Choices, choices, choices

Well we are at one of those forks in history

Fact is that people are PISSED and they are wondering what to do.

1.- Wait for a messiah to come and save you. Some folks have been waiting for literally 3,000 + for that, and you know what, they are still waiting, only spread the virus as it were to a second group of people, and then a third) Perhaps the message is that the messiah is in all of us and we need to act, instead of wait. But I expect some people to keep waiting for somebody to sweep down from the shy and save us.

2.- Become active in your local democratic party. I've done that in the past, and I fear I will have to do it again. Enough is enough... but I have an ulterior reason. I am actually seriously considering challenging my local democrat in the primary. Why? her voting record is ok, overall, they count on us never really doing anything when they do something this disgusting. She never faces challenges and she's in a very safe district... so my chances are purely symbolic and the action is symbolic... I would be utterly shocked if I won, to be honest.

3.- I've said it before, this is one of those magical moments in US History where throw the bums out comes... and this is also one of those moments when not one but two parties seem to be abandoning their historic bases. Can you kiddies say third parities? I know this is not popular and most people immediately think Greeen... no, I'm thinking Grangers, or even GOP (the only third party successfully challenging the presidency in US History). Why am I mentioning those two? The first meetings of the GOP occurred in 1854, and the Grangers came from nowhere. The Greens could do it for the left, if they did not have a mythical albatross on their necks, one wholly created by the media and the need to belief... Ralph Nader.

Now I know it is popular by many to blame Ralphie for the 2000 debacle, not realizing that those voters were Gore's to win, not to loose. They were not going to vote for him either way. And while you blame the greens, you ignore the USSC.

But that is why the greens have no chance in hell, or actually a very small one....

But a party emerging from nowhere and challenging, not necessarily the Presidency, (though two cycles who knows), the power structure in Congress is a real HISTORICAL possibility

I know it is popular to poopoo this

But those who do not learn from history... (and our reps did not) are condemned to repeat it.

But you will have to work for it, if you believe that is the path... I believe it is comming actually and it will shock us when it emerges, becasue it will not from the usual quarters either.

instead of reveling in attacking the majority of our Democrats who still will vote for a bill which includes timetables for withdrawal from Iraq, despite their vote for the one supplemental?

It's not as if holding that one supplemental back was going to move Bush. And it's not as if that supplemental would preclude a vote for an exit date. Republicans end their obstruction, the troops come home - money and all. Our party is ready to vote for that. The majority of Democrats are still strongly in favor of ending the occupation at the earliest opportunity. Just because they didn't feel like this rejected bill would make that happen doesn't take away their opposition or make it any less sincere. They should continue to be supported in their opposition and in their support of timelines in whatever vehicle they choose next.

and it was a mistake of historic proportions

I am telling you, I am considering challenging my rep.

I've cossidered getting into politics, but this may just do it

That said, this was an error.

What they should have done, and many of us told them this was send the exact same bill back

You do not fold when your two year old stamps the ground and throws a tamter tantrum, do you?

This is exactly what just happened. Bush knows, scream loud enough and hold his breath long enoguh, mom and dad will get him a new bike.

in the meantime, the question which failed to find veto-proof support in the earlier bill still stands. Are they for timetables for withdrawal or not? Yes or no? The majority of Democrats are still strongly in favor of an exit date in legislation, and the majority, or a veto-busting margin of republicans are not. That is the landscape.

listening for Hartman perhaps?

Linda Rather said that this vote may have lost the 2008 election to Democrats

Strange conundrum we are in,

Depends on how this goes.

She also said that if they manage to get the troops out by the Spring that will help the Republicans

Oh and that many of the dems who voted for it, had polls tell them that yes they could vote for this... in fact they should, and if that is the case, they did what their constituents wanted them to do.

I will need to do some research on that, my feeling is... the inside the beltway crowd is well outside the mainstream by now, but feelings and facts are not the same thing