# 110th Congress convenes Thursday -- what will the Dems do now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 3, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495 "2007-01-03T01:56:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/1 "2007-01-03T01:56:40Z")
The [110th Congress](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/110th_United_States_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? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/2 "2007-01-03T02:01:41Z")
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! 😛 -XT ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/3 "2007-01-03T02:02:43Z")
Er…fight FOR and defend the American way (or however that old Superman line went). -XT ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/4 "2007-01-03T07:30:57Z")
It’s no big secret. They’ve been talking about what they’d do in the first 100 hours since before the election. [Here](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/05/AR2006120501262.html) is one link. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/5 "2007-01-03T07:38:53Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/6 "2007-01-03T07:44:39Z")
[QUOTE=magellan01] 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. [/QUOTE] I _seriously_ doubt they will be as partisan as the Republicans. If nothing else, they don’t have the fanaticism for it. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/7 "2007-01-03T10:48:09Z")
Judging by their performance since the election, my guess is “shoot themselves in the foot”. [John Conyers](http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070102/UPDATE/701020396) is giving them a good head start out of the gate. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/8 "2007-01-03T14:48:33Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/9 "2007-01-03T15:01:43Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/10 "2007-01-03T15:46:17Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] I _seriously_ doubt they will be as partisan as the Republicans. If nothing else, they don’t have the fanaticism for it. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/11 "2007-01-03T15:55:03Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/12 "2007-01-03T16:05:32Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/13 "2007-01-03T16:06:57Z")
Dern it, make that “a long series of errors.” ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/14 "2007-01-03T16:12:05Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/15 "2007-01-03T20:21:26Z")
[QUOTE=xtisme] 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! [/quote] Well, _someone_ has to – Primus knows the Republicans didn’t… > [@magellan01](#): > > Prove themselves to be every bit as partisan and hypocrital as they accused the Reps of being. 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](http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/010307/demrules.html) > [@](#): > > Democrats will adopt and then amend the House Rules package tomorrow to ban all travel paid for by lobbyists or organizations that employ lobbyists, require the ethics committee to pre-approve travel paid for by outside groups, enact a total gift ban, and require lawmakers to pay the market cost of flying on a corporate jet, said Democratic staffers and officials with government watchdog groups. > > And, because they feel they lost the 2003 Medicare prescription drug benefit vote because GOP leaders held it open for three hours, during which they flipped opponents into the “yes” column, Democrats will include a provision in the rules to prevent any sort of repetition, said aides to incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). > > Democrats also will eliminate the practices of changing conference reports after members have signed them and excluding elected members from conference committees. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/16 "2007-01-03T20:37:52Z")
[QUOTE=rjung] Ah, the “I’m corrupt, so you must be too!” theory. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Think of how embarrassing it would be if it’s not true. Although the screwups with Murtha and Hastings have dampened my expectations. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/17 "2007-01-03T20:54:44Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] But they’re backtracking from their promises of bi-partisanship, which isn’t encouraging. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Renob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8c91f0/32.png) [@Renob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renob)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/18 "2007-01-03T21:54:56Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/19 "2007-01-03T22:03:59Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] You can’t be “bipartisan” with the Republicans [/QUOTE] Then why did they promise to do that? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495/20 "2007-01-03T23:29:50Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Then why did they promise to do that? [/QUOTE] Because it sounds good during a campaign, and that’s what the voters want to hear? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110th-congress-convenes-thursday-what-will-the-dems-do-now/386495.md?page=2)