Democrats from obstructionists to born again fighters? - American Prospect

[rndmprsn]

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=9608

Suddenly the Democratic Party wants to duke it out on everything, from Tom DeLay to John Bolton to everything in between. Despite the beating that Bolton is taking at the hands of Democrats, there remains a better than even chance that he will be confirmed as ambassador to the United Nations -- as long as White House officials continue to fight for him. The bottom line is not matter how much Democrats frag Bolton in the next weeks; the only way his nomination dies is if Republicans abandon him and defy their president.

It is possible to imagine that Bolton’s interpersonal-skills disorders might cost him support among independent GOP senators. But it is nearly impossible to see how the White House could lose this fight over charges that, when you add them up, amount to the fact that Bolton is a hard-driving, ideological mega-jerk who likes to get his way even if it means running people into the ground to get it. How do these qualities become a sufficient disqualifier giving GOP senators enough cover to go against their president?

They don’t!

For Democrats, however, it does not matter: The Bolton nomination is already paying dividends, and may continue to do so even if they lose. With little reason to think they could win, they’ve put up a fight and have refused to back off. They’ve come off looking organized and determined. And if they manage to win this fight, they may also begin to appear effective.

That’s the shocker. All of a sudden, Democrats are shooting to kill.

By all the regular standards of modern-day Washington, Bolton has no right to be in trouble: He had the votes in committee, he had friends at the White House, and he was not sufficiently well-known for public demonization or ridicule. What’s more, he was nominated to be ambassador to the UN, not a federal judge with a lifetime appointment who could have something to say about abortion or gay marriage.

[BattyDem]

1. The Dems have been great recently!

I think Dr. Dean surgically re-attached their "family jewels" :P

[Justitia]

3. Thank you Howard Dean! -eom

[rndmprsn]

4. agreed i think dean and reid have given the party a good dose of spine...

and unity.

[Zenlitened]

2. That's the key. We don't expect Dems to win every fight. But...

... they have to FIGHT the fight. They have to stand up and say what needs to be said, and put their words into action when they vote. It's pretty simple stuff.

... The Bolton nomination is already paying dividends, and may continue to do so even if they lose. With little reason to think they could win, they’ve put up a fight and have refused to back off. They’ve come off looking organized and determined. And if they manage to win this fight, they may also begin to appear effective.

[coloradodem2005]

5. Thank God.

Thank god for Howard Dean.

[madfloridian]

6. Good article.

:hi: