let me put it this way: we're still playing their game.

[ulysses]

Yeah, they saved the filibuster. A couple more judges get through, we take another step backward but live to fight another day.

Meantime, what's coming up next? What will be the next fire to be put out, the next issue du jour? And while we're dealing with that, what will be happening at, say, Guantanamo? What deals are in the works for Social Security? Whither Syria?

I've mentioned this before on these boards: the saying goes that, when you chop wood, you don't aim at the wood but past it.

When they were out of power in 1993, the GOP aimed past the goal and cut clean through us. If we're content to rush around and put out fires as Karl Rove presents them to us (not to mix my metaphors or anything), we're going to continue to get our asses handed to us.

The GOP base suffered a setback with this deal. It could represent a major setback if we take the initiative and present our own plan now. It'll be a minor bump otherwise.

[swag]

1. I do like that so few here are satisfied.

[ulysses]

2. I agree.

I just wish we could get on the same boat.

Hell, I wish there was a boat.

[CatWoman]

8. hop in!!!!!

:D

[ulysses]

11. is that a CATamaran?

:D

[omega minimo]

22. Can't build a boat if all the wood is burnt

:hi:

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. BushCo has shown us what happens to those who relax

Freedom, vigilance, etc.

[walldude]

5. What's there to be satisified about?

6 car bombs in 24 hours, 45 dead 145 wounded. Woo Hoo let's party!!! I'll be popping corks when the headlines read IMPEACHED AND IMPRISIONED!

[FrenchieCat]

3. They set the agenda.....

We claim victory. Go figure!

[ulysses]

6. nice to be able

to agree with you, Cat. :)

[ray of light]

7. look, we are the MINORITY party

And that's always how it is for a minority party. We need to hang tough and set them on their heals and they did. And the states who are going to suffer from these nominees VOTED for Bush...so they deserve what they got.

[ulysses]

9. actually, it's not how it always goes for the minority.

Ask Newt.

And the states who are going to suffer from these nominees VOTED for Bush...so they deserve what they got.

The kids I teach in the city here in Atlanta thank you for that concern.

[ray of light]

23. Ok, you're right, I hope those kids will call their senators and ask

for a NO VOTE on their behalf! HAVE the WHOLE school call--draw pictures and send them to the moderates and remind them, "yOUR voting FOR ME TOO!" -and BEG for them to protect them. Give the moderates a guilt trip.

Sorry for my sarcastic comment before. YOu're absolutely right, there ARE some people who don't deserve them.

[FreedomAngel82]

17. But we live in those state's too

So we're screwed as well. Some victory.

[ray of light]

24. yes, you're right and I will still fight for you too!!!

I mean it! I'll be calling the mods and saying "VOTE NO" and furthermore, I just had a great idea...have KIDS call and draw pictures and remind them, 'My mom and dad say you're voting for me too, so WE want you to vote no!"

[Erika]

10. It's going to be a fight until we take over in 2006

But we've stopped Bush dead in his tracks on his radical agenda. I'm very proud of our party leadership and the moderates in the GOP.

[ulysses]

12. if we think we've stopped him with this,

we're not going to be taking over in 2006.

[Erika]

13. We'll keep stopping him one step at a time

one radical plan after another. His popularity is non-existent, his wars are going bad, and people are losing confidence in him, more each day.

[ulysses]

14. you'll pardon me if I point out

that we've heard that more than a few times before.

[Erika]

15. But now we're joined by the GOP moderates

and the opinion of the people. They are finally waking up.

[ulysses]

16. aaaand

we've heard tell of that as well.

No. We cannot simply keep giving them enough rope and sitting back on our self-satisfied asses.

[Erika]

19. Times are achanging

and Pelosi and Reid are not Daschle and Gephardt.

[ulysses]

21. we'll see

what kind of initiative they and Dean take from this.

[Eloriel]

18. Yeah, WE are, but there are a few who aren't

and that's the one small ray of hope I see in this ugly mess.

This "moderate cabal" (and I'm no friend of moderates, I think you know) has undercut Bush, the neocons, Frist, the whole Christian Right, etc.

OUR SIDE didn't win, but another player emerged who did win -- that other "player" ran right in and stole the ball. Let's see if that player, those 14 or so Senators, take the initiative and start imposing some sanity on the Senate. In my best Judy Tenuda (sp) voice: It could happen.

[ulysses]

20. and I'll gladly take that as far as it goes!

I'm just not sure it goes very far. :hi:

[omega minimo]

25. What if we "cut past" the Kindling du Jour to the War in Iraq?

What if all the issues led back to that?

What if the strongarming in the Senate raised the issue of the Congress rubber-stamping Bush War II (if they can admit it) like another Congress rubberstamped Bush War I (that history has already been rewritten)?

What if the grassroots demand that the corporate control of the Congress be blasted into the open (a la Gorgeous George) and the war profiteering be exposed for what it is? (or is that what Congress is afraid of and why so few of them stand up for the American people?)

What if the slick slimeball House repug from Indiana on Jim Lehrer tonight (Mike Pence) is called on the hypocricy of claiming that opposition to stem cell research is based on "human life is sacred" and "using taxpayer dollars to fund the destruction of human life" while he claims slimily that taxpayers have the right to protest this on moral grounds---------- Life is not sacred in Iraq, our soldiers' lives are not sacred?

USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND THE DESTRUCTION OF HUMAN LIFE IN IRAQ IS NOT MORALLY OBJECTIONABLE?

Or what do you suggest?