Top Ten Reasons There's No Discussion On Hayden Hearings

[omega minimo]

The Hayden confirmation hearings started last week. The boards on DU reflect a similar lack interest as when Alito was shoved through the process and onto the Supreme Court. The stakes are similar, too. It was AFTER Alito was in his robes that DU perked up to the notion of "Unitary Executive." Tapping the architect of the domestic wiretapping program to head the Central Intelligence Agency further enforces the (abuse of) power of King George and Bushco.

Help us out here. What reasons are there for the lack of interest/action? Any ideas? Please explain below if you choose to vote.

:patriot:

edit to remove: "Whatever we do won't matter, why bother?" and sub "Outrage Fatigue"

[TheFarseer]

1. Doesn't matter if Hayden is confirmed

They're going to get some troll in there that will do whatever bush wants anyway.

[omega minimo]

2. Does it matter

if this nomination kills the topic of illegal domestic spying by the bush administration?

[TheFarseer]

10. It won't

and it definitely won't until we have the guts to say why domestic spying matters. There's a good possibility that the Kerry campaign was being spied on and even if it wasn't what's to prevent that from happening? No one cares about civil liberties until they can see why it matters. We're doing a BAD job of articulating that.

[omega minimo]

12. Spoiled Brats

"No one cares about civil liberties until they can see why it matters."

That may be the fault of the education system.

:bounce:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

3. Other: There Was Interest In Both The Hayden And Alito Hearings.

[emcguffie]

4. Paralysis desperati.

[sadiesworld]

5. B/c while Hayden may be unpopular with the base...

the dem politicians plan to help confirm him. IOW, our esteemed leaders will do what they want regardless of our feelings, so it's just as well we're redirected toward more "suitable" topics.

Similarly, there was virtually no discussion here last week when the Dorgan Amendment (to strip the guest worker provision from the immigration bill) was tabled on a bi-partisan vote. Everyone was too busy discussing the not-so-imminent-afterall Rove indictment and the not-so-illuminating-afterall Flt 77 tape.

[omega minimo]

7. Congress (Dems) wait to see what American people will do

while American people wait to see what Congress (Dems) will not do


"IOW, our esteemed leaders will do what they want regardless of our feelings, so it's just as well we're redirected toward more "suitable" topics."

If we assume what they'll do and play dead, doesn't that make it so?

[sadiesworld]

14. I'm not the one doing the redirecting.

As for "playing dead", I admit to being a bit :eyes: discouraged about how much our leaders listen to us. I'm having a tough time coming up with one major piece of repub legislation that the dems have voted against as a bloc.

Also, I learned during CAFTA that some activism is best performed off-line.

[omega minimo]

22. oh

:yoiks: :hi:

[hfojvt]

30. how about the tax cuts of 2003?

passed the senate 51-50. Democrats usually vote against everything as a block in the house, but it does not do a tanj bit of good. Democrats probably vote as a 90%+ bloc on most bills. It does no good since Republicans vote together enough to win on almost all issues. Unfortunately Democrats have not filibustered enough, but I do remember that during Alito I called both Feingold and Tim Johnson and told them to filibuster. It seems quite pointless to call the Republicans from my own districts.

[Ms. Clio]

6. I think when the hearings and media coverage resume

DU discussion about the issue will pick up again. That's just how this forum works -- remember the Schiavo case? In a couple of weeks, something else will get GD buzzing.

But I agree that this issue has received distressingly little of the same obsessive attention lavished on the TO/Leopold debacle.

[babylonsister]

8. Beg to differ about Alito. This board was bustling; many of us

contacted whoever we could and encouragement overflowed. It was NOT quiet around here.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

9. Agreed. There Was No Shortage Of Discussion And Action With Alito.

That's for damn sure LOL :)

[omega minimo]

11. True-- many did. Matter of scale

relative to the importance of the issue. Ms. Clio hinted at it.............. relatively speaking, Alito was underplayed and the whole notion of presidential power-- involved in both these nominations-- was "no big deal."

