Should Democrats shut down government until it is determined what sort of government we have?

[Toots]

Bush* and Cheney seem to think we are governed by monarchy or dictatorship, that they do not have to answer to the people. In fact they have flatly refused to do so. Congress has issued more than one subpoena to members or past members of the Bush* Administration and has been told those subpoenas will not be obeyed. That the Administration does not have to answer to the people because it is "Privileged". What good is it for Congress to do any work at all if they are not co-equal in governing. Bush* is ruling by decree and signing statements which say what laws he will or will not abide by. I suggest the Constitutional Crisis which is inevitable needs to be pushed right now once and for all. Does the President answer to the people or is he "Privileged" and beyond being answerable. To me this is more important than the Iraq Occupation. This is the very essence of our country. Who we are as a people..Are we to be governed by a single entity, (Unitary Executive) or by the three branches of co-equal government? This issue must come to a head and the sooner the better.. Stop any governing until the subpoenas are obeyed...Issue statements daily as to why government was not functioning and how easy it would be for the Administration to do what is right and get things back on track..

[derby378]

1. That sounds like a fine idea to me...

Congress' approval ratings are lower than those of Cheney's. In what universe was this ever supposed to happen?

[FormerDittoHead]

2. If they do, then people may start to believe that we live in a democracy...

As it is, voters can say that the government is on its own course.

What the voters do on election day, what the polls say, etc. - government seems to be doing what IT wants to do, and any times that it seems to be there to serve the PEOPLE seems more of a coincidence than a design...

*I* certainly don't have the impression that the government is being run with the interests of consumers, citizens and employees, rather, for corporations and those making money OFF of the government. SOMETIMES those interest intersect, and that's what I was talking about the coincidence above.

The Congress has to put the brakes on things and demand for a full, no-bullshit explanation of what the PLAN is for Iraq.

[porphyrian]

3. Democrats should be spending every waking moment identifying and stopping the criminals in office...

...especially those in the highest positions of our government. It's their fucking duty.

[demnan]

4. No

A shut down of government would stop social security and welfare checks and put thousands of people in financial jeapordy.

All funding of the war should stop and Impeachment procedings should begin.

[L. Coyote]

5. Like asking, "Should we shut off the lights to see how bright it is?"

This question, as framed, implies shutting down Congress.

Congress needs to turn up their oversight, if anything. Each time they are rebuffed, they need to turn up the heat another notch. Each time the Executive denies a request, start another investigation. Fight back with more fires to put out, and fan all the existing ones.

What will happen when Gonzales is gone? Special prosecutors are in order for myriad scandals.

[Frogger]

6. congress enforces

it equality through the power of the purse. If they are unwilling to do so, the executive gets its way.