entelechy,that might not be a question for the future...if it walks like a conspiracy and talks like one...

"when liberty is taken away by force it can be restored by force. when it is relinquished voluntarily by default it can never be recovered."

---dorothy thompson, u.s. journalist, 1894-1961

lastdregs,

You're right, it's not a question for any future Bush might leave us. It's a choice we face now, today - impeachment or dictatorship.

Is this how Hitler did it? Just wait for everyone to hand over the government on a platter.....

.
The Monopoly Media has already selected our picks for front-runner Democratic candidates guaranteed to lose, so kick back and watch democrats perform their ritual Hara-kiri.

A tradition sponsored by Big Media.

If this were a nation not deluded by denial of racism and anti-feminism, a half-black man and a woman might have a slight chance, but otherwise it's political suicide. Promoting Obama and Clinton is a Big Media scheme to steer democrats off a cliff. Idealism is a wonderful impulse that often crashes into reality, and the reality is, most Americans are closet racists and won't elect a woman president. Especially this woman, who's fervently hated by millions of "conservatives" who also despised her husband for being Republican-lite. Real Right-wingers have never and will never vote for Right-lite, no matter who she promises to bomb.

Obama and Clinton are leading in the polls because they receive the greatest Big Media coverage, and all other Democratic Right-Ultra-lite candidates are smeared, denigrated and ignored. That's how the Monopoly Media operates. Big Media is a Corporate Giant crushing little people under it's foot with lies and propaganda. Trampling little people can be categorized as body language and reveals truth better than a million words.

Have Americans caught on to the Monopoly Media's cunning plan to sponsor Military Industrial Complex Candidates, which if worse come to worse, are at least not Right-Ultra-lite?

War is good, for Big Business.

.

Forget the Daily Kos. Common Dreams rules the mainstream online media (MOM?).

So where do we get a list of these spineless democrats so we can let them know and let our friends and family in their state know. If they are going to vote Republican or Nazi in this case, we might has well turn them out in 2008- or are they the ones not up for "reappointment."

This also shows how weak the democratic party and leadership is in that they can't pursuade their own party members. I suppose Lieberman and the extra money he doles out goes to these guys. Finally, kick Lieberman out of the Democrat Causus. He was elected by Republicans to laugh in the face of the Democrats- you see they are not afraid to vote for a democrat who they know is a treasonous turncoat.

That Democrats deal with this piece of spit is just more evidence of their spineless ineffectiveness and cowardice.

They dishonor all Americans and our constitutional founders- Shameless pieces of guano (bat shit).

While Uygur describes yet another attack by "centrist" (actually pro-right wing business) DLC Democrats on the rest of us, he is absolutely wrong about their spinelessness and weakness.

They did not cave in to anything or anyone, but accomplished exactly what they are supposed to do: execute a pro-business agenda run by a fascist government.

The fact that they are in the Democratic Party, thick among the leadership, makes them even more powerful in that they are able to check any progressive tendencies left in the party.

That said, they should have been run out of the party long ago.

But they weren't, and that is the problem. They have become the party leadership or control the leadership by way of controlling the fundraising committees.

They are on program.

I can only hope smart Democratic voters in the districts and states of these "centrist" surrender monkeys withhold their votes in 2008 and let the Republicans win their seats. "But then the Democrats will lose the Congress!" you say? At this point, I don't much care. What's the point of having a Democratic Congress that jumps whenever Bush says "Boo"? In fact, there doesn't seem to be much point in having a Congress at all if it's going to give all its power to the Leader.

Not really though--it is not just the usual let-downs, but the entire body, because they have established strategies to line up votes--and when they don't whip, they are allowing an agreed upon outcome. This allows others the option of posturing against it, when they can be assured of their vote not impacting the outcome. By allowing Bush cover, they also protect themselves from a history of complicity.

True, the Democrats may be spineless cowards who collaborate with criminal extremists at the expense of the Constitution and human decency, but AT LEAST THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AT IT.

blue dogs? the ultimate in hypocrisy and dishonesty.
playing for one team while wearing another's colors shouldn't be acceptable to anyone. political expedience over the common good should be considered treason and these blue curs are complicit in every crime of this disastrous administration.

We have NO representation in this government. NONE.

Lies upon lies, treachery and WAR have been unleashed upon us and all we can do is... nothing. The Bush Administration hasn't been held accountable for ANYTHING.

We scream for justice, but even the world has turned a blind eye toward us. We torture, rape and murder prisoners illegally held in secret prisons. We use white phospherous, depleted uranium and cluster munitions. We target civilians and civilian infrastructure. The US is held just as unacountable by the governments of the world as by our own. WHY?!?

The United States IS the worst country in the world and CHANGE is desperately needed. May the revolution be as swift as it is peaceful.

Peace to you and yours.

