The 110th Congress opens Thursday 1/4/06, with a Dem majority in both houses for the first time since 1994.
So – what will they do with it?
Do good deeds, right wrongs, leap tall buildings in a single bound and generally be nice to kittens and puppies, impeach Bush and fight and defend the American way!
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Er…fight FOR and defend the American way (or however that old Superman line went).
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It’s no big secret. They’ve been talking about what they’d do in the first 100 hours since before the election.
Here is one link.
Prove themselves to be every bit as partisan and hypocrital as they accused the Reps of being. The “first 100 hours” in The House will be a testament to that.
I seriously doubt they will be as partisan as the Republicans. If nothing else, they don’t have the fanaticism for it.
Judging by their performance since the election, my guess is “shoot themselves in the foot”.
John Conyers is giving them a good head start out of the gate.
Having been a liberal Dem for many a year, I suspect they will do a great deal of pontificating, yet accomplish precious little. I WISH they could be as effectively partisan as the Repubs, but time and time again they have proven that they didn’t have it in them, for whatever reason. So we’re gonna see a bunch of grandstanding, but little effective cooperation to accomplish anything significant. More business as usual.
Funniest thing I saw recently was Bush’s plea that the Dems “work with him.” Man, didn’t we hear that 6 years ago?
What I want them to accomplish is their Constitutional function of oversight of the Executive branch. “Mr. President, you’ve had a free reign and a blank check for 6 years and you’ve gotten us in a helluva mess from Baghdad to New Orleans. For the next 2 years we’re going to be peering over your shoulder and asking for receipts for every paper clip you want to buy.”
But they’re backtracking from their promises of bi-partisanship, which isn’t encouraging.
I do expect them to pass a minimum wage increase, and force some moderation in court appointments if necessary. I don’t expect them to do much about Iraq, other than perhaps advocate a pullout if that becomes really popular, because Iraq is unsolvable and there’s really nothing they can do, other than rip Bush. Perhaps they’d tighten the Congressional purse if he totally refuses to listen, but I doubt it.
I don’t really care what the Dems do or don’t do. They can play records for two years and I won’t care. As long as they’re impeding the neocons they’re succeeding.
The emotional side of me wants them to go after Bush and his cronies in anyway they can. The less emotional side of me wants them to exhibit real concern about our country and its constitution; I hope both sides can work together to correct a long of errors made in the recent past. I don’t expect either thing to actually happen.
Dern it, make that “a long series of errors.”
I read an AP newspaper article about what ideas Nancy Pelosi says the democrats plan to propose. I liked all of them. Stem cell research. Raising the minimum wage. Making college more affordable. Strengthening ethics rules. Greater access for the minority to the legislative process such as being able to actually read bills before voting on them. All in all a very smart, concise and moderate plan designed to appeal to the people that put them in office. I hope they stick to the ideas and I hope they succeed.
We’ll see if they can keep their crazy aunts and uncles in the basement long enough to build some credibility with moderate voters.
Well, someone has to – Primus knows the Republicans didn’t…
Ah, the “I’m corrupt, so you must be too!” theory. :rolleyes:
To throw a few more facts into this discussion: Democrats Finalize New Ethics Rules
Think of how embarrassing it would be if it’s not true. Although the screwups with Murtha and Hastings have dampened my expectations.
You can’t be “bipartisan” with the Republicans; bipartisanship requires both sides to cooperate, and the only relationship the Republicans seem able to handle is absolute compliance with themselves.
Whatever. The GOP compromised quite a bit on legislation (the No Child Left Behind Act, the Patriot Act, and the Deficit Reduction Act are three bills that pop instantly to mind) during their tenure. Legislators compromise when they don’t have enough votes to get their way, regardless of party.
Your attitude that any Republican is genetically evil may make you feel good about your political views, but it bears little resemblance to reality.
Then why did they promise to do that?
Because it sounds good during a campaign, and that’s what the voters want to hear?