Okay, so just what CAN we expect of this congress?

Remember how excited we were last November, and what great hopes we had? Now seems like a good time to think about how we got from there to here.

Right away, those of us hoping to see the greatest criminal enterprise in our country's history faced with some serious accountability were told that "Impeachment is off the table", that it was more improtant to concentrate on "moving forward", especially with regard to extricating us from Iraq. And now with even Russ Feingold and Al Gore saying they don't see impeachment happening or any reason why it should, I guess the fix is officially in.

So how is the getting us out of Iraq project going? Oh right...

Of course, as soon our Democratic leaders reverted to their customary possum-like posture to end their confrontation with The Decider on funding for the Iraq war, the pragmatists were out in force, telling us with a cheerfulness bordering on glee that, as with impeachment, the votes just weren't there, that Commander Guy would veto anything other than what he wants, and an override of such a veto was impossible. And that was okay because we needed to concentrate on other things anyway.

And I'm wondering now, What other things? The only concrete accomplishment our congress can point to is getting the minimum wage raised from Dickensian Nightmare to merely Cruel Joke, and even there the cost was obscenely and humiliatingly high.

But what about, say, enacting serious environmental legislation? There, too, we're confronted with the reality that any such legislation would be vetoed and, once again, no over-ride is likely.

So how about Eextending health care coverage to all Americans? Or restricting the role of lobbyists and big money? Or ensuring the integrity of our elections? Same deal: Veto, no over-ride, and frankly it's not clear to me that congress has been working super-hard on any of these things anyway.

So, given the reality that possing landmark progressive legislation is evidently not politically feasible for the current congress, what should they do?

What I'd like to see is for them to use their oversight authority to investigate the snot out of everything the Shrub Admisnistration has done and mis-done: From selling the Iraq War to its complicity in war profiteering to its violations of our constitutional rights to its inaction before Sept. 11 and at the time of Katrina to everything else. Shove subpoenas up their asses until they're puking paper, and if they won't co-operate, send US Marshalls to haul them before committees in handcuffs and leg irons. Let's get the truth about these monsters thoroughly documented before everyone forgets.

What I fear we'll see, on the other hand, is more loudly-trumpeted symbolic gestures from which they back down with dizzying speed.

But what do other people here think Congress can and should do with its time?

At the very least, we have the right to expect that... of course, it would be nice if the Dems had the political fortitude to block Bush's nominees in the first place.

Not holding my breath, though.

they're done precisely to get around Congress. He has no way to "block" them.

Reid’s plan to block Bush’s recess appointments.

“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has a little trick up his sleeve that could spell an end to President Bush’s devilish recess appointments of controversial figures like former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton.” U.S. News reports:

We hear that over the long August vacation, when those types of summer hires are made, Reid will call the Senate into session just long enough to force the prez to send his nominees who need confirmation to the chamber. The talk is he will hold a quickie “pro forma” session every 10 days, tapping a local senator to run the hall. Senate workers and Republicans are miffed, but Reid is proving that he’s the new sheriff in town.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/20/reids-plan-to-block-bushs-recess-appointments/

Until the press is made to post and print and tell the country just what bush did, just what bush is doing and how we can stop him, this mess will continue. I keep telling everybody here in the mid west the people don't know what the heck is going on.

When I lived in the Maryland DC area we knew everything that happened,but since the network and cable news censures the news we don't hear anything out here.

How can people understand the extend of bush and his henchmens corruption.

newspaper print anything. They can't make cable do anything either.

I think people really overestimate what the Fairness doctrine could do. But it's meaningless anyway - it's not coming back. I didn't hear Democrats running on that is a campaign issue.

Through the administrative process. Clinton could have done that- but instead, he pandered to the media conglomerates who never gave hime a break.

A Democratic Congress and administration could also regulate cable if they chose to- and apply the same sorts of regulations that apply to broadcasters.

"Tinkling brass signifying nothing."


No spark, just complacent.

learn how to bend over more quickly and quietly.

Doesn't much matter which impotent gesture or toothless fingerwagging investigation they conduct next. Whatever it is, it just confirms the public's perception that Democrats are wimps.

They can of course Impeach Bush and Cheney, redeem themselves and rescuse the nation at any time.

and a minimum wage hike. that's about it.

yes election time where we get promised cake and we get the crumbs. they are only interested in pleasings those who will give them the most money to get reelected...yup it`s a rich mans game...

So we're being told, Just be patient = we're positioning ourselved for the 2008 election. But the day after that election, it'll be time to start positioning for 2010...

.

they don't have the votes...

if they won't impeach bush/cheney - can we, THE PEOPLE, impeach congress?

yeah, I know... we "voice" our views by voting. We voted in November and all we got was lousy excuses not even suitable for a t-shirt

I wonder if public reaction caught them by surprise (I wasn't sure they even paid attention to public opinion any more).

Still, my response is a standard "Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it..."

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-congress4jun04,0,5769671.story?coll=la-home-center