Did Rove hatch this scheme to throw the Dems into total disarray? There is already so much disunity and in-fighting among Progressives even before this latest row that it is difficult to see how the Right cannot regain control soon. Rove knows that a disunited Progressive movement is a weak Progressive movement. The Right has religion or fake patriotism to keep their troops in line. We're like the "Bible Christians" who keep splintering and splintering into oblivion over every word and verse in the Bible.

Go here to find out how your Congress Critters voted on Friday and Saturday:

House Roll Call 8/4/07 TSA Bill http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll836.xml

Senate Roll Call 8/3/07 TSA Bill http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070804/ap_on_go_co/senate_rollcall_terrorism_1

The only thing I would add is that Reid and Pelosi are cowards and traitors to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They both had the power as to which bill, if any, came to the floor for a vote. They both had the power to protect our civil liberties and did not. It doesn't matter how they voted. They allowed these bills to come to the floor of both houses of congress.

I've had it! I'm done to a crisp!

jonjoe and everyone,

So what are you going to do after the next terrorist attack and Bush declares marshall law, postpones the election and begins arresting thousands of "suspects"?! How do you impeach a dictator?!

The government is not a popularity contest. It is an installation created by the corporatocracy to further its own ends. It wouldn't matter if Bush's approval rating dropped to two percent. The Democrats would still be following the orders of their paymasters like the good running dogs that they are.

It's obvious the CONgress doesn't want exposed the extortion to which they've been being subjected as a result of the initial and defiantly continued Bush unConstitutional, illegal and unwarranted searches and records seizures perpetrated upon them to date.

Sure, not all democrats are bad, some are 'good' but they should be united in shouldering their responsibility to their constituents and dissolving more liberties is not the way to go. Is this just poor leadership or is it that they don't give a poop?

Anything is better then the way the republican party had been running things. Look how things have turned out with bush!

There is confusion now as Pelosi seeks to undo this mess???

Meanwhile . . .
Evidently, the Democratic leadership have no clue yet that though they should be courteous, they have to show that they understand they are dealing with a criminal administration here. They do know that, right?

And why did NO Democrat mention this reality . . . ?????

QUOTE
UPDATE — I just remembered that John Ashcroft fought this illegal FISA program from his hospital bed in 2004. In fact, the entire top echelon of the Justice Department and the head of the FBI all threatened to resign because of how illegal this progam was. The law they just passed appears to be broader than the one Ashcroft's Justice Department fought against.

So, these Blue Dog Democrats (the fake centrists I talk about above) won't fight nearly as hard as John Ashcroft and some of the most conservative lawyers in the country against George W. Bush. How centrists could they possibly be when they are to the right of John Ashcroft? This is really sickening. It is a callous disregard of their voters and their constitutional responsibility.

Yes, everybody is saying this now. But Chris Floyd makes more sense:

http://www.chris-floyd.com/Articles/Articles/Danse_Macabre%3A_An_Apology_to_Democrats/

"They are the soft underbelly of the Democratic Party."

Wrong. The "Fascist 16," or, if you prefer their screen name, loyalbushieDems16, are the REAL face of today's opposition party (from the New Webster Dictionary, Bush Edition: opposition - to agree with everything dear leader says or does or planned to say or tried to say or might ever do.) The 28 who voted nay are the exception - and that is why it's time to

SWITCH YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION RIGHT NOW. DROP THE DEMS - SHOW THEM THAT THEIR FASCIST BEHAVIOR HAS CONSEQUENCES!

BTW: the FISA law states that even a "sitting president" can be criminally indicted for violations of said law. Bush proudly confessed to violating said law. That part of the law has yet to be erased.

Sergeant at Arms, place the President and Vice President under arrest immediately.

jonjoe

"....it is difficult to see how the Right cannot regain control soon..."

They already have "control", with the willing help of the Democrats. It can't be undone now -- Bush will veto any legislative attempts to amend the statute later.

Will the last American Patriot
Please turn out the lights

entelechy, assuming we have a future...impeachment or dictatorship, i cant say that one will avoid the other. to much is already in place. the only change in the life of an amerikan will be for those that oppose "progress". shut up and keep on shopping and you will be fine. after all we are just being provided with an unending supply of affordable creature comforts, albeit at the expense of others we will never know. but it will take a long time before our standard of living approaches that of the average iraqi. sounds orwellian, but his work is becoming much less fictional these daze, huh?

Unfortunately, the one Democratic senator we have here in Minnesota voted to give Bush more spy powers. Now, what is the point of targeting the Republican senator--Norm Coleman--when the Democrat, Amy Klobucher, votes just like him? She is a disgrace, a disappointment, and a loser. One only hopes she either resigns, or decides not to run again, because we need a real progressive in this state, not a spineless coward.

GOD I miss Paul Wellstone.

