GOP losses could spark partisan warfare

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON - The White House is bracing for guerrilla warfare on the homefront politically if Republicans lose control of the House, the Senate or both — and with it, the president's ability to shape and dominate the national agenda.

Republicans are battling to keep control of Congress. But polls and analysts in both parties increasingly suggest Democrats will capture the House and possibly the Senate on Election Day Nov. 7.

Democrats need a 15-seat pickup to regain the House and a gain of six seats to claim the Senate.

Everything could change overnight for President Bush, who has governed for most of the past six years with a Republican Congress and with little support from Democrats.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061022/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_losing_congress

[aquart]

1. I hope they all go shooting with Cheney.

[Tyo]

7. Yup, time for a big ol Rethug quail hunt

Put em in the middle of a ranch out in Texas somewhere, give 'em plenty of amo and plenty of Jacky D and let Chaney have the first shot.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. A lame duck bush is the best thing that could happen to the planet.

Right now just stopping their forward progress (and I use the term progress very loosely) would at least give the planet a little breathing room.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

15. seconded

one can only hope he cant wreck more damage

[Auntie Bush]

82. Maybe Cheney and bush will go on a shooting vacation after the

Primaries. He should easily be very successful with a lame duck presidenT. Poor bush! He's really going to get peppered!

[wryter2000]

3. Partisan warfare?

Where the hell have they been for the last 6 years? It's been partisan warfare, only our side has been about as well-equipped as the troops in Iraq.

[RC]

9. 6 years? Since 1994 is 12 years the criminals have

declared war on us, U.S.

[wryter2000]

14. Yup

You're right. They just haven't had the White House (and Supreme Court appointments) until 2001.

[depakid]

28. LOL Tom Raum, Associated Press Writer

Had better keep whoring furiously- because some of us won't forget what people like that have have promoted and enabled.

Two edged swords.

Not all of us who've been abused for all these years by the likes of this man will be so forgiving. In fact- some might be the kinds of people that we've been lied about and made out to be.

If that's the case- it might have been a mistake to have gone along in this travesty without questioning the far right.

[KansDem]

75. I agree. I view the media just as (ir)responsible as Bush...

Both have conspired to turn our democracy into a neo-con fascist state. Both have conspired to wag war on innocent people. Both have conspired to kill, maim, and torture.

Both can share a space in the deepest bowels of Hell.

[Tight_rope]

79. Couldn't have said it better myself. "Deepest bowels of Hell"!

[MissMillie]

71. thank you... that's exactly what I've been thinking.

:thumbsup:

[AnneD]

78. I guess we will be the first....

to check out all those changes to the law Bush insisted on. Funny how they never thought that the shoes might be on the other foot. Arrogant bastards.

[bluescribbler]

4. The Uniter won't even be able to unite his own party

Wouldn't that be just too bad.

[FormerDittoHead]

5. Framing. Can't we all just get along and keep messing up the country?

First, I haven't seen a SINGLE poll which doesn't show the Dems gaining control of the House...

Second, perhaps the narriative should have refected the FACT that since the Republicans gained control, the Democrats have been SHUT OUT. I call *THAT* "partisan warfare" and it's been going on for YEARS...

Third, forgot to mention the "first 100 hours" plan as an answer to the failed Contract for America (sic).

Lastly, the article fails to mention that THE PEOPLE don't approve of either Bush nor the Congress, and that this election will be a reflection upon the Republicans FAILURES...

[pat_k]

6. There is nothing partisan about defending the Constitution and . . .

. . .going after War Criminals.

We need to figure out ways to wake up the so-called "leaders" in the Democratic Party to a few facts of life.

The antidote to perceptions of "partisanship" is confronting truth and reality head on and taking the actions demanded by the facts.

The only way any elected official or candidate can prove commitment to our founding principles over party is to fight for those principles regardless of partisan concerns.

Instead of recognizing this and actually rising above partisanship by fighting for core principles, the so-called Democratic strategists think the antidote can be found in cynically "going along to get along" and saying they seek bipartisanship, which people across the spectrum assume is insincere (as demonstrated the assertion that Pelosi is just mouthing what the right wants to hear to mollify them -- something I have heard repeatedly from folks on our side.)

Nothing could be more wrong-headed than attempting to "rise above partisanship" by playing more partisan games.

