so what will be the repercussions of the post-apocalyptic landscape?

[Pepperbelly]

After the nuclear option is unleashed, and, as feared, no where near enough gops crossed over to stand up for the Republic, what is next?

Do we do what we threatened to do? Take away unanimous consent, throw up every roadblock that we can, force roll call votes for every single issue, pour molasses right the fuck into the works and bring Senate business to a standstill. How long do we keep that up?

Part of me REALLY wants our guys to jam every single thing that we can right up the collective gop ass. Part of me REALLY wants us to put the wood to 'em right where it counts.

But another part wonders what the repercussions of that course would be? Would the general public sympathize with us or would they tramp off in lockstep with Commander Cuckoobannas right off the fucking cliff?

What do you think?

:shrug:

[whistle]

1. One party system, military dictatorship, what else

[brainshrub]

2. Depends entirely on the BBV machines.

If the BBV issue can be switched to a verified paper ballot, the Republicans will rue the day they tinkered with the filibuster.

If the BBV issue stays put, we will have a flag-burring amendment in the constitution in 2007. Then the real fun starts.

[punpirate]

3. What's to lose, then, by...

... gumming up the works? (In one sense, if the Senate doesn't pass another piece of legislation for the next three years, we're better off. :) )

The media has already taken sides with this administration, so the publicity won't be any different later than now. The right wing screams and shrieks at the least little thing as it is--might as well give them something worth complaining about. :P

[HuskiesHowls]

4. The ReThugs will accuse Democrats of "gridlock"

while conveniently forgetting (again) that they did it before.

It must be nice to have such a short memory........

[acmejack]

6. If they don't shut it down, they'll lose us, the base.

I am going to be pissed if they are successful in the nuke option, but I will go ballistic if Reid and team don't follow through as advertised.

[LibDemAlways]

5. If you mentioned the "nuclear option" to the

average guy on the street, the response would be a puzzled "Never heard of it" or "Is that a new band?" or "Is that the new Tom Cruise movie?" If you tried to explain it, you'd see a pair of eyes glazing over. People simply do not care.

One reason the repukes seem so adament about ramming it through is that the average guy doesn't know what the hell is going on and wouldn't know the difference. As long as the media isn't doing its job, the BFEE and its enablers in Congress can do pretty much whatever they want with no consequences.

[GreenArrow]

22. Nuclear Option

would be an excellent name for a band.

[MuseRider]

7. I think it may seem

that the general public will hate us for it but it will just be the media screaming because Rove tells them to. All the polls seem to say that the general public has just about had it with all of this crap and I do not believe anymore that they don't see what is happening. I think they are getting good and awake now and they do not like the way the landscape has changed. (I hope, lol)

[Auntie Bush]

17. I hope you keep blowing that horn in their ear...maybe they will wake up.

[welshTerrier2]

8. Syria, then Iran ... all with the support of the Democrats ...

during the floor testimony today, only one committee was permitted by the Dems to conduct regular business ... and that was the Foreign Relations Committee ...

if the Dems follow through to bring the Senate to its knees, they will be under huge pressure from the republicans to "take care of the people's business" ... one area that neither party will ever let fall by the wayside is foreign policy ... no one would want to be associated with not supporting the troops or putting the country at risk from those evil terrorists ...

we've seen a few stories over the last day or two talking about how Syria is being used by "the insurgents" in Iraq to plan their activities ... when I see headlines like that, it leads me to believe Syria, not Iran, might be next on the hit parade ... it's totally speculation on my part ...

and perhaps it is also speculation but i can't imagine the Dems showing any spine whatsoever when bush comes around asking for authorization to attack Syria and / or Iran ... Democrats will make their stand on domestic policy (social security, the energy bill, judges) ... they won't dare stand up to "the war-time president" ...

i'll bet in 6 months or less, every single DU'er will be able to name more cities in Syria and Iran than they can name today ... it's so much more relevant to learn geography when we've actually invaded the country we're learning about, don't you think ???

Democrats should be speaking out today about why we should not invade Syria ... they should be speaking out today about not invading Iran ... yeah, i know ... they're busy with other important business ... well, fine ... then how about tomorrow ??? or yesterday for that matter ??? don't hold your breath ...

[C_U_L8R]

9. The Base Needs To Get Off Its Ass

In other words it's up to us.
The reich wing may not count our votes
but you can be certain they count our dollars.
Every one.
I posted something similar on another doom & gloom thread.
Forget about our representatives... they've got their own battle.
The question is... what are we (the people) prepared to do??
I suggest that if they go nuclear then we the people go all-out Armageddon.

We may not have a vote that is counted
but we have our dollars and we can inflict
enormous damage to the system
if we direct our efforts properly.

Don't buy red. Divest yourself of everything red.
Disrupt the system every way you can imagine.
If everyone of us does ONE GOOD DEED to
stick it to the administration... we will bury them.
There are more of us.. and we are smarter
and our economic clout is more powerful.
Let's use it and not depend on politicians to do our job.

