Today officially marks the end of the Bush presidency

[GarySeven]

When a big weenie like Frist feels he can stand up to Bush and say "no" then that means that Bush has officially lost any and all control over the agenda. From this point forward he is a lame duck and is totally irrelevant. All our focus now needs to shift to the 2006 elections and taking over the Senate. It is now officially within reach because the Republicans will now be falling all over themselves to get a presidential candidate. If we control the Senate, then the Repubs will have to shift to a moderate for a presidential candidate - and there are none of those in captivity.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Let's see..he's getting

His energy policy
CAFTA
the bankruptcy bill
endless war
taxcuts for his corporate cronies

-yep

he's toast

[evil eggplant]

5. I'm gonna be sick

I was thinking exactly the same thing. Hard not to.

One thing, frist is still an asshole.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. I've seen too much of this good cop, bad cop shit to hold out hope

[ginnyinWI]

27. but he has lost

Social Security privatization
Bolton's confirmation
Stem cell--which means the religious right may now finally realize they're being played for suckers and jump ship.

[spanone]

34. Not to mention the Patriot Act for fucking ever.

[SammyWinstonJack]

35. Next up, Soc. Sec. rip off. How many still think that won't happen?

Toast indeed! I can't even begin to remember how many times he's been 'toast' here on DU. The little worm in teflon coated.

[Clark2008]

2. Big weenie!

:rofl:

I, unfortunately, am one of his "constituents." I used the quotes because, other than this one flip-flopped issue, I haven't agree with a thing he's done in nearly 12 years.

[Racenut20]

7. what is the site for the Clark blog at the end of the month?

[Clark2008]

14. It's

www.forclark.com

It's always been there and, as far as I know, always will be there, even when they change the format.

Also, if that's NOT it, you can access it by clicking on the "community" link at www.securingamerica.com

On second look: I think you meant where is he blogging Aug. 29 - Sept. 2. That will be at www.talkingpointsmemo.com

[Racenut20]

15. That is what I was looking for in particular, but thanks for the rest

Lived 30 years in Kansas City, and now St. Petersburg. Am watching DRays/Royals game on tv.... sad sad sad.

[iconoclastic cat]

3. I have read a few DUers' opinions that Bush *let* him change his mind.

I totally agree about working to take the Senate and the House. We should all also find Dems to run for freakin' everything from school boards, LSCs, and state government positions. No Political Post Left Behind.

[moodforaday]

4. Glass may be half-empty rather than half-full

You could also say Frist feels he cannot stand up to big business. Although at this point I'd rather take corporations than Bush/Cheney.

[julialnyc]

12. I think he may see an angle

to get in with big pharma

[Just Me]

8. Bah!!! As if Bushco ever really cared about that stuff.

They cared only to the extent the Bushco/neocon regime could divide and conquer their own country to gain power.

Will the Christian extremists get that they were used as tools and exploited like the rest of us Americans? I just don't know. They shouted that Bush was appointed by the God Almighty. Will they know humility and betrayal?

[julialnyc]

9. stem cell research polled well

that's why he's doing this (stem cell research is something that the majorities of Americans want). And if scientists find a cure or a pain relief before 08' he can say that it was him that shifted the vote to allow research to happen (even though it has been obvious to most that we should have been doing this ages ago) if his support does help the cause.

[julialnyc]

10. also he is trying to wipe that stain off his resume

after Terry Schivo

[Sapphire Blue]

17. And he's after their votes... nothing but a political ploy,

... just like 'compassionate conservatism'... with every intention of continuing the radical RW agenda.

[Lannes]

21. I agree

Bill Scheider on inside politics said that frist was courageous for taking a stand because the polls are at 51% for research.BS,Ive seen several polls that put it at around 60%.He knows this administration is going down the tubes and he is trying to ease a little to the left to attract voters for 2008.

[FreedomAngel82]

24. Of course

There's always some reason. Then Bush can also say that he didn't want the bill but everyone "ganged" up on him. :eyes: I personally think Bush could care either way.

[Elidor]

11. This is the catch-and-release program in action

Frist has neither the brains nor the balls to stand up to the Maladministration on his own. This is a game for public consumption.

[julialnyc]

13. Yep

a well thought out strategy

[Racenut20]

16. part of Frist for President campaign..Like the dude last night

from North Carolina who did not vote on CAFTA, then when it passed by two said he really did vote no and they did not get his vote recorded.

