The Coming Dissolution of the Current American Political System

This Foley scandal could very well be one of the biggest if not the biggest Washington scandal in history and we at DU should be aware that we are fully part of that history. This technology that allows to witness and participate is truly a remarkable gift. Seeing this thing unfold real-time is truly a thing of sublimity.

That being said, we should also understand that these revelations will be taken by the Repubs as all out war. When the dust settles, if you thought the gloves were off before, you ain't seen nothing yet.

I predict this will lead to the dissolution of the current political system. It cannot function the way it has been (however minimally) in the atmosphere that is coming. I'm not sure what form it will take or what the fallout will be, but I guess some sort of a fracturing of the Republican party and certainly a more prominent roll for online people powered politics seems likely. This also doesn't take into account whatever more desperate measures the current regime might take to ensure the survival and continuance of their designs, which of course would have their own consequences on whatever the future holds. But I do think this current scandal is going to be a catalyst that is going to shift the tectonic plates.

Welcome to history DU. We're witness to some remarkable events.

We won't know the enormity of all of this until we get past it.

When you're inside of it. But this beast is big, that's for sure.

I no longer the US to survive in its current form. I've had the feeling that the nation ain't surviving, for some time now

It could lead to dissolution of more than just the political system. Indeed.

This scandal feels like a catalyst to me though. I'm not sure exactly where it will lead, but the earth is moving.

This is a quake, a major quake

Yes, I believe you are absolutely right. What I think is intersting is that Brian Ross reports that those involved in "breaking the story" last Friday were Republicans. I have to wonder if Rove didn't scheme to break this news, despite the impact it would have, to divert attention away from real political debate in key Congressional and Senate races like Ohio, Virginia, Montana and Washington.

But yes I agree this is going to lead to "the nuclear option" from the White House and the GOP establishment because they know that hearings, testimony under oath, subpoenas, etc. will follow if the Democrats take back either or both Houses of Congress.

I don't rule out some kind of martial law, "we can't have elections" after they pull their October surprise and a suspension of the Constitution. These creatures are cornered and they know their crimes are punishable not only in this country but in the international community.

Regardless of what Ross reported. This is no diversion, it's a bonifide level 5 shitstorm and the Repubs worst nightmare. Rove is hiding under a table, quivering w/ a load in his pants.

This Foley stuff is perfect cover for moving troops, ships,
and planes into position to attack Iraq just before the
election.

With a third war going, these assholes would have no
compunction about declaring martial law.

I think that Foley not only is overshadowing the Torture
Bill, the Iraq War, and the failing economy. But, it has
also pushed Iran off the bottom of the page. Hugo Chavez
gets more coverage.

I am very worried about what these crazies might do to Iraq.
And NOBODY in Congress has any control over what Bush is
doing with the military. The Dems are castrated by the
Republican domination; and the GOP have just had their
heads cut off by Foley.

arendt

Rove is not God. If they are using it as cover, it's merely opportunistic.

they can't spend all their time bashing the GOP for hypocrisy.

They have to spend time saying these crazies want to start
a nuclear war, and we can't let that happen. They've got
to say "desperate people do desperate things".

arendt

I wish they would draw attention to that.

Part of it is "Bush Administration" induced cynicism and part of it is a gut feeling that they aren't just going to roll over and take their punishment.

The Republicans are like the child who, when losing at a board game, picks up the entire board with all the pieces on it and flings it or destroys it because he isn't winning. He doesn't just accept it and play through, nor does he walk away. He has to punish everyone else as well. Except with the Bush Administration it's going to happen on a large scale and the stakes are much higher.

A few years back, I was posting about a new structure for Congress, in order
to defend it against what has obviously ruined it:

........biased, lying media (now with Bush subsidizing them under the table)

........out of control intelligence agencies (e.g., Doug Feith's shop)

........campaign finance that is out and out bribery


but I shelved that project because too much bad shit was happening.

My current view is that the mechanics of government is already smashed beyond repair
(illegal wiretapping, loss of habeus corpus, Congress shutting out the Dems completely,
etc.), and as you say, it is going to get even uglier. They are going to raze
the Constitution to the ground (martial law is definitely on the table).

I don't think the November elections have a snowball's chance of being
without major incident (Diebolded, contested, and overshadowed by either
an Iran War or a terrorist incident).

Since the corporate media is still part of the problem, the internet is
the only chance for democratic resistance.

I better dust off my old ideas and get them out there before all hell
breaks lose.

These guys have no intention of going quietly. Most of them are either
ancient, infirm, or crazy. They have nothing to lose.

arendt

There's a cadre of "good guys" out there making a move, and the leaking of this story and the support for it (the hard evidence of emails and IM's, protecion of witnesses, etc.) is being taken care of and is only part of a larger picture.

a damage control scheme by the GOP that backfired.

All I know is that the media bullshit machine is sputtering,
and, as you say, all hell is breaking lose.

America is starting to like Yugoslavia after the
breakup, with all kinds of factions at each others'
throats.

arendt

to all this shit. On the heels of sooo many scandals, it just seems canned. DC appears to me a toxic wasteland, polluted with some type of germ that leaves most who spend time there, void of conscience. Watching the Congress vote on the 'terror bill' like they were at a cocktail party signaling to the waiter for the hors d'oeuvres was surreal.

30 years.

We're at a cusp right now...It's fascinating...

is pondering what OUR role will be.

replaced with a new party with a new charter.

The first thing that we all need to do then is fix the Gulf Region.

Then, outlaw lobbying and fix the FCC so that companies are extremely limited on how many media outlets they are allowed to own, like it used to be.

The Puke Party is done. The Dems are now conservative. A vacuum is opening.

The people here, at DU, will be the core of the next second party. Want to go for a ride?

....that sorry fuck Alexander at least *tried* to tell his boss what was happening...there better be some justice for those kids at least...but I won't hold my breath for that either. :evilfrown:

:hi: Beet...I was just makin' sure I still had your songs in this computer earlier tonight as it got really sick and almost died...they're still there and still awesome...sure wish ya'll could come play some gigs down south!! *dreams on* :D :hug: :loveya:

Glad to hear your comps ok! If you ever needed more copies I'd always be happy to send them to you! :loveya:

....definitely appreciate you...always!! :hug: :loveya:

citizens against the government which is lying to us.

:kick:

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his thread, comparing what's happening to Republicans now with what happened to Democrats in 1994. See http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Armstead/24 .

I don't think I'm being hyperbolic. While there are similarities between what's happening to the Repubs and what happenned to the Dems, I think the situation now is much more volatile and we're dealing w/ a Repub party and leadership that will desperately do anything to try to avoid losing power. The political establishment was able to carry forward in '94 in much the same way and structure. I don't see how it can continue to do so in the same manner now. The environment will get even MORE toxic, the Repubs are going to fracture, and Bush et al., in their desperation to retain power are capable of anything. So while I can't predict what is going to happen, I do feel it's going to be a pretty radical shift and realignment that is going to reshap the political landscape in a way this country hasn't seen in a long time, if ever.