"as the cliff get's closer, they will start to jump..." (Josh Marshall)

[KoKo]

However it happens, whatever gives way first, the trend is unmistakable. And even if the Republicans can maintain unity and defy political gravity through 2008 they can see as well as anyone what will happen if they go into the 2008 election with sub-30% support on the defining issue of the day.

The key is -- for some liminal period over the next several months -- there's still a paradoxical safety in numbers for Republicans, sticking with the president. But no one wants to be the last one to the door. If you're a Republican congressman and you've been carrying the president's water on Iraq for years you don't want to be on the losing side when the Congress finally ends the war in spite of the president. At that point, even if you flip flop and start saying we've got to change course and try to get on the right side of public opinion, then you're probably just doubly screwed. And if it's mid-2008 at that point you're really not in a good place.

Someone better versed than I in the intricacies of game theory could suss out all the dynamics. But the key is that folks are getting nervous and they're quite right to do so.

The truth is that the president is playing a very high-stakes game of chicken with his fellow Republicans. He's driving a hundred miles an hour toward the cliff, way too fast to jump out of the car without risking serious injury. But as the cliff gets closer, they'll start to jump.

more of this good read at..........

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/014851.php

[ananda]

1. I've been hearing this for five years.

The reason I don't buy it is that I don't think
the Reeps are running the country.

America is now a one party, fascist business state
controlled by corporations and the media.. with
Reep and now Dem puppets.

[Frances]

2. If you think that Dems are just fascist business state puppets,

why are you posting on DU?

[Totally Committed]

3. To maybe help change that reality?

Just a guess, but I might be right.

TC

[Frances]

8. First of all Dems are NOT fascist puppets

Secondly, such negative posts do NOTHING to change things. Whining only irritates people and diverts them from making needed change.

[Greyhound]

9. And just what changes can we, as in rank and file Democrats, make?

The majority of Democrats within the Beltway are ignoring us and refusing to do what we elected them to do. They've done nothing but carry out their corporate agenda and pretend helplessness since January.

Letters and e-mails, protests, calls, etc. are simply ignored and the few "accomplishments" they've decided are enough to run for re-election on are inadequate, ineffective, and unenforceable.

[KoKo]

10. You didn't read the link....it's not negative to Dems...it's about strategy...

and Josh makes some good points if you read the whole blog post...which isn't long...at the site.

[MuseRider]

4. And as they jump ship

they will start to fight with the powers that be and eventually be seen as the saviors while the Dems sit back and talk about how much it would hurt the country, make them look like they don't support the troops or hold back their other work to deal with it.

[KoKo]

5. Josh gets more into how Dems will and can play it at the link...

Just the snip might not be giving the full story.. but I couldn't post the whole thing because of the copyright limits.

[MuseRider]

7. And I am sorry

I have to admit I did not read it all, I am on the way out. I will catch it later. My bad. I should never post when getting ready to leave!

[BlueManDude]

6. They won't abandon Bush - they'll just wrap themselves in the flag and attack Dems