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The Democrats Need To Make George W. Bush the Issue - Not Alito
A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by A BuzzFlash Reader
The political nexus in America has undergone a seismic shift against Bush since the 2004 elections, yet Senate Democrats are still conducting themselves with fear and trepidation. The recent and ongoing revelations regarding the Bush administration's serious abuse of power and crimes in office now stand juxtaposed with Bush's active participation in creating the very court which will probably shortly determine his fate legally.
As the confirmation of Samuel Alito, a demonstrably far right ideologue, is undertaken in the Senate, the fate of the Republic unfortunately rests on the courage of Senate Democrats; the very people who've allowed the situation to go as far as it has, unimpeded. As the Democrats attempt to appear tough, while the radical right silently leaves the so-called "nuclear option" hanging over their heads, the situation clearly warrants an opposition that actually is tough.
If all the Democrats manage to muster during the Alito confirmation is some pointed questions followed by voting "no" based on the answers he gives, they will have chosen to fight a battle and surrendered in a war.
Opposing the appointment of SCOTUS judges during what remains of Bush's term is ... a highly questionable defense in a situation which requires a strong offense, if the Republic is to be saved from the final imposition of dictatorship. The Senate Democrats need to completely revise their strategy from fighting individual battles, to actually stopping George Bush.
As Bush currently sits in office, he stands accused of multiple criminal acts, and he is theoretically impeachable on many charges. If the Democrats are going to successfully stop him from choosing his own judges in matters involving multiple violations of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, the opposition needs to make Bush the issue at hand, and not Judge Alito.
George W. Bush needs to be prevented altogether, by any and all means necessary, from making any further appointments to the bench. The only way the Democrats are going to accomplish this, is to not only be willing to filibuster this nomination, but to walk out and shut down the government should the Republicans attempt to change the Senate rules to take the right away.
Senate Democrats need to realize that, although such a move has the potential to enrage the Republican base in this country, they have nothing to lose in doing so; no current supporter of Bush in the Republican base is going to go their way anyway. The Democrats instead should focus on the political calculus of a walk-out within the context of an ongoing melt-down of the GOP on every front. If the Democrats have any concept of opportunities and odds, they will finally take off the gloves and go after Bush directly.
While the latest revelations of criminal wrong-doing by Bush are not necessarily widely understood by the public (warrantless wire tapping), the Democrats have a chance to actually take the lead in informing the public on the issue. The public needs to understand that the filibuster is all that stands between themselves, and George Bush forever legalizing his own dictatorship through the shredding of the Constitution. If the Democrats can do this, they will win. But it requires real leadership, and we've seen so little of it from the Democrats in the last 5 years, I am not optimistic.
So take a clue Dems: Filibuster, and furthermore, promise to filibuster any nominee Bush puts forward on grounds that his crimes in office preclude any further exercise of executive power to effect laws. Make the GOP lay its "Nuclear option" on the table over exactly that principle. If they vote to enact it, then you must walk out. Everything that's happened leads either to that moment of courage, or is a final nail in the coffin of our democracy and civil liberties. Do not allow America to die with yet another whimper: Stop Bush now.
A BuzzFlash Reader
A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
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