I keep going over this scenario in my head

[LuckyTheDog]

The Dems sweep into control of both houses of Congress. They, along with a few, brave, moderate Republicans throw Bush and Cheney out of office. The newly named House Speaker Nancy Pelosi becomes president. Her first act is to appoint a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate the Bush era and exorcise its demons from our republic.

Soon after the hearings start, the GOP splits up and a new, moderate conservative/centrist movement made up of former Republicans and a handful of DLC Democrats form an opposition party. Most of the hard right wing of the old Republican Party retires to the private sector (where they make a fortune) or enters the political wilderness by joining the Libertarian Party or forming minor parties of their own.

All is good in America... The budget gets balanced. The wars end (peace settlements put the UN in charge of security in Iraq and Afghanistan). National health care is adopted. The political debate takes on a whole new, more serious tone. Optimism soars.

Then, I wake up. In reality, I think that if Nancy Pelosi became president under the circumstances I describe above, we'd be lucky if the hard right didn't start a shooting war.

But one can dream, right?

:dem: 4 ever

[C_U_L8R]

1. That's a good dream

insert a "deport all the freepers and destroy their weapons"
and there may be hope that this country can flourish in peace & harmony

[Minnesota Libra]

2. Nice dream!! I'd love it!! I'm not totally against.........

....all republicans but I AM totally and without reservation against all neocons shoving their better than tho attitude down everyone's throat like they are our overseers.

[LuckyTheDog]

3. I am not "against" all Republicans either

Not all Republicans are bad.

But that party is controlled by nutjobs at the moment. The GOP is run by an odd mixture of neocons (read: neo-fascists), religious extremists and crooks, so far as I can tell.

There used to be a lot more "liberal" to moderate Republicans during, say, the Nixon era. Now those people are "mavericks" (and, as such, are viewed with suspicion in the party) or have run for office as DLC Democrats because they don't fit in with the modern GOP.

[sandnsea]

4. Interesting

Are you saying that a strong left-green party and a strong DLC Centrist Party would be the best end-game possible?

[LuckyTheDog]

5. Have a better idea?

I'm all ears.

[sandnsea]

6. No

That's the idea I've been pushing for quite some time now, that's all. We're getting close to being able to implement just such a plan, but, sadly, the strong left party isn't in place to move into the void as the Democrats swoop up the disaffected liberal Republican.

[coalition_unwilling]

7. How about this counter-scenario? The Army senior brass

starts getting tired of all the fraggings and insubordination soon-to-be displayed by the enlisted "working class" towards its officer "managerial class." They also realize they've had enough of BushCo playing toy soldiers with them and decide to drop the 82nd airborne in to ring DC, detain all constitutional officers, including BushCo but also Dems, declare martial law and suspend the Constituion.

So now DU faces a tough choice: oppose the military (and thereby support BushCo) or support the military (and thereby seal BushCo's fate).

Which scenario is more likely, mine or the original poster's?

[radio4progressives]

8. A Military Coup in this country should have happened in 2004...

Unfortunately, it appears that the Military has been infiltrated by right wing American Taliban religious fundies.

So, if there's a military coup it would be to keep Bush Co in power.

[coalition_unwilling]

9. Hmm, I could see it cutting either way (pro- or anti-Bush).

If Murtha's telling the truth, the upper ranks of the officer corps has already concluded that we've been defeated.

[grasswire]

10. better go get the new Harper's magazine

It contains the transcript of a recent magazine forum on the likelihood of a military coup.