After one year in power in Congress, Dems don't get much done

McClatchy Newspapers ^ | December 19, 2007 | Margaret Talev and Renee Schoof

[NCDragon]

WASHINGTON — Democrats won control of both houses of Congress in a stunning 2006 election victory by vowing to wind down the Iraq war, marginalize President Bush, enact their agenda and revive bipartisanship.

But after a year in power, their "mission accomplished" list is thin.

They're constrained by three factors:

A majority that's too slim to break party-line filibusters in the Senate or override presidential vetoes.

Republican lawmakers' willingness to stick by the White House most of the time.

And divisions among themselves over how far to go in opposing the war or changing how deals get done on Capitol Hill.

"Once the Democrats do something about the war that's effective and not what Bush wants, then they become responsible for the consequences," said Gary Jacobson, a political science professor at the University of California in San Diego. "And since it's still hard to see good consequences coming out of the war, it's very risky for them."

[Plains Drifter]

Ya but they feel good about them selves/s

[sr4402]

Ya but they feel good about them selves/s

Yes, it is essential that liberals feel good about themselves even tough millions are slaughtered in the process.

[valkyry1]

I dont think they got anything done (in their agenda) at all.

[libertylover]

Ya but they feel good about them selves/s

You really think so? They seem like a bunch of self-loathers and America-haters to me.

[mtbopfuyn]

Hmm, I checked but couldn’t find confirmation of this on CNN.

[Plains Drifter]

/s means sarcastic

[fortheDeclaration]

They only care about being in power, not with actually accomplishing anything.

[doodad]

And I heard John Lewis, that washed up race baiter from my state, mouthing off about he won’t approve one penny or dime to fund the war. But guess what, the bill did pass John.

[paudio]

Eh, is McCatchy a leftist company?

[netmilsmom]

Shhhh, we aren’t supposed to talk about this.

We are all in happy land now since they are in power.

[xtinct]

Republicans Rule

Liberal Democrats S.U.C.K.

[N. Theknow]

Democrats won control of both houses of Congress in a stunning 2006 election victory by vowing to wind down the Iraq war, marginalize President Bush, enact their agenda and revive bipartisanship.

Bzzzzzzt!

Wrong.

They won because voters stayed home rather than voting for RINO's. Clinton won twice by people not voting for RINO's.

IF Dems won because of Iraq, then Lieberman would not have retained his Senate seat in ultra-liberal Connecticut. He lost the primary to an anti-Iraq nut case but won the general election as a proponent of the war in Iraq.

[USS Alaska]

I said this on another post but the only downside to the demonRAT control in the senate is the judicial nominee process. The pubbies are more effective on defense and become too much like the demonRATs when in control. As long as we get a strong pubbie President, I can live with a divided congress, they keep the House and the senate stays real close {either way although I’d prefer pubbie control}.

[elpadre]

“They’re constrained by three factors:

A majority that’s too slim to break party-line filibusters in the Senate or override presidential vetoes.

Republican lawmakers’ willingness to stick by the White House most of the time.

And divisions among themselves over how far to go in opposing the war or changing how deals get done on Capitol Hill.”

and #4 - the most important reason is their hatred of the President and their seeking new and innovative ways to bring down the President. This has taken precedent over all and brought down a dysfunctional Congress.

[goldstategop]

The MSM is spinning explaining away Democrat failures. They'd do the exact opposite if the GOP had accumulated the kind of record of partisan divisiveness and non-accomplishments the Democrats have achieved this year - along with record rock bottom approval ratings.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[SunkenCiv]

g’night all. There was a topic sometime in the summer, or perhaps very early in September, very related; one of the MSM shills made these same points, that the Dims hadn’t accomplished anything, and had been pushed around by the President, and in particular had done nothing to pull all the troops out of Iraq. I couldn’t find it. Guess that’s a break for you...

Tastes Great, But Less Filling
(Dem’s first year controlling Congress since 1994 is utter failure)
Captain’s Quarters | Dec. 20, 2007 | Ed Morrissey
Posted on 12/20/2007 10:54:22 AM EST by jdm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942292/posts

Two Marvelous Gifts From the Democrats in Santa’s Workshop
Townhall.com | December 20, 2007 | Ross Mackenzie
Posted on 12/20/2007 12:14:23 PM EST by gpapa
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942347/posts