Will the Democrats opt for confrontation or capitulation?

We know that no matter what facade the Bush admin- istration puts on its actions, it will, when push comes to shove, be business as usual. Escalation of the war against Iraq and domestic policies to enrich its supporters and social policies to feed the far right demon.

Will the Democrats fight for the people who elected them in November - us - or will they capitulate and let Bush, Cheney and Rove have it all their own way. They will try to do this behind closed doors. We have to open the Congressional gates and let the fresh air in.

Here's the way the Washington Post describes the situation:


"Democratic leaders set to take control of Congress tomorrow are facing mounting pressure from liberal activists to chart a more confrontational course on Iraq and the issues of human rights and civil liberties, with some even calling for the impeachment of President Bush.

"The carefully calibrated legislative blitz that Democrats have devised for the first 100 hours of power has left some activists worried the passion that swept the party to power in November is already dissipating. A cluster of protesters will greet the new congressional leaders at the Capitol tomorrow. They will not be disgruntled conservatives wary of Democratic control, but liberals demanding a ban on torture, an end to warrantless domestic spying and a restoration of curbed civil liberties."

"The protest will be followed by an evening forum calling for the president's impeachment, led by the Center for Constitutional Rights, antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan and a pro-impeachment group called World Can't Wait."

At the moment the war is at the core of everything. Until that's settled - ended - little else can be done. Bush will throw a few sops to the Democrats to take home to their constituents, but he will fight to preserve his Middle East crusade and all of the anti-human rights policies that he and his cohorts have put in place over the last six years - from the Patriot Act to the endorsement of torture and the destruction of habeas Corpus.

The Democrats will either fight for the American Dream or throw it out with the terrorism bathwater. The Democrats right-wing tendencies will undoubtedly prevail unless we hold their feet to the fire of democracy and freedom.