"Capt. JG" wrote in message
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"Maxprop" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
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I think it's possible. I believe the Dems have an opportunity and a risk.
The opportunity is to put things back on track if they can work with
Bush.

Some Dems have already intimated that they'd like to raise taxes. W
won't go for that, no way. Veto. Strike #1.

So Republicans are child molesters... "some"?? Who?

??? What has this got to do with the price of beans in Bulgaria???

The risk is that it turn into a witchhunt. I think there is a lot of
justification for and there should be investigations by Congress into
what happened w.r.t. the war in Iraq, the corruption that went on, and
the state of affairs of homeland security. But, it should be a
fact-finding effort, that only assigns blame and punishment to those who
deserve it. It should not be a "let's get the Republicans" tar and
feather party to ensure they remain out of power for 20 years no matter
what.

In a perfect world such an investigation would be pretty much as you
describe. Of course it will become a witch hunt, and we're going to hear
"impeach Bush" rhetoric sooner or later. It's inevitable. Strike #2.

Actually, we already heard it and Pelosi took it off the table. If
investigations turn up something really bad, should it not be on the table
again?

Of course, but such things are absolutely counterproductive for the country.
( the impeachment of Clinton--what was gained by that???) If Bush is
guilty of serious malfeasance, the option for impeachment should be
considered, but I tend to believe that the two political extremes in the USA
are becoming more and more like Israel and Palestine. Retribution for past
grievances escalates from generation to generation. The GOP did a witch
hunt and impeached Clinton. The Dems will now have their pound of flesh,
unless Bush acts, talks, walks, and quacks like a Democrat himself. Of
course that's about as likely as Ellen being a woman.

On the other side, Bush needs to get the message that the people want
change, and he needs to truly try and work with Congress to get things
done. He was able to do this as Governor, so it's time to get moving.
I'm not convinced he's truly gotten the message, but it's possible.

He needs to acquiesce with respect to embryonic stem-cell research, the
Iraq war, balancing the budget, and a few other issues. But he won't.
Strike #3. GRIDLOCK.

You never know...

True, but the short odds are in favor of gridlock. Wolf Blitzer said it
best--"This conciliatory behavior is most unusual in Washington."

I think his presidency has been severely damaged, and certainly his
"legacy" has been tarnished by the war in Iraq. It's possible for him to
turn the remainder of his lame duck time into doing the right thing.
It's up to him. My view is that he should dump the neocons who are left,
sideline Cheney (who's power has diminished because Rummy is gone), and
stifle Rove. In other words, he needs to start acting like the
President of the US, not the president of his fan club.

About the only thing he and the Dems seem to agree upon is amnesty for
illegals. And of course the conservatives oppose that.

I see no way to avoid gridlock and exacerbating animosity between the
Administration and Congress. It will get ugly, bloody, and very
interesting before the fallout settles.

Call me pessimistic if you will, but I've watched Washington for far too
long to believe otherwise. The division between the left and right
extremes is permanent and untenable. The division between the moderate
left and the moderate right will grow into a chasm.

Compared to what left and right means elsewhere in the world, we're pretty
tame.

That's very true, and this last election cycle seems to support that. There
was a lot of crossover voting. Hell, I voted for five Democrats myself.
(you can get up off the floor now, Doug) But typically such calms precede a
rather nasty storm.

I'll be happy to remind you of this prediction about two years from now,
Jon.

Please!

Remind me to remind you.

Max