Are the "Moderates" a third party?

[ewagner]

This is getting interesting.

If the "gang of 14" can stick together, they can pretty much control the balance of power in the Senate. This is sort of like Coalition Governments in Europe, in that no mainstream party can gain or maintain power without forming a coalition with one or more minority party.

It looks to me like McCain has formed his own minority party which can swing the balance of power one way or the other....

btw: Frist can threaten all he wants. If he can't break the solidarity of the Repub members of the "gang of 14" he can't do anything.

[Ioo]

1. I wish

I suspect this is short lived, I would like to see something like this, but all of the players are in it as long as it suits them, as soon as it is done, it is done.

[MADem]

6. This is the first salvo in the LameDucking of Chimp

He should have had a little more time, but he's been slapped, badly. If those folks stick together, they can have their way--they may have to trade off, but they can determine the way things progress, not the chimp, not PissyFrist, but that little cabal. It's rather heady for them, I imagine. A government within a government.

I think the Gang of 14 sense an opportunity...they'd be fools not to.

[kentuck]

2. If that were true...

that would be to our advantage. Anything that would hinder the present regime would be to our advantage. We should work to make it a larger coalition.

[MADem]

3. For all intents and purposes, and within the close context of the

filibuster issue and any matter that impacts Senate collegiality, yes, they are a third party. They may find that they LIKE the role, though, and it could expand to other matters--it's getting rave reviews from the masses, so far, and resonating really well, so they are all winners. They may just start to like their clout, and more legislators, seeing which way the wind blows, will join their ranks.

In the long term, that would probably be a good thing to keep the wheels of the nation grinding.

[Renew Deal]

4. I think it could be and it should be.

We have heard about the revenge of the moderates. This might be it. The good thing about it is they might actually agree to get some worthwhile shit done. The bad is if we give too much.

[w13rd0]

5. I've actually written to many of them...

...suggesting just that. They should break off and form their own party. I would not find this disagreeable. They would control the balance of power, and for a while, be the most powerful voting bloc in the Senate.

[kentuck]

7. If it slowed down Bush and Rove...

it could only be for the better.

[MADem]

8. They can stay within their own parties, and still form a separate cabal

It's the best way to get their party issues before this little inside tribunal...for reasoned discourse, and no bullshit. Hell, they should commandeer the old Senate chamber as their personal clubhouse, and run the country from there until the assholes on the rigid right wise up!

[ewagner]

11. You're two steps ahead of me

I should write to them also...of couse, I see this as an advantage to the Democrats....it achieves our goal of slowing the Bush* administration down....

[MuseRider]

9. Someone posted from

a post from FR last night that said just that. They called it the Mavericks. Repubs, Democrats and the Mavericks who often vote with the Repubs. They were not happy about it. I think that there may be some truth in that and I also think it will be interesting to see what happens with it. They will most likely get pressured into going back into the hive but a little power surge and you never know. I think they do not like the hive myself but the hive provides protection. THAT is what I am most interested in seeing, what becomes of the Mavericks.

[sam sarrha]

10. actually the moderates ARE the party.. the Demagogue's are NEOCON's

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. It would be lovely, wouldn't it? But I, too, think

this is short-lived.

[Horse with no Name]

13. If they can maintain an agenda that balances the power

I could support this easily.

[MADem]

14. OK, now I KNOW the wingers are flopsweating like MAD!!!

I just saw Santorum giving a stand up ad-hoc presser under the Dome, and he actually tried to paint this whole issue thusly:

PISSYFRIST was "very involved" in the compromise negotiation (BZZZZZZZZZZZ--LIE ALERT! He was involved all right, trying to threaten the GOP members to not get involved!)

PISSYFRIST actually WANTED a compromise, a GOOD compromise, of course (BZZZZZZZZZZ--LIE ALERT!!! He wants Dems on a plate, so he can dissect them like orphaned kittens!)

PISSYFRIST AND SANTORUM are hopeful that it all works out, and they will see how it goes (BZZZZZZZZZZ--LIE ALERT!!!! They are hopeful they don't get their asses handed to them, and their bags packed for them, come next time they stand for election!)

For the record, his lips said oui, oui, but his face, attitude and demeanor said Non, non!! He did not look like a happy camper at all. It's tough carrying water that comes from a septic tank!!!!

[ewagner]

15. Thanks, I missed that

although truthfully I don't know if I could have stomached Santorum for any length of time......

I think Pissyfrist and Santorum are working feverishly behind the scenes to find a way of violating the agreement any way they can....they had their collective asses handed to them last night and they're trying to do damage control before the fundie base crucifies them both....(pun inteneded)

[wallwriter]

19. Santorum is a sniveling piece of garbage.

Anything that makes him unhappy and uncomfortable is great by me (especially if it means preserving rather than destroying, say, the U.S. Senate). I wake up every morning here in the fine Commonwealth of PA after dreaming of the day when I can vote that piece of s*** out of office.

[Cleita]

16. Oh, you mean moderate Republicans.

You probably are right. Also, I consider the DLC a "third" party within the Democrats. I think they cause us to lose more than gain and I wish they would form a party of their own.

Maybe they should join up with McCain's crowd and form a real third party. I think this would do more to neutralize the PNAC led neo-cons than any future elections.

[Just Me]

17. I think the greatest potential of the "Moderate 14" is,...

,...it can serve to protect the people and the republic from extremism; serve as a means to protect the independence of the legislative branch; serve as a vehicle of real negotiation (rather than bullying by an elite constituency); encourage congress to behave in a more cooperative manner; and provide the general public with some sense of stability.

The potential abuse, as usual, is that extremists become the dominant participants. Then, we're at square one.

[UdoKier]

18. No, they are republicans, as are the DLCers

The vast majority of legislation that ever makes its way to congress these days is sponsored and authored by huge corporations, and given nice-sounding names like "Medicare Drug Benefit" so that whored-out democrats can vote for it and pretend that they are doing progressive work.

But there are only a handful of dems in Congress who would ever propose REAL progressive legislation like Single Payer Health Care, Living Wage, etc.