Technically, It's Still The 11th Hour

Today, we rejoice in a double victory!

I expected to pick up the House, but was concerned about our chances with the Senate.  It's sometimes wonderful to be incorrect.

Our celebration is long overdue and we all deserve this brief moment to yell, scream, jump for joy, have a glass of champagne, and pat each other on the backs for all the hard work.  

It feels sooooooooooooo damn good.

So, now what.......have a jump and I'll tell ya.......

It is still the 11th hour; they are still technically in charge; they can still do alot of damage from where they sit.

January won't come soon enough, but during this transition period we need to keep our eyes on the ball  (remember how Bolton was appointed to the UN)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/...
If  George and the Republicans are going to do anything desparate, the time will be now.

We have come so far; we have so much work yet to do and to undo.

We will not be fooled by Rush's "confessions".
We will not be fooled by Rummy's resignation.

King George stills believes that weaknesses will be our demise.

"We have learned that terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength; they are invited by the perception of weakness."

He still believes we are the "weak" party.  The ones that will let "them" in.

There has been nothing weak about the past 24 hours and the world knows that.

So, party on today, take a deep breath, and dig in some more.  We sure as hell work well together, don't we?

Peace.

•  Champagne for all!!!

  by DeannaHawk on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:35:30 PM PDT

  •  Good points, Deanna

    But yes - champagne time! Except I've been running a nasty fever all (all the excitement, probably) so it's ice water for me.

    by javelina on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:51:33 PM PDT

    •  I'll have a glass with you......

      I don't drink.   LOL

      Sorry you are under the weather.  Be better soon.

      by DeannaHawk on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:53:00 PM PDT

      •  I am on cold meds...

        ... and I am having champagne right now to celebrate.

        If you both were here, a good bottle of Martinelli's would be good too..

        Salud!

        Oh happy day...

        by highacidity on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:56:03 PM PDT

•  They aren't going to risk it

  They know, it's done.

  - Albert Einstein

  by Walt starr on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:37:36 PM PDT

  •  I would love to believe that....

    for some reason, I just don't trust em.  :)

    by DeannaHawk on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:38:39 PM PDT

    •  I like that you brought up this subject.

      On the recent airing of Moyers in America, the episode about Net Neutrality, one of the experts interviewed said he knew that Sen. "Tubes" Stevens was going to attempt to ram the anti-Net Neutrality legislation though Congress during the lame-duck session.

      In light of the election, I would think this action is more likely to happen than not.

      I am sure this won't be the only issue to be handled in this way either. Watch out everyone, the terrain is dangerous between now and January.

      by highacidity on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:54:34 PM PDT

      •  I really believe our focus needs to be.....

        on this crucial time.

        Very dangerous terrain........we would be foolish to think otherwise.

        by DeannaHawk on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:59:46 PM PDT

        •  We *know* the nature of this beast...

          ... like you say, it would be foolish to think otherwise.

          I should go over that program again and do a diary (I don't write many, but if someone else doesn't, it needs to be brought up) on the Net Neutrality issue.

          by highacidity on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 07:04:10 PM PDT

          •  I agree.....

            I would invite you to do that.  It's important.

            by DeannaHawk on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 07:11:51 PM PDT

  •  I agree

    The Republicans have been sent to their room and grounded for (at least) 2 years.  They know they better keep a low profile or America will throw away the key.

    by RequestedUsername on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:50:03 PM PDT

  •  Bullies back down in the face of strength.

    This means that it is critical to be strong and to show no weakness.  As long as we are strong, they will back down.  The moment we appear weak, they will start pulling more evil, illegal, unconstitutional crap.

    by neroden on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 07:37:34 PM PDT

•  Repeat after me

  Fillibuster anything in the Senate. Democrats will be more likely to do this now that they are the majority elect so that could stop anything over the top.

  by pierredude on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:38:38 PM PDT

  •  Fillibuster, Fillibuster.......

    and have plenty of coffee around!!

    by DeannaHawk on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:40:10 PM PDT

•  cue it up if ya got it!

  Won't Get Fooled Again

  We'll be fighting in the streets
  With our children at our feet
  And the morals that they worship will be gone
  And the men who spurred us on
  Sit in judgement of all wrong
  They decide and the shotgun sings the song

  I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
  Take a bow for the new revolution
  Smile and grin at the change all around
  Pick up my guitar and play
  Just like yesterday
  Then I'll get on my knees and pray
  We don't get fooled again

  The change, it had to come
  We knew it all along
  We were liberated from the fold, that's all
  And the world looks just the same
  And history ain't changed
  'Cause the banners, they all flown in the last war

  I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
  Take a bow for the new revolution
  Smile and grin at the change all around
  Pick up my guitar and play
  Just like yesterday
  Then I'll get on my knees and pray
  We don't get fooled again
  No, no!

