will the Schiavo case be a "litmus" test for repubs?

[onenote]

In the 2006 and 2008 elections, will repubs have to take a stand on the Schiavo case or will they be able to duck it? And if they take a stand, is there a way to satisfy the red-meat fundies without alienating "mainstream" repubs?

onenote

[thinkingwoman]

1. it all depends on the Dems

Will Dems hold the Repubs feet to the fire on privacy and keeping government out of people's personal lives?

[Warren DeMontague]

3. Lets hope. Unfortunately our track record is mediocre.

Not only do we now have a party petrified of the religious right and the so-called "values" voter, in recent years all too often we have acquiesced to the control freaks, on our side as well as theirs.

I wish it weren't so. I think there is a solid contingent of socially libertarian, urban voters in the US who can't make up their minds between the Dem. and Repub. parties because they can't figure out which group is less interested in micro-managing their lives.

I think we need to be consistent, coherent, and unapologetic on the right of consenting adults to be left the fuck alone by the government.

[thinkingwoman]

5. Yes! Well said!

"I think there is a solid contingent of socially libertarian, urban voters in the US who can't make up their minds between the Dem. and Repub. parties because they can't figure out which group is less interested in micro-managing their lives.

"I think we need to be consistent, coherent, and unapologetic on the right of consenting adults to be left the fuck alone by the government."

You've hit the nail square with this. This is the key to winning in 2006 and 2008.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. You mean to fit in with the Party they have to display zero neurological

activity?

too late.

[Demeter]

4. The Schiavo Case Is an Intelligence Test

and the ones who pass will fail us all.

[jmcon007]

6. black & white..

I think it goes to the very heart of our differences. To the neocons, everything is black and white, i.e. "for us or against us", etc.
Democrats feel, I believe in this case anyway, that within the bounds of the law those kinds of personal questions like Terri Schiavo, can only be settled and answered by family members and, if there are difficulties, we have a court system to handle and sort things out. And that's that.
But, the Republicans are always, and I mean ALWAYS, on the lookout for a political wedge issue to try and make themselves seem morally superior.
What has them so pissed off right now, is that the vast majority of Americans are with the Democrats on this one and there's nothing they can do about it. The Democrats rightly are staying fairly low profile, not overplaying their hand or allowing themselves to be baited, and just letting DeLay & Co. twist in the wind.