What's our "nuclear option"?

[jhgatiss]

Bill Frist has been quoted recently as referring to the use of the "nuclear option" to change Senate rules to end the fillibustering of judicial nominees.

What's our "nuclear option"? What do we do if the Republicans try to vote passage on the federal marriage amendment again? What do we do if Republicans try to slash Medicaid in the next budget as indications show they might? What do we do if they try to privatize Social Security with the investment accounts? What do we do if they move further to ban abortion rights? What do we do if they try to drill in ANWR?

It seems like almost every one of the groups that forms the coalition of the Democratic party, women's/abortion rights activists, gay rights activists, environmental activists, senior citizens, people concerned with the impoverished in this country, and more I'm sure will likely have an issue that will come before the next Congress that will be an absolute "must" stop.

Here's my question: what are our "take no prisoners", must win issues?

Secondly, what's our nuclear option? What new techniques can we use to stop Congress in its tracks? Anyone with any ideas they'd like to keep private should send me a message. I know we're being watched quite abit lately so if anyone has any peaceful, novel civil disobedience or protest ideas I'd like to hear them.

[Cobalt Violet]

1. Seccession is the only one I know.

They own everything including the voting machines. We don't even have a vote any more.

Shouldn't a nuclear option be a drastic option?

[BattyDem]

2. I agree ...

The only thing we have left is the filibuster. Eliminate that and Democrats (and Blue State voters) will have no say in ANYTHING our government does. We will have no representation. We won't be able to change things we don't like because we won't be able to vote anyone out of office. The fascist takeover will be complete. :-(

[WildClarySage]

3. If we have no representation options

then I suggest civil disobedience in the form of refusing to pay taxes.

[jhgatiss]

7. Maybe we should have a tea party! n/t

[Turn CO Blue]

9. No Taxation without Representation...hmmm. Kinda catchy! n/t

[BattyDem]

11. But we have no control ...

what's going to stop them from throwing us all in jail or making us "disappear"? They have the White House, the Senate, the House, the Justice Department, the Supreme Court (with the elimination of the filibuster, they'll have ALL the courts within a year or two), the Defense Department (which means the military), the CIA and the FBI (they're purging anyone who disagrees with the administration), Homeland Security, the media ... and even the voting machines! And don't forget, the government can shut down the Internet at any time and we can't do a damn thing because we have nowhere to turn. We're totally screwed! :scared:

On edit: Sorry guys ... I don't mean to be a downer, but I'm really getting scared. :-(

[jhgatiss]

16. Well.... Not really!

If Kerry really did win this election or even get the alleged 48% of the vote, we STILL have a good chunk of people in this country. Its just a question of how do we mobilize that into an effective resistance.

[BattyDem]

17. I know ... and like I said, I don't mean to be a downer ...

but I'm scared and I'm frustrated. I also suffer from clinical depression and once in a while, it shows up in my posts. (I should really get off the 'net when that starts to happen.)

I feel like I'm living in the Twilight Zone, you know what I mean? Everyday, I ask myself, "How the f*ck did this happen here?"

I don't know what's worse ...

Being completely oblivious to what's going on, only to wake up one morning and realize your country's gone.

OR

Being totally aware of what's going on, seeing it happen before your eyes every single day and not knowing how to stop it or how to make other people see it.

It's a no win situation - but my oblivious relatives do seem to sleep a lot better at night, LOL!

:crazy:

[WildClarySage]

19. Remember, too, how bleak the picture was for

African Americans in the '30s and '40s in the American South. I realize that there remains much work to be done, but consider how far we have come. It's when things are hardest, that people find out how strong they can be. I know that sounds like a platitude, but it isn't. Don't underestimate the power of pissedness.

ed for clarity and because I'm smashed thanks to vicodin and a sore jaw

[BattyDem]

20. You're right ... that's true.

Thanks for the pep talk. Sometimes just a few reassuring words can make a big difference. :hug:

[genius]

24. Our nuclear option is the unanimous consent rule

One Senator can stop anything but the budget from getting to the floor.

[WildClarySage]

18. I think we do it the same way people use filesharing illegally-

by doing it in such volume that they cannot go after us all. And once we get started, many republicans are going to join in out of fear that we're getting away with something they always wanted to do.

I agree it's scary times, but try to focus on the positives. The energy from the positive is much healthier than what's on the negative.

[pa28]

23. Well put.

The public underestimates the importance of controlling the apparatus of government. The Republicans now have absolute control over all the mechanisms of power. And please, nobody say "Hey wait! You are forgetting the filibuster!" Ultimately it means nothing.

[Cobalt Violet]

4. And yet we pay the bills.

:-(

[jhgatiss]

6. That's why I think we need multiple "nuclear options"

I'm intrigued by some of the boycott campaigns getting underway. choosetheblue.com, buyblue.com, bluechristmas.com. Although I think the response will be for Republicans to stop patronizing "blue" businesses so the net effect will be zero, or a loss even for our side because many businesses like groceries, gas, and pharmaceuticals just have no good "blue" options.

What are other things that we could do to slow society down and really target the people we want to? I'm trying to think of something that would be the equivalent of Selma bus boycotts or anti-war sit-ins, except we would need host of options to use on different issues because its a good bet that once one is used they will shift footings to protect against its use again.

[garybeck]

5. I think you mean "nucular" :) nt

[jhgatiss]

8. Maybe if I were an idiot I would mean nuc-yoo-lar! n/t

[garybeck]

15. yeah, and then you could put some "food on your family" too

pass me some more of that peeance freeance please

[Eric J in MN]

10. I'm not worried tha the Federal Marriage Amendment will

pass in the next 2 years. There aren't the votes in the Senate. It takes 2/3 for a Constitutional amendment.

[jhgatiss]

13. I never thought Bush could possibly win re-selection either.

I take nothing for granted anymore!

[tritsofme]

12. Stop unanimous consent on everything

This could make work in the Senate grind to a halt.

Without unanimous consent you would need to take a roll call on every single procedural move that is made. Usually these things are just done without objection, but if one Senator objects the role must be called.

This would basically shut down the Senate and I have seen this listed as an option if they go "nuclear"

[jhgatiss]

14. I want a grassroots activism "nuclear options" to use if the

Democrats in the Senate wimp out or if more of them "lose" in 2006.

[jhgatiss]

21. I hate the fact that this was moved.

I think a "Where do we go from here?" type of question is fairly relevant to this past election. All voter fraud issues aside, we can't put all of our eggs into that basket. We need to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Hope for a Kerry Inauguration but prepare for a second term of Bush and total Republican rule. I'd like to broaden the conversation to include things beyond exposing the voter fraud.

[ccarter84]

25. yeah, I agree we should broaden the topic of discussion

it seems that the voting issues thread hasn't taken off, and the election results and discussion one has encompassed it. it blows that it was moved, I found it now by chance because of random wandering through the forums. my only thought this late at night is do a different main topic for a thread
and then insert this question right below as a followup
play the system a bit so long as you don't completely mislead other DU'ers you should be ok

[Jack_DeLeon]

22. What happens if...

Democratic Senators and Congressmen just plain leave the country and dont show up to thier respective houses of Congress.

Sort of like what happened here in Texas? Are there any rules for that in D.C. where if not enough people show up it isnt legitmate?

[Hippo_Tron]

26. Quorum is 50% I believe

And if it's not, they can just pretend that it is because nobody will object.

[jhgatiss]

27. Kick!

No good responses yet! Think people!