If Daschle leaves Bush alone through the 2004 election, I am certain...

[Oracle]

the republicans big boys, (and I mean big boys, Rove etc..) have told Daschle he'll keep his job (as Senate Minority Leader) and will win easily in SD in 2004...but IF Daschle filibusters or rocks the boat in any meaningful way to hurt Bush and the republicans...HE WILL BE OUT OF A JOB...and the republicans will put all their money, might, cheating, smearing into removing Tom Daschle from the red republican state of South Dakota. (And they can easily do this.)

Does the spineless Daschle really have much of a choice?

On the disgusting republican, voucher, HMO intended, Medicare destroying legislation before the senate...

"Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota said he would oppose a filibuster to delay a vote on the legislation."

"Daschle will Not Mount a Filibuster in the Senate, Leaving Bush with a Huge Domestic "Victory" to Run On (in 2004). Tom Helps Bush."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&e=1&u=/ap/20031122/ap_on_go_co/medicare

[rumguy]

1. We need a Senate Majority Leader from a "safe" state

Daschle is to worried about his re-election in '04 to do his job correctly, and with vigor...

[NewJerseyDem]

7. True

It has just become a big problem when the entire party has to work to keep Daschle in the Senate.

Daschle used to be an effective leader that kept the party unified. But recently over medicare, energy and vouchers the senate democrats seem increasingly divided. Nancy Pelosi is keeping the democrats over there much more unified. Just look at Medicare. 16 House democrats voted for it so proportionally there should be only 4 or so senate democrats supporting it. However, there may be close to ten. Daschle should be ousted as leader after the 2004 elections, of course that only could happen if he wins.

[Malva Zebrina]

2. well , I suppose if you give up principles then you are very vulnerable

somehow, it seems to me that appeasement to save one's job, is not the stronges approach. Selling us out is not appreciated.

[KoKo]

3. I'm almost at the point of wishing his Repug Opponent would win!

Daschle has been the worst "Dem Leader" in the Senate in my lifetime. He seems to back down when we need him to stand firm the most. I can't imagine why there isn't a revolt in the Senate, but then we don't have as many "true Dems" left there, like we do in the House who can rabble rouse more.

The Lieberman types outweigh, the Boxer's, Kennedy's and Byrds and the handfull of others who don't seem to be totally bought.

[Oracle]

4. And the Wellstone's Bless his soul!!!!

[mlawson]

36. Sadly, that's the only way we get rid of him!

There is obviously some insider deal that keeps getting him re-elected to minority leader. Even if bush wins next year, what Dems who are left in the Senate will re-elect Tom the Mouse, you will see.

:argh:

[strauss_sucks]

5. How did Daschle become Majority Leader anyway?

He doesn't seem to be following (and certainly NOT leading) the majority of the democrats in the senate.

[strauss_sucks]

6. Oops. Meant Minority not Majority.

[NewJerseyDem]

9. He beat Chris Dodd

All the way back in 1994 after Mitchell's retirement Daschle defeated Chris Dodd by one vote. He was an ally of George Mitchell and was basically his heir to the position of leader. He made a deal, I believe, with Carol Moseley Braun where he gave up his seat on the Finance Committe and gave it to her in exchange for her vote. Also, Ben Nighthorse Campbell voted for Daschle and then left the party a few months later.

[burr]

14. Dole was a great minority leader...

shouldn't Daschle take a few lessons from him??

Dole used the filibuster on nearly everything except for the budget, taking significant risks even as he was considering a Presidential bid. When in the minority..one must use the tools available to the minority party, or else become irrelevant.

[kentuck]

8. Democrats must learn never to elect their leadership from Repub district

They did the same stupid move with Tom Foley of Washington when they made him House Speaker. They are compromised before they start.

[Tatiana]

12. Good point. n/t

[MoonRiver]

10. I can't believe he would still believe those lying scum.

If he and the others would just start telling the truth nobody would consider voting for these mass murdering corporate sponsored Repugs.

:mad:

[Classical_Liberal]

11. He can keep his job as Senator

but he should step down as leader. We can do better.

[kentuck]

13. I would prefer someone like Dick Durbin...

He's a strong Democrat and is also from a fairly safe Democratic area. He can't be threatened as Tom Daschle is by the Repubs.

[Zan_of_Texas]

16. Has Daschle born worth anything since he got the anthrax letter post 9-11?

I can't think of a thing he's done with backbone since then.

It would be interesting to look at his record before and after he got that letter.

[AndyTiedye]

15. He Hasn't Been The Same Since They Sent Him the Anthrax

If he opposes them on the big stuff they will kill him. He knows this.
They have already demonstrated their willingness to do so.

[Zan_of_Texas]

17. heh, cross-post, Andy!

[Classical_Liberal]

25. It started before then

remember the bankrupcy bill. Anyway, if he is too chicken to do his job he should step down.

[terrisel]

18. Daschle-9/11 and anthrax

I believe he managed to keep Congress in session, even though Bush, Cheney, and Republican leaders had concocted a plan to shut it down.Cheney wanted to just meet with the leaders of Congress and have everyone else sent home.I think Cheney's plan was a planned takeover or coup, and the Democratic leaders prevented it.

