Testing the Democrats

[jducoeur]

Okay, yes -- the theme song of the day is more or less, "Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead". While I'm not quite sure that Gonzales was actively evil, he certainly exemplified certain political trends that I despise, and I'll shed no tears over his departure.

That said, the really interesting question is, "What next?". I'll be really interested to see who the White House nominates, and how the Democrats react. In particular, the issue I most care about is not any of the traditional party-line ones, but instead what I see as the exemplar issue of the modern neo-Conservative movement: Executive Privilege. It's the reason I specifically didn't want Harriet Myers, and Gonzales lived right down to my expectations about her.

The current Administration has had a fascist streak that I find downright disturbing, and some politicians are just loving it. (There's a posting brewing on why I think the Conservative South kinda likes Giuliani, and what this says about the new meaning of "Conservative", but that's for another day.) I want this trend squashed hard, and this is going to be a linchpin moment. The Administration is presumably going to want another toady who will back up the President's right to act like a king. I damned well expect a responsible Congress to reject any such candidate, but I have no real confidence that the current one will do so. How this plays out will determine a lot of my attitude towards the next election season, in that it says whether the current Democrats have the discipline and sense to insist on a decent compromise candidate...

Comments

[dsrtao]

The trend was Ashcroft, Gonzales... next is Nyarlathotep.

[jducoeur]

Ah, yes: Gnarly Hotep, the Surfer God. (A nickname coined in the LARP Tales of the Necronomicon, one of the oddest games I've ever played in. We had a trio made up of The Werewolf, Dracula and The Insane FBI Agent -- we were the good guys...)

[its-just-me.livejournal.com]

I was thinking Wayland Smithers myself.

[jdulac.livejournal.com]

this White House doesn't do compromise, on anything, in case you hadn't noticed. 25% approval, and they still seem to think l'etat c'est moi. They will probably put the Dems in the position of filibustering someone unspeakable and making it their fault.

[jducoeur]

Perhaps. The interesting question is whether they have the nerve to do so. So far this year, the White House has gotten its way mainly because the Dems keep caving, to a degree that even I, Mr. Balance And Compromise, find unacceptable. They need to relearn the fine art of bare-knuckle politics, and stop *letting* themselves be the bad guys.

I mean, they don't *need* to filibuster here -- they have a majority, and could in theory simply shoot bad nominees down in flames. The question is whether they have the unity and guts to do so. I suspect not, but would be happy to be proven wrong.

As for the Administration not doing compromise: largely true, but needs to be moderated as not *voluntarily* doing compromise. They are capable of recognizing when their position is untenable, however, and changing tack. I mean, remember that Gonzalez *was* the "compromise" candidate originally. The question is, can the Dems hold out for someone who is appropriately apolitical (which is the best compromise that can reasonably be hoped for under the circumstances)...

[laurion]

I also suspect the Admin. expected to put Gonzalez in office, and made him the compromise by positing the more radical options first. Sort of like haggling; start off at one extreme, then work your way to where you really want to be.

[jducoeur]

Could be, although I'm dubious. I don't credit Bush to be that smart, but I suppose it's well within Cheney's skill set...

Actively Evil

[its-just-me.livejournal.com]

See, I AM convinced. Anyone who could help to orchestrate AbuGhraib to be legally justfied, making waterboarding OK, and help to redefine the powers of the presidency to have such an uppercutting blow to it in the power department - I'm going to stick with evil. If not that than so brainwashed to the Bush cult to make these things happen in an Igor like manner.

I can't imagine who can possibly fit the seat now. I'm not happy with either party. They have both juxtaposed upon each other all the criteria I despise about the other. I know Bush's ratings are in the toilet, but congress's ratings are proundly lower than that at about 25%. Trusting either side to make a decision that is in the country's best interest is down near impossible I think.

Recess appointments

[metageek.livejournal.com]

I damned well expect a responsible Congress to reject any such candidate

You're assuming they'll have the chance. Congress is in recess right now; Bush could use a recess appointment. We'll know soon.

Re: Recess appointments

[jducoeur]

Hmm; good point. It would explain the timing...