Grade the Democratic majorities in Congress so far

[mvd]

I think that there are some legitimate gripes along with some gripes that just expect Pelosi and Reid to work magic. I do think that the FISA vote came too quickly, and we should have pressed more ealier on about the war. But I'm giving them an incomplete for now. The session starting in September is very important.

[Deja Q]

1. Pelosi is passable, Reid is rotten refuse

[Buck Rabbit]

18. Reid is a majority leader who commands a minority voting position.

Though Reid is the "Majority" leader, with Tim Johnson incapacitated he has 49 votes versus 50 (49 Republicans and Lieberman).

On those votes he has gotten the Nelson's and Landrieu to vote with the party and pulled in the 2 or 3 remaining moderate Repubs he has performed a minor miracle.

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. it's impossible to give them a grade

the majority is too small to do anything substantive, and even if they did, Bush would veto it anyway.

The point of winning back the congress in 2006 wasn't a push legistlation and enact things we wanted, it was to stop republicans from doing the same thing they've been doing for the past 6 years.

2006 was a cork in the drain.

If we increase our majorities in 2008 and win the White House, then we can really grade them on their performance.

[atreides1]

7. But it hasn't stopped them, they've only changed tactics

Now instead of rubber stamping everything that comes from Bush, the Repukes are obstructing anything that they don't like, while still following the orders of the White House.

The passage of the Protect America Act, is an example of the White House getting what it wants, and what they don't like will just get a signing statement that will be adhered to by Bush's political appointees within the government.

At this point they can be graded, and it should be an incomplete.

[mvd]

11. It's been well into a year, so I see this as a mid-term report card

We can grade based on the conditions, I think. But when we get a Democratic President, I will have higher expectations.

[TwilightZone]

10. Excellent post.

People tend to forget that anything passed by Congress under Bush must make it past Bush to become law.

2006 was the beginning. The real work starts after the '08 elections. If we can carry the '06 momentum and gain solid majorities in the House and Senate, plus win the White House, that's when the agenda will truly have a chance to flourish.

[Buck Rabbit]

12. Holy Crap, a rodent with a firm grasp of reality.

High paw cousin vermin.

[MrCoffee]

13. The Fear of the veto will NOT win the WH in 2008

[endarkenment]

14. They could have blocked the War Party agenda.

Instead they performed a puppet show to amuse the antiwar base and proceeded to pass the entire bowl of turds. Sorry you were fooled, I wasn't.

[SteppingRazor]

3. I give them a D thus far -- passing, but barely n/t

[endarkenment]

4. A solid and well deserved F. nt.

[JTFrog]

5. Pelosi didn't have to schedule

the FISA vote. She CHOSE to. This never should have even happened. Big Fat F.

[gaiilonfong]

6. Time to get RID of Harry (NO FIGHTER RETHUG LITE) Reid

Between his arze likkin of LIEberman and his lack of leadership qualities...he needs to go NOW!

[dkofos]

8. The same with "Piss Poor Pelosi". She has proven her leadership skills.

0.0 to 10th

[mvd]

9. That is definitely one of my big gripes

With 25% approval, Bush shouldn't have been able to rush them into an important vote like that. Six months later, it could be hard to get it reversed.

[jacksonian]

15. because taking on this evil empire

and broadening support of the population is a nearly impossible thing to do in this age of super imperial presidencies.

That they have done anything is amazing. I don't think people fully appreciate the vast amount of political power the Bush presidency has, both through legal control of the justice system and the propaganda arm of the media. Despite popular will, they can destroy almost anything. Against this, there is a ragtag collaliton of lefts and moderates.

A-. So far, given what I expected going in, they've done well - I expected a lot more pain than security votes, and we can expect more shit like that. It is tough to set agendas when you don't really control anything. However, getting rid of, or neutering, the Attorney General is a good first step.

[MrCoffee]

17. i'm sorry, what?

what political power does the chimperator have with his 28% approval rating? in what way does the PAA "neuter" Alberto?

and the big one...how do you claim that the Democrats in congress "don't really control anything"?

[jacksonian]

19. 28% is not really that important

which I agree is a sorry state of affairs.

Bush controls the judiciary. All laws are subject to his interpretation. Bush or Bush-by-proxy controls the media ina BIG way. Any public debate can be recast to put a spin in Repug favor, and to split off opposition.

The American public still believes its newscasters to be Walter Cronkike.

The tricky thing about fighting Bush is that Bush has no one's interests at heart, and the ability to lie continually and avoid any sort of responsibility for his actions. The whole Bush presidency has been about seizing power from Congress - and the little power Congress has (removing funding, investigations) is exactly what he is trying his damnest to destroy as we speak.

All Congress has to do is push the wrong challenge into the wrong court at the wrong time and the whole house of cards could fall.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

16. Reid has been ineffective except for handing victories to the idiot.