  I'll move myself and my family aside
  If we happen to be left half alive
  I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
  For I know that the hypnotized never lie

  Do ya?

  Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

  There's nothing in the street
  Looks any different to me
  And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
  And the parting on the left
  Is now the parting on the right
  And the beards have all grown longer overnight

  I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
  Take a bow for the new revolution
  Smile and grin at the change all around
  Pick up my guitar and play
  Just like yesterday
  Then I'll get on my knees and pray
  We don't get fooled again
  Don't get fooled again
  No, no!

  Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

  Meet the new boss
  Same as the old boss

  "Generosity, Ethics, Patience, Effort, Concentration, and Wisdom"

  by Dood Abides on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:39:06 PM PDT

•  I am just so looking forward

  to this opportunity the dems now have to change direction and show the country what a difference a party change can make.

  by pmob5977 on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:42:44 PM PDT

  •  I hear you!!

    It's so exciting!  We have so much repair work to do.
    Finally, I feel some hope.

    by DeannaHawk on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:44:56 PM PDT

•  Hey he said.

  by FireCrow on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:45:09 PM PDT

  •  LOL ooops

    I don't know how that happened.
    I was going to say Hey he said, "you knew I was a snake when you picked my up." They won't change. They will always bite.
    NO FREAKING BIPARTISONSHIP! Ram our agenda straight down their throats just like they have for 12 effing years.
    Bring our soldiers home!
    Overhaul of the VA!
    Tax reform!
    Education funding!
    Investigations!
    Prosecutions!
    Watch the chimp cry for his mommy!  :D

    by FireCrow on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:50:22 PM PDT

    •  I like both.

      :-)

      by suicide blonde on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:53:32 PM PDT

    •  Fantasies of revenge....

      There's a time for them.  But it's important not to confuse them with reality.

      Consider history.

      Nazism and Jim Crow arose in similar conditions. Both arose after 1) a military defeat and 2) punitive reprisals against the losers by the winners.

      We've won, but not by much. If we handle our new power wisely, it will be enough.

      But punitive treatment of republicans will only create resentment, which will breed more political terrorism.

      Instead, we need to prioritize our goals and get busy.

      Before the next election, we need to:

      1. Secure the vote.

         a. Paper ballots for everyone.
         b. Transparent ballot counting.

      2. Clean-up elections.

         a. Penalize dirty ads--big-time.
         b. Kick out corporate money.
         c. Other stuff, as needed

      3. Start repairing the damage.

         a. Take a few steps toward a publicly responsible media.
         b. Start turning over Lobby-stone rocks and expose the political maggots to public scrutiny.
         c. Give the whistle-blowers a bully-pulpit.

      Expose, expose, expose. If the naked emperor gets sunburned--too bad!  He can resign.

      Take a moment to consider a different issue with some similar political constraints: non-legal immigrants.

      All of us know that kicking out the non-legals isn't practical, but few Americans can stomach rewarding illegal behavior. The issue gains clarity when we consider our priorities--and #1 in this case is national security.  Above all else, we need to know who is in this country, and what are their intentions.

      We simply don't have the resources to arrest every non-legal and ship them home. Heck, doing without them altogether would be a hardship.  

      So we need a solution which offers non-legals some kind of incentive to come forward--but which "taxes" them for their illegal entry and puts some (bearable) restrictions upon the rewards of citizenship. It doesn't need to be incredibly generous.  It does need to be sufficiently better than where they are now--subject to work-place coercion and/or deportation.

      We MUST set aside revenge for something more important--the security of the nation.

      So with the 'publicans. They are our prodigal brothers.  They have wasted their political inheritance.  But if they repent (return their ill-gotten gains) and come home to civil behavior--we can at least treat them kindly and provide them with a dry place to sleep.

      Look how the 'publicans rewarded Liebermann for cooperating.  No reason we can't reward--say Olympia Snowe, is there? If she is willing to cooperate and secure our majority?

      by chriscol on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:35:22 PM PDT

•  Supreme Court

  The best thing about this takeover is that there's no chance of another winger on the Supreme Court.

  by side pocket on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:55:51 PM PDT

•  Bush controlling entry and exit from the US

  That was planned to trigger before the next session of Congress meets, right?

  So we've got to contact our Congresspeople in advance to get their help in killing this, because otherwise it will go down before they meet.

  by neroden on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 07:01:49 PM PDT