Nuclear Option Options

[Stinky The Clown]

Looks like that reptile, Frist, is gunna go for it ...... so what do Senate Dems do? What are the choices?

[paineinthearse]

1. I voted for the first "stand on principle", but

if that fails, the next step should be "Walk out of the Senate".

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Down thread there's a short riff on what we do if we walk out

What do you think we should do if we elect to walk out?

[katsy]

2. Whoa...

I voted for "stand on principle"... but really like the republican dictatorship option.

Maybe the the dems have has actually mitigated the damages the pukes could have done on their own.

[BrainRants]

3. A walkout would be the top news story

unless Michael Jackson get a tummyache again.

or the fifth "#3 Al Quaida leader" is caught again.

[GreenArrow]

4. clue me in here

A walkout involves what? Accomplishes what? Is this something akin to a "strike?" Or a one-time, get up and leave symbolic protest?

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Well ... 'walkout' can mean anything you want it to mean .....

To me, I'd like to see them simply walk out and not come back ..... just go home and start campaigning for 2006. Let the Republicans have it all, control it all, do it all ..... and watch the horror on the faces of the citizens of Planet Earth.

What else can we do? The simple fact is, filibuster or not, we are totally and completely without power. Why stay?

[Stinky The Clown]

7. On edit ... I would modify my statement to say ......

They should return to vote for any bill in which it is in OUR BEST INTERST to vote.

Fuck the republicans .... let them have what they want. When the shit is voted through the fan, let it be on a 100% 'yea' vote that is also 100% republican.

They want to be painted a certain way? Let them paint themselves and be accoountable.

[GreenArrow]

9. their hubris will be their undoing

with or without the Democrat's help.

[GreenArrow]

8. I could go for that

I just don't want to see a one-time walk out protest, only to come back the next day playing kissy kissy. But they won't do it anyway; they'll just play kissy kissy.

[Chipper Chat]

10. I agree.

Bush will unofficially become King and play all day long with his rubber stamps.

[BillZBubb]

6. The Democrats said they would shut down the Senate if

the Pugs went nuclear. The worst thing they could do would be to waver from that threat. If they fail to follow through or wimp out in any way (and I mean any compromise) then they will lose and lose big.

There will be a lot of pressure brought by the right wing media for them to accept defeat on the filibuster "gracefully". Accepting that, after making a threat would be a disaster for the long term effectiveness and even electability of Democrats.

They need to shut down the Senate until the Repugs reverse the filibuster vote and make other amends for installing right wing judges. If they means throught the next election, so be it.

[cestpaspossible]

11. Why did you leave out: WIN, preserve the right to filibuster.

that's what's gonna happen

[Stinky The Clown]

12. Because that's not an option we have. Only the Repubs have that option

We don't have a majority, remember? If we vote as a solid block with no help, we lose. We can win only .... only ..... with help from Repubs.

[cestpaspossible]

14. We will win

so saying it isn't an option makes no sense to me just because some Republicans will be voting with us. But it's your poll, so I voted other.

[Stinky The Clown]

15. I agree with your assessment of the outcome, but it isn't our win.

Its the republicans who will allow the filibuster to stand.

Any repubs who vote with us will actually be voting their own best interest ... whatever that is ..... not to give our side a damned thing. Indeed, there's a part of me who sees this whole issue as just so much well planned, nail biting, great teevee, street theater. The repubs know as well as we do that the public is not on their side. Ths whole thing is just so much billshit.

In fact, carrying that thought one step further, is it not possible that all of this - the current volume of their screeching and whining and blathering - is simply a smoke screen for the Brit memo (which is TRULY nuclear!). This whole sham debate will dominate the headlines while the real issue - the memo that could lead to impeachment were this a sane world - goes undiscussed, and sinks like a stone down the memory hole.

Or at least that's what they'd like.

[cestpaspossible]

16. I just don't share that negative, defeatist attitude

but if that's what works for you, ok

[Stinky The Clown]

17. I don't consider it defeatist or negative

just the reality.

But I get your point and I'm not arguing.