but I don't know if we should see it as a mandate....yet.  We don't want to come off as arrogant like the Bush Administration did since the 2004 election. I'm thinking that the House and Senate takeover were a cry for help from people who realize that this adminstration has gone too far.  Deomcrats need to investigate and expose the corruption and illogical steps (and outright lies) this administration has taken.  Then, they'll get their cues from the American people as to the course they should take....through mail, e-mail and polls.  We won, but to win in 2008, we have to be smart about it.

But we'd also better be ready to make the American people know damned well that we took it.

I think there's enough to expose out there that will sicken even the staunchest of supporters.  We're already seeing a shift in the MSM...damn them for not reporting this before!!!  We need to lead but be need the population behind us as well.

I would blame the Democrats for not smacking the R'publicans around for a few decades.

High road = Reason, intellect, accountability.

Low road = Impeachment, indictments, prosecution.

Looks the same to me!

Thats what I voted for.

and the world, again.

Investigate.  Put forth a positive agenda.  Redeploy.

It's all the same, but it's also how the Dems play it and how it plays in the media.

Is what is needed.  Not schmarmy "can't we all just get along", be friends, and divide the spoils of victory and call it comity.

Dick Gerhardt, resurrected recently to make the talking head tour, said, "Democrats aren't going to be able to accomplish much" as they don't also hold the White House.  Grrr!!!

Bob Kerry, and Dick Gerhardt, who took the campaign funds and ran, are to blame for legislative gridlock from 92-94.  The Clinton White House couldn't get the Democratic congress to pass gas.  The years 1994-2000, the Republican years, were the most legislatively productive of the Clinton presidency.

Playing nice with the conservatives got some good things done, it also got Bill Clinton impeached and threw this country into a 12 year death spiral.  It’s not worth it.

The efforts of thousands of activists across the country made the impossible happen.  It even surprised Karl Rove; well at least it surprised GWB.  Democratic victory also surprised a lot of Democrats.

And yet, do you believe that Pelosi got the message from voters?  Not from what I've seen so far.

I want retribution.  I want to tear down the conservative system that has ruined our country, not just hope that if we show them how "nice" we are that they will promise to not hit us any more!

The only way to disassemble the conservative 4th Reich is through the courts, one crook or one tyrant at a time, until you get to the money.  And when the big money can't make its way to the conservative think tank 527 money launderers to be redistributed, radical conservatism will die the horrible death it deserves.

What will keep us from killing radical conservatism is Democrats thinking they can somehow play patsy with the conservatives, placate the voters, and get some of the big money.

I will blame them.  These congressmen and women have pledged to uphold the public trust in a way that G.W. hasn't--if they deliver I have confidence that most Americans will recognize the efforts during the next electoral go around. 

I was very encouraged by the 100 hours agenda set forth by Pelosi and the House Dems.  I was not as encouraged by the nomination of Murtha as Majority Leader.  Are the Dems serious about ethics reform and getting work done on economic and national security issues?

I'm not entirely sold on Steny Hoyer either, but one way or another the Democrats will need to deliver. 

If they can't achieve items because of executive obstructionism, that's one thing.  If they can't achieve agenda items, or violate pledges to voters that's another thing entirely.

When ever I turm on CNN or MSNBC all I hear is the Democrats are waiting for the Baker report. They are just waiting for a wait and see approach. Now I have to read a defeatist attitude on RK.
Christ sake it has only been a week, no one has been sworn it and every one wants the war to end yesterday and solutions last week.
No one can remove 6 years of waste and corruption over night. And the comment about Murtha. Hell he is the one who got the ball rolling to get rid of Rumsfeld and this corrupt administration, so he deserves a chance to clean some of this mess up. In fact I like his approach of moving our troops to the borders and other countries in the area. In fact it is some of Senator Webb's stratagy.

Impeachment off the table. Do investigations. Scare the shit out of those left behind. get more evidence and get more of them out of office in '08. Take the high road and watch what comes tumbling down.

Dems know what needs doing and Dems are going to get it done.

I'm with you, but don't let the spin set these people free.  Hold them accountable forever and never let the American people forget what a Republican hegemony means.

No one wants impeachment more than me but I won't participate in anything that will tear this country apart at a time when we have a chance to unite it.  Investigate and investigate some more, particularly September 11 which is the basis for everything horrible they have done.  We have to accomplish something so we have a platform to run on or we will be back where we started in 2008.

We had crossover votes.  We will lose them if all we do is revenge.  People told us at the polls they were voting democrat for the first time.  Let's do what is best for everyone, let's expose this regime but let's not divide and lose.  I've never had republicans thanking me before.  Bush ran as the "uniter."  He became the untier.  Let's show them how it is done.

