During the days leading up to the Civil War, a Senator name Preston Brooks beat a colleague to within an inch of his life with a cane as a result of a debate over the issue of slavery. Obviously he was putting up a fight for what he truly believed in at great risk to his political future. Obviously, this is not a man I'd invite to a party with any alcohol served.
Now I don't believe in violence for solving issues except as an act of self defense. It's a stupid and ineffective way of dealing with divisive topics as illustrated by where our country went in the wake of incidents like this one. I do worry however when I see titles of diaries indicating we're bringing a (insert ineffective weapon here) to a (insert overwhelming weapon here) fight that we may find ourself in some bloody battle that nobody wins.
I've posted diaries and responses lately where I've found myself guilty of wanting a "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" approach by Congressional Democratic leaders and I'm beginning to wonder, were we to get everything we want out of people like Pelosi and Reid, if an event like this one wouldn't be the eventual outcome. This is not to say that I think they've taken the right approach in capitulating every time as it appears but I'm tempted lately to lower my expectations just a bit. I'd settle for metered outrage and an occasional procedural push just to mess with these moronic fascists until the voters truly take away their power.
As much as that well-repressed macho gene in my body can cause me to fantasize the guy with the cane being Dennis Kucinich and the guy on the ground being some cretin neo-con like Mitch McConnell, my intellect immediately tells me that if we get to that point, we've all lost.
The more I read and learn about the absurd procedural rules of the House and Senate the more I'm beginning to understand the bizarre predicament Democratic leadership is in. The numbers simply aren't there to get past an adversarial veto power in the White House or even to change the rules to have them make more sense. All of those things take an overwhelming majority.
Now here's what I could live with for the next year though. Defeat the FISA bill if there's any telecom immunity in it. Make that a line in the sand. Get Cheney's impeachment resolution through committee and out to a vote. This is an issue that needs to progress even if the votes aren't there to convict just because it will ensure the investigations get some press. Stand up to the FCC and reverse their decision to allow further media consolidation or at least set up the fight for when the majority gets larger. Every time the President gets on the TV to whine about Congress, find a camera and point out every dumb move the guy has ever made, loudly and firmly.
I'm pretty sure we won't see a repeat of Preston Brook's violent outburst in our modern day Congress but there are certainly the personalities on the other side that if pushed too hard would love to provoke those kinds of emotions. Ultimately it's always about balance in the end.
I'll continue to press for action from people like Reid and Pelosi but I'm not sure I'll be calling for their heads if they don't totally live up to my expectations. We can still demand action while just calling for an ear or a nose.