As an "old Democrat", and long-time political observer, I cannot remember a time over the last 50 years or so, when I've seen a Democratic majority so, ....um, neutered. Why?
Like many of you, I am asking "why" a lot these days. Why does this Congress, with its Democratic leaders, refuse to put impeachment on the table? Why is this Congress refusing to indict, prosecute, and impeach Alberto Gonzales for his many crimes? Why does this Congress seem to be giving Dick Cheney a pass, while he continues to stir up still more war, death, and destruction, this time focusing on Iran?
More questions, and some suggested answers, after the fold... Follow along, won't you? Perhaps together, we can come up with some answers.
The list of crimes of the Bush regime are many, incredibly horrific, and in most cases, come with enough evidence to convict them many times over. We know this, despite the MSM's furious and ongoing efforts to bury the truth, while they deliver instead, further daily helpings of neocon approved propaganda. WE KNOW THE TRUTH.
With the election of a Democratic majority Congress in 06', something many of us worked very hard to make happen, our hopes were buoyed that we might finally - yes finally, after six long years of crimes and injustice – finally see a modicum of justice, and a return to sanity in our government.
It was not to be. Why?
For the life of me, and given the amount and types of crimes committed by the Bush cabal (illegal war, internal corruption, voting rights violations, torture, Constitutional subversion, and on, and on, and on), I cannot figure out why the Democratic majority did not come out swinging in an effort to quickly try to right the country. Instead, we've had one milquetoast resolution after another, with some (Iraq war funding) actually giving additional strength to Bush and his neocons.
Further, with Israeli PM Olmert in D.C. right now, lobbying Congressional leaders to keep the "door open" to attacking Iran (Dick Cheney's still hot pet project), while AIPAC breathes down the throats of every member of Congress for the same thing, it seems we are regressing, rather than progressing. Why?
Why is Joe Lieberman being allowed to sweep a needed Senate investigation into Katrina under the rug, by using his power (given to him by the Democratic leadership) as committee chairman (of Homeland Security no less!!) to completely stifle such an investigation? Why?
Why are our Democratic presidential candidates not addressing the issues of massive corruption, national and international law violations, and things like the neocons continuing push to attack Iran? Why are we seeing them completely fail (for the most part) to address these vital issues? Are they not as important, if not more so, than any other issues this nation is facing right now? Then why the silence, and if not silence, then obfuscation (ala Hillary), when questioned about these issues?
Like many of you, I am seeking answers, and failing at it miserably. Despite my best efforts, I cannot justify, using any logic, knowledge, or experience my brain can currently concoct, the continued Democratic inaction on these vital issues.
I am sick of asking "why". I want some gawd-damn answers, and I want them now.
There are only two plausible explanations I have been able to come up with, for the continued Democratic inaction, if not complicity.
- Democrats are either under threat, or feel they are under threat.
After the anthrax attacks (crimes still unsolved, despite the anthrax being traced to an U.S. Army lab in Maryland), which targeted mainly Democrats, and several "mysterious" plane crashes, could our Democrats have been "put on notice" that their lives, and possibly those of their families, be in jeopardy if they were to pursue this administration, in an effort to seek justice?
- Complicity.
I would almost prefer #1, to thinking this might be possible, but in an effort to seek answers, all possibilities must be considered. Could our Democratic Party, and/or, its leadership, actually be in cahoots with the neocons/Republicans, in an effort to further steer this nation into a state of constant war, with pro-corporate pandering, and continuing Constitutional/Bill of Rights destruction? Could this actually be happening?
As a political realist, I understand all about "vote counting", and lack of votes to override vetos. I understand that when the polls aren't behind certain actions (impeachment?), thanks mostly to a complicit MSM, that it can be difficult to execute an agenda. But still, I have to ask, why aren't our Democrats taking off the gloves?
It seems to me, they should be filibustering, demanding, subpoenaing, and holding daily high-level press gatherings on the steps of the Capitol, until the DO get what they want, and short of that, they should shut the damned Congress down, so they are no longer complicit in the crimes of this administration.
Instead, it seems like they are going along, ...to get along. Why? Why? Why? My logic receptors are burning out. I can no longer make sense of things, in what seems to be an "Alice In Wonderland" type bad dream. Someone wake me please. Someone wake this nation. And will someone wake this damned Congress up, and tell them to get busy saving this nation before its too late?
I would really appreciate hearing the thoughts of other Kossacks here, as to what they think might be causing this situation. I would especially appreciate hearing from people like Meteor Blades and others, who are also "older", and who've seen and been through a lot (Nixon, Vietnam, Reagan, etc.) with our country, as have I. From that perspective, perhaps we can deduce some answers.
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