Perhaps the question isn't "Do they know something we don't?"

What does the Bush administration have on members of Congress that we don't? They're spying, but they're not sharing.

michaelmiller go one more rung up on that ladder, gets facinating, doesn't it?

To All Missourians --

Senator Claire McCaskill voted FOR this bill. I will not vote for her if she seeks re-election. Please spread the word to anyone you know in Missouri.

Empire or Republic? Before we answer that question things won't change regardless of who is in power. The Dems are in on this racket too!

Notice how Most Democratic Presidential Candidates keep saying Bush "mismanaged" the war? Nothing on the war itself been illegal, inhuman, unjust and unconstitutional.

It is like accusing a Rapist on botching the rape instead of punishing him/her for the rape.

I noticed that Barbara Boxer ( from California) and Ron Paul ( from Texas) did not participate on the vote ( Not Voting).

They better have a good excuse for this.

"While Uygur describes yet another attack by "centrist" (actually pro-right wing business) DLC Democrats on the rest of us, he is absolutely wrong about their spinelessness and weakness. They did not cave in to anything or anyone, but accomplished exactly what they are supposed to do: execute a pro-business agenda run by a fascist government. The fact that they are in the Democratic Party, thick among the leadership, makes them even more powerful in that they are able to check any progressive tendencies left in the party. That said, they should have been run out of the party long ago. But they weren't, and that is the problem. They have become the party leadership or control the leadership by way of controlling the fundraising committees. They are on program."

Best comments and explanation I have read so far. Spent yesterday reading DailyKos but as they are in business to elect democrats it may be hard to face the truth.

They are not stupid, they are not misinformed, they are not under threat....they are ON PROGRAM, they are DOING THEIR JOB. It's time we faced the facts. It's time for a new party.

Remember, they play games with the votes in Congress once they have the votes to pass. For example, once they knew they had the votes to pass, they could easily tell some people that they could vote No if its politically better for them. What this means is that there's no guarantee that the No votes would really have been No votes if they'd really had been needed to pass. In fact its quite likely that some of the No votes would have voted Yes if their votes were needed.

The Senators running for President may all very well fit into this category. Most likely they voted No because its better politically for them. But there's no guarantee that they wouldn't have voted Yes if the vote was needed for passage.

Face it, the bottom line is that the leadership of the Democratic Party supported this bill, helped negotiate it, and the arranged its passage. This bill passed with the blessings of the Democratic Party. Period. This bill represents the policy of the Democratic Party. And it fits perfectly with what the Democratic Party has done for the last five years. They supported the Patriot Act, they supported making the Patriot Act permanent. The Democrats have lined up and supported bill after bill and budget request after budget request all in favor of the government spying on American citizens.

If you don't like this, stop voting Democrat. We need to build another party that will represent the American people and stand up for the rights of the American people. You are fooling yourself if you think the Democrats will do that.

How many times do I have to write this post? Typical Air America host bullshit. Democrats don't capitulate, they're not spineless, cowards, etc. They are accomplices, active enablers and beneficiaries of all Bush crimes.

fedup... Yes, Amy disappionted us (to put it mildly), but I still hope we will approve of her more often than not.

As to our errant lawmakers (including Boxer, hailing from my home state of California) who were conveniently absent from the crucial vote. jspkim, they can always come up with a "good" excuse. Like the notes to your school: "Dear Principal Jerkface: Please excuse my daughter from voting today; we had to go clothes shopping."

Abstaining from this crucial vote means that 1) I really shouldn't vote in favor of Bush's wiretap program because warrantless spying upsets most of my constituents and they will hate me for voting for it.
OR: 2) I really shouldn't vote against Bush's wiretap program because - gosh - I'm just so darn scared of those Bush people. So I will just be absent, and that way no one can accuse me of voting either way.

And be assured our wandering lawmakers will come up with excellent excuses. They will put a lot of thought and planning into their excuse-making. Too bad that energy isn't going into saving our civil rights.

The Democratic Party is run by liars and cowards, the Republican Party is run by racists and fascists. They are both controlled by woman-hating corporate greed. You liberals reading this believe "tina"--there is no alternative--because you are afraid of losing your perks, your bribes. You also don't care that American fascism has already taken control of and slaughtered millions of non-white and non-rich people around the world (Start by looking at the 3,000,000 homeless people in the USA, count the 2,000,000 inmates, the 12,000 immigrants rounded up and deported in the last year, the 800,000 Iraqi deaths in the last five years, and, by the way, remember Katrina?). NOW you want to start complaining about your rights, your Constitution, and want to beg Big Mama Clinton or Big Daddy Barak to come change your diaper for you? Grow the hell up! You are, objectively, aiding the spread of fascism!
IF the Left, the liberals, the students, yuppies and boomers were ever finally able, and WILLING, to unite behind a NON-evil lesser party and candidate (Greens? Nader? McKinny? Kucinich? Peace & Freedom? Sharpton?)--and to stop ignoring the real needs of women, workers, children, people of color, and the EARTH--there would be a SMALL chance that American fascism would not destroy the peace-loving people of this beautiful planet. But as history has shown, liberals--especially, but not exclusively, American, white liberals--are ignorant and arrogant political wimps who actually believe that they won't be hurt by political half-measures. To paraphrase the Last Poets, "Liberals Are Scared of Revolution!"

