Hell, why do we bother getting these people into office?
Posted by dj moonbat at November 30, 2006 09:48 AMIt is naive for us common folks to assume that Democrats in Congress will turn around 180 degrees and do the things the voters want. Afterall they are seasoned politicians and they will not rock the boat. Our only hope is the newly elected members but they are in such a minority (in numbers) that they may not be able to assert any pressure.
Posted by suresh at November 30, 2006 09:50 AMI think Dems should "go long". Push hard for the popular "100 Hours" agenda and burnish their/our "did what we said we would" cred.
People EXPECT Dems to wuss out and accept half-measures. If we didn't, THAT would gain some attention (and respect?)!
Posted by bartcopfan at November 30, 2006 09:52 AMWhen all the wild talk about "IMPEACHMENT" started up as it became clearer that the Dems might retake one, or God forbid, both houses of Congress I thought to myself 'these people are crazy. Forget impeachment, the Dems will be lucky to be able to shoehorn through even half of their legislative agenda.' I still feel the same way. Thinking that DC is gonna change overnight is a pipe dream. Pelosi and Reid need to be held over the coals as much as possible to prod them to achieve as much as they can but if anything is gonna happen over the next two years it's gonna be a result of compromise. It's the nature of the beast.
Posted by snark at November 30, 2006 09:53 AM"...Thinking that DC is gonna change overnight is a pipe dream...."
Agreed. But I think the time may be right. And we (lefty pols, activists, bloggers) have to make sure we implicate the DC media establishment as complicit in the BS the 'Murkan Public is waking up to.
After the 100 Hours Agenda--hearings, hearings, HEARINGS!! If Dems can expose the crap AND that our supposed watchdogs were actually enablers, we have a decent chance of extending political gains and implementing progressive policies.
If we lay down, as dj indicated, what's the point?
Posted by bartcopfan at November 30, 2006 09:59 AMwe might want to at least swear them in before declaring them a failure. I think, when compared to a real failure (Bush, GOP Congress) we'll see more than a little improvement, but it will be Democrats, and Democrats are not going to be robotic actuaries of a supreme being (rove) like the GOPers were.
Posted by T2 at November 30, 2006 10:12 AMDon't let the corporate media tell you how to think. The republicans have controlled the government since the "omission commission" completed their "whitewash". What has the corporate media said about republicans ignoring recommendations from the "omission commission"? Nothing!
The Democrats are still the minority and the corporate media lackeys have already begun the attacks – especially the fox republican propaganda network.
Wise up people!!!
Oh, There's a shock. A major political party does not fulfill its campain promise. And we are surprised by this HOW?
The only full-fledged way to change this country for the better, and get control back where it belongs, is for people to finally say that is it, NO MORE, and begin voting 3rd party.
Posted by savage4president at November 30, 2006 11:47 AMMore laughter from the other side of the isle. All that bravado of the campaign just another breath of the stench of seasoned politicians. The only change is, "they're ours" and that makes it right. How refreshing. The first "100 hours" pledge just more bluster, hot air. We thought so. Those blow hards Rush's and Hannity's said as much. Yet you wanted them. You get what you vote for folks. You didn't vote for change, you voted against Bush. Rep. Ellen Tauscher should be the person growing in stature now. She heads the 'blue dogs' group of Democrats that now number some 40 strong after the 2006 vote. She will work to accomplish more for the country than your Democratic leadership. We can work more with her membership to accomplish things we didn't deal with the last few years.
Ms Pelosi lets her personal feelings influence her decision making process to the extreme. Jane Harmon seems to have worked for more America than just the Party. Just another example of retribution. Nothing there for the best interest of America, just what she wants. Y'all talk about authoritarian rule. What a kettle she is.
Posted by peter at November 30, 2006 12:02 PMTo use so many words to say so little is truly sad.
Posted by snark at November 30, 2006 12:15 PMThe first of many flip flops by the Democrats.
Why are you surprised? They said whatever it took to get elected. That's all.
Posted by muckdog at November 30, 2006 01:04 PMWe'll see where we are in 3-4 months. The greatest Do-Nothing Congress in history is NOT going to be a hard act to follow, you Repub-losers.
peter the inside baseball gasbag hasn't been right about anything since I started visting this site years ago---it's not likely that will start changing now.
Posted by euzoius at November 30, 2006 02:24 PMGlad to see the GOP is still pressing forward with the most important of the people's business
Gawd!
Don't let the door hit you...
Posted by snark at November 30, 2006 02:31 PMDid anyone bother to read the Commission's suggestion?
the commission urged Congress to grant the House and Senate intelligence committees the power not only to oversee the nation's intelligence agencies but also to fund them and shape intelligence policy.
Does anyone here rationally think that any Congressperson concerned with the vast power and control this recommendation would entail should jump headfirst into this recommendation without taking lots of time to investigate and examine the implications? My God! The power and control this recommedation gives Congress over intelligence is awesome, possibly affecting each of us here. What do you expect them to do? Rubberstamp the fucking thing?
Taking time on this is rational. It is the proper thing to do. At least it appears the topic will get more discussion than the Military Commissions Act. Be thankful for that.
Posted by phidipides at November 30, 2006 07:55 PMI'm with phidipides all the way. I never liked the blind approve all the recommendations of Tom Kean and Lee Hamilton in the first place. A couple of dialed in DC hacks making profound changes to how the government operates? Without thinking about it? That's too much like the Patriot Act for me, only this time it would be naivete rather than mendacity driving the rush to implementation.
And like T2 says, we might want to wait for them to be sworn in before we start the chicken little routine.
Not to say that we all shouldn't be reminding our critters what our expectations are for their job performance starting in January.
Posted by Duckman GR at November 30, 2006 09:51 PM