[tavalon]

29. Catch and release!

That's a great one. Very appropriate.

[GarySeven]

18. You folks aren't looking at the real political situation

Bush's approval rating is down to 44 percent. NO AMERICAN PRESIDENT has ever had such low approvals EVER, certainly not at this point during a term and absolutely never in the last years of a final term.

A president only has 16 months to govern AT ALL before he must campaign for his party. A second-term president is ONLY valuable for his ability to raise funds and drum up support. Bush does not have the same power he once had to do this among anything but the conservative base. As the poll numbers show, he is weak in support among other Republican voters. This strengthens the hands of the moderates; Frist knows this - he's not completely an idiot.

This is Frist's attempt to control the congressional agenda. It is nothing less than a coup d'etat against his own nominal party leader. Just as an old lion becomes weak and is eventually taken out by a younger lion in the pride, this is what is happening to Bush - although I admit it is hard to compare Frist to a lion. Who knows but that some other Republican will take him out.

The bottom line, however, is the same. Bush is finished. He has no control over Congress, he has no control over his own agenda, he has no power to re-elect or to elect Republicans to the Congress and only to a few state offices. What we will see in the next few months is a terrific battle among Conservatives - a civil war, actually - in which the Dominionists will battle the moderates for control. The party will splinter into two factions and may even split into two separate parties. This latter scenario is something I have predicted for a long time.

The upshot is that with the Republicans doing what they could only do, self-destruct, we should have the best chance in a generation of organizing and regaining control of at least the Senate if not both houses. We will certainly regain control of the statehouses - but only if we realistically assess the situation and not do what we normally do, which is to punish any Democrat who fails to kowtow to the liberal doxologists who control our fundraising. Dean is our leader and he realizes that broadening our appeal to the disenchanted moderates will help us, not only in garnering votes but also in further fracturing the Republican party(ies).

[wuushew]

19. Not true, Truman had a 23 percent approval in 1951

n/t

[FourStarDemocrat]

30. And Bush Sr was in the mid-high thirties during his last year. n/t

[GarySeven]

31. Which is why Bush Sr. lost the Republicans votes ...

and allowed us to retake the White House and the Senate.

Bush Jr. is following in his daddy's footsteps, but this time its worse because, unlike his father, the whole party apparatchnick has put themselves behind him.

[FourStarDemocrat]

36. Yeah, I agree...this time it's "mob controlled"...

The Texas Mafia-Bush Crime Family at work. House and Senate Republickans are too scared.

[FreedomAngel82]

25. I hope you're right

It would be nice. And I agree, while they're fighting each other we should be working on getting the House and especially the Senate. I'm so glad that Dean is our leader now because he's doing a great job.

[driver8]

28. I would like to believe you but...

these fuckers control it all. If it isn't Bush, it will be some other fascist war monger. They control everything -- even our votes.

I would love to see these assholes go, but I don't see it happening in the near future.

[lonestarnot]

20. Please be right!

[Rex]

22. There is no end to tyranny.

Bush is just one head of the Hydra. History will mark the Bush terms as a farce and error of the SCOTUS.

[FreedomAngel82]

23. I was really surprised too!!!

Before Bush called in Frist to vote against it but now he's voting for it??? What's up with that?! According to an article I read Bush supposedly said to "vote your concisions" or something like that. Will Bush still veto it?

[GarySeven]

32. A slogan: "Frist was against it, before he was for it"

Actually, I suppose it should be:

"Frist was for it, before he was against it, then he was for it"

It's a flop-flip-flop

[Califooyah Operative]

26. maybe its a shift in direction for the party,

I'll wait it out some months thought before I jump to conclusion. Frist coordinated this with rove and the white house, so don't take it at face value

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[annabanana]

37. a moderate for a presidential candidate

- and there are none of those in captivity.

Pataki isn't making another bid for NY Gov..

[dave123williams]

38. It would seem that Republicans DO pay attention to polling.

[long_green]

39. I'll say this for Frist...

maybe the light bulb just went off over his head and he realized that he'll never be president so why not do the right thing?

[gulliver]

40. It's just positioning for '06.

Bush expects to have two anti-abortionists in the SCOTUS by '06. That will satisfy the fundies and give the GOP enough slack to run as moderate on stem cell.