2007: Democrats in control, but thwarted

[rodeodance]

Source: ap

2007: Democrats in control, but thwarted

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 22 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - It's a painful irony for Democrats: In the space of a year, the Iraq war that was the source of party's resurgence in Congress became the measure of its impotence.


By the end of the 2007, a Congress controlled by Democrats for the first time since 1994 had an approval rating of only 25 percent, down from 40 percent last spring. Then the debate over the war split the party and cast shadows over other issues, spawning a series of legislative failures and losing confrontations with President Bush.

What to do about Iraq has turned into a dissing match so far-reaching and nasty that Congress's accomplishments are seen, even by some who run it, through the lens of their failure to override Bush and start bringing the troops home.

"There is no question that the war in Iraq has eclipsed much of what we have done," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters. "If you asked me in a phone call, as ardent a Democrat as I am, I would disapprove of Congress as well."

It's not as if the new Democrat-controlled Congress did nothing during 2007.........

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071230/ap_on_go_co/ye_democrats_in_charge;_ylt=AuhXrUtNvUA3rVEbJwNNIEis0NUE

[bemildred]

1. "Impeachment is off the table."

And what did they expect?

[globalvillage]

2. Where is the headline

"Republicans Set Record for Obstruction"?

I haven't seen that one yet.

http://www.roadblockrepublicans.com/2007/12/19/and-who-says-the-republicans-never-accomplish-anything

[Toots]

3. I think because a lot of the time Democrats caved before the Republicans had a chance

to Obstruct. How often did the subject ever get debated in the public? I belive (if the polls are correct) that most of America would love a voice on the matter. I think they would like an opportunity to hear their Representative's words on the matter as well as opposing views and let the conversation happen across America. I think what is happening is Republicans pull Democrats aside and say we will obstruct and tear you a new one unless you drop this and the Democrats drop it. I think it is the threat of obstruction that does the trick and not actual obstruction although one could make the point they are one and the same...at least the same ends are met..

[globalvillage]

6. There were 62 cloture votes so far

in the 110th congress. That's in the first year, and already beats a record for any previous 2 years. There were debates and there were votes, and we didn't get the votes we needed to pass the legislation we wanted to pass.
We need more Democrats. That's the answer.

[humbled_opinion]

10. Politics is give and take you have to know how to play the game

properly to win you cause. The Democrats failed to stop Bush's war because they did not stand with conviction. In other words even now they will not stop it and even when we win the WH in 08 we will not stop it... It is a political hot potatoe...imagine....

Democratic President in 08 does what we want.. i.e., restores the rule of law and the constitution by stopping illegal wiretapping.... Removes the troops from Iraq, changes the mission, downsizes whatever you want to call it.... This will all be met with the Republican maching screaming danger, danger, danger America the Democrats are taking us back to 9/10... blah blah... but then the inevitable..Al Qaida attacks in this country again... The Republicans will have the Democrat impeached in a heartbeat and the Democrats will burn in failure...

That is exactly why a Democratic President will not end the war and will not stop the illegal mess that this WH has done....

[rockybelt]

4. The democrats

cave time and time again. The "leadership" of the House and the Senate are incompetent nincomppops at best and complicit with the current regime that occupies the White House. I would rather believe they are nincompoops but reason tells me that they are as guilty as bush and cheney.

[pleah]

5. What do they expect their ratings to be when they keep rolling over and playing dead!!!!!!!!!

[LibDemAlways]

7. Pelosi is such a disappointment. If she's so

incapable of standing up to the evil incarnate she's up against in Congress and the WH, she ought to seriously consider retiring to her multi-million dollar mansion in SF. The protestors would disappear and she could host garden parties for her wealthy neighbors in peace.

[happygoluckytoyou]

8. GET A DEM PRESIDENT AND LETS CLEAN HOUSE

THIS WILL ONLY WORK AND BE LONG TERM IF THE NEW CONGRESS AND DEM PRESIDENT STAND UP FOR SOME THINGS WHICH WILL HURT THEMSELVES.....

CUT THE PAY RAISES
END THE LOBBYING
ETHICS IS TOP PRIORITY IN GOVERNMENT
OPENNESS OF THE GOVERNMENT

A CITIZEN FIRST, WORKER FIRST, ATTITUDE....


---------AFTER 40 YEARS OF DEMS... IN A VERY FEW YEARS OF GOP RULE WE HAVE LOST CIVIL RIGHTS, DIVIDED THE COUNTRY, KILLED THE ECONOMY, GROWN THE GOVERNMENT, LOST WORLD RESPECT...

--------------------- WE NEED EDWARDS/OBAMA TO CLEAN HOUSE AND RESTORE THE COUNTRY

[humbled_opinion]

11. You said it right there we need a Democrat with nuts

Someone to stand up for something that may hurt them politically but it is the right thing to do...

Imagine this it is exactly what Bush has done with Iraq.. You can say anything you want about him but one thing remains true as life he is steadfast in his conviction and will not bend....

[Joe Bacon]

9. The Bobsey Twins laid down and died

Time and time again Harry and Nancy wimped out. No backbone.

[junebug51]

12. bobsey twins

Perhaps the remaining Democrats are not as whacko as these two and can recognize when two people will bring the country down in the toilet.

[superconnected]

13. Gee, I wonder what the dems did wrong to go so low in the polls?

Oh yeah... EVERYTHING.

I guess I'm in the 75% on this.

[fascisthunter]

14. "thwarted" by Their Own... a Party Infiltrated by Corporatists and Weakling

politicians who are in it for money and power only.