"In the absence of genuine leadership..." ( A message for the Dems in Congress)

[journalist3072]

It's at times like these that I think the Democrats in Congress need to sit down and watch "The American President." Although the movie is obviously about the leader of the free world and life in the White House, there's a very valuable lesson for all politicians.

My favorite line in the movie comes courtesy of Presidential aide Lewis Rothchild (played by Michael J. Fox), when he said:

"People want leadership, Mr. President, and in the absence of genuine leadership, they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership. They're so thirsty for it they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand."

To the Democrats in Congress: We, the American people, are thirsty for leadership. And absent your leadership, well....you get the picture!

[DURHAM D]

1. I am so tired of this kind of crap.

All of the juveniles here at the DU who can't see anything but a single tree (Iraq) in a giant forest are making me wish all of the children would go to bed.

Leadership isn't the problem - an informed electorate is the problem. In this case, an informed conversation on the DU. Good grief.

Tonight the DU should be renamed the Black and White Keep It Stupidly Simple club. BAWKISS CLUB!

[journalist3072]

2. Sorry, but I feel leadership is most definitely the problem

The Democrats were elected in large measure to bring an end to this war. And it would have made common sense for them to keep sending Bush the same bill over and over again. If they kept sending him the same bill (with a timetable) and each time he issued a veto, the money would obviously run out, FORCING him to end this war.

My problem is that the Democrats sometimes seem to forget they are now in the majority in Congress. It's time for them to act like the majority party.

[DURHAM D]

3. Do you think they actually have a majority in the Senate? eom

[journalist3072]

5. By a thread! But yes, they do. n/t

[DURHAM D]

6. Joe the Liar threatened (again) to caucus with the Rethugs.

By by committee chairs, investigations and subpoena power in the Senate.

Do you think if you were Harry Reid and the other Dems and had a list of about 100 emergencies to work on legislatively you would say fuck you and goodbye Joe, or do you think you might try to find another path?

[jwirr]

7. Also isn't one of our senators still in the hospital and not present to

vote or am I wrong was he in the house.

[journalist3072]

9. Sen. Tim Johnson is out of the hospital...And he's been still taking care of Senate business while

he's been away. He never gave up his powers.

[DURHAM D]

10. He is still not available to come to the Senate to vote.

It will be awhile before he can return so don't count his vote toward any plan.

[Goblinmonger]

4. I think you have an informed group here

and many of us are sick and tired of the Dems CONSISTANTLY doing NOTHING in the legislative branch. They let Alito on the bench without a whimper. They let the convervatives have the majority with Roberts and didn't so much as growl about it. They are doing nothing to really stop the war. Bush points the veto stick and the Dems do as they are told. What is the difference between the time when the Republicans had control and now? Nothing.

[KAZ]

8. Bravo Durham! If they would only be so vocal...

.. with their cell phone wielding, SUV driving, Repuke voting, neighbors, we might get somewhere. I guess it's easier to rant on an internet forum.