Republicans have unveiled their closing argument. Desperate to prevent a huge Democratic landslide, Republicans warn that one-party government under Democrats would surely mean liberal extremism.
Raising the specter of an "Obama, Pelosi and Reid" government, Sen. John McCain refers to the combination of Sen. Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) as a "dangerous threesome." Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) warns, "Liberals are bent on handing Barack Obama a filibuster-proof Senate majority to rubber-stamp his radical agenda."
The argument is based on a misreading of American history. For during periods of one-party government, when Democrats controlled both the White House and the Congress, history demonstrates that they have not shifted radically toward a leftward agenda.
Few observers, other than those on the far right, characterized the New Deal as liberal extremism in action. Most perceived President Franklin D. Roosevelt as an experimenter who tried to please everyone. FDR and his Democratic counterparts did everything in their power to save capitalism from the threat of totalitarianism and communism during the Great Depression.
The period between 1933 and 1938 witnessed a dramatic expansion of government. But with each and every policy, Democrats were careful to constrain the ability of government officials to control capitalist institutions and to protect the power of state and local government.
The rest of this article can be found at the Washington Independent
And so many Americans don't want those changes too, Obama barely has 50% of the vote meaning 50% of Americans aren't on board . . . forget those people or what?
I think the majority of non-racist anti-Obama voters will be pleased with Obama centrist positions when he starts governing. It is those who expect much real change that will be disappointed with Obama.
The Republicans at work and elsewhere are in full battle dress this week.
When I ask a question of them, I get a talking point., something like: "I don't think Obama's a terrorist; he's a socialist". When I explain socialism, they fall silent for a moment and change the subject to "those leftwing 'bloggers' are so angry and spreading distortion" presumably of "their" facts. They say, "Oh, I don't listen to Savage- he's too over the top but Rush is always taken out of context...Calls Powell endorsement racial? I didn't hear that, but that's probably true".
After so many years of brainwashing, how are we supposed to quell and enlighten such mis-informed, entrenched people (victims)?
And the first two years of the bush admin were only 2/3 one party rule. Technically the dems had a majority in the Senate after one Senator crossed from the repubs to the dems.
Of course, they will balk.
But at certain moments in history, where action simply must happen and gridlock cannot be a component, a one-party government is the only way to go.
Now is such a time for the Dems.
The only way to have anything other than Republican dictatorial control, is to gain the veto proof majorities in the House and Senate, and make sure to get the filibuster proof majority in the Senate. There is no other way to stop the gridlock that Republicans have inflicted on the 110th Congress with their world record filibusters (104 as of Oct. 2), which are on track to doubling the previous record (63). Republicans either get exactly what they dictate, or they shut down the system and blame the lack of action on the Democrats. It's all they've got in the minority, and they wield it with ruthless abandon...on EVERYTHING the Democrats try to clear the Senate. Time to take that away from them and send them to the corner to put on the dunce hat and be quiet through the next session of the Congress. They act like vicious children, they should be treated as such.
The GOP has kept their promise to filibuster every democratic move.
The GOP are Anarchists!
Obama and a filibuster proof Congress!
I say give the Dems a shot; it can't get any more broken that it already is.
however, i'll probably be voting a fully dem ticket on nov 4.
obama 2008!