Do you see a certain cohesiveness in what Dems have been doing lately?

[LittleClarkie]

Petitions from Kerry, Boxer and Moveon.org.

First Kerry has us co-sponsoring his health care bill, then Harry Reid is using the same idea for the entire Dem agenda.

Are these signs that the Dems are working together, or signs that they are competing and copycatting?

I prefer to think they are teaming up, but what do y'all think?

[Guaranteed]

1. Actually, yes, I've been fairly surprised, lately.

Especially over the Condi Rice filibuster. That was actually shocking.

It's good to hear. :)

[journalist3072]

5. Just a friendly FYI

Unfortunately, Condi "Incompetent" Rice's nomination has not been filibustered. The full floor vote on it has simply been delayed, while there is debate.

[Guaranteed]

7. Right, they got the debate.

That's what I meant.

[LittleClarkie]

8. But isn't that what they're calling it, a 9-hour fillibuster?

Well, 9-hour debate I suppose. But I thought they were calling it a fillibuster, I guess mostly because they're going to take it in shifts and keep going continuously.

[journalist3072]

11. Fillibusters

I could be wrong, but my understanding of fillibusters is that they are used to talk a bill literally to "death," to kill a bill and stop further debate.

They will debate Condi's nomination but it won't be a fillibuster, and her nomination won't be killed, unfortunately.

[NuttyFluffers]

14. you are correct. they are just slangin' politics. no harm

i'd prefer they'd just vote no, especially on gonzales. but whatever, some here think it's 'strategy.' k, whatever, i'll believe it when i see it bear fruit.

if only you could 'table' nominations... :+

[Democrat Dragon]

2. If they're up to something...

Do it quick before * kills a lot more people in the U.S. There's a post somewhere in the Democratic Party forum that says that 18,000 people die each year in the U.S due to a lack of healthcare.

And don't forget the rising cost of prescription drugs and food safety violations being condoled by Rethuglinazis.

At least I'm glad the Dems are finally fixing thier own party!

[zann725]

4. That was before Shrub started cutting Medical...which he plans to do.

That includes children.

[zann725]

3. Just got the email from Reid; I'm impressed with their organizing!

I think until recently, the Reps only got trickles of emails from their constituents, with no real focus...until the Certification. Now they're just beginning to realize the 'gold' they have in us bloggers.

There still will be a lot of opposition from the Repugs. But that should not discourage us!

[Laurab]

6. Very much so

From the day I got the email from Kerry asking us to call the House, and getting a similar one from Moveon.org, both asking us to report back to them after we'd called. Barbara Boxer is asking for more and more signatures - you can't tell me there's not a reason for that, and I don't think it's solely political gain. Anyway, I have too much faith in Kerry, and in Boxer, too - from what I've seen, she genuinely cares about what's happening to our country. I already knew Kerry cared.

I don't think they have anything to gain by competing or copycatting, so I too prefer to think they're teaming up. That's my belief, and I'm sticking to it!

[LittleClarkie]

10. I wish we had the numbers from that "and report back that you did so"

I'd love to know how many responded.

Or is that why we're seeing more of the same, because they got a good enough response from the other calls to action. Was it a test to see if we'd respond? Testing the grassroot waters to see if we were going to continue to fight and if we would respond to them? I think some of these guys aren't used to doing the grassroot thing and wanted to see if it would work. Maybe. I dunno. We'll see what happens. I'm heartened at the moment.

[deadparrot]

9. May it continue for the next two years...

and hopefully by then there won't be a need for it. :)

[BlueInRed]

12. I am surprised, but still cautious

It seems to me that Harry has a bit more fight in him than Tom Daschle, just in the way he speaks about the issues that he decides are worthy of defense.

I am still bit skeptical, as I remember Daschle standing up initially and then getting beat up in the media, and becoming much meeker over time, etc. But for now, I am hopeful that our new leader will stand firmer than the last.

[kerrygoddess]

13. Teaming up!

Cosponsor the Democratic Agenda
24 January 2005

Seems the Democratic Leadership is taking a page from John Kerry’s citizen cosponsorship petition of his children’s healthcare plan. I just hope as the discussion over the agenda ensues, some people remember that you can't say "show up in the south" if you dont intend to listen to them once you get there.

Senate Democrats open the 109th Congress steadfastly committed to keeping the promise of America, the promise that all Americans who work hard can build a stronger and brighter future for their families. By embracing and affirming our core values of security, opportunity and responsibility, Democrats are united to help America fulfill this promise.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=265

[msgadget]

15. I see a calculated effort

to appear more united and to care about what the electorate thinks. I knew this would be an exciting year!

But, always remember, deeds trump words and websites!

:bounce:

[Skittles]

16. being driven insane by the sickness that is a one-party rule?

uh, yes

[EFerrari]

17. Yes, and it's because we've been relentless.

We've just come out of the biggest sustained effort I've seen in ANY election in my lifetime. Then, you know what happened.

We didn't go away and we're pushing for the party to act like it's serious! I think that surprised a lot of people -- including Kerry, Boxer and MoveOn.

We all need t-shirts that say "Olympic Boulderpushers" and we need not to stop :)

[Cheswick2.0]

19. We are the irresistable force and they are the immovable objects

I think at this point they (many of them) still think they can put on a show for us to shut us up. They are going to be surprized when we expect them to play to win or die trying.

[EFerrari]

20. Exactlyn/t

[flpoljunkie]

18. Saw Dems on C-Span last night in front of democrats.gov podium with

the backdrop, "THE AMERICAN PROMISE." They talked about restoring the promise of America--jobs, healthcare (including bulk purchasing of drugs for Medicare) rebulding infrastructure, providing educational opportunity from Head Start to Pell Grants and other Democratic goals. My priority is S. 17, federal election reform.

http://www.democrats.gov

The Dems have been given Senate bills #11-20. Listed at link below:

http://democrats.senate.gov/issues.html

I have watched Harry Reid in the Senate over the years and found him to be smart and tough as nails. He speaks plainly and does not mince words. He was no less effective yesterday.

We do need to stand with them, if they have any hope of passing any of these bills.

[DoYouEverWonder]

21. The proof will be in their votes

their votes are the only thing that means shit.

The rest of it is for show.

The litmus test for me is Iraq and Bush's 'war on terror'. Anyone who supports Bush's policies in this area, will never get my vote.