What's WRONG with the current Democratic Congressional leadership? - Volume 3 Issue 88

Most of you know that I am a lifelong committed Democrat. One can debate whether my occasional free market economic conservatism disqualifies me to judge the current I have never voted for a Republican and the odds are that I never will. I am a proud “yellow dog” Democrat. I believe the Democratic Party, founded by Thomas Jefferson and later made great by Jackson, Wilson, Roosevelt, Truman and Johnson is the heart and soul of American democracy. Having said that, over the last several months it has become clear that neither House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, nor Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid, have the courage, vision or political acumen to truly lead the Democratic majority in the best traditions of our party. It is almost as if they are both reading a script written by the DLC (Democratic Leadership Council) that says, “play it safe and appeal to the center, don’t challenge Bush on the Iraq war and don’t do anything to offend the so-called moderate center.” One wonders: is this careful strategy being controlled by the Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign; the main idea being to not offend “values voters” (even though there is NO CHANCE of Hillary getting those votes) and simultaneously trying to hit the right notes about “supporting the troops.” Whatever the case, the Democratic majority in Congress has been singularly ineffective in ending the carnage in Iraq.

In the meantime, young Americans and Iraqis of all ages continue to die and suffer. The Kurdish forces have boldly attacked our Turkish “ally,” the Bush administration keeps refusing to have direct talks with Iran and Russia has attempted to fill the leadership gap. In the face of continuing malfeasance by the executive branch, the Democrat controlled legislative branch simply bends over says, “Thank you, may I have another!” Only Henry Waxman in the House has pursued the pervasive wrong doing of the Bush administration. Even Judiciary Chairman, John Conyers, has compromised on investigating the more egregious aspects of both the continuing violations of the FISA statute (warrant less wiretaps) and the amazing abuses and law breaking in the Justice Department under Alberto Gonzales. Perhaps these folks know what they are doing. On the other hand, perhaps my faith in the courage and character of the Congressional leadership is misplaced. In any event, I can’t wait for 2008!

Doggedly, I remain

Savant

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