My representative (not), Clifford Stearns from NE Florida ALWAYS follows the Bush regime and the 'party'. He keeps getting elected because he represents the most neocon area of Florida, and the good ol' boys will keep him in office until he dies (or they die, which ever comes first). Moveon.org keeps telling me to 'phone' or 'write' my representative. I have almost given up because the last letter I received from him told me the "science is still out" on global warming. Gheezum! But - it doesn't really stop me (for very long). I will keep writing and fighting and banging the pots and pans, even if it seems so useless sometimes. IMPEACH!!

TERM LIMITS!! We MUST have TERM LIMITS!!

Truly, a rubber stamp Congress

"The Democratic Party is run by liars and cowards, the Republican Party is run by racists and fascists," says Yele. Sounds like Americans are caught between a rock and a hard place.

Why do they tolerate this intolerable situation? Why don't they put a stiff broom through their entire political system, get rid of Presidents, opportunists and carpetbaggers, set up a proper democracy, one that represents all Americans not just the elite?

Excuse me for asking. I'm just one of the six billion people who also live in the world, the Non-American group.

http://seeking-utopia.blogspot.com

I stopped reading when I saw "alright."

Is it too much to expect that journalists use the correct, formal spelling "all right?"

Even as a confirmed pacifist, I am now beginning to feel that this is, for me, the "straw to break the camel's back", and the conditions are approaching the time for REVOLUTION. The system of government we grew up with has been horribly broken, is demonstratably NOT representing the will of the people, has not been corrected through the process of election, and is now focusing on eliminating dissent of all kinds. The warning signals are all there. Our 'democracy' has been lost. The time has come to take back control of our own government by any means still possible.

Yeah, was it all just a dream a few short months ago in Nov 2006? DEMS take back House and Senate! And what happened? Impeachment off the table, war funding continues, we get a surge. So we got a cursory increase in the min wage, which means nothing out west in California, since state min wage is higher than federal leve. The soft underbelly should not be mistaken for the rotten core that is the Democractic Party Leadership. I'm registering from frady cat (aka/democrat) to Independent/Green, and I'll post the same in another article. Dem House populated by so-call "blue dog" conservative democratic elect lackeys for Bush. There are no "blue dogs" anymore in the DEM party, it's a pack of yellow dogs that can't even face up to a lame duck. Bow Wow, all bark no bite from this yellow bellied pack of Dimmocrats. At least the GOP follows the script albeit blindly and misguidedly.
-
One entry found for cower from online dictionary:
Main Entry: cow·er
Pronunciation: 'kau(-&)r
Function: intransitive verb (See also Democratic Leadership)
Etymology: Middle English couren, probably from Middle Low German kuren
: to shrink away or crouch especially for shelter from something that menaces, domineers, or dismays

If one of the Bendovercrats had the courage to tell a member of the junta to go eff himself, the roar of approval everywhere would drown out Fasces News and the rest of MiniTru.

Is it not probable that the conservative, Repug controlled media has pushed a woman, a black, and a trial lawyer into the front because they might be easier to beat, or if elected would be Repug lite? Kucinich is never mentioned and that may be for good reason as he is the one that should be elected and all know where he stands on issues. This bunch lays awake at night figuring out new tricks to pull on the people of this country. If it looks like they will lose power, look for a terrorist attack, or invasion or bombing of another evil country, and we will not have the luxury of an election.

After this latest acceptance by Democrats of Fascist control and constitutional illegalities by Bush, I've determined these people aren't Democrats, but only masquerading as such and with this vote the fools have blown their own disguise! The treasonous vote last Friday shows them as companion Republicans and I say we need recalls nationwide and need them to begin now. As a Party we can't afford to sit about and wring our hands while utter fools, whom we thought represented our ideals, vote away our rights. What we have is a collection of Deceitful-Dumb-Democrats. Get rid of them before they do more damage.

The Democratic Party is DEAD! Why not give it a decent funeral and send it on its way to a well deserved oblivion?

My Dear Friends of the pond!

You would not accept if you could buy only 2 kinds of cornflakes or bred or cars or whatever. But exactly that you are accepting in your political system. The "Democrats" are nothing more than the other cheek of the same ass - you will never achieve anything for the common American if you rely on them. Bring Ralph Nader together with Cindy Sheehan and you will see the chicken running.