The Dark "What If".

[Daftly]

What if Alito is confirmed (as seems probable though not yet a done deal), and we do not gain control of either house of congress? I have no faith that both Justice Ginsberg, and Justice Kennedy can hold on until 2008. Can you imagine Brown replacing Ginsberg as not only a tolken woman, but a tolken black woman who is radically wrong! If that were to happen I don't know how we could put things back together.

Before the last selection, I had hope that we would get rid of this phoney. I am now allowing myself a little hope that we could regain control of one houses. Unfortunately, it seems just as likely that we could make gains during mid term elections, but they would not be enough to shift power. If elections are truly controlled, they could actually expand their power.

I've seen Smirk's poll numbers, and it does not bode well for the repukes this time around, but I've thought that before. Delay's difficulties give me a little smile, but outside of his district, few people know him. The democrats around me lack energy and seem to be throwing in the towel even here in San Jose.

Where do you folks see things going should the Republicans maintain control of both houses until '08?

[Rosco T.]

1. In the words of George, John, Paul & Ringo...

"you say you want a revolution....."

[Hamlette]

2. if we don't win in 2006, we will win again...and when we do we can

make the USSC irrelevant by passing laws, even constitutional amendments if necessary, to correct some of the problems.

[Daftly]

4. No, we would pass laws that would be stricken down.

Constitutional amendment are so difficult, they are next to impossible to pass in this day and age. It will take such a swing in popular though and such an uprising of the masses, that I see it as far more unlikely than simply winning one of the houses in '06.

In order for there to be a revolution in this country, we will need to see something that touches the people as deeply as the great depression, Pearl Harbor, or 911. Without that, there will be no more great progressive advancement. While a revolution may be in order, I hope this type of a blow to our nation will never again occur.

If we do not win, this will indeed be Jesusland for most intents and purposes. Without the backing of the courts prepare to see a greater erosion of the line between church and state. Roe will be stricken down, as will Casey. Many states will outlaw abortion all together. Capital punishment will be broadened again. Look to see faith based initives to pass as well as school vouchers for religious based schools. Eventually, they may even be pressured into closing the boarders despite the corporate muscle. I don't buy that we will go back to the racism of the pre-70's, but many gay rights advances will be overturned and the pressure will be to go back into the closet.

On an international level, look to see the US flex its economic and military muscle more often. Whether by overt, or covert means, Chavez, Castro, and the Iranian Mullahs will fall. Some governments that don't tow the line are likely to be economically squeezed into submission.

Many here think that we have reached the pinnacle of our empire. What if that is not true. What if instead, we see more of a consolidation of power and growth of the empire in a race for the natural resources that remain. China will dominate her area of the world, but is Europe well enough organized and unified to stop US imperialism? From what I've seen from the EU and UN, I doubt it. Even this band of bungles have been able to play one off against the other quite well. Even if it could, many of those nations would be likely to join us rather than fight us simply due to the risk of overtly opposing us.

Many here hope beyond hope that this is not true, but we ignore the evidence at our own peril. I don't see an end of the nation. Rather, I see a much more powerful and oppressive America. At home, think of a return to the 1980's. Abroad,without unification they will hang separately.

[rox63]

3. Stevens would probably be the first liberal justice to go

He's in his mid-eighties, I believe.