I think the question now, not just for the blogosphere, or for Democrats, but for the American people, is: Do we wish to be vassals of the president (and his political party handmaidens), or do we wish to resurrect our federal legislature, and thus our own voices in our own government?

Right now, if one had to bet, I'd bet that most americans are fine with being vassals. But I do think that the process discussed by Romero and Greenwald is the way to go. Use the damn tool to strip these evil things away--torture, rendition, and all the rest that is possible to do quickly via executive order. Otherwise, it simply will not get done.

Then, do whatever can be done to get congress to want to do its job as described in the constitution. But it may not be possible. Segments of Article I are already "off the table". Impeachment. Declaration of war. Hell, they don't even debate any more.

From the ACLU plan "PART I, DAY ONE", linked in Greenwald's text:

Cease and prohibit the use of torture and abuse, without exception, and direct the Attorney General immediately after his or her confirmation to appoint an outside special counsel to investigate and, if warranted, prosecute any violations of federal criminal laws prohibiting torture and abuse;...

http://www.aclu.org/transition/

But I'd just like to say on this, his announced retirement,

fuck Brit Hume.

But as he heads off to a life as a gentleman farmer in Virginia, the 65-year-old Hume says he won't miss the job, partly because cable news is hard work, but also because of the morose mood in Washington.

''The atmosphere in Washington has become poisonous, the most contentious and unpleasant that I've ever seen,'' he says. "Nobody really trusts anybody. Any time one party has an idea, the other suspects it's some kind of a sham to gain advantage. . . .

"In a way, journalism feeds off it. We get some great stories. But I think most reporters feel the same way I do — that it's disspiriting to cover things in this atmosphere. It makes news; sparks of controversy make news, but after a while, it gets you down.'

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/55384.html

Who are you calling a Hack, you Blueberry Pusher? You Kale-Monger? You burier of good things beneath horseshit?

The ACLU, among most of the independent "liberal" groups I know of, has been way out in front on this issue of bringing pressure to bear on Obama. By contrast, look at groups like MoveOn, who have been basking in the self-satisfied glow of the Obama victory, and have been slow to realize (or so it seems, based on their communications) that Obama's victory is nothing but a first step--albeit a very good and happy first step.

I think Romero is taking just the right tone here, and I hope other organizations of like mind will begin aggressively joining in--either on this, or other important liberal causes. It is especially important to note that aggressive lobbying on such issues is not at all to be mistaken as an attack on Obama. Rather, it is an attempt to help him to do what we believe he wants to do--in what will be a very difficult environment for him.

The Petard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=2897645

Someone should photoshop Joe into this (or similar)...

Hamlet:

There's letters seal'd, and my two schoolfellows,

Whom I will trust as I will adders fang'd—

They bear the mandate, they must sweep my way

And marshal me to knavery. Let it work;

For 'tis the sport to have the enginer

Hoist with his own petard, an't shall go hard

But I will delve one yard below their mines

And blow them at the moon.

This is an outrage. I demand an apology from Scarborough, his producer, from the head of MSNBC news division, and from the CEO of NBC. Further, I agree with Greenwald that the FCC should fine MSNBC $550,000 for this disgusting behavior. No, wait. Double that fine to $1,100,000.00. On the grounds that Scarborough is twice the boob that Janet Jackson revealed at the Superbowl.

On Terry Gross' Fresh Aire--Excellent:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96648963

Perhaps this has me overly spooked--I'm sure you've already seen it...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dems-lower-expectations-2008-11-05.html

this looks like a calculated statement by Pelosi, not just BS (as Digby speculates it might be). Such would be coordinated with Rahm E., as part of his new gig.

Obama and Congressional Democrats deserve some time to figure out what they will do and what they will prioritize. It's irrational to criticize them for things they haven't done.

While I agree with and support your post, I disagree with the above. If you wait until they "figure out what they will do", you are already too late. The time to push is now--while they are prioritizing.

It [Obama's victory] is a breakthrough, in terms of Obama being the first African American, the first person of color, being the nation’s chief executive. But it still falls short of the kind of politics that Cynthia [McKinney] embodies, that I also share, that this is not—Obama’s victory is a victory over racism, but it is not a victory of the left. And progressives will be—have to challenge the Obama administration on all of these issues.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/5/manning_marable_on_the_significance_of