First Six Months of Democratic Majorities

June 29, 2007 Uncategorized 7

Not long ago, Rep. John Campbell opined in the OC Metro that the current Democratic Congress could boast of few accomplishments (leaving out the part where Republicans obstructed progress of course).

This announcement arrived in my email from the Speaker’s office.  It’s worth a read:

PELOSI, REID DISCUSS SIX MONTHS OF DEMOCRATIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Washington, D.C.— Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and other Democratic leaders today reflected on the Democratic-led Congress’s accomplishments in the six months since assuming the majority and looked forward to continuing its progress in July. — Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and other Democratic leaders today reflected on the Democratic-led Congress’s accomplishments in the six months since assuming the majority and looked forward to continuing its progress in July.

Even with Republicans trying to block our efforts at every turn, this Democratic Congress is delivering on our promises to the American people as we continue to put working families first and make our nation more secure. Both the House and Senate have passed the bipartisan 9/11 Commission recommendations and tough ethics and lobbying reform, while also raising the minimum wage and balancing the budget. Yesterday Republicans once again objected to making our country safer and cleaning up Washington, blocking Democrats’ efforts to move the 9/11 Commission recommendations and ethics reform bills to conference.

“Democrats have made great progress in addressing America’s priorities and tackling problems this Administration and past Republican Congresses have ignored,” Reid said. “We have much to be proud of from the first half of the year, and we have even more to do as we enter the second. In the coming weeks, we will continue to force a change of course in Iraq until the President and Congressional Republicans finally heed the advice of military experts, respect the will of the American people, and join us in bringing the war to a successful and responsible end. Neither our troops nor the American people can afford to wait until September for a new strategy.”

7 Comments

  1. Then what are those rock-bottom, worse-than-the-President opinion poll ratings all about?

    Must be conservative talk radios fault.

  2. Well, if you ask most Americans, they hate Congress except for their representative.

    I’m thrilled with the new Democratic majority and think the Republicans still suck. And yes, I wish John Campbell would get run out on the next election cycle.

  3. Oh please, Matt! I think we all really know why Congress’ approval rating is so damn low right now. Most Americans want out of Iraq, and they’re angry right now that Congress can’t end the occupation of Iraq. And thanks to all the Bush-enabling Reeps sustaining Bush’s veto of the timeline to end the occupation, we got the supplemental spending bill that funds it through September.

    I guess if you really want to boast about Republicans thwarting the will of American voters, then go right ahead…

  4. I see.

    When Republicans control Congress, then low rankings of Congress indicate dissatisfaction with party in control.

    But when Democrats control Congress, then low rankings for Congress don’t indicate dissatisfaction with the party in control.

    Glad to have that straightened out.

  5. That is not what I said.

    I said, most Americans hate the job Congress is doing but LOVE THEIR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE.

    I like the job the Democrats are doing and believe Congressional Republicans are obstructionists. People still don’t like the job Congress is doing, but love their REP.

    At least this Congress, bad ratings and all, isn’t a rubber stamp for the President.

  6. Fox News actually conducted a poll and asked voters if they approved or dissaproved of Democrats in Congress,
    36% approved and 49% disapproved

    They also asked voters if they approved or dissaproved of Republicans in Congress,
    30% approved and 56% disapproved.

    So I guess when you have a branch of government that includes two parties, using one approval rating doesn’t really tell the whole story…The link is below.

    http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/062807_release_web.pdf

  7. There are a lot of things going on with American’s opinions on Congress. I was struck by this quote from a May Townhall survey,

    About four out of 10 Americans favor impeaching the president and vice president. But the biggest news from this survey is not the overall results, but the opinions of independent voters, who usually decide presidential elections.

    Forty-two percent of independents want Bush and Cheney impeached. These aren’t just voters who disapprove of the White House. Instead, they’re for initiating a process that could remove them from office.

    Many Americans who thought they voted to end the war and begin cleaning out the Augean stables of Republican corruption and incompetence are impatient with the progress of Congress. For Americans who wanted to end the war in the Miiddle East, there was tremendous anger with a Congress that allowed Bush instead to escalate the combat and leave even more of our brave young men and women bleeding into the sands of the Middle East.

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