How about some optimism?

[More Than A Feeling]

From everything I have read, social security privatization appears to be dead in the water for the moment. The longer this goes on, the stronger opposition will become, as President Bush's political capital drains away. Meanwhile, the other parts of the President's agenda will be neglected, to some extent. The religious right will be upset that he isn't pushing their social agenda.

The democratic party is battered, but unbowed. When I think back to the time after 9/11 when all elected Democrats seemed to live in Bush's asshole, this is a big improvement.

The attempted destruction of social security cannot but help us in the midterms of a lame duck, and we have many exciting prospects for 2008. Who do the Reps have? Bill Frist the cat-killer? Jeb Bush (I believe American will be sick of Bushes)? Hagel and Allen, the generic senators? Bill Owens, whom I believe is separated from his wife right now? Rudy? (he has problems that make Clinton look like the greatest husband ever)

How about a little good cheer, now that the worst is over?

[drdtroit]

1. I fear it is the twilight you mistake for the dawn! n/t

[NGU]

2. Maybe

But these people control all branches of the government. Do you really think there is a chance?

[whistle]

3. All it takes to pass it is 60 votes in the senate, right....

...so it is not dead and Bush will keep punching and spending untile he rams it through.

[More Than A Feeling]

4. We can outlast him.

I do not believe that elected Democrats will allow their signature social program to fall by the wayside. Senator Reid has done a good job of uniting Democrats around social security. There are only a few that are still shaky, and they will be on board as it becomes obvious that social security is not in crisis and that the public wants to keep it. The media is not playing along with Bush this time, I have seen great articles in the LA Times and the Post that aren't selling Bush's crap. Bush has a time limit, as midterms get closer he will have less and less influence over Reps and Senators that need to get reelected, and won't swallow anything bold that would jeopardize their chances.

Things could be much much worse. Bush could have won by 20% which would have greatly increased his political capital.

[whistle]

15. Stole 20% you mean don't you......

[knight_of_the_star]

5. Bush is carrying our ammo for us on this

If he wants to push and shove and huff and puff, the longer we stand our ground and fight, the better it makes us look, and gives us more ammo to take back one branch of the government in 2006.

[More Than A Feeling]

6. Right on!

kick for hope!

[JoshK]

7. The worst is not even close to being over.

There are still more wars to come, and even if there weren't, there is no end in sight to the Iraq occupation. Financial catastrophe looms, with the trade & budget deficits. The right wing controls 100% of the media and have gotten away scot-free with invading Iraq based on a total lie. Soon there will be Supreme Court nominees. Global warming & pollution continues apace and nothing is being done; we may already have reached a point of no return.

The Democratic Party is not "unbowed." It is, with a few honorable exceptions, a worthless & spineless bunch of ineffectual cowards. They have almost no power at all, and your idea that the US is sick of Bushes is just whistling past the graveyard. Many laughed at GW Bush's candidacy in 2000; no one should be laughing now. Little George managed to get re-elected 3 months ago despite the most atrocious record in US history -- it is sheer folly to blithely imagine that the Republicans won't be able to keep pulling off these brilliant power plays. If America was so sick of Bushes, why did W win only 3 months ago? (Yes, yes, even if he didn't "really win," he won enough to be living in the White House and commanding the apparatus of state, with zero observable resistance.)

[More Than A Feeling]

9. Do you honestly believe George could sell another war

Truly, he would have to institute a draft, and that would be the end for him.

as for the trade and budget deficits, those are very bad, I agree. I am worried about those. I never said things were a barrel of laughs. I am just trying to generate a little energy that isn't based in fear and bitterness.

The Democratic Party may have little power, but at least they seem to have realized their folly, and maybe the lesson will stick for a little bit (and Howard Dean will be the DNC chair, which is something to be happy about)

I didn't say America was sick of Bushes now, although he has had the lowest approval ratings of any modern reelected president. But in four years, I think America will be bored of Bushes, we do tend to have a short attention span, after all.

[Individualist]

8. If you think the worst is over

you're in for many shocks over the next few years.

[More Than A Feeling]

10. Ok, this isn't working out.

Fine, then you all make a list of things you are happy about, reasons for optimism, blessings for which you are thankful for. can we smile, even for just a moment, and bring some light to the gloom?

[annabanana]

14. Sorry H&E...

The SOTU thing has everybody grumpy.
(but righteous indignation does cheer us up, so it's not all bad)
:bounce: :hi:

[Telly Savalas]

16. Why should the SOTU make people grumpy?

Only a tiny minority here were masochistic enough to watch it, right?

[SmokingJacket]

11. Boy oh boy, was I ever optimistic in the last year!

I was wild about Dean, held house parties, etc., felt a new surge of optimism like I hadn't felt since Clinton was elected -- actually, since the previous three years had been so bad, the optimism was much greater. This guy was someone I could feel great about!

Oh, well, they killed Dean, but I was okay with Kerry. I mean, if other Dems liked him, he couldn't be too bad. He grew on me, too, and I almost came to love him around the time of the debates, when B** looked so UNBELIEVABY, UNDENIABLY HORRIBLE. The Timber remark, for example! WOW! I was filled with optimism.

Now, I'd been following the BBV issue for some time, knew what Palast was saying about disenfranchisement, so I was worried as the election drew near, but DAMN! As it got closer, I felt better and better and better! I was SO freaking optimistic on election day!

That went out the window at about 7:30 that evening, when I turned on the radio to listen to the returns. WTF??

I felt a new little surge of some optimism, a tiny frail flower of optimism, around Jan 6th when the Ohio stuff was happening. Needless to say that didn't last.

And NOW I'm supposed to feel optimistic???????????????

Sorry. The guy's gunning for Iran, SS's on the rack, my parents are no doubt going to be left high and dry and I'll have to use money I'd otherwise put aside for myself to take care of them.

We have an AG who supports torture.

I just don't see anything to be happy about. Wish I did.

[SammyWinstonJack]

12. The worst is over?

I have never been much of an optimist and I think that Hillary probably thinks that Bill is a great life partner, not to mention " the greatest husband ever" . As for good cheer, I happen to think given the past four years that whatever bush** wants bush** gets. bush** has the whole of Congress on his side and plenty of "political capital" to spend according to him. Like I said, I am not much of an optimist,especially at this point in time.

[Melynn]

13. I agree with you

I think that Social Security reform is a bridge too far for Bush. Not only won't any of the Democrats vote for S.S. reform but some Republicans won't vote for reform either. The Republicans won't vote against S.S. reform on principal but because they are afraid of the political consequences. Since Bush has made S.S. reform the center piece of this second term, a defeat would be devastating.

Once Bush suffers a major political defeat then I believe the flood gates of opposition will open up. And not just in the Democrat party but in the Republican party too. I have the sneaking suspicion that a lot of Republicans can't stand the arrogant Bush.

So I agree. There are reasons to be optimistic. :) :thumbsup: