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Democrats and 'The Magic Bullet'
As counsel for the Warren Commission, Arlen Specter described a "magic bullet" that changed America. Four decades later as a U.S. senator, Specter is providing another history-altering magic bullet - one Democrats will either fire off in a starting gun, or use in their suicide.
By leaving the Republican Party this week, the five-term Pennsylvania lawmaker eliminated the last Democratic rationale for inaction: the Senate filibuster. With Minnesota Democrat Al Franken expected to be seated soon, and now with Specter, Democrats will have the 60 Senate votes needed to overcome all parliamentary obstructions.
This legislative magic bullet will force Democrats to fulfill their policy promises and commence an era of dominance, or fail and get annihilated at the polls.
No longer can they blame Republicans for stopping bills to reform health care, tax, defense and trade policy. In command of the White House, the autocratic House of Representatives, and soon a filibuster-proof Senate, Democrats will have total authority to do whatever they want, and no scapegoat to fault. That means, as ABC News' Rick Klein said, "This is Democrats' turn to govern, no excuses" - and it means we're about to find out whether their pledges were genuine.
Ever since the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress, Democrats have guaranteed "real change" if we give them back control of government. They've made this pledge despite helping Republicans deregulate the financial system and plunge the country into the Iraq War. And at every turn, they've blamed the GOP, rather than themselves, for gridlock.
When they temporarily took back the Senate in 2001 after Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords' party switch, they said the Republican House would stymie their priorities - a logical argument that came true. When they won both houses of Congress in 2006, they said George W. Bush would veto their agenda - again, a fair assertion that proved correct. When they won both Congress and the White House in 2008, they insisted they still couldn't do very much because their 58 senate votes couldn't overcome a filibuster - a less believable claim considering Obama's bully pulpit, but nonetheless at least mathematically valid.
It has been like watching a 15-year version of an Indiana Jones film - every time we think the quest to find the ark will be completed, there's been another twist, putting off the promised conclusion just a little bit more.
Of course, when Dr. Jones' adventure did eventually end and the ark was found and opened, it gruesomely melted the heads of those standing nearby as they euphorically screamed, "It's beautiful!" And, in fact, that's one possible outcome of Specter's announcement.
Sixty Senate votes do seem beautiful ... until 10 bought-off, right-wing, and/or weak-kneed Democrats decide to keep helping Republicans make the upper chamber our nation's single most powerful obstacle to "real change." When that happens, 60 votes become an ugly flame that sears the electoral flesh off politicians who technically have the power to act, but whose subsequent failure to deliver exposes their dishonesty.
The other possible outcome is actual progress. Even the most recalcitrant Democratic senators likely comprehend that in a 60-vote environment brimming with expectations, their continued alliance with Republican obstructionists could endanger their whole party and consequently their individual careers. They have to understand that it's one thing to vote against your party's universal health care promise when the GOP could already filibuster such a proposal - but it's quite another thing to cast a deciding vote against that promise when your party has all the power. That reality could forge a new cohesion necessary for results - and for an enduring majority.
It all depends on how Democrats use the magic bullet Arlen Specter just handed them.
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26 Comments so far
Show AllAs long as one of them does not meet with a Rovian/Cheney plane "accident" ala Wellstone and family. Increases the importance of high speed rail.
I found that strange, too. As if those who wanted him out had such scruples that they would hesitate to do it. And I'm not talking about just the Republicans.
There aren't 60 Democrats. There are 100 corporatists.
The Health Care Bill will pass without any public option after a vicious disinformation campaign by the insurance lobby which will provide more than enough cover for said corporatists' support.
The result will be a windfall for the insurance companies who will use the government to force 50 million people to purchase their nearly worthless services.
In essence, the "Democrats" will deliver to the insurance companies a gift the "Republicans" simply, by design, NEVER could.
These are the type of "victories" we can look forward to: hollow and hurtful.
Well stated!
Obama has no brief to reverse the pernicious effects of the Hollow State that arose after LBJ left office, and continued with every administration, regardless of party, ever since.
The Compassionate State, pejoratively rebranded the Welfare State, will not be restored by this administration-- or any administration recruited from the duopoly.
Hollow and hurtful; tragic but true.
