Democrats: Get Up & Walk Out

By William Rivers Pitt
MEMO
To: Congressional Democrats
From: William Rivers Pitt
RE: A bold maneuver

I have a wild and crazy idea.

George W. Bush's delivery of the State of the Union address will take place on Tuesday, January 31, a little more than a week from now. It is my strong belief that every single Democrat present in the House chamber for the speech should, at a predetermined moment, stand up and walk out. No yelling. No heated words. Every Democrat should simply stand silently and leave.

Crazy, I know. Crazy, and possibly the best idea ever put before a body of Democrats since the New Deal.

Understand this, congressional Democrats, and understand it well: you are not dealing merely with a body of political opponents in the GOP. You are dealing with a group of people that want you exterminated politically. The days of walking the halls of the Rayburn Building, sharing a bourbon with a colleague from the other side of the aisle, and hammering out a compromise are as dead as Julius Caesar. Collegiality is out. Mutual respect is out. They want you gone for good. Erased. Destroyed.

[snip]

For the love of God, you are being compared to Osama bin Laden all over network television because some within your ranks have had the courage to question the war in Iraq. It hasn't been subtle. Bin Laden, according to the right-wing talking heads, is getting his talking points straight from Howard Dean. These are the out-front spokespeople for the folks running the GOP right now. If you think there is compromise to be had with these people, if you think there is quarter to be given to you, then I have a nice, big red bridge to sell you in San Francisco.

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(Bravo Mr Pitt! THAT action would be the talk at the water cooler the next day rather than the content of the speech. Problem is, Democrats have shown themselves to be spineless and without resolve. We are at a precipice in this nation's history and it's time for the Democrats to get a spine and to take drastic measures. Something drastic enough to grab the attention of the media as well as the sleeping, apathetic population. Mr Pitts idea has merit in my never to be humble opinion. We must remember that 'power concedes NOTHING' . It's time for us to stop reacting to the Republicans and start making them react to us. This very simple idea that Mr Pitt has put forward could be just the thing to start the tidal wave of change that is needed. eaprez)