Shut the gov't down - First do no harm!

We - the American people - are in danger!
Remember how during the last several years, the mantra regarding another terrorist attack in the U.S. was not a matter of if but when.

Katrina washed away any illusions of an efficient Federal response. Had the levees been breeched by a terrorist's bomb not kind enough to provide many days' warning, the death toll would likely have been 5 times what Katrina caused - perhaps more, but certainly not less.

What can we do?  We can shut down the government until changes are made!

How is on the flip

(I thought DarkSyde was going to beat me to it, but he was talking about holding the media to account.)

Remember earlier this year during all the "nuclear option" discussions before the Gang of 14's compromise. Part of that discussion was the Democratic retaliation, where Reid publicly threatened to shut down the Senate.
Even the Right acknowledged (and feared) this capability. The New Republic described it as "nuclear winter:"

[T]he scenario in which Democrats retaliate by exploiting Senate procedures to plunge the institution into chaos and prevent anything from getting accomplished. Think Mad Max Goes to Washington. "We will deny Republicans the bipartisan cooperation that allows the Senate to function effectively," says Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid.

Demand:

1. An independent investigation into government failures in the Katrina response.
   
2. Exemption of Katrina survivors from the new bankruptcy law.
   
3. Replacement of the staff and leadership in FEMA actually have demonstrable history of successfully dealing with emergencies. Perhaps with a search committee composed of U.S. representatives from , the International Association of Fire Chiefs, The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, and I dunno, maybe The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM)!?

No other new business, no making tax cuts permanent, no new tax cuts.

They threatened this response to the loss of the filibuster.
Well, we lost a great American city!
We lost somewhere between 10 and 40 THOUSAND Americans!
We lost what remained of our country's reputation.
We lost our illusions that our government works to protect its citizens!

Is that so much less to lose?

It may take courage our leadership does not have.  They may fear that
it will be a politically losing move, as it was for the Repubs in 1995
(though they didn't lose Conress because of it).

Feel free to tell me why I'm wrong in the comments.

•  Actually We Don't Need No Stinking Investigation

  The government failed. Bush failed. Bad appointees, bad looting of the levee funds for a needless war. Period, end of story, we just need action on that.

  by NewDirection on Thu Sep 08, 2005 at 07:53:59 AM PDT

  •  Intentional.

    This is the Norquist/small government model being implemented.
    gwb is teaching us with this screw up that we cannot count on the government.
    They no longer care to provide us with these services.
    Would have been nice to get a heads up. FEMA seemed to be functionning fine prior to the election.
    

    by cosette on Thu Sep 08, 2005 at 07:59:43 AM PDT

    •  For Me...

      9/11 itself, and what I always considered to be a dysfunctional response to that every step of the way, put me on notice.

      I think a lot of people mistook growing government power and a lot of sneers and posing for competence.

      by NewDirection on Thu Sep 08, 2005 at 08:11:13 AM PDT

•  Wow, ND, you beat me.

  You're fast.

  Can someone tell me why the Dems SHOULDN'T do this?

  by bribri on Thu Sep 08, 2005 at 07:55:18 AM PDT

•  No Investigation Needed

  It would just be a whitewash anyway.

  "Election?  SURE, we can have an "election""...
  "Investigation?  SURE, we can have an "investigation""...

  You get the idea...

  by bincbom on Thu Sep 08, 2005 at 08:03:39 AM PDT

•  This should be front paged.

  You hit it out of the park. The "obstructionist" Democrats were prepared to do this over a few wingnut judicial appointees. I say now is the time to show the powers that be what real opposition is like and what obstruction is all about. Democrats should be shouting coverup at the top of their lungs, pointing out the barring of the press, the public lowballing of fatality estimates, and the reluctance for investigation. Bring everything to a stop where we are able and insist on doing so until an open, independent investigation with the authority to get to the bottom of this national disgrace.

  by Thirsty on Thu Sep 08, 2005 at 08:39:48 AM PDT

•  This should be done....

  Think of the alternatives. Three more years of Treasury looting, wrongful war, Halliburton profits, attacks on social security, unwarranted hope re national security, tax cuts, - - hell, it never stops.

  bribri, I think you are 100% correct. At the very least, the democrats should carefully consider the options and the alternatves.

  by 0hio on Thu Sep 08, 2005 at 09:14:05 AM PDT

•  Martial law instated?

  Just wondering. If the Senate shuts down the legislative branch couldn't the Chimp declare martial law? We know he's capable of doing it, wants to do it. Would this give him cover to actually do it?

  by lepermessiah on Thu Sep 08, 2005 at 09:25:49 AM PDT

  •  i don't follow...

    Public safety is state-run.  Only in extreme situations is the federal gov't (supposed to) intervene.  Gov't has been shut down a number of times - depending on the duration, it directly affects federal workers (which now includes TSA).

    I don't see how martial law would follow.

    Of course, doesn't mean BushCo wouldn't try...

    by bribri on Thu Sep 08, 2005 at 10:39:23 AM PDT