I Think The So Called NUCLEAR OPTION Is Total Bullshit! Keeps Us Scared!

[DistressedAmerican]

They have been threatening to drop the nuclear option hammer for months and months. Every week, I see posts about how it is coming. They are getting ready. They will do it over this nominee or that, etc.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IT!

I think the costs for the repugs are too high and they know it. However, as long as they keep rolling out the threat we fear them. Our leaders fear standing up to this nominee or that because they my just do it THIS TIME! ENOUGH ALREADY!

Stop fearing this empty threat! Just stop believing it. Their threat only has force if we give in every time it gets mentioned.

If they really are going to do it, LET THEM FREAKING DO IT. We'll hang it around their necks in 2006 and 2008 and as far as we can ride it.

If we never use the filibuster because we fear loosing it, we have ALREADY lost it!

For our own survival, we need to stop letting these repug bastards scare us! If we keep letting the Gonzalezes, Rices, Boltons, etc. get confirmed on party line votes, THEY WIN! We loose! Simple as that.

We aren't even talking about a filibuster any more. What is wrong with us? Do we have learned helplessness?

[merh]

1. It is not just to keep "us", the public, scared it is to keep the dem

senators and congress critters on edge, to be used as a bartering tool.

The same goes with their "base closure lists".

It is what they use behind closed doors to negotiate votes for bills they want passed, like the bankruptcy reform bill.

They have been using these scare tactics for years.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. I would agree.

Much of what they are doing is aimed at keeping people totally off-balance. We need to recognize it and act accordingly. If we do, we start to regain the upper hand.

[DistressedAmerican]

3. Their Empty Threat MUST be demystified. Either They Will Or Won't.

As long as we act like we fear it. They never have to. They still get what they want and they do not even have to take the political hit for doing so. Right now it is a win n=win for THEM.

The worst we get if they do it is we don't have the option to use a tool we are already too scared to lose. Big loss.

We have to call their freaking bluff. Prove they aren't willing or make them pay the price for doing it!

[Independent_Liberal]

4. My thoughts exactly...

It seems they try scaring and bullying to get their way. That's all. We can't give in to this bullshit.

There aren't as many of those Christian dominionist cults as they want us to believe. It's a very small base. These people try to get their way by fearmongering and having an appearance of imperialism through propaganda. That's exactly what fascists do.

We need to point this out to our Dem leaders. They need to understand that it's all lies, distortions and scare tactics.

Let's keep launching our efforts to stop these cults from trying to implement a theocracy in this country.

People like Frist, DeLay, Hastert, etc. will dig their own graves. We can help it along. I really do sense a Republican meltdown coming.

Have you noticed that the decent moderate Republicans are really coming out of the woodwork now? They can finally see how crazy these people are and they can see that they're really bringing the whole party down.

We also need to point out to the public that they've been winning through vote stealing. That's really gonna hurt them if people know they've been cheating all along and people are having agendas shoved down their throats that they didn't even vote for.

Yep, I sense an imploding empire really soon like many of you have. Just make sure your seatbelts are fastened. I think it's all gonna blow. :)

[lonestarnot]

5. I'm not pulling my hair over it; but I will be acting if they do it!

[DistressedAmerican]

6. Nuke-U-Ler Kick!

[WillowTree]

7. They haven't needed to do it yet.

So far this term, there hasn't been any real threat of one of their important nominees not getting a vote on the Senate floor and they may not consider Bolton critical enough to pull the trigger over him if it comes to that. My guess is that they're hoping to save it until it's time to replace Rehnquist if they can because there's bound to be a fight then. Could be sooner, maybe not, but I don't see much chance of it not happening before summer's out and it will be really interesting to see if the Democrats put their money where their mouth is then. If they don't, I doubt the Party will ever be able to recover.

[DistressedAmerican]

8. That Is Just Exactly My Point. We Never Oppose Them.

Every time they threaten it, we say well, lets save the big showdown for another time. I say, make them do it or fucking shut their mouths with the threat.

If we refuse to reach for our gun because we fear they will shoot it out of our hand, we might as well not be armed in the first place.

Call their bluff. Stop cowering in fear!

Bullies can only be dealt with in one way. Stand up, show them you are not scared and punch the shit out of them if need be.

We just keep handing them our milk money and whining about it behind their backs. That will change nothing.

[WillowTree]

11. But I think you're missing my point.

I have no doubt that the Republicans will do it and I don't think the Senate Democrats have any doubt that they will do it either. It's just a matter of when and it appears that won't be until they're forced to. Which makes me wonder if Ried is really sure he has the backing to effectively shut things down when they do. Otherwise, what's stopping him from pressing the issue and forcing their hand?

[DistressedAmerican]

13. Reid Is A Total Looser! That's What Keeps Him From Doing It!

He is the very model of a modern spineless Democrat. He is scared. Simple as that. SCARED to be bold. Scared to use the power of the opposition party to oppose. He let them have Gonzalez, he let them have Rice and now he's giving them Bolton.

I ask you this. What do we really stand to loose? If they are going to do it anytime we stand up and because of that, we fear standing up until it is "bad enough". How is that any different than having made them do it over Gonzalez, A torture apologist.

Was Gozalez not "bad enough"?

When will bad enough be bad enough? Do they have to reanimate Hitler and nominate him to the Supreme court?

I'm sure if we continue to let them ride rough shod over us with our fear of their big stick, it will eventually come to that.

Yeah, I guess we can wait...

[K-W]

9. No, its a very real threat.

What about the behavior of the Republicans has led you to believe they are not capable of this?

[DistressedAmerican]

10. I Do Not Believe That THEY THINK It Is In Their Longterm Interest.

Even if they are serious, Make them get on with it.

I am sick of Dems running for cover at the mention of loosing a filibuster that they are afraid to use anyway. They gain nothing. They are far better off if they can keep us in a box with the threat without ever having to make the politically risky maneuver.

[K-W]

12. This isnt a bluff.

No, they dont want to use the option. If they wanted to do it, they would have done it already, but if they are backed into a corner they WILL use it. If the options are: A. Use the nuclear option and face the negative consequences or B. Let the democrats keep them from stacking the judiciary, they will choose A.

Yes, it does suck that they have this to wave over us, but unfortunatetly they can do it, and they will if they feel they dont have another option, so unfortunately the democrats have to both try to make it more difficult for them to use the option, but also try to do as much work as can be done without the republicans seeing it as neccessary.

[DistressedAmerican]

15. You Are Giving Them Exactly What They Want. Tom Delay Thanks You!

Yoo are already beaten!

You would have had to try hard to better sum up the type of fear that the repugs have instilled in us. I for one will not be a party of gun shy whipped dogs.

Again I ask, What are we loosing if they DO DROP THE BOMB? We loose a political tool that we are too afraid to use anyway. We already lost it the day folks in this party decided to cower in fear of repug retribution.

I for one an ready to make them fear us. We sure as hell can't do that sitting on our one weapon and letting them have their way for fear that they might grab for it.

COME ON! People Get A Spine! We can't beat them hiding from the fight!

[blondeatlast]

14. Only the rational Republicans see this, and they have a boot on

their collective necks.

The rest of the Theo/NeoCons in Congress believe that the *W*acko Right will always be in power. They are that deluded, I'm afraid.

[UTUSN]

16. I----------SO------Agree! n/t

[DistressedAmerican]

17. Midnight Kicker!

[DistressedAmerican]

18. No More Appeasement Kick!

[mmonk]

19. It's working

Personally, I think a large section of America has been radicalized and IS a real threat to our country. If it's real, then the America most of us have grown up with WILL be gone.