Markos on Countdown: video and Open Thread

This isn't really a substantive diary, but so many of us have been complaining about not being able to find this video that I thought I should get it out there:

Treat this diary as an Open Thread.  So, What do you think?  Is Markos right?

We all agree that our current course of action in Washington bites the big one.  But the reality is this:

We can not get our bills through.

Should we, as Markos suggests, take our ball and go home?  I think it's time to do just that.  Pass clean bills, the right bills, with no compromise.  Force the Repugs to fillibuster.  Force Bush's hand on every stinkin' one of those threatened vetoes.

And (this is the important part) make sure the American public understands who's really to blame.  

We're not going to get anything done with GW in the White House anyway, and that's fact.  Why continue to cave and play by his rules?  I'd rather see nothing done than see the wrong things done.  And if we frame it correctly in '08, we can clean House and get a real majority.

Thoughts?

•  Tips for spending way too much time..

  ...in front of my computer this morning!

  by revelwoodie on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 08:14:17 AM PDT

  •  But they have to pass some spending Bills...

    or it will hurt many people. Just pass a continuing resolution and focus on 09. DO NOT PASS compromised energy and farm Bills or we'll never get another chance for five years to do something right.

    by IndySteve on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 10:31:34 AM PDT

•  I think it's cute that Markos called it FISA

  as in VISA, I live in Alabama and we call it that here ;)  FISA, it's in the way of everywhere "they" want to be.

  by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 08:23:04 AM PDT

•  Sen Reid needs to go

  Markos did really well...

  by rigso on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 08:25:32 AM PDT

  •  LBJ is turning over in his grave right now

    Yes, I know that Reid really doesn't have a majority.  He's not, however, anything close to a leader by any definition I've ever heard.

    I want to see Dodd become ML in the next Congress in the worst way.

    by RFK Lives on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 08:47:13 AM PDT

    •  I like Dodd, too

      He's got more balls, it seems, than a lot of the other folks up there.  I hope enough Dems back him up.

      He's got impressive eyebrows, to boot.

      by revelwoodie on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 08:51:44 AM PDT

•  I felt like Markos's Mom

  I get nervous seeing Markos on TV and hoping he will do well. He always does of course!

  I agree, the Dems in Congress should just refuse to cave to whatever the Bush administration wants. It is better to pass nothing than bad bills. It is essential however to let the country know who is responsible. And use the Filibuster!

  by mommaK on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 08:36:14 AM PDT

  •  I know exactly what you mean!

    He's a very vulnerable looking young man -- I think that's part of it.  There's a definite teddy bear vibe.  I'm a mother myself, now, and I've found that it's very easy for me to feel protective of other people who touch certain buttons.  Even "big boys" who are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves!

    by revelwoodie on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 08:47:46 AM PDT

    •  Thanks revelwoodie! Now I don't feel

      so silly. I feel very protective too of "young" (to me) people. Maybe that happens after our own are adults.

      by mommaK on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:09:31 AM PDT

      •  I think it's universal

        for all Moms.  My kids are only 2 and 3 years old, and I'm probably younger than Markos!

        It's true what they say.  Having kids is what makes you grow up!

        by revelwoodie on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:13:45 AM PDT

    •  Oh thats just the guy they put on TV to PLAY

      Markos. The REAL Markos is 10 Feet tall weights 400 pounds,eats neocons, and craps turdblossoms.

      by CTMET on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:09:54 AM PDT

•  Keith made a mistake last night

  During the waterboarding commentary, he talked about how Allah visited the person waterboarded and told him to answer the questions.  Keith said this put the RWers who wanted to support torture in a pickle.  

  Then, he made the gaffe.  He said, and I'm paraphrasing here, that either the RWers had to grant that Allah, a false prophet, told someone to cooperate, or the person who claimed this was delusional.

  Um, Keith?  Allah is not a prophet; Allah is God, Yahweh, and whatever name we give Him or Her.  Muhummad is the prophet, and most Christians don't think he wasn't a prophet, just not the Messiah.

