Reply #9: "Elected to get things done" is the Opposite of Reality.

[pat_k]

The notion that they were elected on their "agenda" is a baseless illusion.

". . .impeaching Team Bush is what the american people want more than anything" is reality.

They are in deep denial, living in a fantasy world. Email, letters, and calls are fine, but intervention, up close and personal, is going to be needed to knock them out of their fantasy world. Anyone can become a citizen lobbyist. Find out the scheduler's name for the office you can visit and send a meeting request (http://january6th.org/mtg-request-sample-jan6.pdf">sample). It's daunting, so take a friend or two (too many makes dialog more difficult).

The election was overwhelmingly about the nation's outrage at what Bush has done to our country. That's what the polls tell us (e.g., Newsweek's 11/11 poll below); that's what the real experts tell us (e.g. Curtis Gans, Director, Center for the Study of the American Electorate -- interview except below).

Every question in the Newsweek poll reflecting anger at Bush and the Republicans is a "major reason" for over 50% (and go as high as 85%).

With the exception of "changing course in Iraq," every question related to Democratic "ideas" or disatisfaction with "partisanship" is a "major reason" for under 50% (and go as low as 27%). And, as long as the massive power of the American presidency is in the hands of Bush and Cheney, the nation has NO hope of "changing course in Iraq."

The election victory was not about "getting things done." When voters rejected Bush, his administration, and his rubber stamp Congress as intolerably incompetent/corrupt/extreme they were not calling on the Dems to "get things done"; they were not calling for "bipartisanship" with Bush at the helm.

Their message was loud and clear: "We want out of Bush-World! Now!"
(and this message polled at 58% in the http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x82492">latest from Newsweek)

The only way out is impeachment. They have been betraying their Congression oath for years with their stubborn refusal to demand it, whatever the consequences.

Our so-called Democratic "leaders" refuse to impeach at their peril. (Just remember how well it worked out for them when they refused to impeach Reagan and Bush I.)

The company line you're hearing from Levin and Stabenow is flat wrong and politically idiotic on several fronts. (1) "Getting things done" is not why they were elected; (2) They can't get anything real done for real people under rule by signing statement. Passing laws is useless when they are nullified and ignored; (3) Being complicit with in crime is never good politics.

Do the Dems really want to be blamed for the coming war with Iran because they refused to impeach Bush and Cheney (something that ONLY the House can do)? Do they really want to be complicit with the Bush syndicates crimes, both known and yet to be discovered?

I hope not. I hope rationality and sanity overcomes the impotent cowardice of our so-called "leadership."

The Biggest Problem that plagues the Democratic Party is the perception that they are weak. Failing to impeach, they confirm their "cowardly Dem" image (just read the transcript for http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16904772/">Carlson's Jan 30th show if you doubt it). The only way they can REALLY do something and challenge their "cowardly Dems" image is to deomonstrate the strength and courage that Americans respect by impeaching Bush and Cheney. All else is hot air and empty words. Even hitting them with their purse won't stop the "unitary authoritarian executive."

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/11-11-2006/0004472100&EDATE">Newsweek 11/11/06
We're interested in why you think the Democrats were able to regain
control of Congress in this week's elections. As I read some possible
reasons, please tell me if you think each is a major reason, a minor
reason, or not a reason for the Democrats' success.

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Disapproval of how the Bush administration has handled the war in Iraq
Major reason 85 %

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Disapproval of President Bush's overall job performance
Major reason 71 %

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Dissatisfaction with how Republicans have handled government spending and the deficit
Major reason 67 %

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Disapproval of the overall job performance of Republicans in Congress
Major reason 63 %

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Democrats' ideas and proposals for changing course in Iraq
Major reason 61 %

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Corruption charges and scandals involving Republicans
Major reason 52 %

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Disapproval of the apparent arrogance of Republicans in Washington
Major reason 50 %

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Dissatisfaction with the partisan approach of Republicans in Congress
Major reason 48 %

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Democrats' ideas and proposals for improving the economy and job situation
Major reason 47 %

------------------------

Democrats' ideas and proposals for improving health care
Major reason 47 %

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Democrats' ideas and proposals for protecting the environment and developing alternative energy sources
Major reason 35 %

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Democrats had better candidates
Major reason 27 %

Curtis Gans
Director
http://spa.american.edu/csae">Center for the Study of the American Electorate

On Politically Direct with David Bender
http://podcast.rbn.com/airam/airam/download/archive/2006/11/aapd111006.mp3">November 10th (Interview start time approx 18:30)

Bender: Joining me now is Curtis Gans. He is the Director of the Center for the Study of the American Electorate at American University and he has just released a new study analyzing the turnout this past Tuesday, and there's some interesting and there are some very, very interesting shifts in the turnout from previous elections. Welcome to Politically Direct . . .

Gans: It's very good to talk to you David.

Bender: Curtis, I'm holding the study in my hand right now, and clearly one of the things that all the exit polls showed was that Iraq played a part and your own work bears that out -- that Iraq helped propel some degree of an increase in turnout in this last election.

Gans: I think that it is not simply Iraq, although Iraq started Bush's downhill. But it is a gestalt around George Bush. it's being a pariah to other countries; it's people dying in what they increasing find is a vain fight; it's massive budgetary imbalances; it's a lack of compassionate conservatism; it's insecurity in jobs; it's the feeling that people have not been leveled with.

Bender: You've been doing this for almost 30 years; studying the American electorate. And there is probably no greater expert than you. It's just a real pleasure to have you on this program. . .

More on lobbying for impeachment in http://journals.democraticunderground.com/pat_k">My Journal