The return of the Repbulican Congress

[ejbr]

I am confounded, confused, flabberghasted, unsure, puzzled, perplexed, bewildered, mystified and baffled by the so-called Democratic leadership in Congress. As we know all too well, the Democratic leadership in Congress found it fit to betray not only the base that ensured their victory last November, but also the majority of Americans who want timelines for withdrawals. In presenting this bill for vote, they may have had some other desired legislation attached or had negotiated some significant deal with the republicans to ensure their support for a future, significant battle. I do not agree with this type of negotiation when so many innocent lives are being wasted for nothing, but in my fury I had no choice but to give my rabid frustration something to believe in, since they had taken away my belief in representative government. But now another matter has arisen which has proven to me that the Democrats really don't have a game plan to work for issues that REALLY matter to us with some notable exceptions (minimum wage being one).

To once again see the 28% president and the republican congress defy the will of an even greater majority of Americans while the Democrats "control" Congress is sending my frazzled nerves to critical mass. The stem cell vote is once again before Congress, who will once again pass it along to the 28% president who vows to veto it again. His lemming Republican Congress vows to uphold the veto. A significant majority of Americans want stem cell research while three in four Americans support benchmarks that Iraq would have to meet to continue receiving economic and military assistance, but our will be damned. The minority of Americans get their way on both fronts because, apparently, a significant number of our Democrats in Congress are included in the 28% who still support Bush or they are so unskilled at negotiation that now even I am fretting Pelosi's visit to Syria. Could they be so unskilled at holding the other side's balls to the flame that they cannot even use the backing of the MAJORITY of Americans as leverage? However, another reason may be that they did not take the election fraud allegations serious enough so that even if 99% of us disgreed with a 10% president and republican Congress, their standing up and fighting will not translate into future votes, so they choose not to expend their energy.

I am not going to claim that I know how to get legislation passed, brought to the floor and survive cloture. I am also not going to claim that the will of the majority of Americans will always, nor SHOULD always, get their way. However, I think the Dems, the blue dog Dems in particular, are playing a dangerous game of concession with unpopular issues and politicians. Are they certain that the majority of their voting consituents agree with their choice to continue killing in a useless war? As a progressive Democrat, I have been seriously thinking about placing my vote with another party or just staying home on election day. But then realizing that the minimum wage has been raised for the first time in just under 10 years which was "the longest stretch without the federal pay floor rising since the minimum wage was established in 1938", thanks to a Republican control of government, I am reminded that I cannot abandon those individuals who need progressives' assistance for just causes. Therefore, I guess I will agree with the Dems that their base will always be there, more or less, regardless of their bad choices. However, to neglect those independents and republicans who voted for change along with us in November 2006 is what I believe to be tantamount to giving Congress back to the Republicans. With disappointment after disappointment with their inability to take charge of their branch of government, some Dems may stay home or not vote for a congressperson in 2008, while those independents and republicans who thought they were voting for change see that they have NOTHING in common with the Democratic party will go back to republican candidates. Because if the Dems are going to allow the country to keep heading in the wrong direction, then there are some Dems who may find heading to the polls a useless gesture (with election fraud still rampant, it really IS a useless gesture! Or we would be able to override Bush's vetoes)? If the Dems see the "crossover" vote as inconsequential, then why should independents and republicans take the chance of legalized gay marriage, which even THEY placed beneath Iraq timetables and benchmarks? If the Dems are unable, or unwilling, to use their political will to get even a portion of what they want done and if they ignore the will of the voters who placed them in a position to do something about significant issues, then God help us.


Note: I do realize that 3 sets of scientists may have come up with a process without using human embroyos, but human skin. However, until that process is successful in humans, we still have a 28% president hellbent on causing the unnecessary death of people to contend with.

[thethinker]

1. I relate to your frustration

The underlying problem is campaign contributions and lobbyists. Our Democratic congress people, as well as the republicans, have mixed loyalties.

They will never represent the best interests of the American people as long as they have to sell their soul to get re-elected.

Every time there is a bill to fix this situation, the democrats vote against it.

I think the smartest thing the unrepresented grassroots could do is replace some of these Democrats next election with some fresh blood. Because they have a D behind their name, should not give them a free ride if they don't vote according to the wishes of the public.

I don't think anything will change until the public demands campaign finance reform+.

[ejbr]

2. and there you have it. n/t