I think some Democrats may be missing the revolution simmering....

....under the surface. If they think they can wait 'til February to give themselves a raise and it will not be noticed, they are wrong. If they think they can give lip-service to lobbying reform and then fill up all the slots with Democratic special interests, they are wrong. People are looking for reform on a large scale. They are tired of the same old game. I am hoping the Democratic Congress understands what is simmering under the surface. There is a revolution going on. Don't miss it Democrats!

Good.

They wish to be safe, comfortable, and led with good leaders who make it a serious business to lead with skill, concern, and wisdom.

Bush has shown us what Losership is....People are tired of that brand...

I EXPECT these dems (who have been given a mandate to clean up DC) to be squeaky clean, and to conduct their business openly and honestly.

We can hold them up to a higher standard than the OUTGOING repugs who've lowered the bar so much, they were thrown out on their asses.

Hope and confidence is fine, but for sure, we'll be watching.

from Dems and Rs alike. This next election I will have no problem voting against a Dem who doesn't take real reform on full bore.

suggest that? Hillary, our annointed leader told us it is.

the time will be ripe for a credible 3rd party if we don't see the dems make the progress and changes expected

http://www.cbc.ca/news/reportsfromabroad/champblog/2006/10/nancy_pelosis_tough_new_rules.html

Here are some of the new rules Pelosi wants:

No House member may accept any gift of any value from lobbyists, or any firm or association that hires lobbyists.

No free travel, which means an end to the corporate jet line every Friday at Reagan National Airport.

No free tickets to Redskins games; or no meals of any value, even at a McDonalds; no front-row seats at entertainment venues. No, no and no.

Temptations resisted
To reduce temptations to cheat, Pelosi's bill attacks the usefulness of members to richly endowed lobbyists.

House members will no longer be able to slip in special-interest projects on unrelated legislation. Such measures will no longer be allowed on a bill once negotiations between the Senate and House are complete.

Further, all bills will be made available to the public a full 24 hours before a final vote; presumably this gives watchdog groups a chance to flag any skullduggery.

Under the Pelosi rules, lobbyists will no longer be able to use the House gym (you'd be surprised how much gets negotiated in a sauna). Lobbyists will no longer be allowed onto the House floor or to use the cloakrooms just off the floor, preventing last-minute arm-twisting.


Check link for more info.

Down with poisonous riders on bills. Bills should ONLY pertain to the subject at hand, not a bunch of unrelated pork.

What would lead us to expect such a dramatic m.o. in Congress' way of doing business?
All those newbies elected last month are backrow do-and-say-nothings. Those with the power to make or change the rules are so set in their ways to make major change practically impossible.
Start the revolution! All the promises made are simply that. There will be tokens, but lobbying will remain a problem; all of Washington is knee-deep in the mess.
They'll eventually give us a graduated minimum wage increase (imo), and then expect us to f**** off with the rest.
They look upon their in-house shenanigans to be none of our business. We might look upon how they handle the William Jefferson scandal as a barometer to see how they're inclined with other matters.
The reform so properly begged (for) is not forthcoming. Just because we have no Abramoff to call our very own doesn't mean we don't have or need other smaller fry of his ilk.
I agree with your premise; I think the Democrats are totally deaf to any "simmering revolution".
just my opinion, as always -

...O...

in my soul. I have been looking for real change in national politics for so many years now, and have been bitterly disappointed over and over again. I actually thought(naively and when less informed) that when Nixon departed we had seen the worst and could look forward to the future. Well, the future has come and look what we have gotten, and with 2 more years to suffer the presence of that moron in office, unless providence intervenes somehow.

I think if we chart a course right between the most optimistic and the most pessimistic postings above, we will do well.

And what I mean by that is: let's minimize the unsupported arguing that merely says either "the Dems aren't doing enough!" or "Yes they are!"

I am on the pessimist side of the equation. I am still shocked and angry at the groveling, willfully negligent behavior the official D.C. Dems during IRAN-CONTRA (and NAFTA and FCC deReg and run up to Iraq and on and on).

