"Let's Not and Say we Did" and The Great Congress Show. .

[annabanana]

How often have bills not been passed because the votes to sustain a veto weren't "there"?

How many subpoenas haven't been issued, because we know they'd be rejected for "executive privilege" and, if pursued, would end up at the Supreme Court?

How much business is not done because of foreordained conclusions? Why are so many reluctant to let it play out on the stage? Would the uselessness of public endeavor be too painfully exposed? Is the potential for the people's wrath too real or too improbable?

Is this because lawyers don't like to ask questions when they don't already know what the answer will be?

What?

Seriously?

[Greyhound]

1. Could it be that anybody with an IQ greater than room temperature,

if they are honest with themselves, realizes that our problems can only be fixed by large-scale, fundamental changes to our system, and those changes would be detrimental to those that benefit the most from the status quo?

"The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house" - Audre Lorde

[annabanana]

2. I guess everyone thinks they'll be already dead

when the sh*t hits the fan...

How many generations of the rich will be "ok"? What about the "rich enough to think they'll be "ok" for generations?

I believe the Native Americans, and all the other "indigenous tribes" of the world were millenia ahead of us.

[Mr. Earl]

3. You mean

there are lawyers in congress, I'm shocked I tell you, shocked!

[bbgrunt]

4. It is the circus known as the greatest show on earth. I

find I can hardly care anymore. They are not even calling for repeal of the patriot act, repeal of no childs behind left, repairing homeland security, repealing the military commission act, repealing the "partial birth" act, requiring paper ballots in all elections.......the list is too long. Instead, we get threats of subpoenas and budget cuts--and immediate cave-ins by the majority of the majority.......

Exactly: Let's not and say we did.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. "Practical politics", "Keeping our powder dry", "We must have the moderates",

"Not enough votes"
"We have to build coalitions"
"The congressman/senator comes from a red state and would endanger his/her seat"
"The media would say nasty things"
"The president would veto it anyway"

etc, etc, etc, ad nauseum

Which all adds up to, "Let's pretend to do something while playing it safe so our seats are secure."

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." --John Quincy Adams

[annabanana]

6. True, that, But not the point I was making...

I was just thinking how much regular business is "not done" just because everyone believes that the result is a forgone conclusion...