[Zybelline]

21. first thing : repudiate the schmucks vital to world's view of America

it is very late but at least if we repudiate this bunch if electorate tries, despite diebold machines, etcetc
to neutralize this bunch

to repudiate them to say NO

we retrieve some vestige of respect/affection people had for us before

[grasswire]

8. spark partisan warfare??

Great.

I guess the MSM considers the last thirteen years a political nirvana? From the day Clinton took office until this day, Republicans have waged chaos on American citizens through their propaganda and politics of destruction.

No one is more sick of the warfare than we Democrats. But, by God, we didn't start this but we intend to finish it.

[gully]

18. My thoughts exactly. HUH? As IF Rove/Cheney/Bush haven't been

f-ing partisan?

This meme is an attempt to cry out to Republicans "vote or else."

[rodeodance]

10. Dems to need headlines this this!

[katinmn]

11. Neuter Bush. Then the GOP chickenhawks can sqwak all they want.

It won't matter!

[anotherdrew]

12. republican militia dead-enders will be quickly routed n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. I love to watch Repugs

turn on their own kind.

Sit back and enjoy the show.

[Rex]

16. LOL! And we all know how well the White House does against guerrilla

warfare! I'm surprised they ain't calling us Dems, insurgents yet! Guess that is after the elections.

[cosmicdot]

17. OMG - run for the hills

we'll just sweep decades of broken system under that lumpy rug

The patient will stop bleeding sooner or later.

It's time for that new tone Bu$h promised along with compassionate conservatism and 'I'm a uniter, not a divider'. Stop worrying and 'put food on the family'. Right, Mr. Raum?

What a scribe this Tom Raum, "reporter", is. Trying to spin the post-election tone for Bu$h.

Raum, like most corporate media, can only think back to one other president ... Clinton.

He makes it sound like Clinton had it easy. Bu$h gets a 6 year free ride. Clinton had to govern for 6 years with his hands tied behind his back, blindfolded, and multi-million dollars of tax payer money, the GOP, and the Scaife blood hounds nipping at his ankles.

He, also, seems to over look that Democrats have helped Bu$h from torture to tax cuts, when he scribes: " ... Bush ... has governed for most of the past six years with a Republican Congress and with little support from Democrats." Bu$h has had way too much support from Democrats, especially considering he's been a fraud from day one.

[Zybelline]

20. thank you ! for mentioning Scaife, and pusillanimous Dems pre Iraq

I too believe Scaife has had a very powerful sinister role behind the scene, in almost coup d etat against clinton
essentially losing last 2 yrs of that presidency setting stage for these bastards

and yes, sadly, mrs clinton herself, always too calculated, no intuition, no instinct, was waay too complicit in patriotism blackmail against all questioning intelligence before iraq invasion

time to do major investigation of scaife

scaife the anti Soros

[gully]

19. "Everything could change overnight for President Bush"

LET'S HOPE THE HELL IT DOES!

And what many here don't seem to get when they bitch about Democrats:

He will have the capacity to say no to Democratic legislation, but he won't have the capacity to say yes to his own legislation," said Gergen, who teaches at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

[aaronbees]

22. Guerrila warfare??? They've been practicing that against the Dems...

for 6 years. Payback wil be a beeyotch, won't it, GOP? :P It's nice to see an article so clearly if inadvertently encapsulates six years of demogoguery. Comeuppance is long past due.

I particularly like this quote: "Loss of either chamber also could subject his administration to endless congressional inquiries and investigations." Indeed.

[eppur_se_muova]

23. A 'spark' in the middle of a firestorm, started by Repugs ... nt

[greeneyedboy]

24. as opposed to the tea party we've been having since Clinton won?

i am so sick of these articles warning of "partisan rancor" when the Dems take over.

[Nashyra]

25. I can't believe it

It has been partisan since the * took office and of course long before. The nicest thing to think about is the *'s who will loose, jerks that thought they still had a political future, they will be done, ut a fork in them done. I hope that happens to our Secretary of State , he acts like he is entitled, that he has earned the next position that he is running for. I hope he has to get a real job in Jan.

[HuffleClaw]

26. they will no doubt begin a rousing chorus of 'DURING A TIME OF WAR..'

...we cannot let partisan issues IMPERIL the nation. blah blah blah.' you know the rest.

[jberryhill]

27. Oh, gosh, I guess we better let them win, then.

[Human Torch]

29. Bush braces for fight if GOP loses House

By TOM RAUM, Associated Press Writer 20 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The White House is bracing for guerrilla warfare on the homefront politically if Republicans lose control of the House, the Senate or both — and with it, the president's ability to shape and dominate the national agenda.

