110th Congress is lame.

[Jack Sprat]

It appeared to begin posturing itself from the outset for the 08 election. It was soon apparent that no serious challenge of the Bush/Cheney Iraq occupation was forthcoming. The latest compromise confirms that fact.

Then, the compromise trade bill confirms that no serious challenge is forthcoming to alter the out-sourcing of American jobs.

The one hope of promise for the 110th was the Investigations of this corrupt collusion of Executive and Judicial Branches of government to flagrantly violate the law by illegal wire-tapping of citizens without Court warrants and without approval of the Attorney General; Plus, the flagrant dismissal of US attorneys who refused to participate in voter suppression before a national election. Yet, despite testimony from an ex-Asst Atty Gen, the acting Attorney General is able to appear before Congress and repeat "I don't remember" 100 times and remain right on the job.

No doubt, Bush and Rove are toasting their "punking of the 110th Congress", and laughing themselves to tears that any of us peons thought that we could derail their rights of sovereign regency.

It is little wonder that many people have lost hope. We don't elect representatives. We elect millionaires, who are indebted to lobbyists of all stripes.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Wow. You missed out on some good stuff they did. nt

[Jack Sprat]

8. Yes, they passed minimum wage legislation.

Have they altered the president's occupation of Iraq?

Have you seen any convictions or special prosecutions of impeachable offenses?

[Telly Savalas]

18. Did I miss it?

I know the House and Senate have each passed different minimum wage bills, so it hasn't been sent to the president yet. Did I miss the passing of a reconciliation bill?

[TahitiNut]

22. Nope. No minimum wage increase yet. After all, they got the publicity. Screw the workers.

:shrug: The hogs are at the trough ... and labor is still getting screwed.

[liberaldemocrat7]

32. You're asking the wrong people for progressive legislation.

Go here and ask for the progressive legislation we need.

http://www.dmocrats.org

[Captain Hilts]

19. The powers of Congress are limited on foreign policy. Sad, but true. nt

[ComerPerro]

2. would you prefer a Congress that does that AND tries to push anti-gay marriage amendments?

[Jack Sprat]

12. No

[Greyhound]

23. Ah yes, the "we suck less" argument. Anything to maintain the illusion of choice. n/t

[ComerPerro]

25. You honestly can't see any difference between this Congress and the one of the last few years?

[Greyhound]

34. I never said there was no difference, only that they are largely cosmetic.

Both are wholly owned by, and subservient to, corporate interests inevitably to the detriment of our citizens. I've maintained, and so far been right, that we will not see any real change to the steady decline of our nation and our lives that has gone on for at least 30 years.

Only the pace has slightly changed from cycle to cycle. The minimum wage debacle mentioned earlier is just one example, 5 months in and even this modest, and wholly inadequate, increase can't get through. Why? Because there is no will on either side of the isle.

Immigration and illegal employment reform are two more examples. The ever-increasing military expenditures. The continual degradation of individual rights while corporate rule is ever more firmly expanded. For a nation founded on the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we are doing a miserable job.

[ComerPerro]

36. That's right, I forgot. We elected them to a very slim majority so they could wave their magic wands

and instantly change everything to the America you want, right now, right away.

They were elected to pass everything you like exactly the way you like it, in the first five days. But they didn't. Worthless bums.

I am gonna take my ball and go home.

[Greyhound]

37. Over 60 years we have seen overwhelming majorities, total reverses, split houses,

and every other configuration you can come up with. The point was and remains that they are not interested in making your's or my life any better. We have seen various congresses ignore flagrant criminality, blatant bribery, misuse and abuse of power at every level and nothing is ever done.

You can pretend to be a "realist" and ignore the fact that changes are, in fact, made in every single session of congress when they benefit corporations and the wealthy, it is only the changes that help average Americans that are "impractical" and "unrealistic".

If it weren't for the horrible suffering that will accompany our steady march toward our corporate oligarchy, I would wish it to happen tomorrow just so that the "realists" like you could reap the rewards of your labor that much sooner. As it is, I'll have to keep trying to reverse this insanity in any way I can.

[Usrename]

35. Yes, there is a tiny difference.

This congress will acknowledge the criminal conduct before it endorses it; whereas, the previous congress just denied that the criminal conduct existed.

[Redstone]

3. Not sure about the rest of your post, but I'll agree with this statement that you made:

"We don't elect representatives. We elect millionaires, who are indebted to lobbyists of all stripes."

