A New Dawn

Hey folks,

Welcome to 2007. The day has past for Republican Leadership, a new day is dawning with the Democrats getting ready to take over. But what can we expect? There are many theories out there. The AP says,


"Democrats savoring a return from political wilderness are ready to move quickly this week to take the levers of power in a Congress that has been run by Republicans the last 12 years.

On Thursday, Nancy Pelosi will take the gavel as the first woman speaker in the history of the House, and immediately launch a 100 legislative-hour march to quickly put the Democratic stamp on the new Congress.

Before President Bush arrives on Capitol Hill on Jan. 23 for his State of the Union address, House Democrats intend to update ethics rules, raise the minimum wage, implement 9/11 Commission recommendations, cut subsidies to the oil industry, promote stem cell research and make college educations and prescription drugs more affordable.

"Democrats are prepared to govern and ready to lead," said Pelosi, a Californian."

On the first day back, Democrats plan to change House rules on what members can accept from lobbyists. On the second day they'll vote on other rules changes requiring that new spending or tax cuts be paid for and that pet projects tucked into larger bills be publicly disclosed."

STOP!! "House Democrats intend to update ethics rules" OK {Laughing} Well as the USA Today pointed out,

"The January junket to warmer climates — a postholiday tradition of sorts for some members of Congress — could be headed to the wayside.

An accelerated work schedule set up by the new Democratic leadership has put a halt on many January excursions funded by lobbyists. Given that Democrats are taking over the House and Senate in part because of Republican ethics scandals, some lawmakers are fearful of the voters' wrath anyway if they go on the trips.

"I think members are looking more closely at privately funded travel, and I think ... many of them are being careful and avoiding it," said Republican Congressman Charles Dent"

Yes folks, they have to be careful NOT to show you who they really are. They continue this charade of being ready to put into place ethics reform, yet they leader’s first official acts were to nominate the most un-ethical members to positions of leadership and power. They HAVE to be careful to not even give the appearance in un-ethical behavior. That is not going to be easy for some. But Speaker Pelosi has that covered,

"Pelosi, like her GOP colleagues a dozen years ago, is also promising a more benevolent majority, saying the new House rules will state plainly that the minority will get a chance to offer amendments, read legislation before it gets voted on and participate in House-Senate negotiations. She is working with new minority leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, on the idea of setting up an independent panel to investigate ethics issues."

THEY HAVE to do this. Because unlike President Bush, and unlike the Republican Leadership, they live and DIE for polls. They HAVE to be liked by the people. Even if they do nothing, or the wrong thing, as long as their poll numbers are good, they are happy. They THINK they are doing a good job. It is all about staying in power now. As a matter of fact, Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) Told the Washington Post the truth,

"In terms of practical politics, the reality is this: We have to be on good behavior so we have a chance to win the presidency," said Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative House Democrats whose ranks swelled to 44 in the November elections. "We have a chance now of having a new Democratic Party that supports the middle class and has middle-class priorities at heart."


I wonder if they really understand what they are saying when they ACTUALLY tell the truth. I wonder if they understand what the American people are hearing as they talk. Or is it a case that they feel that the American people are stupid and will buy anything. After all, they did vote them in.

The truth is, they truly have no clue as to the reality of taxation and the economy. They say that they will cut interest rates in halve for federal student loans, which would cost as much as $60 billion over five years.

"They want more money for border and port security, first responders and the National Guard. They say health programs for children and veterans need more cash to avoid dropping thousands of people from their rolls. And they want to extend some of the Bush tax cuts that are set to expire in 2010, including an expanded child credit, a reduction in the so-called marriage penalty and the new 10 percent tax bracket.

Plus, Democrats have promised to freeze the alternative minimum tax, a parallel tax structure that will add thousands of dollars to the tax bills of millions of families unless Congress comes up with about $50 billion to halt its expansion for another year.

Democrats say they will cover that cost by ending tax breaks on foreign profits of U.S. businesses, closing corporate tax shelters, cutting subsidies to oil and gas companies and giving the federal government authority to negotiate lower drug prices for Medicare. They would also tap the vast amount of uncollected tax revenue known as the tax gap, which has been projected at $300 billion a year.

But some of those funding sources are highly uncertain. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said negotiating drug prices is unlikely to produce much savings. Past attempts to harness the tax gap have produced little new revenue.

Without more money, Democrats will face "a real struggle for which wins out: the political promises or the fiscal-responsibility promise," said Robert L. Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan group that opposes deficits. "If the public perceives that they're making real choices and cutting back on some things they want to do politically because they're trying to be fiscally responsible, then they can declare victory." But if people perceive that they're honoring fiscal restraint in word but not in deed, then they'll look pretty silly, Bixby said."

ABSOLUTELY correct Mr. Bixby. But then again, they usually look pretty silly all the time anyway. I said back on November 20, 2006, "This is what I mean when I say that the New Moderate Democrats have a tenacious fight on their hands if they want to make a difference. They have to battle and more importantly BEAT, their own leaders, before they can even think about working with the Republicans. I will repeat again, what happens IN the Democratic party during the next two years, will determine the next President of the United States of America." Reuters said yesterday,

"Democrats take control of Congress from President George W. Bush's Republicans next week with lawmakers facing a crucial question: can they halt the partisan sniping long enough to get much done?"

They have to get along with each other first.
Peter

Source;
AP- "Dems eager to put stamp on new Congress’
Washington Post- "Democrats Pledge to Restrain Spending"
Reuters- "Will Democratic-led Congress deliver, or dispute?"
USAToday-"For Congress, January means more work, fewer junkets"