Holiday news items suggest that some of the GOP congressional leadership

[salin]

are itching for fights. Blunt (minority whip) says that if the dems do allow republican legislation and amendments that they plan to slip in some votes that are intended to be bludgeons in the next campaigns against moderate dems and/or dems representing conservative districts. That is - they want to push 'social issues' - ala the divisive symbolic stuff that the public is sick of such as 'flag burning amendment' etc. On the Senate side Lott (minority whip) gave an indication of 'siding with the president' (with a slight 'fighting words tone') per the "surge" plan. Again, something not particularly supported by the public.

Why do I raise this? Because afte 12 years of pugnacious partisan politics (the era ushered in with Newt) - these folks - or at least some in the GOP leadership, are reflexively pugnacious - and don't yet seem to get that the public has turned against them - and that more of the same will not be able to be painted as "obstructionism by the dems" (the bludgeon used against then Senate Maj Leader Daschle). More likely it will more strongly align the party, in the public's mind, with Bush and his policies.

Why is this significant? The question is whether at the end of this term the public views the problems all as centering around bush/cheney - or whether that disgust has more broadly slipped onto the entire GOP national party. Early (pre-opening of congress) signs suggest that the foolish GOP Congressional leadership are poised to walk the bushplank.

Dems - stick to your guns!

[Hubert Flottz]

1. The GOPers are in a world of hurt!

Sawing off the limb, between them and the tree! And the truth is had the election been fair and square the GOP would have lost even bigger! They are doing themselves in!

[Waya]

2. What spiteful little runts they are......

[Cassandra]

6. You can't blame them, really.

It's the only thing they know how to do and the only thing they have any talent at; being hateful little scum (apologies to pond scum everywhere).

[salin]

7. not to mention that it has been very lucrative to some of them.

[Cassandra]

9. Forgot about that talent.

The pond scum are requesting a raise.

[acmavm]

3. They can start all the shit they want. The voters wouldn't have

thrown their asses out if they weren't sick and tired of the way the repukes do things, manipulate our laws, and line their own pockets.

[salin]

4. and yet... so many don't seem to have really taken in that message.

Not that I mind - makes 08 even more promising for two branches of govt.

[acmavm]

5. You're right, so many of them don't realize what the outcome

of the election really meant. Including their idiot fearless (hah!) leader, Commander Chimpy McAWOL.

[salin]

8. While your corner of the world is more red than mine...

Noone - two years ago - would have guessed that the Indiana congressional delegation would be majority dem. Bush is not terribly popular here - granted he gets a boost down whenever 'his man Mitch' announces his next privatization (sell off of state assets and programs) plan. How is W doing in your neck of the woods?

[acmavm]

10. Pretty much like it says here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2674742

[salin]

11. guess somebody has to :-(

let us know if and when the public sentiment tide begins to turn.