Where should the Democrats draw the line?

[Pepperbelly]

The only power we now exert in government is the fillibuster. Period. In the House, we might as well not exist (majority of the majority ... sound familiar?) Some of our people are in the federal judiciary but not enough to provide more than transitional relief until the supremes smacks down anything rational they might do. Of course, the Executive is lost.

The fillibuster is it.

But the fillibuster is sort of a nuclear option. It cannot be used to advance a positive or progressive agenda but only to block the more egregious aspects of what the gops do. It also has the danger of backlash with the voters, a danger exacerbated by the celebrity press corps and their lazy ways of doing business.

We therefore must choose our battles very selectively. If we use the fillibuster too often, the public will tire of it and begin to react against the party.

So what do we use it on and what do we not use it on?

[mandyky]

1. I made some suggestions about a month ago

If we cannot actually stop things our leadership needs to be all over the press saying why.

Here are my original suggestions

1) Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid need a monthly report card session at the Nat'l Press Club to

a) discuss bills passed or on the docket, and their negative effects or any poison pills (like the tax peeking thing in the spending bill).
b) discuss the effects of the past passed bills negative effects
c) encourage activists to call their Reps and Senators

2) Both the House and Senate Ledership of the Dems need the following

a) a blog
b) a section of their website containing the info in the report card sections
c) the toll-free number of the switchboard
d) a few talking points or suggestions on how to talk to GOP Reps for Dems living in these folks' cistricts

If the Dems are having to go along to get along, explain to people why on their website or blog.
Tell us how we can help them.

[blondeatlast]

7. I like these ideas.

Right now, our only TRUE power lies in FORCING ourselves on the media.

We need to crash-train an army of our best and brightest to appear on the talking heads day in and day out. We need to make the people aware of what is REALLY behind the RW "clever phrase" legislation.

We need a massive, aggressive PR campaign. A lot of smaller LW organizations are working on this already, but it needs to be coordinated.

And God, how I wish the entire DNC could be made to read George Lakoff's "Don't Think of an Elephant." It's only about 100 pages, it's about as cheap as pulp fiction, and it is soooooo necessary.

[Pepperbelly]

9. Did you read Bob Somerby's work regarding the incompetence ...

of our spokespeople during the 04 campaign?

He truly demonstrated how inept our own people were in arguing the facts.

[ulysses]

2. why use it at all?

How the hell do we know what the most egregious effort of the GOP will be?

[Pepperbelly]

3. you are exactly right ...

we do not know.

But it is the only card we have. The limit of our power is the ability to stop SOME abuses by the gops.

Should we pay most attention to the Supreme Court?

To ANWR?

To Social Security?

To the War?

There are so many things these people are doing that suck mightily but we have only a few bullets to stop them. Which targets should we use them against?

[ulysses]

5. I genuinely have no idea.

Pretty pass to which we have been brought, like having to decide which of your children will live.

[blondeatlast]

8. We need to get our best people all over the tube telling the American

people why filibusters may be necessary. It's also a good opportunity to demonstrate why the Radical Right's clever terminology dresses up truly evil legislation.

It requires a crash-training program and a commitment to booking only our best on the tube.

As I've said before, if the party's gonna survive, we HAVE GOT TO MAKE A CASE FOR SURVIVAL.

[mmonk]

4. Should have drawn a line

sometime back. It's getting to the too late stage for some things already. The filibuster to stall judicial appointments is the only thing left. If we don't hold onto that, then it's too late for all things political IMO.

[Pushed To The Left]

6. Supreme Court nominations!

A right-wing Supreme Court would be the biggest threat to everything we believe in, because they would have the final say when it comes to issues decided in the courts. I would say that this is the area where Democrats have to take the strongest stance and use the filibuster if necessary. We need a fair-minded Supreme Court in this country for civil rights and civil liberties to have a chance of surviving.

[Pepperbelly]

10. one-time kick for the night crew.

:kick: