The Lessons Of 2007

[babylonsister]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/29646

The Lessons Of 2007
Submitted by davidswanson on Sun, 2007-12-30 01:18. Congress

By John Bruhns, www.HuffingtonPost.com


As the year of 2007 comes to an end I find myself reflecting back on what was supposed to be a year of change. After all, we did have all the necessary ingredients. Democrats won a majority in both houses of Congress on a platform of changing the course of President Bush's disastrous Iraq war policy. Donald Rumsfeld, Alberto Gonzales, and Karl Rove all stepped down from their high-level positions in the Bush administration. Promises were continuously made to restore our civil liberties and to implement the needed "checks and balances" that were missing for so long between the executive and legislative branches of government. It appeared as if we finally begun to head down the right path.

That was all just a charade of a very short lifespan.

Congress, who we the people voted into office to bring about positive changes in Washington, have failed us again.

It is not like they were asked to cut off funding for the war. All that was asked of them was not to succumb to veto threats by Bush or filibusters in the Senate. They could have easily obstructed the wishes of George W. Bush just as he obstructs the wishes of the American people. If Bush vetoes legislation Congress has the power to send it right back to him. If the Republicans can filibuster every war funding proposal they disagree with the Democrats surely can too.

Instead, they (the Dems) just back down even with a majority of Congress and over 70% of the American people behind them. And to add insult to injury they think that we are unaware of their legislative activity. Or they feel that they have secured our votes just because they are in a different political party than George W. Bush. They actually return home for recess and brag to their constituents about their successes.

The American people know that there has been no change of course in Iraq. Blank check funding has been appropriated despite bold ultimatums of the contrary by the Democratic leadership.

Congress backed down again to Bush on the illegal domestic wiretapping of our citizens.

snip//

Before November of 2008 Congress needs to show the American people that they have the courage to stand up to President Bush and his allies in Congress -- provided there are any chances left. Because the base of the Democratic party has pretty much lost faith in their party's ability to bring about the necessary, positive, and optimistic changes that our country so desperately desires.

If Democrats in Congress continue to refuse to adapt to modern time, I'm afraid that their base will surely fade away only reemerge as an independent third party perpetuating Republican victory. If that happens most of them can kiss their political futures goodbye.

[zalinda]

1. This is one of the reasons that I think an Edwards

nomination would be a good thing. It certainly would put the dems on notice that we want a REAL change.

zalinda

[babylonsister]

2. We need to get a whole lot more Dems elected in 08 to even have

a chance of turning things around. This could happen with all the rethugs retiring. Fingers crossed.

[Toots]

3. I am not convinced even that is the answer

There are numerous parliamentary procedures that Democrats could have used to stop many things Bush* and Republicans put forth and yet they chose to use none of them..They truly do not appear to be unhappy with how government is being run... More of the same won't help at all.

[babylonsister]

5. Good point, but if we have a clear majority voting, they can't

constantly blame the rethugs for blocking everything. They'd have to find other 'creative' reasoning.
You are right though; I've been pretty consistently disappointed and perplexed at not being represented by the people who claimed to be doing so.

[rodeodance]

4. "Supporting' the troops'==become the law of the land. very powerful.