Republicans are battling to keep control of Congress. But polls and analysts in both parties increasingly suggest Democrats will capture the House and possibly the Senate on Election Day Nov. 7.

Democrats need a 15-seat pickup to regain the House and a gain of six seats to claim the Senate.

Everything could change overnight for President Bush, who has governed for most of the past six years with a Republican Congress and with little support from Democrats. "Every session you change the way you do business with the Congress. And you test the mood of the Congress, find out what their appetite will be. But it doesn't change your priorities," the president told ABC News.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061022/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_losing_congress;_ylt=AnG0TH29lV7ZyBaldo0g8OR34T0D;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

[zanne]

30. As I gaze into my crystal ball....

I see many, many signing statements in Junior's future.

[nam78_two]

33. Heh I was thinking the exact same thing/nt

[ccpup]

31. Perhaps the Country should be reminded

that Bush is a "uniter not a divider" and often boasted about how he can "work with those across the aisle". Maybe it's time to remind everyone and keep Bush to his inane and boastful Campaign 2000 promise of being able to work with anyone!

[LynnTheDem]

52. How 'bout bush's 2000 campaign promise of "NO NATION-BUILDING"?

Of a "HUMBLER FOREIGN POLICY"?

bush; biggest conman ever.
Rightwingnuts; biggest bunch of dupes, ever.

[Donnachaidh]

32. what fight? Bush will sit in the WH and pout, and the rest of them in

the Congress and Senate will do everything they can to either shoot down Dem legislation, or badmouth the legislation before it even hits the floor.

It's gonna get alot worse before it gets better.

[goforit]

34. BEWARE of rigged voting. Do the Dems have a plan for this corruption?

If not, get out of the kitchen! (or country)

[aquart]

35. Considering how many Republicans will be voting Democratic.......

It's the Republicans who better have a plan. Because their people won't believe it's fixed until they try to vote differently......and it won't be pretty.

[DoYouEverWonder]

36. Any REP voting DEM should change their party registration to DEM

because it's to switch the Registered REP votes to REP, no matter how you vote.

[xchrom]

37. he better be gettin ready for impeachment.

[billyoc]

39. I just heard Pelosi say that impeachment was "off the table",

and a "waste of time" on 60 minutes. :(

[xchrom]

40. i tell my self that she's telling them that to keep them off balance.

[MGD]

41. Would impeachment be the best course of action for the country

or would it just be "feel good legislation" for Democrats? If the country hands us the power, we need to have more to offer the country in return than 2 years of hearings and inquiries IMO. Pelosi is Right.

[Raine]

48. I agree

we can't tie up two years with impeachment proceedings. The Democrats have lot's of work to do getting the country back on track, that has to be the number one priority. Anyway it will be funny to have the idiot around of two years hog tied, twisting in the wind unable to do anything. :evilgrin:

[tavalon]

49. Except signing statements.

He can neuter any Dem legislature with his fucking signing statements. We need to impeach him and Dick Cheney. Hell, Rice while were at it. I think the Dems can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can impeach as we must, and still push through appropriate legislation to help our country get back on track.

[MGD]

51. Impeaching him during a war probably wouldn't be good for America

There's no telling how bad it would be but my guess is, it would tear the country apart and I'm not sure we want to be responsible for that kind of a scene. Furthermore, we won't have the votes or the time to make it happen so it would more than likely be two years worth of wasted time. It would be better to have their balls in our hands than their necks in a rope IMO(metaphorically speaking of course).

[tavalon]

54. Um,

One, check the street. We are being torn apart. It started with the installment of an illegitimate President six years ago. Don't give me that crap about impeachment during war time being bad for the country. This war is bad for this country. The best thing this country could do would be to impeach them for lying, not about blow jobs but about the reasons they took us into another illegal war. Second, this is not an either/or. It's time to hang the bastards and get country back on track. Funny thing, I think we can do both. We're more competent than the other side. Lastly, I do want their necks in a rope or rather, their asses in the Hague. I don't want either of those worthless men to retire anywhere but a jail cell. I will accept nothing less and I will fight with every breath in my body for that. You can settle if you wish. I will not.

[MGD]

55. Choose your battles more wisely as this fight is already lost to you.

You'll run out of breath long before any American president ever stands before the Hague. What's more, I detect a hint of vindictiveness in your post that suggests to me that your motivations have more to do with Bill Clinton than George Bush. I suspect this is true of many of the voices calling for impeachment. That was not in the country's best interest and neither is this. And, finally, you and those other voices are going against the sound judgements of the national Democratic party leadership who might just be more competent than you to formulate national Democratic party policy.