Ms. Clio's post reminded me that I forgot the option "Outrage Fatigue." Where's the outrage about this nomination that replaced any investigation into illegal spying?

Are we hoping that John Conyers is keeping track of all the impeachable offenses for us and after that magical November election, everything will be OK?

:shrug:

[babylonsister]

13. Alito was not underplayed; we were and still are the minority party,

and it's proven to be our downfall, coupled with Dems who vote repug for whatever reason.
As for Hayden, prevailing wisdom has it that he'll be confirmed w/o a problem. Again, being the minority party and having Dems who vote repug, I don't know what can be done. Also, having the repugs change the subject, i.e., immigration, doesn't help.

And I'll be the first one to admit I have outrage fatigue.

[omega minimo]

15. I hear ya. Ya know what's most alarming?

The lack of alarm

[peaches2003]

16. Because the Dems are spineless

and every issue fizzles because we know there will be no support by the Dem Party leadership.

I keep getting the usual survey and request for $$$ from the Dem Party. I fill it out every time and then make it clear in language not befitting the Grandmother that I am that they will not get a dime from me until they grow a spine and get rid of Reid and Pelosi. Reid is useless and Pelosi will turn more people off when voting with the thought that she could become Speaker of the House. She's irritating- sorry. Don't tell me there are no Dems in both houses who could project a better imagine and attract more voters who are fed up with the Bush Crime Family than both Reid and Pelosi!

[riderinthestorm]

17. Much of Hayden's hearing will be behind closed doors

It gets boring hearing him say over and over and over - "I'll tell you all about that later in secret session."

There's only so much anyone can discuss when the "big" questions are answered with this kind of answer.

And then the Dems walk out of closed session and say, "Hayden's fully answered our questions and we're okay with him as director." Without knowing what his answers were there's no way we can discuss it fully. We can only groan or cheer at the questions. Yawn.

[mcscajun]

18. Another case of outrage fatigue.

I just can't...

[WHAT]

19. the enticement is too tasty...

for those who hunt game
with a hunter's perspective
In the end...
it won't matter
...the rebounding simplicity
...of life

snaps the head off
and smiles

astoundingly
rapid

...maybe...

(and a wink to those who think
they have everything under control)

so simple

[DemonFighterLives]

20. I voted done deal, though I wish it would all go away

As with all of dumbya's stupid nominations, a few will stand against for a moment and then tow the line. Sickening!
A chance to throw a wrench in the works of the Machine should not be missed, but we don't have any/many good representative for Dems.
:dem:

[BlooInBloo]

21. DUers' credulity with truthout leads to reasonable people...

... trying to convince DUers of the virtues of EVIDENCE, which leads to too few resources to spend much time on Hayden.

[coalition_unwilling]

23. I'm busy working to get Marcy Winograd elected in

the June 6 primary (running against Jane Harman in California's 36th). Harman's had one chance too many -- she's out of touch with the voters in her district who are overwhelmingly anti-war, anti-Bush and anti-NSA criminality.

[omega minimo]

24. Beautiful. Thank you.

:thumbsup:

[omega minimo]

25. In the "It's a Done Deal" Dept.

Levin drops the balls

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2300224

[Ms. Clio]

26. really all that wants to come out of my keyboard right now

is a string of nearly incoherent profanities.

I knew it, and still. Those fuckers.

[omega minimo]

27. Dear Ms. Clio When do Americans admit that

we are ALL disenfranshised?

[Ms. Clio]

28. dear omega minimo

I think a lot of Americans do suspect that to be the case -- like those Lamont voters in CT. But too many just don't read or care, and by the time they realize it affects them personally, it will be far too late for all of us.

[omega minimo]

29. Well, it's official! Malloy just said,

"Whaddya gonna do? Whaddya gonna do? Whaddya gonna do?"






"Starting to feel naked and alone, Truthseekers?"