Here are my top priorities for our new majorities. Comment and post yours!

[More Than A Feeling]

1. Begin the investigations.

Making this the first action has two upsides and one annoying side-effect. The first upside is that it upholds the rule of law. We musn't set a precedent that if a president just doesn't care about public opinion, they can get away with anything. The second virtue is that it lays the groundwork for legislation that cures corruption, like removing corporate dollars from elections through public financing. The annoying side-effect is that the right wing loonies immediately start screaming "we told you so" and "Bush-hater". But we can fight that, because the public isn't so tied to Bush that they have to defend corruption.

2. Pass the Democratic Agenda we promised before the election.

The increase in the minimum wage, and the cuts in student loan interest rates, among other things. It shows we keep our promises, and helps a lot of people.

3. Get us out of Iraq

The people expect us to do it, and it will piss the right-wingers off to no end. Force them to keep shouting "cut-and-runners" all the way until 2008. We'll win again if they are still defending Iraq.

4. The aforementioned public financing for elections

Shut out the corporate lobbyists from elections, and suddenly it becomes a lot easier to vote one's conscience.

5. Media overhaul

Not sure what form this would take, but this must be the last thing, because the media is going to fight like hell against this, and we have to have overwhelming momentum to stop them from stopping us. Also, they won't give us favorable treatment on anything after this if we fail, so pass the most important stuff first.

What do you all think?

[SteppingRazor]

1. I can see an advantage to media overhaul being first instead of last...

Yes, if it fails, the corporate suits may have a vendetta. But if it passes, all of the journalists that have lived under the thumbs of these bean counters for 10 years will have a freer voice -- which could help in the passing of the other parts of your agenda.

And I think it would pass if we went after it first -- the first act of the new Congress is almost a freebie. If Bush doesn't go along, he looks like a petulant, obstructionist douchebag.

In any case, I like all the ideas you've presented here. Good stuff. Personally, I think Pelosi should stick by her 100 hour plan (minimum wage, student loans, lobbyist controls, etc.) to show that Democrats are people of their word. Then get on to the other stuff.