· Yr Obd't Servant
Funny thing about that though--being in the minority never stopped the Republicans--and when in the majority they certainly get what they want. Traditionally, it has been a more natural fit for the Republicans to serve capitalism, they don't have to posture as anything other than what they are- but due to overreach, arrogance and criminal deception they marginalized themselves. The Democrats have been competing to be the party to represent the ruling order and Obama's role is to represent the status quo with a more moderate relevant face. They may tinker around the edge but are sure to eventually fail because it requires deception--they must represent themselves as fundamentally different than who they have become--and their only real means of survival is they aren't as bad as the Republicans but they come across as weak and elitist. They are now the Yuppie party--which alienates everyone else and in the past the Republicans have exploted that void effectively using Democratic party insincerity effectively. The Democrats will stay in power until their compromised status renders them ultimately useless.
Very prescient political analysis, Vern, and I totally agree with it.
The Democrat party either delivers on its promises or commits suicide? Sounds like win-win to me.
Chris Bowers from Open Left sums it up well:
...having 60 Democratic Senators is not, and never was, a magic number for Democrats. In June, when Al Franken is seated, there won't be a single piece of legislation that has been defeated so far in the 111th Congress (cramdown, EFCA, 100% cap and trade) but will pass when Democrats have 60 Senators. Not a single one.
We will shortly reach 60 votes in the Senate, but the more progressive aspects of the Democratic legislative agenda will still be stalled. This means we have officially reached the era where "more Democrats" is completely irrelevant to the progressive cause.
(snip)
The "D" next to a the name of a Senate candidate or incumbent has become irrelevant. Now we need letters list "B" for bankruptcy reform, "C" for putting a price on all carbon, and "E" for EFCA. No matter what party a with which candidate identifies, Senate campaigns are now only relevant to progressives in terms of which pieces of defeated legislation their election or re-election will assist. And that's it.
Consider the 10 Dems, Dorgan, Tester, Nelson, Byrd, Bayh, Landrieu, Carper, Johnson, Pryor, and the turncoat opportunist, Single Bullet Spector who voted against the cram-down legislation yesterday. Legilsation that would have helped foreclosed homeowners by allowing bankruptcy judges to possibly lower payments so people could stay in their homes. It's pretty clear we've got serious bribery and collusion going on.
I don't consider what's been going on as lobbying anymore. Maybe it's business as usual for our Corporatist Congress, but it's gone beyond reproach. We were forced to hand trillions of unfettered cash to the Wall Street Syndicate, and Congress greedily accepts as much as they can for a favor. They made sure that legislation would not pass. I'm sick of the slick talk. In any other time or place it's called buying votes, period.
The egregious behavior of Obama and the Democrats for failing to make certain the cram down legilation passed, exposes their feigned concerns for hard working Americans. This legislation is fair, right, and just and they all know it. It's also a better plan for recovery of the housing market.
Don't you just hate paying for the privilege of having your face rubbed in shit?
After giving/promising $13 TRILLION to the banks the very least they could do was allow mortgages to be renegotiated.
For Christ sakes this should've been done 18 months ago!
Cram downs might even increase the value of the toxic debt (bundled mortgages) on the bank's balance sheets by allowing people to continue making payments on their homes.
Instead, potentially millions more will become homeless, property values will decline leading to decreased spending and more joblessness.
These people are f*ng without souls.
Yes freepressmyass, The "Blue Dog Dems" who usually vote Republican...so in reality nothing is full proof for the Dems this time either.
Arlen Specter is the new Blue Dog already.
Like his Magic Bullet Theory... a total fantasy to provide fake evidence for the JFK cover-up ordered by LBJ and enforced by Warren Commission's Allen Dulles, the CIA director fired by Kennedy and LBJ's friend, Hoover's FBI, I don't think Specter will do much for real change.
Right, Jim. Blue Dogs aka. Republicans.
The point is EVERY member of Congress who voted against this legilsation is truly working against their constituents, no matter where. That's what's so appalling.
They're shameless, greedy liars.
Spector is just part of the crime syndicate we call congress, posing as dem o rats and repulsives. Really just a bunch of crooked and punic attorneys who have sold out America.
nothing is certain, this is true. However speaking of political propaganda, the message is clear from progressive Sirota: Democratic leaders have a mandate and now given an ultimatum. Use it or lose it.
If they don't use it or if they use it and they fail at it, they will be handed a pink slip. No excuses now. So let's see them move the ball.
That's the message. The buck stops with Obama.
The sad part is they're getting away with it. The majority of Americans aren't paying attention to who votes how in Congress. If they were, these people wouldn't keep getting reelected.
When the Republicans were in the majority they ran the place like a slave ship. Tom DeLay wasn't known as The hammer for nothing. Reid and Pelosi appear to have no control over their own party. Or maybe that's how they want it to look. The Democratic agenda is to look busy and do nothing.
When the people fear their government there is tyranny,
when the government fears the people there is liberty.
