Cheney: Engineering stalemates where he could not win;

[The Backlash Cometh]

Did you all catch this:

"Cheney has often controlled the pivot points -- tipping the outcome when he could, engineering stalemate when he could not and reopening debates that rivals thought were resolved."

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Washington_Post_reporter_speaks_about_his_0625.html

Let that sink in for a moment.

The last two points are the most chilling. This is how the Republicans get ahead. If they cannot win, they intentionally set up a stalemate situation, and this I imagine, includes convincing Democrats in Congress that they don't have enough votes to win an issue. The Democrats, like robots, will walk away from the fight, assuming that they have a stalemate. They won't even test it by bringing the issue to the floor, BECAUSE THEY'RE USING CONDUITS TO DETERMINE HOW EVERYBODY WILL VOTE. Conduits create a weak point in the system because anyone who knows how to work a cocktail room can manipulate the situation in a manner that is known as ruling by consensus. Basically, no one SHOULD know how our Congressmen are going to vote UNTIL THEY DO. To do otherwise is undermining our democratic process.

And that brings us to the next step. Because the Democrats are not putting the Republicans on the defensive by forcing them to vote, the Democrats create a vacuum of time. Idle hands are the devils playthings. In that void created by the Democrat's retreat, the Republicans then move in, opening up debates on issues that the Democrats thought resolved. The Republicans are going to set the pace if the Democrats fail to lead by pro-actively framing the issues.

This is why the Democrats should force the votes, unless they have something better to keep the Republicans busy. And in that regard, all I can say is, that every week better have some explosive scoop on a Cheney or Bush or Gonzalez or Rove scandal if the Democrats want to keep the Republican's idle hands busy.

[liberal N proud]

1. And the Democrats are afraid to impeach because it will prevent them from passing legislation

What do they think they are getting with these monsters in office?

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. That's what I'm saying.

Conflict is the Democrat's friend. They don't realize it. As long as they have the Republican's on their heels, Rove & Cheney will have difficulty working the backroom with their devious manipulations. And, by not allowing those two to continually bring up issues that the Democrats thought were resolved, the Democrats can then proceed to pass their own legislation.

If I were a political cartoonist, the picture would look like this: The Democrat would have one hand signing a paper on a table, while the other arm was stretched out behind him, fending off an attacking Republican.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. That would be a great cartoon. Hand on the smooshed face of a repub with 8

frantically waving arms.

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. Don't forget the look of determination on the Democrat's face.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Unless the Democrats have the upper hand they can't pass legislation

So who are thy kidding when they say they are afraid to impeach?

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Ah, but the other 'reason' is, we'll lose the election in '08 if we do it.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Why is it that in politics, we think long term, but in business we think short-term?

If it were reverse, things would be better.

[madokie]

14. I suspect that the dems who block the attempt at impeachment will be gone for sure

as it is.

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. Let's just hope that they get replaced by progressive dems, and not

Republicans.

[madokie]

16. after this republican nightmare there won't be many repukes left in either

the house or the senate, even with all their lying and cheating. I predict the re:puke:s will have the lowest percentage of ever after this next election.

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. From your mouth to God's ears.

[LiberalFighter]

3. No God dam mf Republican should know how a Democrat is going to vote!!!

If the Majority Whip doesn't know the votes are going to be cast for their party then he should resign and let someone else take up the spot.

Make sure that scumbag Lieberman is kept out of the loop.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Sometimes the most obvious things slip by us.

Congress has probably been doing this for years. Just what would happen to Congresspeople if they couldn't find out before hand how you were going to vote? For on thing, no one can give you inducers to vote one way or another. All the persuading would be down on the House and Senate floor where everyone can see it. And Congresspeople might actually show up for the debate.

[frogcycle]

5. the pugs should be FORCED to cast a vote EVERY DAY

endorsing this madness, until they are eventually shamed out of it

And what's up with cloture? I mean, I understand the whole filibuster thing, but even if the senate does not vote to limit debate, they should force them to filibuster. Force some pug to stand there hour after hour reading the newspaper, stalling, putting a stranglehold on the government. I think we just might end up getting something passed with fewer than 60 votes, if we forced the 40 to stick their chickenhawk necks out. At the very least we'd get them som bad press.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Well, I can tell you this, if it's true we're headed towards a Congressional showdown,

it sho does seem quiet down at the saloon.

The will of the people isn't always easily manipulated. Something happened during Gingrich's term which backfired on him. I can't remember the details. But the bottomline was, that the will of the American people was clearly on the Democrat's side. It didn't have to do with the impeachment. It had to do with gridlock, but I can't remember which of the two parties was causing the gridlock.

[pat_k]

12. Stalemates ARE "Wins"

Stonewalling is the name of the game.

Libby's stonewalling put them in a better position to steal the 2004 Presidential election. A "win."

SCOTUS stonewalled on overturning Delay's redistricting for years, and thus kept the illegitimate map place to steal seats there. Another "win."

The list goes on, and on, and on, and on.

As long as he and Bush are allowed wield the massive power of the American presidency they are "winning."

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. Good point.

If you're not winning, then anything you do that stops the other side from achieving their purpose is also a win.

And we haven't even gotten into what happens when the Murdoch's of the right-wing spin everything that happens in Congress.