Although we COULD have elected ONE millionaire who was beholden to NOBODY: Ned Lamont.

Unfortunately, Lieberman had too many Republicans for us to beat him.

Redstone

[bigwillq]

14. Good point, Redstone.

:thumbsup:

[rsmith6621]

4. B I N G O

we have a winner here.....

It is little wonder that many people have lost hope. We don't elect representatives. We elect millionaires, who are indebted to lobbyists of all stripes.


I think the same when we begin to elect a president....jeez all of the candidates are multi millionaires, The presidential race is out of reach for the average Joe....you know the one who would best represent us..

[blogslut]

5. What are you talking about?

We're only 5 months in and we got hearings and investigations out the wazoo!

pshaw

[Jack Sprat]

13. Here is what I'm talking about.

Atty General Gonzales: "I don't remember" "I don't remember" "I don't remember"

"Can I go home now?" "Thank you"


5 months in and 17 months away. It is not too early to grow some hair.

[rucky]

30. That's him, not them.

and a "no confidence" vote is the next step.

[mmonk]

17. Hearings and investigations are what many brought in by this

administration have been through before. They are prima facia evidence that hearings without consequences allows for more political crimes down the road.

[EFerrari]

6. While I agree that we get to chose among millionaires

I'm not giving up on this Congress. Even to save their own hides, they better get busy.

[Deja Q]

7. Well, I'll just vote republican next time.

At least I'll know what to expect.

Actually, I don't know who to vote for and maybe I won't vote at all. One thing is a truism: I vote based on effectiveness and work history; not party lines nor credit scores. :7 Not many Dems are not doing themselves favors right now, if I'm reading peoples' complaints rightly.

I couldn't care less if they tap me; they've probably figured it out right now I'm more worried about my future career and am trying to settle on a replacement career. I'll have finalized my college choice in the next month or two. Probably go for the BA instead of switching to an AAS in a new field. There are pros and cons to either choice.

Besides, the more well-rounded I am, the less likely I'll need to apply for lettuce picking jobs that none of us would get regardless of wage because we're ( and everybody say it with me: ) "overqualified".

[bullimiami]

9. not as lame as the 109th or 8th and at least part of the 7th..

[Deja Q]

10. That is true. Maybe the Dems are waiting for a 2008 victory.

Of course, if we all waited for the right moment, nobody would buy anything, find a house, breed, whatever...

[Jack Sprat]

11. sure, I will agree with that. (shrug)

[Individualist]

15. Their approval rating confirms that fact

[deacon]

16. They are failing- they wanted control and with that came deep

and serious constitutional issues and crimes to deal with. They have to make these tough decisions-it's time to walk the walk.

[havocmom]

20. Teeny tiny slim DEM majority hasn't fixed what the GOP took decades to fuck up yet...

WAAAAAAAAA

For crying out loud, they BARELY have any majority and the shit the GOP has piled up started back in the 60s. It's gonna take some time and a bigger majority, so yeah, they are focusing on 08. SO THEY CAN HAVE A BIGGER MAJORITY and really get some things cleared out.

AND THEY ARE WORKING THEIR BUTTS OFF.

The media is not on our side, yet the masses of people are turning against those the media have been hyping for more than a decade. Yes, the blogs and boards on the net have helped, but damn, the Congress has to move a nation around, and they can't do it in six friggin months.

This isn't Burger King and you can't get it your way in 60 seconds.

[otherlander]

21. No, in a Burger King

people typically aren't getting shot through the head. Or kidnapped. Or poisoned with uranium. At least not around here. I don't know what kind of Burger Kings you go to, though.

But if that was happening in a Burger King, 60 seconds would definitley be too long to wait for it to stop.

[Greyhound]

24. Excuse me but you should look back at just who controlled congress

for the majority of that time.

You want to give the impression that it is all the Republiks fault when the facts show that that just isn't true.

[Faux pas]

26. I'm with you. I believe the hearings are just a smoke screen to have

people believe they are really trying to accomplish something. Continuing to outsource jobs, to me, is the supreme act of traitor-ism.

[KharmaTrain]

27. So I Guess You Miss The 109th Congress???

Yep, 5 months in and the Democrats are either sellouts or lazy or just plain coyote ugly. Yep, they were supposed to be the cure-all end-all in the first 10 minutes. By now booooshie would have been impeached, run out of town and sent to bed without pretzls, Cheney would be shipped back to the planet he came from and Rove would be cleaning Maxine Water's toilets. What? None of that happened? Ya mean all that wet dreaming and nothing's come to light? Damn reality.

