Can we just ADJOURN this dangerous lame-duck Congress?

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

Seriously. It's become clear that the Republicans have no interest in passing good-faith, bipartisan bills in this lame-duck session-- they're merely using it as a way to thwart Democratic ambitions and grease the palms of their cronies, at the expense of the American taxpayer and the middle class. They've shown this with their recent screwing of Kent Conrad and other idiocy. The Republicans have no legitimacy and they know it, so they're just using the lame-duck Congress to milk the US Treasury for the benefit of themselves and their pals, with the bill passed onto the rest of us. This is dangerous and, fundamentally, it goes against the spirit of our democracy.

My suggestion-- after passing another continuing resolution to fund government agencies at their current levels (after Friday night), the Democrats should just refuse to meet again after Thanksgiving, denying a quorum and refusing to convene. Thereby, Congress would be adjourned for 2006 and allowed to start fresh in January 2007, with new members and the imprimatur of popular support, which conveys legitimacy.

I know some Democrats understandably want to pass many spending bills this year rather than leaving them for next year, but there are two problems with this:

1. The Republicans are going to block us from passing these appropriations bills anyway, and 2. what little spending legislation the Republicans do pass, is so heavily laden with kickbacks to Republican cronies as to make a mockery of the appropriations process itself. We should wait until we convene in January 2007 with a popularly elected, legitimate majority. We'll still have the text of the prior appropriations bills available and so, as a result, we can just incorporate the decent portions into new spending bills, rather quickly.

Some Democrats have also spoken of the value in confirming Robert Gates in December for the Secretary of Defense position, but again, this can wait until January. While it's irritating to see Donald Rumsfeld still in the Secretary of Defense position, him being there 1 more month won't make much difference. Transitioning is occurring in the Defense Department anyway, and Gates isn't so much different from Rumsfeld that he'd make any major changes-- no troops are being withdrawn from Iraq in any case.

The best thing for everybody is thus to pass that continuing resolution to fund the government on maybe early Saturday morning, then just adjourn for 2006 and not return during December. Even many Republicans would be very happy with this-- they're demoralized, and they're busy clearing out their offices and getting out resumes for other jobs, so they'd probably be happy to go along.

Any of you DUers at Capitol Hill, any Kossacks (or Markos Moulitsas yourself, if you're working), anyone who knows the specifics about these sorts of Parliamentary procedures-- please pass this along. We'll accomplish much more by just winding down and adjouring the lame-duck Congress, then continuing along with the current corruption and anti-democratic actions on the Congressional floors.

[Sherman A1]

1. From the little that I have seen

this Congress is continuing in their long tradition of "do nothing" so while perhaps not an ideal situation, they might not be all that dangerous. I could be wrong, but I haven't seen much out of them yet.

[izzie]

2. Why would you think it would change?

Bush is going to get every thing he can as long as he can. And for the people are sure they are 'right' like him it will be the same. Zealots are not like real people.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

5. It'll change b/c they lack a majority in 2007

They have the majority now and they know they can still use it to ram bills through. That, combined with their awareness that they'll lose it by early 2007, has made them dangerous b/c they're pushing especially egregious policy.

It's the "nothing left to lose" syndrome-- they feel they don't have much left to lose, and so they lash out in dangerous ways. The list of business on the roll calls of both houses shows just how ridiculous this has become-- blocking actually sensible legislation such as Kent Conrad's farm bill efforts, while lining their own pockets. The Lame Duckers can indeed do serious damage, which is why it's best for us, at this point, to just adjourn.

[izzie]

6. I am willing to bet every agency in the Govt. is run by the far right

He has spend 6 years putting his people in and still has that power for 2 years and they only do the laws they like. Few have to go to Congress to get their jobs. Passing bills in House my be hard but Sen. is not run the same so watch out. Bush is Bush and has not backed down I do not think. Will and can the House control what they agencies do? Yes but will they?

[rodeodance]

3. after Friday aren't they in recess till after Dec? may be wrong but

thought I heard this.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

4. My understanding is, they're planning on convening again in

early December. The Gates hearings are supposed to be the reason, but again, it's Republican shenanigans that will be ruling the agenda.