  Dang, I hate when one on our side makes a factual error.

  But, I saw Markos, and that was good.  :)

  by MikeTheLiberal on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 08:41:02 AM PDT

•  Markos hits home run

  and doesn't need steroids. But it is clear that Harry and some of the other bosys in the Senate could use some testosterone.

  by Lawdog on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 08:42:27 AM PDT

•  Stop Enabling the GOP

  Reid, et. al. should stop spending so much time whining how they can't get anything past the Republicans, and that this is the best they can do. Well it isn't.  

  Reid, Pelosi, and the rest of the clueless leadership should recognize the Republicans don't give a damn about the country - they just want to keep the Democrats from getting anything done so they can keep painting them as weak, ineffectual, and 'wussies.' That's the narrative they're handing the GOP for 2008 and the run up to the White House.

  Want a nightmare? Another Clinton in the White House triangulating to a Republican Congress.

  At this point, Reid and Pelosi should take a leaf from the Republican play book and stop pandering to mythical GOP moderates. It's not happening and it isn't going to happen. Instead, they should focus on laying down markers. Start cranking out legislation the President and the Republicans will never agree on. Make them filibuster and veto. Start proposing programs that will move America in the right direction - and make it obvious to all that the only thing standing between America and a better future is the GOP.

  Really - how hard is that to understand?

  by xaxnar on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:00:20 AM PDT

  •  Yes! n/t

    by mommaK on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:12:39 AM PDT

  •  Actually what you really have to understand is

    that our own party is just as obligated to the K Street bunch as the Republicans are and thety are not going to go against the wishes their puppet masters demand.

    Somehow if any resemblance of our government is to be
    saved, we are going to have to get something done to kill the corporate stronghold on both parties in Washington.

    You can rest assured that electing another Clinton will not change any of that.

    The only one who might would try to really change that situation is J Edwards but I am not sure that he would be able to because he would need the co-operation of the Dems in congress and as long as they feed from the corporate trough they will not back him.

    I think that we are almost if not already at the point that salvaging our government is a near impossible task.
    

    by eaglecries on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 11:46:18 AM PDT

    •  I'm not arguing

      What we have is the DFH problem among the pundits and the beltway villagers- they are terrified it'll be the 60's all over again and those lefty extremists will ruin the party with their crazy liberal ideals.

      That's how we end up with Pelosi taking impeachment off the table, Reid pushing the Cheney version of FISA, Emmanuel recruiting candidates who can barely run to the left of Republicans on a good day, Schumer going to bat for the tax breaks for those hedge fund managers, and Hoyer selling out to corporations even as he undermines the Democratic message.

      Howard Dean rebuilt a national party organization from the ground up in all 50 states - so that the DLC types like Emmanuel could take credit for 2006, make Dean an unperson, and start retreating from everything the voters thought they were going to get.

      What Hamsher said.

      What Greenwald said.

      It took what, 30 years for the wingnut faction to take over the GOP? Nobody said it was going to happen overnight.

      More Democrats, Better Democrats.

      by xaxnar on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 01:56:45 PM PDT

•  There will come a time, before Nov 08...

  ... where Markos will say that blindly voting Democratic is not in the best interest of this nation.

  With Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi leading the party in Congress, and if Hillary Clinton should win the nomination, can the Democratic Party be considered "progressive"?

  I can not support such a party.

  by Opinionated Ed on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:02:58 AM PDT

  •  I can support them n/t

    by bonesy on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 11:09:27 AM PDT

    •  Why?

      Do you agree with them on the issues?

      Or have you conceded that we will not get anything better, that will represent the people?

      by Opinionated Ed on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 04:31:47 PM PDT

      •  The people will better be represented

        by a Democrat any day of the week before any of our voices would be heard by any Republican. It's a two party system whether we like it or not, I would sooner choose the less of the two evils.

        by bonesy on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 08:26:46 PM PDT

        •  So you've given up.. I haven't

          by Opinionated Ed on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:05:11 PM PDT

          •  Where in my post did I say I

            have given up? Are you talking about voting Independent, starting a new party or what?
            Whomever wins the Democratic nomination will get my vote.

            by bonesy on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:27:25 PM PDT

            •  Here...