I don't know what Congress you're watching, but I've been mostly proud of what I've seen going on...and I'm watching the House daily. There's a lot of little things that go on now that are a drastic change from last year and is setting the stage for better things to come. But obviously you are off the reservation here...the Democrats have failed and we need to just throw up our hands on the same people we help get elected and go looking for a new best friend forever? And what friends would those be??

This regime had a 6 year head start...the GOOP Congress left a 12 year debris field of abuse. So since your pet issue wasn't on the top of the agenda, you've thrown in the towel.

Wanna really lose hope? Just think of an 111th Congress under Repugnican control.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

29. the goops

The Goops

by Gillette Burgess

The Goops they lick their fingers
And the Goops they lick their knives:
They spill their froth on the tablecloth
Oh, they lead disgusting lives!
The Goops they talk while eating,
And loud and fast they chew;
And that is why I'm glad that I
Am not a Goop, are you?

[koopie57]

28. Yikes

I had to double check to see if I was actually at democratic underground. Five months into this new congress that is almost divided half Republicans half Democrats and we choose now to become impatient. Our doors are just being opened for change.

We are only learning now about how corrupt this administration is in spite of the coward media. Hearings televised on tv rather than in a hidey hole in the basement with the lights out. People risking their lives, freedom and family's safety to come out and speak up. Five months ago did we have any idea how corrupt things have gotten?

Who among us would be standing up and demanding change now? I think if we were part of congress, we would be taking things a step at a time too. These democrats are only human.

I too am frustrated, but not because of the democrats. Those who still are in power are ugly, dangerous and without a conscience. Actually they are crazy as hell.

I understand how it is tempting to give up now, but instead of giving up, just once a week write someone in congress or give them a call. Don't give up now. And if for no other reason, we need to keep fighting for those in Iraq and Afghanistan. They don't have the luxury of giving up.

IMHO.

[Larry Ogg]

31. To all those who approve of the job performance of the democratically controlled 110th congress,

the same of which who are critical of those who disapprove, I would just like to say, the ones that are screaming and disapproving the most are the one’s that screamed and disapproved first, and they have been screaming and disapproving for decades. They are the one’s that, (like a canary in a mine) gave the first warnings that something does not smell right. They are the first of dissenters to stand up when something is not right and they will be the last one’s to stand down when things are set straight. What reasoning would cause a miner to agree to keep working in a mine when the mine owner refuses to purchase and send any more canaries into the mine because the air is just to foul and the canaries are just going to continue to die? Is it because the mine owner promised to make the mine safer in the future? Will the mine owner ever fulfill his promise to make the mine safe if the miners continue to work and never complain? I think not!

In the same sense will this Congress fulfill its promises to the American people to set things straight on so many issues if nobody complains? I think not, it will never happen! I’ve heard it said that the gears of Democracy turn slowly, maybe so but might I add that the gears have stopped and are now turning in the wrong direction. We the People and this country is in a deep hole, we are in the mine, the canaries are dying and people are dying, so please don’t disparage me or any others for lack of patients, because if everyone were to just take our elected officials at there word and not worry about it, I guarantee nothing will be done.

[Senator]

33. They Laugh At The Oldest GOP Joke In DC

"Gosh, for a minute there I thought they might actually DO something."

They are impotent in the face of "Rule By Signing Statement." (Which is the "end game" of the current "gumming to death" that Pelosi/Reid are obliviously participating in.)

Only Impeachment ... is DOING something.

The rest is just (masturbatory) rationalization for inaction. (And since they've held the majority power to stop the torture, it's willful refusal to report and act to stop war crimes -- a war crime in itself.)

Yes, even "Cut the Funding II -- The Sequel" (we've watched this movie before) is just another dead-end in the DemocRat's Maze.

Impeachment IS our positive agenda.

It is our ONLY moral, patriotic option.

--

[Greyhound]

38. I feel dirty for even mentioning his name, but concealed by all of the insane babble

this morning on MTP, Newt made a valid point that is particularly relevant to us. Our Democratic congress has not achieved one single thing that was proposed and promised by Speaker Pelosi and the incoming Democratic majority.

Of the 28 bills they have passed, 12 were for the vitally important congressional task of renaming federal buildings.

This fact alone shows the validity of your post.