If all the Democrats do with their hard won power is symbolic

[chieftain]

opposition to this immoral catastrophe of a war, then all they will be able to expect from me is symbolic support in polls but no trips to the voting booth to pull the Democratic lever. If lip service is all they are willing to give the American people, then that's all they should be given in return. I am still hopeful that the Party musters the insight to understand that the fool in the WH is a clear and present danger to America's safety, values and Constitution. Our leaders better grasp that this regime is preparing to blow the Middle East sky high with a contrived war with Iran.All the symbolism and hand wringing by concerned Congress people will not stop him.Democrats must be willing to cut off the funding for the war machine, start holding the criminals in the Executive branch accountable for their lies and graft. Then they must summon the courage to do their duty to impeach Bush and Cheney.Their duty to the Constitution will require no less.

[mzmolly]

1. Democrats will oppose the war to the extent possible under the constitution.

We know we won on the war, and we have to deliver whatever we can.

[chieftain]

2. I hope you are right. I will be somewhat patient as they

sequence their response to the WH. I just worry that we continue to underestimate how bad the Bush Regime really is. Who would have predicted that in the face of the loss of both Houses of Congress and the issuance of a scathing analysis of his failures in Iraq, that W's response would be to up the ante by sending more troops? This is a profoundly anti democratic cabal that believes that it operates without any legal and constitutional constraints. Democrats need to be willing to use all the power at their disposal to rein
in this unlawful gang.The failure to do so will result in more misery for some and less freedom for all.

[ellisonz]

3. Divide and Conquer.

Put yourself in Harry and Nancy's place.

[chieftain]

4. I appreciate the difficulty facing them. My point is that symbolism

will not stop the war in Iraq nor its expansion into Iran. I believe that this regime will continue to flout the will of the American people and escalate this into a regional conflagration. In doing so, our civil liberties will be seriously endangered. Imperial governments and democracy have a hard time surviving in the same place. W has already committed high crimes and misdemeanors. He will continue to do so. At some point Democrats will have to cut off funds and/or initiate impeachment proceedings.The reputation, safety and the Constitution will demand it. I pray that my Party is up to the challenge.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

5. Initiating impeachment procedings would be just symbolic opposition.

There is no possibility of impeaching Bush; the choice the Democrats have to make is between real progress - concentrating on introducing good legislation such as ending the occupation of Iraq, reducing Bush's tax cuts, etc - or symbolic opposition - initiating impeachment procedings that have no chance of success.

[MasonJar]

6. I am very excited about the giant steps the dems are already

taking on many fronts. Give them a chance!

[chieftain]

7. Bush will continue to ignore the rule of law. There are sufficient

grounds to impeach W now, but neither the votes or the will currently exist.Over the next few months, I predict, this regime will continue in unlawful and anti Constitutional activities. As this regime's actions turn the Middle East into a conflagration and the Constitution into a "quaint" relic from the past, my Party is going to have to decide between symbolism and effective governance. The latter course will require the courage to either initiate impeachment proceedings or cut off funds to the war.The damage that these thugs are creating is real and surging. Non binding resolutions will not deter this cabal, it will only serve to embolden them.

[bluehighways911]

8. Vote Republican

Thank you for saying nothing.

[chieftain]

9. Well, that's a suggestion I never will take. And I think your

assessment of the OP was unduly harsh. Nevertheless, welcome to DU.

[ldf]

11. we can vote republican....

or we can vote for democrats, who, in their effort to appear "bipartisan", "willing to compromise", or "doing the will of the voter", vote FOR the republican agenda because those very same democrats have allowed the republicans to redefine the "middle" to a point just to the left of joe mccarthy.

in the not too distant past the democrats had the house, senate AND whitehouse, and they did nothing but bicker.

we are just now recovering from THAT debacle to the point where the democrats MAY have an extremely small window of opportunity to realign the political landscape to prevent it from occurring again for generations.

but we can only do that if we educate the american people to what the republicans have done in the last six years, then, instead of "bipartisan ly" compromising OUR ideals out the window and catering to the redefined "middle", take major steps to reverse the course we are on, and take major steps to hold those who were responsible, accountable.

if we don't we will never have the chance again, and the newly redefined "middle" will actually become just that. apparently we americans can be talked into just about anything, since we elected the boy wonder twice. (yes, i know, stolen elections, blah blah blah. it should never have been close enough to be stolen.)

but the democrats will do it without me. as far as i am concerned, this is make or break time for the democrats.

i will NEVER vote republican, nor will I ever (again, reluctantly) vote for republican lite, masquerading as democrats.

never.

edit: to/too

[dailykoff]

10. Dems have the power to end all of this bloodshed immediately.

Dems hold the power of the purse and until they exercise it they are complicit in White House war crimes.

And the longer they wait the more guilt they bear for Bush's crimes.