[tavalon]

57. Yeah

It's all about the Clenis. Get over your bad self.

We don't agree. End of conversation. I'm moving to another area of this giant cocktail party. Buh bye.

[MGD]

59. A pointless and rude retort. No you aren't the vindictive type at all,

are you?

[TheWatcher]

69. Nope, he's just a good detector of bullshit.

Especially yours.

Get new material. This crap doesn't work anymore.

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MGD]

87. I'm not the one disagreeing with the party leadership, am I?

Regardless, My instincts tell me that nothing good will come from impeachment proceedings and, what's more, Republicans will probably turn it around on us. It will be a talking point 20-40 years from now just like Vietnam, and we're going to wind up blamed for losing this war just like we're blamed for losing Vietnam. Impeaching George Bush gives the Republicans a free ticket out of their mess.

[ShortnFiery]

67. We are NOT at war! It's a fictional boogie man. We OCCUPY a

sovereign county and need to EXTRACT our troops out of that hell hole.

[Tight_rope]

80. I have to agree with you. We need to "Impreach" to begin the healing

process. And yes we "Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time"!:applause:

[MGD]

88. we "Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time"!

You have no basis from which to make that assertion, as nobody knows just how all consuming such an endeavor might be and, as far as the "healing" goes, I think your out of your effin mind if you believe this would lead to some kind of national healing.

[dos pelos]

56. Impeachment solves nothing.....

The Senate needs to be cleaned out.A leopard does not change its spots.These Quislings need to be turned out.The Military Commisions Act needs to be repealed.Bush is just a spokesman,a PR man,a face for a mass of corruption that has led us to this point.The tendency for formation of a political aristocracy in the form of the Bush,Clinton and Kennedy families needs to be corrected.The Democratic party in great measure went along with the Iraq war,the Patriot Act and the Military Commisions Act.The problem is not just one man,impeachment is not a panacea.A sweeping victory in House and Senate would only temporarily check the current rush towards a tyranny.The old boys in the Senate,and their masters/owners would have another try.

[MGD]

60. Yeah, but what can you do?

Welcome to DU.

[TheWatcher]

70. Try standing up to them.

Watch V For Vendetta. Maybe something will click for you.

[leesa]

65. It's not a choice. It is their JOB to impeach him. He has lied to

Congress to start a war for starters. That's an impeachable offense. This war has resulted in over 600,000 needless deaths. They MUST impeach him and put him on trial for war crimes or we will never regain any credibility.

[nodehopper]

68. impeachment would be GREAT for the country

I can multitask; I hope my elected representatives can handle impeaching a corrupt government, and drawing on the moral strength from that to effect policy at the same time.

[DesEtoiles]

42. wink wink - PSYCH!

[tavalon]

44. Of course she said that

It's politics. You don't show your hand before the election. You don't want to energize their base. Now, if she's serious, then come Jan, we take her out to the proverbial woodshed and smack some sense into her. And we, the energized left of the blogosphere, have proven that we have that kind of power. We can and will change her mind, but for now, let her play smart politics.

[onehandle]

50. If we take the House AND Senate.

We'll do it. Otherwise, a Democratic House will make him a powerless dick for the next two years.

And investigate the fuck out of Bush, Cheney and their cronies.

[0007]

63. junior better start packing for the Hague

[rodeodance]

38. gee, i did not know if he can get more stubborn!!

[Olney Blue]

43. You WILL change your priorities if the people destroy your rubber stamp,

Herr Chimpler.

[sweetheart]

45. They're gonna torture bush...

... and cheney. Each will be handed an envelope of white powder that looks like antrax,
and as they inhale it, they will be informed of the GOP loss. Then they will be informed
of a potentially comprehensive military threat to republicans everywhere... and for 3 seconds,
and 3 remaining seconds only, until the football was back in joint chief's hands, the
coup was at risk.

[BlueJac]

46. Criminals will do anything to stay out of JAIL!

[Straight Shooter]

47. "You test the mood of Congress"?

Spoken like the dipwad he is. Who cares what their "mood" is. The question is, what tasks are before them which need to be accomplished.

The big difference is that the friggin' arm-twisting will stop. The Democrats will grab a thread and completely unravel the invisible clothes that the emperor is wearing.