I'm tired of waiting for leaders, so it's up to the rest of us.
If you believe that this is your country,,.
then perhaps we should think about taking it back.
If anyone has ideas to make this happen... bring em on... please

[Donna Zen]

10. Six of one; half dozen of another

If experience to date is any guide of future events, the Democrats will be blamed no matter what they do. Take the example above of Syria. While some Dems would vote against a war with Syria; many more than we like to think about would vote for it. But as far as the republicans are concerned, the focus would be on the ONE that voted against, and the cry would continue "weak on defense and obstructionist." A brush used to paint the party.

I was once shocked when I encountered misinformation repeated by people who I know have a brain. I no longer am.

[welshTerrier2]

12. get the policy right; put less concern on the labels they use against us

i think you're exactly right ... no matter how Democrats vote, they will be labeled as "weak on defense and obstructionist" ... the second they do anything to slow down the Senate the "obstructionist" label will be in full bloom ... the Party seems to be having an identity crises about whether it's more important to be seen as "tough" or it's more important to be seen as "smart" and then "tough" ... there's a difference that some Democrats seem to have forgotten ...

Democrats should not concern themselves with how they are labeled by republicans ... we need representatives who get the policy right ... being right is the best label ... being wrong makes you an easier target ... doing the right thing in the Middle East, or anywhere else in the world for that matter, involves millions of lives ... getting the politics right is always important; getting the policy right is more important and it usually makes for the best politics too ...

[Auntie Bush]

18. Same here

"I was once shocked when I encountered misinformation repeated by people who I know have a brain."

I couldn't believe it when my very intelligent and successful brother said that he approved of the Iraq war because, "Better there than here." I laughed out loud when I first heard that one but it has been repeated enough that it is not an undeniable truth...a fact! Even intelligent people can't think for themselves! I never thought brainwashing was so easy. Rethugs have mastered the art. Rove must be teaching it in night school.

[ulysses]

11. fight. go right to the goddamned wall.

If we don't, they're going to march us all off the cliff anyway.

[sendero]

13. Try as I might...

.. I just cannot imagine the Dem senate doing jack shit.

If the nuclear option is exercised, there will be a symbolic effort, stall around for a couple weeks, and then it will be business as usual.

I hate to be so cynical, but after letdown after letdown, dissapointment after dissapointment, I have no faith at all in our Senators any more. The ones who are worth the paper their names are printed on can be counted on one fucking hand.

[bonzotex]

14. Shut it down, ...the only option

The Democratic Party will become completely irrelevant if they cave in on this one. You can't stand for anything unless you stand for something. The Political backlash be damned. It's long past time the Democrats gave up on trying to ameliorate the damage the Repugs are doing. We should oppose every single thing they propose in both Houses. Shut the whole mess down.

Cause a crisis, hell we need it! wake people up...I refuse to believe there are enough brain damaged christofascists in this Nation to prop Bush and his cronies up if most sane people truly knew what these criminals are doing. Many in this thread and others point out correctly that most Americans don't have a clue what this Senate fight is about. People are waking up because the pain of the war dead and wounded and the crappy economy are being felt. It will get worse and more people will get pissed, but we have to make sure they understand who to be pissed at.

The press is not going to tell them, they are not suddenly all going to log onto DU and "get it". Liberals constantly haranguing our same circles is not going to change any more minds.

Shut the government down, become a real opposition or die as a political Party, that's the choice. The Republican goal is to kill us slowly or quickly, doesn't matter to them as long as they can have their one party Fascist circle jerk fantasy. There is no point in politics as usual any more.

[Pepperbelly]

15. drown us in the bathtub.

Or have us wither on the vine.

[bonzotex]

16. Love the Zippy pic BTW...

Do we lay down in the tub for them and take a handful of OxyContin? I say fight like bloody hell.

[Auntie Bush]

19. If the Rethugs take the filibuster away...

Dems will have NO control at all...so they might as well just all go home. They won't be neeeded...so save the money they earn and add it to the SS fund. It will do the country more good if they did.

Then the Thugs can pass all the unfair disgusting crazy rules they want and turn us into a Banana Republic with the King Banana at the helm. Then, and only then, will the public wake up and see what their "God" has done to THEIR country. Then HE will finally have to take the responsibility for the first time in his life! The public will be so mad they will demand he be impeached or in prison for treason...paying the deadly consequence with his miserable SMIRK wiped off his face for all eternity.
The Dems wouldn't be blamed for impeaching him...his own followers will do it all by themselves. God Bless them!!!!!

[BeFree]

20. So, this is it, eh?

We have reached rock-bottom. We have no power in congress except for the fillibuster. If that goes we have nothing except to grind everything to a halt?

Well then, lets do it. Once at the bottom the only way to go is up. Actually, even if we did manage to save the filibuster, we ought to just bring everything to a screeching halt before anymore damage can be done to the country.

Congress is being correctly seen as a real enemy of the American people. Anything we can do to highlight that vision is a good thing.

Bringing the republican controlled congress to a halt may be the last chance to save what's left of our spread-thin democracy.

[GreenArrow]

21. extremely large cockroaches

and unusually bold and vicious rats.