GOP Congress could pay a price for playing hardball

[reprehensor]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/print.php?sid=14512

"Congress' minority parties have suffered indignities for decades, but few could top the insult that Republicans dealt to Democrats this fall. When House-Senate negotiators began a series of closed-door sessions to craft an ambitious Medicare overhaul, GOP Rep. Bill Thomas summarily announced that he would allow not a single House Democrat -- and only two Senate Democrats -- in.

His edict was a jaw-dropper, given Congress' long history of letting each party appoint its own representatives to these all-important "conference committees." To add injury to insult, the banned lawmakers included the Senate's Democratic leader, Tom Daschle.

Whether it amounted to cool Republican efficiency or an assault on fairness and democracy, politicians and the American public had better get used to it. Thomas and his GOP colleagues brushed aside Daschle's complaints and enacted their bill -- aided by a now-infamous three-hour House roll call -- with less minority party involvement than on any major issue in recent times. Congressional Republicans and the Bush administration now appear poised to press other initiatives with barely a pretense of seeking Democratic input. The strategy could go on for years if Republicans keep their House and Senate majorities in 2004 and Bush wins re-election."

[montanacowboy]

1. As long as the Dem Leadership

continues to put on their pink tutus and wring their hands and mealy mouth - yes, hell yes it will continue- The Dem Party needs new leadership and Daschle should just go home. We have one party rule because we do not have an opposition party - long ago they caved into the RW, ie., voted for the war, voted for No Child Left Behind, voted for the tax cuts, voted for the "Medicare" bill - I have no use for these worthless self centered hypocritical aholes.

[Hoosier Democrat]

2. Amen on Dem "Leadership"

We have no one to blame for being the minority party in Congress except ourselves. The fact is, we have a dire need for LEADERS in the Congressional Democratic Caucus.

Take Gephardt for example. Under his pantywaist leadership, we couldn't even take back the House during the Reign of Newt, who polled slightly below Hitler in most polls. Gephardt made one smart decision as Minority Leader -- to step aside. Of course, putting a Nancy Pelosi in didn't thrill me, either, but she is better than Gephardt.

As for Tom Daschle, YUCK! If I lived in South Dakota, I think I would consider voting for Thune just to get rid of Daschle. I think Daschle is so afraid of Bush he actually pisses himself when he's called to the White House. Time for a real Democrat for Senate Minority Leader. Tom Harkin, anyone?? Maybe Mary Landrieu? How about Diane Feinstein?