Congress Faces Historic Challenges

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/Reuters: Congress Faces Historic Challenges
By REUTERS
Published: January 3, 2009

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats will pack greater clout when the new Congress convenes on Tuesday but they face enormous expectations from voters as they grapple with two wars, a financial crisis and record budget deficits.

Lawmakers begin work 14 days before Barack Obama is sworn in as president. When he takes the oath on January 20, Democrats will control the White House and Congress for the first time in 14 years. Having rolled to victory in the November election with a promise of change after eight turbulent years under Republican President George W. Bush, Democrats need to produce results. Their top priority will be approval of a mix of middle-class tax cuts and emergency spending they hope will prime an economy that has been shrinking for more than a year. This package could end up costing around $775 billion.

The Democratic-led Senate plans to move quickly to confirm Obama's Cabinet nominees, who include Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York as secretary of state and New York Federal Reserve chief Timothy Geithner as secretary of the treasury. Other Democratic promises include: withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and redeploying many of them in Afghanistan; expanding health care; bolstering regulation of the financial industry and developing alternative energy sources while curbing pollution that contributes to global warming.

"The 111th Congress will hit the ground running in January with an ambitious schedule," House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote in an open letter to Democratic colleagues.

"Congress will respond in time. But Obama needs to lower expectations," said Paul Light of New York University's Center for the Study of Congress. "There is a historic gap between promises made and promises fulfilled. Converting promises into reality is a difficult process," Light said, noting major legislation must wind through a maze of committees....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/01/03/news/news-us-usa-congress.html

[Zenlitened]

1. Democrats need to be bold, even a little brash...

... right out of the gate. Save the "reaching out to our opponents" for later, beyond a little token lip-service to "bipartisanship" when needed and to the extent it's useful.

The public wants action, and they want it now. If Democrats can create immediate momentum, with the public cheering for a touchdown, the Repukes won't be able to get away with their usual obstructionist politicking.

And later, if the Dems can translate momentum into tangible successes that benefit tens of millions of Americans... then obstructionism becomes a less effective tactic for the Repukes, doesn't it? They might even be a bit more inclined to "reach out" toward us for a change.

That, or risk becoming irrelevant. Either is fine with me.

[StreetKnowledge]

2. Force the Boundaries

The people are demanding action, and they need to get it done. Don't bother with this "bipartisan" crap because the moderate Republicans will probably vote with you anyways, and the harder-right ones will just make life difficult.

Task one should be getting HR 676 passed. No ifs, ands or buts. That one will help every industry in America except the insurance ambulance-chasers, and will result in EVERY American citizen having health coverage. That alone will make life better for a great many of us.