Speculate on this - what will the next 3 years be like if Progressives cave now?

[ThomWV]

What will the next 3 years look like if the President caves in on his (as opposed to actions aimed at cleaning up Bush's mess) first big policy initiative? How will the Republicans react if they are successful in watering down health-care-financing until it is no reform worth mentioning - will they rejoice in renewed vigor, regaining much of their lost strength? Bet on it.

We win or lose on this first real challenge and the course of our future will be determined between now and next wednesday night's speech.

[polichick]

1. It will be HELL. And every time someone capitulates because of...

...the crazy fears of right-wingers, those insane folks are emboldened.

[WeDidIt]

2. If Obama caves on the public option, we ain't seen nothing yet

The GOP will retake the House and Senate in 2010 and if Obama gets re-elected he'll be impeached before the end of his second term.

[CrispyQ]

3. They will appear weak & spineless, like they have for how many years now???

They will lose seats in 2010 & even more in 2012 if they don't show America they have some fucking convictions & are willing to stand for them!

People here on DU are so sure the republican party is self-destructing. I'm not so confident. Americans seem to be willing to give repubs multiple terms to fuck things up, but expect dems to fix it all in one term. They have short memories & the MSM doesn't help. By 2012, Iraq will be forgotten, AfPac will be Obama's war, & the economy, whatever condition it's in, will be Obama's mess. And I use the word "mess," because without jobs, this recovery is going no where, in spite of what the fucking stock market looks like.

[DrDan]

4. "weak and spineless" - seems to describe Harry R to a "t"

[ThomWV]

7. I don't argue with that much, but I do have to say that Nancy has earned her salt recently

Nancy Pelosi is standing up; no public option, no bill. I'm pleased.

[DrDan]

8. I agree - I would bet she was behind Hoyer's reversal

[CrispyQ]

12. Harry's the one with the glasses in this pic.

;)

[DrDan]

13. that is hilarious

[corpseratemedia]

5. It'll be Waiting for Godot

so...where's our next progressive candidate for 2012? tappa tappa tappa

[H2O Man]

6. Like the last 9 years. n/t

[Gidney N Cloyd]

9. It'll feel like the Carter years.

And no offense to President Carter-- he's a better human being than I'll ever be. But my recollection of those years was they just felt like we were wandering aimlessly, unable to accomplish anything.

[Wapsie B]

10. If Progressives cave in to the repugs and blue dogs now the party is over.

I want leaders who do not give one inch on this, not one single inch. The line in the sand is drawn. Litmus test time is here.

[CanonRay]

11. The Rethugs will put this same kind of stunt on everything

because the brownshirt tactics have been validated. The health care will wind up being a boondoggle for insurance companies, and forget Cardcheck. There will be no investigations of Bush II crimes. Obama will continue to slide in the polls, as Rethugs gain credibility. The wars will drag on as he will be paralyzed about pulling out. Guantanamo will stay open. He will decide NOT to run in 2012.

[Gman2]

14. Fuck this mental exercise, You cant negotiate with terrorists.