Protect the filibuster. The Republicans are being bullies

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Saturday November 20, 2004 · 9:14 AM PST

2004/11/20 · 09:14

I have worked in schools for 35 years and as a middle school counselor for 6 years and I know bullies. I also know how each of us remembers bullies from our childhood and hates people acting that way. This is a good message for the American public:

The Republicans are being bullies. We are Americans standing up for fairness in government and in the world. We believe in playing by the rules and keeping our commitments. We know that this government has to represent all Americans to keep America great.

This is the basic message. The first goal is to preemptively support the filibuster.

It sounds more and more as if the Republicans will use the "nuclear option" as described here

Full Court Press: Will Senate Republicans "go nuclear" over judges?

This article is useful, because it is written from the conservative perspective. Basically, the nuclear option is a plan for Cheney to rule that the filibuster of judges is unconstitutional. This ruling needs only a majority vote to pass it appears.

I expect this will happen in the early days of the 109th congress, maybe even on January 4th, the first day the Senate convenes. We need to respond before it happens. My suggestions (some of which I have posted here before) are:

Write letters to editors around the country during December highlighting the importance of the filibuster. We need to get a web site up helping people with how to craft such letter.
Send press packets to all major outlets hyping the "First major battle of the new Senate". Give them information about the historical importance of the filibuster and the facts about how Democrats and moderate Republicans are being cut out of governance of their country
Urge political cartoonists to highlight this topic.
Plan a march on the Capitol on January 3rd and 4th with people from all over the country. They would present "filibuster support kits" containing such things as material to read aloud, water bottles, no-doze, and maybe a certificate for a shoulder massage to all Democrats and moderate Republicans. They would give press conferences and talk to their Senators and staff.
Have these people talk to the press before leaving their home towns. Appear on local news talking about why they are going to Washington, write an article for the local paper, and call into local talk shows.
We need to energize groups who stand to benefit from this including NARAL, People for the American Way and MoveOn.

What do you think. Is this possible. I am trying to find ways to make it happen. Let me know your ideas.

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