The last domino seems to have fallen, with the news outlets crying that George Allen’s senate seat in Virginia has been lost to Jim Webb. With that one last stroke, both houses are now under control of the Democrats. Unchecked power has finally received a measure of balance, and for the first time in a few years, I feel slightly more optimistic about the future.
And as an added — yet ironic — bonus, Rumsfeld is on his way out as well. Had this man been given his walking papers a few weeks ago, it might still be a red congress. But instead, G.W. backs his man in the Pentagon and that’s all she wrote. I’m sure history won’t treat this fascinating individual kindly, and I shan’t miss his self-asked and answered style of speaking in press conferences. In fact, I’m not sure we’re going to get all that long a respite from it before it’s heard again one day in the chambers of Congress, in some hearing into the how’s and why’s of this war.
Of course, I don’t expect that to come in the here and now. Hell, I’d be shocked if there are any hearings of consequence in the first six months of the new congress. The presumptive incoming Speaker of the House — Nacy Pelosi — is already talking about the Democratic agenda for the first 100 days of the session, and it includes phrases such as “increasing minimum wage” and “implementing the 9/11 commission’s recomendations” are being bandied about. It certainly sounds like they have their priorities set on helping to right the country’s course first before cleaning the House.
But through all those hearings that will one day take place, I find it a stretch to see impeachment in the cards. If I were an odds maker, I’d say there’s a 1 in 4 chance that there’s something in this Administration’s skeleton closet that can get President Bush slapped. Of course, if something is found, I’d say the odds of it being worse than Clinton’s impeachable oral escapades were off the about a billion to one.
Ah, the cycle starts anew! I’ve got $20 saying the Democrats will succumb to the trappings of power and lose touch with the country 20 years from now. Any takers?
Tags: Politics
Hate to be the bearer of bad news but.. the Dems have already lost touch with the country. Gone is the day of old fashioned Democrats that are out for the working man. Todays Dems are much the same as the Republicans, they are looking out for two groups, the people who fund them and themselves. In actuallity that boils down to one group, themselves. I am not saying that the Republicans are any better, I am just saying the Dems are no knights in shinning armor here to save the country.
You may be right with your last line, that the Dems aren’t those shining knights of old, but you can say the same about all politicians. Hell, in this day and age you can probably count the number of pure and noble politicos on one hand. Everyone in DC has an agenda. Everyone in DC is beholden to their own interest groups, and if they happen to do good along the way, then it’s a bonus.
But you missed my main point: “Unchecked power has finally received a measure of balance”. Yes, I lean Democratic, but I’m more happy about there being some kind of oversight after six years of congressional rubber stamping of an administration’s agenda that some might call willfully ignorant of the facts they face. Honest and open debate has been a casualty of the one-party power structure, and now there’s a slight chance it can make a much needed return.
And as I said in my close, it’s all cyclical anyway. So the tide has turned for the moment…so what? Given a bit of time and a bit of line, the Dems will wind up hanging themselves from some branch of scandal soon enough — every politician does.
Democrats becoming involved in scandal?? Jim McGreevy, Teddy Kennedy and I all have a tough time with that one!
Now what did Ted ever do to end up on…oh, right, right — the car in the water thing….