              Where in my post did I say I have given up?

              When you said this...

              It's a two party system whether we like it or not, I would sooner choose the less of the two evils.

              .

              Are you talking about voting Independent, starting a new party or what?

              If the votes or progressives are continually taken for granted by DLC politicians, and we continually get poor candidates and poor leadership, then that option should be placed on the table.

              Whomever wins the Democratic nomination will get my vote.

              Mine too, as long as they are remotely progressive on the most important issues to me. Hillary has failed that test.

              If she is the nominee, I will use my constitutional right of one vote to vote in my best interest, to send a message that I am sick and tired of the status quo.

              by Opinionated Ed on Sun Dec 16, 2007 at 04:09:34 AM PDT

              •  That is your right as a voter,

                My right is if Hillary is the nominee, she will get my vote, if Obama, Edwards, whoever, is the nominee they would get my vote. We can agree to disagree.

                by bonesy on Sun Dec 16, 2007 at 07:00:44 AM PDT

•  Did anyone see Keith on Bill Moyer's

  Journal last night? It was a very good interview and Keith expressed himself very well as usual.

  by mommaK on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:14:14 AM PDT

  •  Sorry...don't know how to do a link. n/t

    by mommaK on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:15:29 AM PDT

  •  Haven't seen it yet. Link? (n/t)

    by revelwoodie on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:16:02 AM PDT

    •  Didn't see your other comment. Oops! n/t

      by revelwoodie on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:17:05 AM PDT

•  Help! Don't know how to link!

  by mommaK on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:16:49 AM PDT

  •  Open another browser...

    ...and put it on the thing you want to link to.  Then highlight the address in the little bar on top, go to the edit menu, and click "copy."

    Then come banck here and post a comment.  At the bottom of the window where you're writing your comment is a button that says "link."  Click that, put your cursor in the box marked "URL" and go back to the edit menu and click "paste."  In the box marked "label" write what ever text you want the link to read in your comment.

    Then post the comment, and you're done!

    by revelwoodie on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:20:22 AM PDT

    •  Thanks. I'm going to copy & paste your comment so

      I can remember (really bad memory).

      by mommaK on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:21:35 AM PDT

      •  I hope this works!

        http://www.pbs.org/...

        by mommaK on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:26:12 AM PDT

        •  Yay! Thanks revelwoodie! n/t

          by mommaK on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:27:05 AM PDT

•  A shot across the bow

  Dem leaders should take notice that the owner of the largest and most prominent progressive blog went on national teevee and called them out for being COMPLICIT in the failures of this Congress.

  The party base and Americans in general are not happy. DEMS shouldn't take us for granted.

  I also like how Markos highlighted the DEMS inability to draw sharp contrasts between obstructionist Repubs and capitulating DEMS. He was spot on when saying DEMS should force the Repubs to do actual filabusters instead of caving at the mere threat of one.

  Maybe next time Markos will go so far as to call for the replacement of the overly pragmatic Reid as Senate Majority "Leader"

  All in all a great segment for Markos. He does better with each appearance.

  by jayden on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:20:32 AM PDT

•  Have to go shop. Have a great day

  everyone and stay warm!

  by mommaK on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 09:20:32 AM PDT

•  Well, do NOT pass Iraq funding within the

  08 budget bills. That should be a focus. Keep it separate and wait until next session.

  As for funding Bills, pass continuing resolutions to keep things going. Energy and Farm Bill have been hopelessly compromised. If we have to wait another five years for another one, then don't pass it. Let Bush veto and draft a better one in 09.

  Fight Bushco. And get out front on message. He is shutting down gov't. and defunding the troops.

  by IndySteve on Sat Dec 15, 2007 at 10:27:37 AM PDT