Should the Bankruptcy-Removal Bill be the Dem's first big filibuster?

[Tactical Progressive]

I don't have the ability to set up a poll, so maybe someone else would do that.

I just think that this would be a high-visibility issue and for all the right reasons. It's an issue that defines the difference between Republican corporate craveness and Democratic populism. And combined with the faltering attempt to DISMANTLE SOCIAL SECURITY would really send the message home. A one-two combination.

Right now the corporate media is strenuously avoiding it every way they can. A filibuster would take care of that too.

What say?

[elehhhhna]

1. Better be. This is Custers Last Stand.

[stray cat]

2. It might be one of the better places to make a populist stand.

The democrats could really try to portray themselves as the party of the people if they play it right. However, they also have to be clear that they are not promoting or advicating irresponsible use of credit at the same time.

[TahitiNut]

3. Aren't there too many Quisling Dems?

I get them impression that too many Democorporatist Senators are bought and paid for.

It's abominable legislation - possibly even worse than the Patriot Acts.

[peacetalksforall]

4. Someone said yesterday that they are not going to filibuster.

Grassley is Satan. Have you ever witnessed anyone so determined, so vicous on the subject of passing this legislation. Why?

[SoCalDem]

5. They are repaying their benefactors, thats why

and because they all have that DC-mindset..The one that thinks that "most" people make 90K a year and are using credit cards for boats & hot tubs:(

[Snotcicles]

6. You can polish him up put the best silk tie on him but Grassley is still

A piece of shit.

[moggie12]

7. Absolutely -- this is an "economic populist" issue,

the kind that could put the Dems back in power. Unfortunately, they don't have the votes, I don't think, because of certain turncoat Dems who have sold their souls to the financial industry -- Biden and Carper of Delaware (home of MBNA, a huge credit card company) and one or two others. Makes me livid!!

[yankeedem]

8. No filibuster

But lots of fodder to the 2006 campaign, especially with all the amendments proposed (and shot down) by the cons.

[fujiyama]

9. They should

but it won't happen.

I'm so disgusted that Biden and a few others are going with them on this. He's crossed into DINO territory.

[Deja Q]

11. And yet, knowing how bogus our Dems are, we still vote for them.

Can somebody tell me why?

I mean, voting green means we're voting for *.

SO HOW THE FUCK IS VOTING DEM NOT VOTING FOR *? They're all one in the same, only increasingly so.

[fujiyama]

13. Simple - Because

no green has a chance of getting elected to the federal level.

Also, we should remember that most Dems didn't sell out on this. I'm not sure and maybe someone can correct me, but I think even Lieberman, for a change, was on the right side of this.

The problem is Dems catering to the special corporate interests of their states. Lieberman/Dodd - insurance interests, Schumer/Hillary - Banking interests, Carper/Biden - credit card interests, and to a lesser extent, Levin/Stabenaw (who are otherwise very progressive) - auto company interests.

[Eloriel]

10. When you can't even get all the Dems on board?

Biden's not alone, but he's certainly one of the most visible sell-outs:

Senator Drops Amendment to Bankruptcy Bill
Republican's Proposed Change Would Have Restricted Where Firms Could Thursday, March 3, 2005; Page E02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2789-2005Mar2.html

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) -- bowing to pressure from fellow Republicans and to possible retaliation from Democratic Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware -- yesterday said he no longer plans to offer an amendment that threatened to stall bankruptcy legislation being debated in the U.S. Senate.

The amendment would have required corporations to file for bankruptcy protection in the state where their primary business operations are located. Now, companies can file either where they operate or where they are incorporated, which for a majority of corporations is Delaware and New York, states many executives think favor company interests over those of shareholders, creditors and employees.

snip

Delaware gets substantial revenue from bankruptcy filings: 58 percent of Fortune 500 companies and 51 percent of all publicly traded firms are incorporated in the state, according to a spokesman for the state. In recent years, as many as 20 percent of companies that could file in Delaware did so, a Biden spokesman said. Each bankruptcy judge in the state has a caseload five times heavier than the national average, according to federal courts statistics.

Yesterday, word leaked that if Cornyn offered his amendment, Biden would respond by offering one that Cornyn would have trouble supporting, namely a provision to sharply curtail the amount of money wealthy debtors could shield through homeownership. Texas and a handful of other states allow residents filing for bankruptcy to shield millions of dollars through so-called homestead exemptions, and many Texas politicians think influential voters consider that ability sacrosanct.

[Tactical Progressive]

14. Sure, why not?

Even if there aren't enough Dems to sustain a filibuster, there are plenty enough to start one, and that will play.

I think it is both the right thing to do and good PR. Remember, Dems don't stand for anything. This would be a stand and a good one, and would show well, all the way through 2006.

[deacon]

12. For sure, they need to be fought to the wire on everything n/t

[Liberty Belle]

15. Yes. Show the Reps as heartless greedy bastards

who don't care if you lose your house and everything else that you own because of a medical crisis. Half of all bankrupties in the U.S. are due to medical bills--and the majority of those folks HAVE medical insurance! This could happen to anyone, because even "good" policies nowadays have plenty of gaps, high deductibles and exclusions enough to force a family into the poorhouse.

Soon I imagine that will be more than just an expression. No doubt the neocons would like to bring back poorhouses and workhouses like those of Dickens' era.