Is it asking too much?

[Joe Fields]

Is it asking too much for our Dem leadership to show some backbone; to flex their collective muscles and force the will of the people onto the rest of congress? Can no one step up to the plate and exhibit a "profile in courage?"

I think back to what ex-Alaskan senator and current presidential candidate Mike Gravel said a couple of days ago on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' show. And what he said made sense to me, and would display the kind of leadership that I, and I believe many Americans are looking for. And I say this, strictly as an example, because this is not a Hillary or Obama bashing thread. This is intended for the dem leadership as a whole unit, from the top down. Mr. Gravel said that if we wanted to really get things done, then the most prominent senators (ie. Clinton, Obama, Kerry, etc.) could meet with Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and demand that votes on matters like cloture on the Webb amendment be held every day, until the job gets done. That's what real leaders do. It is a form of political cowardice to simply say, "We don't have the votes, so sorry, there's really nothing wee can do." As Mr. Gravel said, and I believe this to be true, "The votes are there. You just have to grab them by the scruff of the neck." And really, our leadership hasn't done much but just posture over the most important issues facing our country. What happened to jawboning, cajoling, arm twisting and wringing every vote you can get, in order to do what everyone knows is right?

I would have a great deal of respect for some of the democratic presidential candidates, if they would openly use the power they wield to put constant pressure on the house and senate leadership to defund this war, pull our troops out, and refocus our energies to smartly and effectively deal with our foreign and domestic problems. I can't take much more of this hand wringing. I expect more out of my leaders.

[Kagemusha]

1. Let me defend both Obama and Hillary for a moment here.

The Senate works on a pecking order of seniority. Obama and Hillary, going to Harry Reid, and trying to MAKE HIM DO SOMETHING? Please. That's not how it works. For reasons of personal ego, Senate tradition and the vast superiority in rank that he holds over a couple of wet behind the ears Senators with presidential ambitions, the Senate Majority Leader is not going to be taking orders from them, not one tiny bit. As far as Reid and other senior Democratic senators are concerned, neither Obama nor Hillary are leaders, either of the party or of the Senate, and they should not deign to get uppity with their seniors. Their opinion doesn't amount to a hill of beans compared to that of the Senate leadership, who make the real calls without bending to the temporary, whimsical needs of presidential candidates.

Kerry's in a bit of a different position, but he's not even the senior senator from his state.

To put it bluntly, they may be your leaders, but they are not Harry Reid's leaders, and they are not the Senate Democrats' leaders.

[Joe Fields]

2. Disagree strongly. That type of politics does work.

It has worked in the past, and could work now, but for the political posturing. Do they just want to look good, or do they want to do good? That's my question.