Reading The Pictures: Overcoming My Blue DNA

(click for most painful size)

This photo couldn't be more instructive.

It went down my throat last night simultaneously with the news that the "bipartisan" Senate vote to balance (i.e. limit) troop deployments had gone down to defeat. In the "fool-me-for-the-seventh, or-is-it-the-tenth-time?" hope that Reid and Company had finally conceived a workable approach for reigning in the President and the war hawks, the result -- as is obvious here in Senator Webb's case -- was a real blow.

That's where this gets interesting, however.

If this photo almost neurochemically induces a Democrat to feel for Jim Webb, isn't it that same instinct that set up Jim and his bill in the first place? In other words, what this photo seems to psychologically expose is the vulnerability, on the front end, and the emotional thrashing to the Dems on the back, of perpetually feeling they can reach out and touch someone.

I, for one, never again want to read, see or hear the phrase: "But we don't have the votes." Like it is our job to override Cheney/Bush (and their uniformed finger puppets) rather than show them the boot(s), and then stonewall them with our simple majority?

So, while availing myself of this emotional image, I'm rallying my will to override my overly blue DNA. Although I can feel the reflex rolling around in there, I'm decidedly not going to feel Jim's pain. Instead, I'm going to appreciate ... no, relish the fact that Jimmy learned something yesterday -- a hard lesson about what it's like to seek compromise with people who feel nothing.

For more of the visual, visit BAGnewsNotes.com.

(image: Stephen Crowley/The New York Times. Washington. September 10, 2007. nytimes.com)

Comments

[realpolitic]

How can Republicans not support a bill which guarantees additional home leave for soldiers and then constantly hide behind the troops to defend their policies? The troops should collectively say, "With friends like you, we don't need enemies."

[jivillasenor]

Regardless of Democrats numbers in the Senate, they can filibuster any future legislation that continues the war. The Republicans get this, why don't they? All they have to do is ask fmr. Senator Mike Gravel how it's done. Playing hardball is way overdue.

[Rrhain]

Picture doesn't work. Where is the original?

[emjay1954]

Once again, the Democrats chickened out. The Republicans want to filibuster? Let them. No. MAKE THEM. Make them continue to filibuster WITHOUT STOPPING FOR ANYTHING ELSE. Eventually, they'll give up. Unless the Democrats don't have the balls.

[Lemeritus]

Yes, absolutely, MAKE THEM filibuster. I, for one, have had enough of this "we don't have enough votes" -- which is to say, we don't have enough votes to break a filibuster and so we meekly table our agenda. MAKE THEM really filibuster and let's see where we go from there.

[enoughalready]

You got one thing right and that is the GOP feel nothing for our troops and their families and if you want to start the blame game - blame all of us for not getting off our sorry backsides and protesting this group of GOP jerks!

The media does nothing but issue the same rhetoric - why?? Nobody complains loud enough!
MoveON started the discussion, if you want change start backing them and the rest of America and we all get off our lazy butts and begin the change ourselves. Protests should be a daily occurance outside GOP leaders offices in Washington DC and their home states. Get media coverage. Write an editorial. Hold protest rallies at home and join a National group that will protest on a regular basis this ill-begotten war of Bush and the GOP.

[THP]

Watch this youtube video to feel the war, Radioheads Standup, Sitdown (showing the Congress standing up and sitting down as Bush gives his Iraq invasion speeches), then watch our weaponry. I sobbed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h710ptFIMk

[cynicalintell]

Democrats, if you want to end the war, here is how.

Day 1, Sen. Webb/Hagel Amendment.

Day 2, Draft Amendment.

Day 3, (see day 1).

Day 4, (see day 2).

No other bills should be allowed or brought to the floor. NONE. I guarentee the war will end quickly.

[TheIndependenceParty]

I agree, Lemeritus! Bring the work of the Senate to an absolute halt. I don't even care if they don't meet, for it has become clear that the Reichpublicans will NEVER vote to support anything but what the Fuehrer sends down for them to sign. They are acting mindlessly, abd thereby sending our Nation toward a chasm.
~
Far saner for the Democrats to "do nothing", rather than to conspire with the Republicans to ruin our Nation intentionally! No consideration of extending the NSA Bill (As Bush is demanding!), no supplemental fundng bills, no resolutions from Cornyn, ... NOTHING! Shut down the Senate and let the Congress rot in place.

[djarvis]

It is sad that the Republicans blocked this bill, which really would have "supported the troops" and over time could have changed the course of this war.

I heard a political pundit say yesterday that he doesn't think many Republican congressmen will vote for any resolution that would limit the conduct of this war - at least until the primary elections are over next summer.

The reason for this is apparently because Republicans seeking re-election next year - and even more so the candidates running for President - want to appeal to their "base".

The conservative base of the Republican party is mostly still behind this war, for some reason.