I think that had he allowed Congress to shut down we would already be living in a dictatorship. Keeping Congress functioning, albeit badly, was a major accomplishment.

However, I think Daschle should have been much stronger on the anthrax issue and publicly questioned why anthrax was sent to the Democratic Leader's office and to the office of the Head of the Judiciary Committee. The deaths of the postal workers and other victims seem to have been forgotten. Daschle needed to keep this issue alive for their sake and that of his staff).

Frankly I am tired of the deaths of citizens being taken for granted, hidden, or forgotten while George Bush is protected by a small army (and takes 5 personal chefs, at our expense, on a visit to Bucking ham Palace. Did he think the Queen's chef was going to poison him)?

Correct me please if I am wrong on the above facts-but I think it is time to connect the dots on everything--from Bush's campaign lies right up to the Medicare and Energy Legislation.

We need to accept the fact that the destination on the road we are on is dictatorship and then draw the roadmap that got us here. We are not bumbling into the Land of Dictatorship. This is a planned itinerary; a guided tour.

[NNN0LHI]

20. The Bush shadow government was already in place by this time too

I have never given this much thought, but you may be on to something here.

Don

[Oracle]

19. With duplicity from our own “leadership” is why it will be near impossible

to defeat Bush in 2004 (along with electronic voting machines, 400 million dollars, the republican owned corporate media, Bush's constant pushing of fear & terrorist and now this huge domestic issue, victory for Bush and the republicans.)

Rove knows they can get everything they choose through the House and with Daschle in their pocket, they know don't have to worry about a filibuster in the razor thin voting bloc in the Senate.

This is so fucking sad and frustrating for all us out there fighting with all we have, against the republicans and their fascist legislation and the republicans know they always have a cheating ace up their sleeve...DASCHLE, a man so fearful of losing his job & limo driver, he'll do anything the republicans demand, including selling out the American people.

I'm sure in Daschle's own mind, he has convinced himself, that he could do more good in the long run if he just keeps his job (and limo driver.)

BULLSHIT!

[Tatiana]

21. Daschle is done.

We need a party minority/majority leader from a safe state who can pound our message with the vigor and passion of Bill Frist or Trent Lott. The Republicans choose the most partisan of their party to be majority/minority leaders. Why shouldn't we?

[BackDoorMan]

22. It's so obvious Daschle over and over plays ball exactly as the

republicans want (except for a few token shows of opposing the republicans to make it look good.)

This is republican planned politics at their finest (or sickest) this is exactly as they want it, a Democrat "leader" agreeing with them on every critical issue.

A Democrat leader in a hugely republican state (South Dakota) blackmail, extortion, a democratic leader so fearful of losing his job and he know the republicans control his future.


This is a nightmare...we can NEVER win under these conditions.

And the corporate republicans know and are laughing about it. Making it look good, as if we democrats really have a chance.

[burr]

23. Did repukes have a chance in 1994, 1980, or in 1860?

If you had asked the average person before those elections, the answers would of been HELL NO!!!

Did most think Democrats had a chance before the stock market crash in 1929? HELL NO!!

how quickly things can change in politics...

[BackDoorMan]

26. it should would make it easier if they didn't have a leading

Democrat in the republicans pocket.

No one said it had to be easy or hard...just fair.

[burr]

29. lol...

politics fair?

[David Zephyr]

24. Tom Daschle is to Senate Democrats as William Novelli is to the AARP.

The Democrats in the U.S. Senate need to understand how Daschle is alienating more and more Democrats every single day that passes. He fuels the growth of the Green Party to the great loss of the Democratic Party.

His ego will not let him let go of his position.

The Republicans cut their losses with Trent Lott.

We owe nothing to Daschle. He is not a leader.

His wife's lobbying for American Airlines is inexcusable.

Daschle is the Bill Novelli of the Democratic Party.

[BackDoorMan]

28. Don't you recall when the republicans ousted Lott...

When Lott cried about was losing his limo and driver...the republicans said Lott could keep the limo and driver and would also let the democratic minority leader, Tom Daschle, keep his limo and driver as well.

So that's what's really important in this country, pay attention...it's not ideology, agenda or policy---it's image.

[burr]

30. bullshit...

Eik said it best..."a party without vision, is nothing more than a conspiracy to take power" :smoke:

[BackDoorMan]

31. It’s called sarcasm...

Obviously you didn't read my post above on the sack of shit Daschle.

[burr]

33. thankyou...I'm both grateful and less confused!

sarkasmos-the tearing of the flesh :yourock:

[Malva Zebrina]

34. amen

and thanks

[HairyPoppins]

27. a Huge Domestic "Victory" to Run On (in 2004)

Is that really what this bill is about? Does it help anyone? If it does help then is it fair to use it for political gain? Is this bill really bad for all seniors or is it the "a Huge Domestic "Victory" to Run On..." that is the big issue?

[Deja Q]

32. Say "bye" to America

These Dems in power are no better than the pukes.

And since nobody will vote Green, the only party that seems to consistently give a damn about America, I'm very disheartened and disenchanted, to say the very least.

These people can kill themselves all they want. Why do they have to drag down everybody else with them?

[MasonJar]

35. D should do what's right

and let the chips fall where they may. I am sick of his and Gephart's standing behind Bush in the Rose Garden.