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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!
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