[JI7]

53. so the Chimpanzee would rather fight Democrats than go after Bin Laden

[young_at_heart]

58. What goes around, comes around!

Karl Rove seems to thrive on daily guerrilla warfare for some reason, even though he looks nerdy. The extreme partisanship was caused by this group. The divide has never been this great in my lifetime.

[Human Torch]

61. Rove thrives on warfare BECAUSE he's a nerd...

He had an obsession with winning when he was in school, participating in debates. There's a great story in the "Bush's Brain" movie about this. He'd show up with these huge boxes of note cards, and the boxes would keep getting bigger and bigger.

It's like those old "Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom" TV shows, where you'd see some peaceful gazelles relaxing around a cool, shady pond. Out of nowhere, BLAM...big, sinewy jungle cat, snapping the neck of the slowest gazelle in the pack.

Some animals kill because they're hungry. Some kill like that "snap" sound a neck makes when their jaws crack it in two and their prey goes limp and lifeless.

I don't believe for a second that Rove gives a shit about America. He's just a bloated, corrupt nerd who's addicted to that "snap" sound.

[young_at_heart]

62. That such a person has so much power is pretty frightening

I wonder if this man has any real friends? I had really hoped Fitzgerald would nail him, but obviously that was a dream only.

[Human Torch]

64. One of my favorite movies is DeNiro's "A Bronx Tale"...

...the head "goodfella" in the movie, Sonny (played by Chaz Palminteri) becomes a role model for DeNiro's kid (much to DeNiro's dismay). At one point he asks Sonny if it's better to be loved or feared. Sonny replies "feared."

I don't think Rove cares about "real friends," just winning. And it's not even healthy winning, like athletes in fair competition. It's winning by thoroughly destroying your opponent. It's making phone calls in the deep South to ask voters what they think of John McCain's "illegitimate black baby" (who's adopted, not illegitimate, and Bangladeshi, not black).

The "Bush's Brain" movie also features a couple of shell-shocked interviews with people whose careers were destroyed by Rove. He lives for it. And the Democrats need to learn that in order to win, Rove needs to be taken out of the equation. It's one thing to take the moral high ground and say "we can't sink to his level." I've seen many, many of those posts on DU. OK, great, don't sink. Just be prepared to take down Rove. And if you're not, accept the outcome...whatever it is.

:patriot:

[FredScuttle]

66. "braces for a fight"? LOL

What a larf....like this whisky-soaked coward ever braced for anything tougher than a pledge-branding at the DKE house.

What said the "brave warrior" when the Vietcong were coming to the fight? "I'm goin to 'Bama! Smell ya later!"

[bdamomma]

74. bushie will have alot of temper tantrums if the Dems have control

it will be Bush's worse nightmare, too bad Bushie you deserve it!!!!!!!!!

[Benhurst]

76. King George can just dissolve Congress.

Our Democratic leadership won't fight back, choosing instead to keep its powder dry.

[mcscajun]

72. "Bracing"? Seems like the Republicans are already in "circular

firing squad" mode to me.

Poor dears. :sarcasm:
Couldn't happen to a "nicer" bunch of miscreants.

[goforit]

73. Arguing? fighting? Warfare? WTF...SO BE IT!!! We're ready!!! Bring it on!!

[Miss Chybil]

77. We haven't been at war all these years since Gingrich and the gang

rode into town?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

81. Scary Question

If Democrats and Republicans negotiate passage of any legislation with Bush (which I'm sure that they will at some point), wouldn't Bush just be able to issue one of his so-called "signing statements" and simply ignore or refuse to enforce any objectionable parts of the legislation pretty much like he has already been doing? How should the Democrats respond when he does this?

[Lilith Velkor]

84. In other news, a war in Iraq may begin soon

Seriously, how is it that these Captain Obvious types get money for writing crap like this?

[yurbud]

85. headline true only if what happened before called partisan pogrom

with one side as the Cossacks burning and pillaging the other sides villages.

If the Democrats fight back or even clear their throat instead of saying 'yes, massah George,' it's called ugly partisanship--somehow the other side calling us traitors and shutting democrats out of the normal minority role in the functions of Congress doesn't merit the same label.

[geniph]

86. Warm up the tumbrils and dust off the guillotines

It's time to put paid to a few arrogant aristocrats!

[SoCalDem]

89. Nothing new. if they can't be the "boss" they will pout like bratty

children and cause trouble..

Oh wait.. they do that when they ARE in charge..

how on earth will we be able to tell the difference?