BUT my 2 years here at DU have truly changed me. I have left the idea that leadership comes FROM Washington behind forever. I have seen the grassroots truly begin to lead our representatives. It's a life-changing moment for me. Truly.

So let me propose that we enter the Golden Moment that is coming in January with a more thoughtful revolution. I think JNelson6563 sets the right tone just above this post: and that is to keep track of what is actually happening in D.C. as Step 1.

Then let's urge on what is right with all Democratic proposals and slap down what we can that is wrong. Step by step. Constant engagement. Constant supervision.

Remember, this will be 100 times better than throwing our ideas at that freaky cult group that was once the Republican Party! (OK, everyone, just ignore memories of the ineffectiveness of a Tom Daschle. He was the end of a process. In January we begin a new process with US in the equation from Day 1!)

I think we could soon forget who's done enough of what or not.

So let's get busy! Parent your representative in Washington. Set limits. Reward good behavior. Give time outs when needed.

And like JNelson6563, keep score.

for the most part people are simply not paying attention. As long as there are no horrendous scandals on the front page, as long as gas prices don't make any dramatic moves, as long as they have their job, their beer, Monday Night football, and the latest episode of "Survivor" to watch, they really don't care one way or the other what goes on in Washington.

Do you have something with which to back up your assertions? Is there some proof or even a slight indication that Dems are planning to do all these evil things?

I don't think you do have any evidence, and to engage in speculation and innuendo that Dems are going to act like the GOP in Congress when there is abundant evidence to the contrary is so..well.. Republican-like.

Why would any Dems choose to engage in innuendo and misrepresentation about their own party?

:shrug:

I fear it will happen. Have we all been hoodwinked? Is there really only one party - the corporate party? We might find out in the next two years. I think what will happen is demos will do just enough to make us keep believing there are two parties but still mostly disappoint us.

They don't have a clue how things work in DC.

The existing Democratic congresspeople (with a small handful of exceptions) are 100% invested in preserving the status quo.

There will be no significant reform. They'll shove the arrogance of the repukes down their throats by kicking them out of primo offices and using the House and Senate rules somewhat punitively (although far less blatantly than the repukes have for 12 years). But real reform? Real change in how things work?

That will take more than an "election."

I have been around long enough , since 1949 . I have heard the same political promises and issues all these years and not one damn thing has changed . It has been gain a bit and loose alot .

We are fooling ourselves if we ever think any political party will move us ahead . I can't rule out the americans either , oh yes they have their ideas on how things must always remain the same and their predjudice attitudes .

In order for things to change for the better and to finally find a way to become a great country it is up to the people to become human with a conscience and maintain this including education .

I am all for a revolution , it is high time the massess who have been held down for so many years take this country back and make it fair .

Forget about the damn global economy and trade , this is how we got here so damn fast and we saw it but ignored it thinking someone else would watch our backs . Well no one in the entire government has to endure the suffer the population goes through . Why the hell should they care about anything other than their position ?

as in, Dem or Repig, either way its just as bad.

We have read reports in the last few days about how the lobbyists are shoveling money towards the Democrats now that they are in power. We have read about how Steny Hoyer is one of the favs of K Street. Now we hear hinted today, that maybe, they will pass themselves another pay increase sometime in the spring. I say they don't need another damn pay raise. Let the Democrats show they are different. Just because they might raise the minimum wage for the first time in a dozen years does not warrant another pay increase for Congress. I don't want the Democrats to be like the Republicans.

all I've heard about the dems and the pay raise is this story about how they're planning to block it.

http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=176184

they are missing it, fully

you never disappoint.

The very idea that politicians of any stripe are going to get serious about cutting off the funds that get them into office is laughable.

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I've been saying for the last six months or more that more people are getting pissed off every day. If things don't change quickly, the streets are finally going to be full of pissed off Americans who caqn't take it anymore.

I sincerely hope that the Democrats recognize this and make the necessary changes QUICKLY!