Is there really a viable bipartisan center?

[leftofthedial]

Do these "moderate" Senators represent a political force that will outlast this one compropmise?

Or is this just a one-time thing to delay the inevitable political meltdown?

[yurbud]

1. consider the judges passed with the compromise

Regretably, some in both parties can agree to toadying to business interests.

[leftofthedial]

3. the center will always be mostly capitalist toadies here in Murka

but will this last?

A little biz toadying is preferable (if only slightly) to the extreme fascist agenda the bushturdgang has been pushing.

[mermaid]

2. It Would Not Seem So

We are now so polarized and divided against one another, that it seems to me Civil War is inevitable. Republicans cannot tolerate hearing opinions that do not completely match thier own, they plug up their ears, and their minds...and screech like hell at any opinion differeing from their own.

I fear, sooner or later, if they don't get their own way on absolutely everything, they will start a Civil War. Personally, I wish they would. Fuck the Red States. Let the intolerant fucking racist redneck bastards LEAVE the Union this time. And don't let the door hit 'em in the ass on the way out, either.

We could split the country into the Blue States - Northeast, NorthMidwest, and Western states, and let the rest become fucking Jesusland...Hallelujah!!

Piss off, Red States!!

[leftofthedial]

4. polarization is a trend, getting worse

and already very bad

But a few repukes DID agree to a moderation of the scorched-earth preferences advocated by their leaders and their propagandists.

Is that meaningful in the slightest?

[davepc]

6. Moderate Republicans told Frist et al to go Cheney themselves

You don't think thats meaningful?

They're sick of being taken for granted and ran and end-run around their own senate leadership to keep him from doing what they wanted to do, which was to blow up the filibuster rules.

Frist is so impotent right now he needs a Viagra perscription. And he was undercut BY HIS OWN PARTY.

[leftofthedial]

7. I think the jury's out

but I'm mostly asking what other DUers think.

It looks like a break in the repuke ranks. I think a few specific votes will tell.

I'd like to see this moderate coalition emerge as a truly independent force, one that could be leveraged by either party on certain issues.

[davepc]

8. I don't know if its a long lasting coalition

as much as it was a shot across the radical rights bow from the moderate Republicans that they aren't going to be strong armed, muscled around, and taken for granted anymore. Bush and Frist dont care what they think, don't ask for their input, and push forward with their radical agenda. Remember, Bush thinks he has a mandate.

Moderate Republicans are stuck holding a bag of raw goods and a record they have to run on sooner or later. They DON'T want to run on George Bush's record when they had very little influence into shaping it. These are Republicans who don't want to roll back Row V. Wade, and who don't want to destroy social security.

Today they told Bush/Frist "we will not be ignored, get off your high horse and consider our needs when you make policy, or we'll cross the isle and hang you to dry".

Thats why the Freepers are so pissed off because there is now a very visible FRACTURE in the Republican party. Instead of having a mandate to push through anything and everything they want, they actually have to answer to voices of reason in their own party.

These divisions have been paved over in the past for a "get along to go along" partisanship, but Bush is fucking with too many things that too many people don't want fucked with, and there has to be a line drawn in the sand by the non radical, getting more marginalized every day Republicans sooner or later. Today was that day.

Democrats who are pissed off because we didnt force the Republicans to blow up the Senate over 3 judges who aren't *that* big a deal in the great grand scheme of things are missing the forest thought the trees.

[leftofthedial]

9. good point about the shot across the bow

I agree with that. I'd think the moderate repukes would be tired of being taken for granted and forced to support blatant imperial fascism.

I'm not so sure I agree that the only negative for the Dems is the three judges.

I don't trust repukes at all period. They still have the potential to pull the same illegal crap again anytime they want.

Also, kiss goodbye any chance of a meaningful Enron conviction or any linkage between Enron and the bushturd.

[FrenchieCat]

5. You gotta ask John Warner....

If Warner represents the "moderates", then this must be Mary Poppins!

[Lexingtonian]

10. eh...

I think these folks are where the game is for the next year or year and a half.

This hardline Republican policy agenda more or less bowled over everybody except real die-hards in 2001/02.
Hardline Democrats picked themselves up in '01 and '02 and oppose it fully.
Moderate Democrats picked themselves up in '03 and '04 and oppose it fully.
Indies picked themselves up in '04 and now- '05- and are starting to oppose it.

Now it's moderate Republicans who are starting to run out of goodwill and benefit of the doubt for the hardline agenda. It should take them this year and some or most of next year. We're gonna be dealing with all these Mr. Magoos and Milquetoasts and such for that long.

After that we should see the hardliners immolate themselves on the failures of all they pushed and claimed to believe for so long. And Poof! goes the present GOP coalition.

[BadNews]

11. I hope your right, but the threat primary competition from

a hard right opponent is a difficult proposition for Repubs. Most voters in the primaries are pretty hard core right wing. Even moderate repubs need to listen to that part of their party if they want to survive a primary challenge and keep their jobs. Some, like McCain are safe, but most have to stick their neck out every time they oppose the administration.

I don't think you'll see the GOP backing candidates like Spectre in '06.

[Lexingtonian]

12. true

But hardline Republicans don't win election in moderate districts/states anymore.