~ Thomas Jefferson
well, he produced some great records in the early 60's, but i think he DID kill that waitress...
you never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips...
I think they view us regular citizens either as workers too stupid to do anything differently than continue to struggle to make ends meet in the name of success, defined as amassing huge credit card debt buying their worthless crap while paying mortgages, healthcare costs, and taxes, which they then raid, or as inmates who just haven't been problematic enough to get tasered, processed and jailed yet...economics provides so many opportunities for default, which provides so many opportunities for repossession...
As long as Harry Reid is in charge there will be no change. He just isn't up to the job of "persuading" the Blue Dogs to vote the right way.
Of course, if the Congressional Democratic Party stopped pouring cash at those Blue Dogs and perhaps even encouraged primary challenges to them . . . but I'm in Wonderland. The Senate is a rich man's club and it isn't done to blackball the guys you play golf with.
And the same is true in the House, unfortunately.
Rainborowe
In the end, it will make no difference. Spectar or otherwise, what the Democrats planned, they'll carry out. A great deal of the party's already like Specter anyway. Besides, if the Democrats were truly populist and not pandering out of some stupid fear or bribe, Specter wouldn't even think of joining the party to begin with.
"Sixty Senate votes do seem beautiful ... until 10 bought-off, right-wing, and/or weak-kneed Democrats decide to keep helping Republicans make the upper chamber our nation's single most powerful obstacle to "real change."
Blue Dog Democrats to oust:
* Jason Altmire (PA-4)
* Mike Arcuri (NY-24)
* Joe Baca (CA-43)
* John Barrow (GA-12)
* Marion Berry (AR-1)
* Sanford Bishop (GA-2)
* Dan Boren (OK-2)
* Leonard Boswell (IA-3)
* Allen Boyd (FL-2)
* Bobby Bright (AL-2)
* Dennis Cardoza (CA-18)
* Christopher Carney (PA-10)
* Ben Chandler (KY-6)
* Travis Childers (MS-1)
* Jim Cooper (TN-5)
* Jim Costa (CA-20)
* Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
* Lincoln Davis (TN-4)
* Joe Donnelly (IN-2)
* Brad Ellsworth (IN-8)
* Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8)
* Bart Gordon (TN-6)
* Parker Griffith (AL-5)
* Jane Harman (CA-36)
* Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration
* Baron Hill (IN-9), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy
* Tim Holden (PA-17)
* Frank Kratovil (MD-1)
* Jim Marshall (GA-8)
* Jim Matheson (UT-2)
* Mike McIntyre (NC-7)
* Charlie Melancon (LA-3), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications
* Mike Michaud (ME-2)
* Walt Minnick (ID-1)
* Harry Mitchell (AZ-5)
* Dennis Moore (KS-3)
* Patrick Murphy (PA-8)
* Glenn Nye (VA-2)
* Collin Peterson (MN-7)
* Earl Pomeroy (ND-AL)
* Mike Ross (AR-4)
* John Salazar (CO-3)
* Loretta Sanchez (CA-47)
* Adam Schiff (CA-29)
* David Scott (GA-13)
* Heath Shuler (NC-11), Blue Dog Whip
* Zack Space (OH-18)
* John Tanner (TN-8)
* Gene Taylor (MS-4)
* Mike Thompson (CA-1)
* Charlie Wilson (OH-6)
Unfortunately many Blue Dogs come from conservative districts. Although an upstate New York conservative republican district did elect a Democrat - another Blue Dog? If we were smart, we would run fiscally progressive, socially conservative candidates in these districts. But being smart may being asking too much.
When the people fear their government there is tyranny,
when the government fears the people there is liberty.
~ Thomas Jefferson
These people are in the House, not the Senate. Still, they're a damned nuisance there, too, although some are worse than others.
Rainborowe
Arlen Specter.
Hell, the Democrats would take PHIL Spector if he were available.
· Yr Obd't Servant
Phil spectors haircuts were more in line with physics laws of than Arlens majical bullit.
Please read JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why It Matters, or people will remain thinking that the Presidents Chosen by Wolf Blitzer will change everything, and we-- as a species will devlove into quivering lime Jello, and not even cold quiverin
Democrats will still find an excuse not to move the progressive agenda forward and the idiots on Democratic Underground (and many here on CD) will still buy it lock, stock and barrel.
During the 8 years of Bush they had at least 40 senators for every second of the Bush presidency and could've filibustered each and every one of Bush's criminal enterprises. They did nothing.
Democrats are a rotten entity that needs to go away.