Murtha is great but he hasn't the best ethics.  It may not send the message that we are in power to clean things up.  I sure hope we are.

http://www.st911.org

talking about a Bush simplifier "Swift Boating" Murtha's ethics.

If you are boy are you naive to believe such gargabe when the fight gets interesting for control.

If this is what you believe, try waking up and smelling the political roses. Most of the time they stink.

He voted against the strong Democratic package to bring lobbying reforms. 

Here and here. Are they really waiting for that? That's a shame!

WASHINGTON — A commission formed to assess the Iraq war and recommend a new course has ruled out the prospect of victory for America, according to draft policy options shared with The New York Sun by commission officials.

Currently, the 10-member commission — headed by a secretary of state for President George H.W. Bush, James Baker — is considering two option papers, "Stability First" and "Redeploy and Contain," both of which rule out any prospect of making Iraq a stable democracy in the near term.

I witnessed a freak two car accident in which one driver was thrown from his vehicle and ended up severely injured but miraculously lying in the street between the two crumpled cars.  The driver of the second car immediately ran over to help.  A passenger with the injured driver wasn't injured either.  He too jumped out and ran over, but not to help his friend.  His only goal was to kick the uninjured driver's ass, and he chased him for several blocks, leaving his injured friend in the middle of the street without even checking to see how badly he was injured. 

It's not perfect, but this is the best analogy that comes to my mind.
 

. . . if an impeachment move comes from the right, not the left. 

With all the grumbling and mumbling and finger-pointing going on within the Republican ranks currently - including very negative remarks from Newt Gingrich and his ilk - they need someone to blame for their losses, a "'scape goat", if you will.  Therefore, a very unpopular, now-more-vulnerable-than-ever, lame-duck President may be just the ticket out of this hole for them. 

They may view the removal of this "tumor" as a way to cure their "cancer" and prove that they are ready to resume leadership roles once they are "all better", and just in time for the 2008 elections of all House seats, again, and 1/3 of the Senate, again, as well as whomever they run for President.

Also, I'm not yet convinced that the Democrats won't seek impeachment, perhaps as part of a bi-partisan effort.

Now I have to ask myself . . .

WWJWD?

Steve

Let us now get bogged down with an impeachment attempt.  We have SO much to do and need to move on.  While many would like to see a blood letting at the White House, the Dems. have an opportunity to get a handle on Iraq, immigration, health care, Rx drug prices, education, etc., etc., ad finitum.  This is what we were promised. In their campaigns, the Dem. candidates promised CHANGE on the Hill--show us you can do it.  The GOP failed miserably but this "I" voter is optimistic that the Dems. can succeed.

I am fond of some adages because they have distilled wisdom into a few words.  Try "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."  But the one I offer up on this topic is "The best revenge is living well" and in this case, our best revenge would be to use our majority to get Congress off its unresponsive ass and actually fix some of the problems afflicting us.  Yes, we need to get our troops out of Iraq but that's a complex and difficult endeavour.  It's a given that we're going to leave Iraq much worse than we found it but we have to try to craft the least damaging strategy out of all the really, really bad choices.  That's going to take time and the Baker report won't wave a magic wand to waft us away.  There are things we can do right away though, like raise the minimum wage and offer legislation enabling Jim's idea of a tax break to serving and honorably discharged members of the military which is both thanks and incentive to our brave troops. Those two (relatively) simple pieces of the agenda would be a good start and if the American people see the Democratic controlled Congress actually begin to function again, then our true and satisfying revenge on the Republican inspired disaster that we have been visited with the last 6 years will have started.  I would love to see Bush and his wrecking crew really get what they deserve for the damage they have done to our Consitution and our standing in the world but history is going to mete out judgment in the long run.  He's going to go down as the WORST president in American history and justly so.  We've got a big job ahead of us so let's get started on it instead of wasting time and energy on revenge.  That's short term gratification and we have many long term problems that will take all our efforts.  Let's start to live well. 

I wonder if he's changed?  I met him once...funny I don't remember any stench on my hands after we shook?!

This comment is right on target:
"We've got a big job ahead of us so let's get started on it instead of wasting time and energy on revenge.  That's short term gratification and we have many long term problems that will take all our efforts.  Let's start to live well."

Pettiness should not be mistaken for strength, nor should lack of it be mistaken for weakness.

Let's not ape Homo republicanus.  We can and should think smarter and wiser, and, for a change, provide leadership that restores the US's respected place in the world and that brings justice to the poor and the middle class.