CNN/AP: Lame duck Congress goes to work amid intraparty squabbles

[DeepModem Mom]

Lame duck Congress goes to work amid intraparty squabbles
November 13, 2006


Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are preparing to take over leadership positions in the House and Senate.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress returns this week with triumphant Democrats and vanquished Republicans focusing more on the upcoming change in power than on President Bush's wish list for the final few months of GOP rule.

The main order of House business planned for Monday was consideration of a free-trade bill with Vietnam, ahead of Bush's scheduled visit there Friday.

Also planned are orientation meetings for more than 50 incoming House freshmen.
T
he real action, however, will be off the floor as the speaker-to-be, Nancy Pelosi, D-California, prepares to take the reins of the House and Harry Reid, D-Nevada, does the same in the Senate.

Jockeying in several House leadership races has exposed divisions among Democratic and GOP factions.

On the Democratic side, politicking is under way for party leadership elections scheduled for Thursday. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, a Marine Corps veteran and a hawk on military issues who became the darling of the anti-war movement after calling for a U.S. pullout from Iraq, is running against Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland to be majority leader....House Republicans also have leadership fights. Three lawmakers hope to succeed Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, as the GOP leader. Hastert said last week that he doesn't want to be minority leader....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/13/congress.returns.ap/index.html

[havocmom]

1. Might not be lame ducks if

bush had fired Rummy months ago they had actually done some legitimate legislative work in the YEARS prior to coming up lame.

GOP-R (Getting Outta Personal Responsibility)- it's not Lincoln's GOP

[stellanoir]

2. soon to be Madam Speaker's posture

suggests that she is totally poised and thrilled to meet the challenges ahead.

Her smile is infectious. :)

[lumpy]

3. We must hope they don't waste valuable time

diddling and jockying around while important issues are waiting to be addressed.

[Haole Girl]

4. I've never heard the word "factions" used to describe...

...divisions among Democratic and GOP leaders. Is this what's it's gotten down to?