House's Hoyer: Democrats not waiting 'til next year

[babylonsister]

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/02/hoyer_democrats_not_waiting_ti.html#more

House's Hoyer: Democrats not waiting 'til next year

by Matthew Hay Brown


snip//


“We’re not sitting out the clock,” Hoyer said. “We believe we have a responsibility to protect America. That’s why we’re moving on national security issues. We are very concerned about defense readiness. We’re going to continue to effect oversight on Iraq, Afghanistan and our readiness posture.”

Whether any of their efforts has a chance of becoming law is another question.

There’s no reason to believe that the energy bill, which would cut tax breaks for oil companies to fund incentives for renewable fuel sources, stands any better chance of making it through the Senate this year than last -- or off surviving a presidential veto threat, if it did. Republicans have refused to negotiate on FISA, and they have remained unified against Democratic efforts to wind down the war in Iraq.

But Democrats believe votes on those issues and others, including children’s health insurance, could help them illustrate their differences with Republicans going into the elections. That’s in keeping with the majority’s vow to “stay on offense” after the gains of 2006.

Hoyer said that Americans want change in Washington, but were unable to get it in 2006, when neither President Bush nor two-thirds of the Senate were on the ballot. Legislation passed by the House last year was repeatedly stymied in the Senate, where the narrow Democratic majority often was insufficient to overcome Republican opposition. And when bills on Iraq, children’s health insurance and embryonic stem cell research did make it through, they were promptly vetoed by Bush.

“The American public’s desire for change and a new direction was only fully reflected in the House,” he said. “What we’ve done in the House of Representatives is try to effect that change. …

“We’re not just in a way-’til-next-year posture,” he said. “We want to pass legislation we think is good policy. Whether it’s dealing with health care, whether it is dealing with education, whether it is dealing with housing, whether it is dealing with any other issues.”

[existentialist]

1. After all, this is an election year

and some of them have finally picked up a few hints that voters would like Congress to stand up to the Administration instead of licking their boots.

[thunder rising]

3. Got that! They couldn't do anything last year but kiss Bush *.

[marmar]

2. The day this party is wrested from Steny and Rahm......

.... will be a happy day indeed.

[mac2]

5. I'm with you in that regard

They aren't Democrats but Republicans. They want years of war like McCain.

[mac2]

4. Just to remind Hoyer...

Here it is almost another Presidential election. Still there has been no voting reform. We want those voting computers gone. We want fraud investigated and punished. We want the Electoral College Certification gone. The House members couldn't protest the stolen elections since 2000. They were silenced. There is something wrong with that. They didn't even finish the vote counts or recounts and our party leaders declared Bush the winner. How can they do that without counting our votes? We looked on that as a coup not an election in a democratic society.

We want National Health Care for all. Not just children. We seniors are desperate for better care. Some of us are losing our homes which have another generation living there. Our children are broke trying to care for us and their children. American families can't afford health care for parents who have to work and take care of those children. The insurance companies profit on our life and death. That is just immoral.

Without National Health Care we can't compete with other modern democracies who do...such as Canada. Our car industry has moved there leaving whole streets of homes in bankruptcy in Detroit. Shame on our leaders who show no leadership for the good of the people.

We (both parties) told you we wanted our troops home NOW in the 2006 election. Yet it was ignored by Congress and the President. We wanted that plundered money by Brenner and at the airport investigated. Trillions are missing from our Defense Department. Rumsfeld set up his own mercenary forces with our tax dollars. These mercenaries make more pay than our own soldiers. They could be and might have been used against us at rallies and protests (and Katrina shootings in NO by Blackwater).

We want our jobs (technology, markets, corporate taxes and profits) back in America not sent to slave labor over seas and profits to British off shore banks in the Cayman Islands (who hide and manipulate profits and money launder).

We want out of NAFTA and the trade deals in secret by a few Bush trade representatives (not elected by us) behind closed doors. Even by President Bush whose duty is not to do trade deals under the Constitution. It gives him to much power with our money and business. These trade deals are illegal since the Constitution gives Congress that duty. We citizens want to know what they are doing in our name. We send you to DC to do a job not you in DC tell us what we should and shouldn't do. We give the government certain duties and that is it. We limit it so they don't abuse us...like now. This should not be true...at least not in a democracy with a contract (Constitution) between states. We have not ratified that change.

We want the President and VP impeached for lying about the wars, plunging us into generations of debt, and taking away our freedoms. The vary thing you "fight for in Iraq". They are worse off than under Saddam. So are we.

We want 911 and Katrina investigated by a independent group not Bush picked Neo Cons. We now know they lied to us. They also silenced documents, testimony, and tapes. It is lawless to interfer in as serious a crime as 911.

We know Neo Cons in the White House are attacking and destroying Democrats and their areas...such as cities. Saddam was evil because he killed his own people. So did President Bush and Cheney. Between American and ME disasters, wars, and poverty, I bet it's millions of lives and trillions in funds.

We allowed or participated in the destruction and murdering of at least five countries since Bush stole power. We allowed Israel to invade and kill many blaming it on the other countries. It is their goal not ours. You know we Americans want a peaceful Israel and Palestine...not unending genocide. You turn a blind eye and ignore our horror.

A majority of the American people feel you ignored our last "change agenda" in the 2006 election. Why would we trust you now since the above issues have been mostly ignored. What changes are you going to do now that will meet our requests for over two years?

It seems you don't represent us. We are not fooled any longer.

Seems the "change" is a New World Order Government and the Americas Union which we (nor the citizens of Mexico or Canada) have not approved. It is Fascism and our democracy ruined for an oligarchy.

Impeach Bush and Cheney for their PNAC treason. It is your duty when the leadership no longer represents us. They have trashed our Constitution using the lie of 911, etc. We the people demand it. That's the most important change we want of you who can't wait. We can't wait any longer because we are in danger more everyday.

[KoKo]

7. Well said....n/t

[dmosh42]

6. It's appropriate that this message came from "Swamppolitics.com"

The 'enablers' for the crooks will continue their efforts! What bullshit!

[mac2]

8. Yes..a real Democrat and patriot

[Wizard777]

9. "Impeachment is off the table." That's why we couldn't get change in 06.

It didn't have a damned thing to do with the Republicans. It's that crazy witch Pelosi's fault. The worst part is that the Democrats haven't figured out why their, give us our way or we'll kiss Bush's ass, negatiating strategy isn't getting them what they want. They are debating the telecom immunity. Have yet to realize that the telecoms have commited crimes authorized President. It's a crime to authorize a crime. Hello anyone remember watergate. So I'm gonna ask this question one more time. Are they really THAT fucking stupid?

[mac2]

10. No corrupt is the word for it.

They belong to secret elite organizations who make decisions for them. These elite ruling few are European royal mostly. Back to 200 years to history it seems.

[mac2]

11. Can't we petition to remove Pelosi as leader for not impeaching a

crook, liar, and murdering President? It is her duty.