What approach should Democrats take toward these over-whelming problems?

On the Iraq War, on the huge deficits, on the criminality of this Administration, on the corruption, etc? Should they look for "bi-partisan" help from the Republicans? Or is this a job that the majority will have to tackle on their own?

After all, the Republicans will not want to admit they were wrong on the war or that they were wrong in cutting taxes too much or that they supported a criminal Administration. They will not admit they were more corrupt than probably any Administration in our memory. So, it seems that the Democrats do not have a choice but to go it alone and try to clean up the mess.

They should tackle the problems very aggressively. Give the Administration 60 days to get our troops out of Iraq or the funds will be cut off and they will be brought home. They have had too much time already but this would be a rational and appropriate compromise. We have spent too much money and lost too many lives on this blunder already.

On the law-breaking, the Democrats need to call every member of this Administration to testify before an investigative body. If necessary, they should not hesitate to subpoena any witnesses. There should be no hesitancy to prosecute any criminal wrongdoings. Impeachment should be back on the table.

On the huge debt, the taxcuts and giveaways of our Treasury to the wealthy should be immediately rolled back. No compromise. We have to get our fiscal house in order. We should close all the off-shore loopholes. If the Republicans balk, the Democrats should take their case straight to the people and explain in cold black and white terms the damage they have done and the mess they have made that must be cleaned up.

Also, the people's faith in their government must be restored. Lobbying reform is a necessity. Public financing of campaigns should be brought forth as soon as possible. No more lobbyists in the steam rooms or gymnasiums. All contacts with lobbyists of any kind must be public information. We need to be very aggressive on all these issues, even if we have to go it alone...which we probably will?

The investigations and hearings should be such that the Republicans have a chance to show us (and the US) whether they are patriots or partisan hacks. Then we go from there.

The investigations will get the truth before the people. The people will insist on some action (maybe even impeachment!)

The time to act is as soon as the new congress gets sworn in.

Alas, I'm afraid it will be "politics as usual" while people die.

Desperate times call for more than that, in my opinion...

The first duty of every politician is to get power and then retain it. There have been exceptions - William Fulbright and Wayne Morse come to mind. But, they are the all too rare exceptions.

Compromise is the politician's way of doing little or nothing. The unfortunate part of "compromise" is for those who get "compromised" - like the Iraqi civilians and dead GI's.

revenue should come from to do all that needs to be done. Try for a large margin of agreement to roll back tax cuts on the wealthy. Otherwise the Dems will be dealing with endless spin on "tax and spend Democrats."