In the penultimate scene of "Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone", Professor Quirrell states "that my master has shown me that there is no good or evil, only power and those who are too weak to seize it." So, does this mean Bill Clinton is Voldemort??

It is unfair -- mostly because it implies that the former is a possibility.

Something here has the same aroma as the Clinton staff's trashing of the White House prior to the Bush inaugeration two years ago.



Another thought: One of the things that separate a functioning democracy from more precarious systems of government is the tradition of a "loyal opposition." If the Dems are becoming the party of the sore losers, as the last two elections suggest, then our republic is indeed in trouble.

Every time I think the Dems can't stoop lower they prove me wrong.

Question is whether the GOP will stand firm until the Dems back down or cave and let the Dems get what they want. Either way the GOP gets hurt (under a) the Dems control longer, under b) the Dems get more funding) while the Dems, since the media won't call them on it, gets away with it.

I am so ashamed of the democrats, it is almost enough to make me vote republican. I am seriously looking at alternate parties.

AWW - don't worry about it - this is just negotiation - the Republicans have an unlimited number of sticks they can beat the Dems with, and if the Dems withhold their cooperation on organizing Reps can withhold their cooperation on appropriations to Dem constituencies, legislation, and any number of other ways. The Dems appear to be hoping to trigger a messy fight that makes it look like Republicans can't govern effectively. But an astute response by Frist et al, with good public relations, will make the Dems suffer from this ploy far more than the Reps do.

PJ - >

This is the part I'm not hopeful on given the liberal media (sorry I don't but the VRWC control of the media spin).

The Republicans can offer the Dems the title of President Pro Tempore to anyone they wish. If they go with Byrd again, make Byrd an issue.

The problem is that the Democrats have yet to come to terms with their status as minority party. Look for similiar temper tantrums during the next few months during confirmation hearings for "controversial" bureaucrats and judges. Also any legislation which is near and dear to their core constituencies like environment, tort reform or medical technology.



A major part of leftist philosophy is the notion of "what we have, we keep. What's yours is up for grabs." They've beenin power so long that they assume that their politics are immutable, but they know that that's about to change. All they've got left is to scream loudly and throw tantrums. As long as it plays well with their core constituencies and major funding sources, it'll continue.

There is nothing mandated in the constitution about the committees or staff. Why can't Frist just can the committees and start bills off on the floor while holding the Senate in session 8-10 hours per workday? He's got the majority to determine the Rules, so they just take one bill at a time and indicate that if the Democrats don't want to play nice, they won't play at all.

tom - there are laws regulating senate procedures - they have to change the laws - the organizing resolution does that - the Democrats are filibustering it. To avoid committees would also require a change to the laws. The ultimate retaliation would be to shutdown the government, & money to liberal constituencies (e.g. no welfare, no university or research funding, no aid to states and cities), until the filibuster ends.

pj;



They aren;'t laws are they? They're Senate rules and traditions. Plus there's just no way the Court would touch it--it's a quintessential political question.