Plan B For Pelosi And Reid - E.J. Dionne

[WillyT]

<snip>

Republicans chortle as they block Democratic initiatives -- and accuse the majority of being unable to govern. Rank-and-filers are furious their leaders can't end the Iraq War. President Bush sits back and vetoes at will.

Worse, Democrats are starting to blame each other, with those in the House wondering why their Senate colleagues don't force Republicans to engage in grueling, old-fashioned filibusters. Instead, the GOP kills bills by coming up with just 41 votes. Senators defend themselves by saying that their House colleagues don't understand how the august "upper" chamber works these days.

...

What's the alternative to the internecine Democratic finger-pointing of the sort that made the front page of Thursday's Washington Post? The party's congressional leaders need to do whatever they must to put this year behind them. Then they need to stop whining. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid should put aside any ill feelings and use the Christmas break to come up with a joint program for 2008.

They could start with the best ideas from their presidential candidates in areas such as health care, education, cures for the ailing economy and poverty-reduction. Agree to bring the same bills to a vote in both houses. Try one more time to change the direction of Iraq policy. If Bush and the Republicans block their efforts, bring all these issues into the campaign. Let the voters break the gridlock.

If Democrats don't make the 2008 election about the Do-Nothing Republicans, the GOP has its own ideas about whom to hold responsible for Washington's paralysis. And if House and Senate Democrats waste their time attacking each other, they will deserve any blame they get next fall.

<snip>

Link: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/12/congressional_democrats_need_n.html

Democrats come up with a cohesive unified plan of attack??? Well that would be a change.

:shrug:

[mmonk]

1. Yeah, I agree with you.

All they needed to do since we are in the majority in the House is stay united. With unity, there could be a defense of the constitution mounted or there would be no voting for increased extra constituional power to the executive branch such as increasing their ability to spy on us. The division is what has made the party weak and that can't be blamed on the republicans.

[natrat]

2. please-they are neocons for all intents and purposes-bad bad people