KR: Democratic discipline delaying top Bush administration priorities

[Rose Siding]

Knight Ridder reports:

WASHINGTON - With time running out for Congress this year, Democrats are displaying rare unity and influencing the legislative agenda in ways that were unimaginable during President Bush's first term.

Their cohesion, together with rebellion from some moderate and maverick Republicans, was evident Wednesday as lawmakers continued to frustrate Bush's agenda on anti-terrorism legislation, foreign-detainee policies and oil drilling in Alaska's wildlife refuge.
....
One bright note for Republicans was House passage Wednesday of the Patriot Act, extending the four-year-old anti-terrorism law that expanded certain law enforcement powers. But despite a 251-174 victory in the House, the bill quickly ran into a buzz saw in the Senate, where a coalition of Democrats and Republicans who are worried about an erosion of civil liberties was preparing to block its passage.
....
"It's the first time I can recall in years that they've been so united," Rep. Michael Castle, R-Del., a leader of moderate House Republicans, said of the Democrats.

He credited their unity with giving leverage to moderate Republicans, who often were ignored throughout Bush's first term, when Republican leaders and the White House could count on conservative and moderate Democrats to cross party lines.

[WI_DEM]

1. Good

possibly becuz we have better leaders in Pelosi and Reid compared with Gephardt and Daschle.