[PatGogerty]

Bush is not Lyndon Johnson ("come let us reason together") rather he is the fulfillment of H.L.Mencken's dreadful phrophecy about the Presidency. As for Congress it waffles on toward the next election with the overriding fear of losing their place at the feast. There are no profiles in courage, look at Sen. Warner and how quickly he rolled over for the Military Generals as opposed to standing up for the lowly enlisted ranks. What do you expect to change in 2008? Very little!

[Lemeritus]

Sad but true, the Democrats don't have the votes to overcome a filibuster (60 votes). At least, not now.

Two things they can do:

1. Grab the megaphones (as randron suggests). Our military is being burned out in an occupation that knows no end. Consequently, we lack the resources to meet any emergent threat (which -- for your information, General Pratraeus -- means we are not safer). The Democrats need to out-shout the Republicans on this issue.

2. Refuse to remove this bill from the agenda, forcing the Republicans to filibuster. When the work of the Senate comes to a standstill, the American people will take notice of the lawmakers stonewalling the measure and they will no longer be able to hide behind the mere threat of filibuster.

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- we must take control of the argument.

[truthisout]

Yes, make it a slugfest, the only way to keep it focused in the dumbed down short attentioned spanned mainstream. Bring the bills, keep voting, filibustering, vetoing, whatever, at least we see who and what are the positions and the concerns and action/non-action on issues. Attrition and the possibility of missing a holiday could become a new modus operandi.

[JHD]

It is time to fire the Democratic leadership in the house for lack of guts. Nancy "impeachment is off the table" has got to go. Reid has too slim a majority to be effective. There is NO EXCUSE for Nancy Pelosi not putting a stop to this insanity. She does not have to have a veto proof majority to not allow a war funding bill without timetables for withdrawal to be voted on. She does need courage and if she lacks enough spine get someone who does. This is strike three for the Democrats and they better make some changes in their leadership or they will be toast on '08 also.

[ThursdaysChild]

Most people in this country do not care. Not enough to do anything, anyway. Tell me I'm wrong, but the facts say otherwise. People will vote their feelings on Iraq, sure, which is that we shouldn't be there. But if the citizens of this country REALLY wanted the war to be over, it would be. There's too much quality programming on television and in movie theaters. And on youtube.

Please, people - stop pretending that in a country where the vast, vast, vast, vast, vast, vast majority of people couldn't find Iraq on a map to save their lives , or name more than 1 member of SCOTUS (if any), or name more than a couple senators, ETC AD NAUSEUM, that there is really a lot of passion about this. It's a nice thought, and it's wonderful to be able to analyze all the reasons why people just don't care, from the fact that they really like shiny things, to the fact that the media is full of walrus shit, and on and on; but let's be real. And not "real" in the sense of clinging to liberal platitudes without ever budging one inch.

People are stupid and selfish and scared. This is evolution. We have survived and prospered because of this. Now comes the point in the grand scheme of things where we start to develop FEELINGS and MORALITY and a sense of ALTRUISM. Most people aren't there yet. Sometimes, yes - at their core, I'm not so sure. It's changing, of course, but don't expect generations raised under Reagan & MTV to think it's cool or hip or worthwhile to actually give a shit.

Sure, I'm against the war. Pass the Doritos, I've got the munchies.

[CaveatMagnusFrater]

Americans are fear-base and easily distracted. By and large we are not worthy of the political legacy bequeathed us. Many I know who actually vote say they don't vote for the party, they vote for the man. The problem is that the man chose which party to join and what they're voting for is the media persona not the man. See Dennis Kucinich for an excellent example.

good luck,
mike

[madprophet]

OK, another attempt to use a democratic (not the party name) process has failed. Exactly how many more options are left within the framework of your constitution?

And what happens when all those options are exhausted, and the psychopaths you elected are still running amok.

What then America, do you do? What then do you do when all avenues within Congress and the Senate afforded to the opposition have been defeated?

The world waits for an answer while we step closer every day to the seeing madmen using nuclear weapons.

[Doofus]

We need a dozen or so more Demos in the Senate.

The Congress is organized so as to protect the
wishes of the minority party, in effect. At the
moment, that's the Repos. This is done by often
requiring a 2/3 majority on 'important' matters.
Thus we protect 'minority' rights.

In some cases, for example 'cloture' (cutting
off debate), the super-majority requirement is
only 60 votes. But when the majority party
doesn't HAVE 60 votes, it seems like it's a
much higher number.

So, ELECT MORE DEMOCRATS in 2008.

[madprophet]

SO you are saying continue to use the same processes which have failed so miserably so far? And you want to wait and give the Insane One and his puppet president another 15 months to continue their reign of terror and destruction?

[Steamboater]

WE DON'T HAVE THE LEADERSHIP.