What is the point of the lame duck session?

[democrattotheend]

Call me naive, and as a Washington insider I should probably understand this, but why the hell are the Democrats calling a lame duck session of Congress? What's the point of passing legislation that will either get vetoed or having to make compromises with Bush to get it signed when Obama will be able to sign the same legislation in two months?

[Eric J in MN]

1. It's the same crisis mentality used to pass the bailout bill.

Then the argument was that the whole economy would collapse unless Wall Street firms were bailed out immediately.

Now the argument is that the whole economy will collapse unless auto-companies are bailed out immediately.

[Trajan]

2. Isnt the session just a normal congressional session ?

It is lame duck only because it is an election year and the incumbent is on the way out ....

[yodermon]

3. can they just cancel a regularly scheduled session of congress?

i thought the sessions were mandated in the constitution.