will the republics in the new congress still rubber stamp bush ?

[pwb]

maybe some will grow balls and vote the way their constituents want them to. that would be good to see.

21 republic seats in the senate are up for reelection in 2008 and only 12 democrats. those republics who rubber stamp bush will be beaten and the democrats will be in the majority for decades to come.

so hang in there, time is on the peoples side. not the corporations.

where is Osama ???? can we go after the people that attacked us now?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I don't think so

Bush is a lame duck. Look how many candidates last time wouldn't even be on stage with him for fundraisers! This attitude will become more pronounced as Bush becomes more and more unpopular. Wise pols on either side of the aisle will be heeding their constituents. Those repukes who are out to try for the presidency in 2008 will definately be looking for ways to show that they are different than shrub--part of this will entail voting against some of the things shrub will propose.

[Skidmore]

2. I think * will have more that a few "et tu" moments and

will be walking around with the long knives sticking out of his back.

[katsy]

3. I don't think they can rubber stamp his policies in the House, but

I suspect all this talk of "bipartisanship" in the senate is a ploy to keep the status quo.

The repubics will court lieberman and he'll be able to pay them back for all their *adoring* :grr: support.

[Old and In the Way]

4. I don't think they'll be nearly as compliant.

The election of 2006 gave them permission to think for themselves. Those up for election to 2008 will have even more motivation to factor in the needs and desires of their constituents.

[salin]

5. Depends upon how think-headed and brainwashed each one is.

For some - the belief is that the public just didn't "hear the message" - not that the message is wrong, just not heard (usual culprit, of course, is the "liberal" media). For these fools, there are lessons to be learned. One needs to look no further than the trouble ole Mitt Romney is having launching his presidential campaign - instead of tacking center (which his former positions and statements on policy suggest) he has tried to lurch further to the right (no lessons learned there!) only to have the religious right to begin to turn on him based on those old policies/positions that were more moderate.

It really depends how beholden the particular republic in congress is to the religious right - and how righteous they think that they are. I think many have come to power during the partisan jihadistic rule of Newt and DeLay - and that they know no other way of behaving than backing up the 'leader' and throwing bombshells at any dem for any reason. Its sorta knee jerk with them.

Just yesterday in either the NYT or the WaPo (or was it Time?/Newsweek) an article on the Dem leadership promise to rule with more decorum and less partisan 'shut-outing' (the other side from the entire process) the house minority leader said that if the dems live up to their promise to let the repubs introduce legislation and amendments for debate - that the repubs will be sure to push some (read social conservative/bushian crap) items to force moderate dems into votes that could be used in the next elections (think flag burning amendment, think anti-gay marraige amendment and the like). Doesn't sound like 'lessons learned' to me.

Some will show some independence, to be sure. And bush's agenda items will face some defections. But the beginning evidence makes it seem that it will be more the exception (to defect and/or go against bushco) than the rule. Foolish politics - but they are republics, afterall...

[valerief]

6. How strong is the anthrax crop this year? nt