislation on every issue that matters

force the pukes to outlaw everything that matters to Americans or expose themselves as hypocritical flip-floppers

[Stinky The Clown]

15. That could be done by the 'skeleton crew' we leave behind in DC

That's exactly the kind of thing that should be going on.

[WillowTree]

13. Consider this scenario, though.

Unless the Democrats are in Washington, at least trying to do the jobs they were elected to do, they will become even more impotent.

The Republicans can further change the Senate rules to insert one that says that bills will not be read in full on the floor and that the Senators must be responsible for reading them themselves, and they won't need to do it by having Cheney rule from the Chair. They can just propose it, make sure that there are at least fifty-one of them there to constitute a quorum so that they can vote, and then pass it by a super-majority of those voting. Another problem solved. If they're not there, all of them, the Republicans will not only be able to do anything they want, but when the Democrats try to portray it as a power grab, the Rs can simply say "Hey, they couldn't have objected too much because they didn't even bother to show up to vote".

I don't know what the right answer is, but I think this business of "they should all just WALK OUT" is nonsense and would only make a bad situation even worse.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. They could do that whether we're there or not (pass more rule changes)

I also don't know how one becomes 'more impotent' when one is already totally impotent. Kinda the opposite of 'a little pregnant'.

The notion that we'll be seen as not working isn't necessarily valid, either. If the Dems are doing their (new) jobs, they'll be talking each and every day **to the people*. In their home districts. One on one, if need be. Telling, unfiltered, the *real* truth.

I think, rather than be seen as bad guys, they'll be seen as **really** concerned. Seen as **really** working .... for the **people**.

Anything else that simply happens in DC is just open to be spun, and even if understood, seen as old fashioned wonkery ... a sure recipe for a citizen 'tune-out'.

[OneBlueSky]

14. and if all Democratic senators just left town, wouldn't the Repugs . . .

still be able to mount a quorum, and do whatever the hell they want? . . . if there are procedural issues that get in the way, they'll simply change or eliminate them, just as they're doing with the filibuster . . .

[Stinky The Clown]

18. All the more reason to 'take it to the people

Up close, personal, one on one.

[mcscajun]

17. Are we ready for a real shutdown? A walkout?

I'm reminded of the "Tennis Court Oath" in the early stages of the French Revolution, when King Louis XVI closed the meeting place of the self-proclaimed National Assembly. The representatives of the commoners, some clergy, and a few nobles had joined them in this effort. When the king had their meeting place closed, they adjourned to an indoor tennis court and there took an oath not to disband until a constitution had been drawn up.

All this happened just a few weeks before the storming of the Bastille. Are we there yet? I don't think so.

[Stinky The Clown]

19. And I'm not proposing that

That woudl be forming a new government. That would be .... what? ... sedition?

No, I'm talking about just leaving the repubs to dow hatever the hell they want and for our side to 'take it to the people'.