We pick on the Dems in Congress, but this is what they have to put up with

[Stoic]

GOP's Power Play>

Goal of Reforms in House Gives Way To Tough Tactics Party Once Criticized

"... Republicans have instead consolidated power in the hands of a few leaders, most notably Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (Ill.) and Majority Leader Tom DeLay (Tex.). In the process, the authority of committee chairmen and the influence of rank-and-file members have waned.

Republican leaders have cracked down on GOP lawmakers who oppose them, creating a culture in which Republicans often fear bucking the party line.

And, increasingly, they have systematically prevented Democrats from offering ideas and amendments in committee or on the House floor -- a tactic DeLay, when he was in the minority, called the "arrogance of power..."

[kentuck]

1. And then when we lose an issue by one vote, such as Head Start...

We criticize the congressman that did not show up for the vote, because he was out "campaigning". Maybe he was and maybe he wasn't? Regardless, shouldn't we reserve a little critcism for those 218 Repubs that voted for the proposal? It seems we have lost a sense of proportionality with our criticisms?

[ferg]

2. plus the Republicans are playing vote games

Someone in another thread had the very good point that the "moderate" Republicans are playing vote games.

Only enough Republicans vote as needed to pass the bill. The other "moderate" Republicans trade votes so they can amass a voting record which appears to oppose Delay.

In other words, even if Gephardt had voted for this bill, that would just have meant that another "moderate" Republican would have changed votes to support Delay.

Still, the good news is that the House Dems are doing a good job playing a lousy hand. By forcing the party line votes, at very least they're forcing more of the "moderate" Republicans to vote with Delay.

[DagmarK]

3. Well, it's just a really sad example of humanity......

these are our leaders -- both the repubs and the dems in Congress.

And they are all just allowing themselves to be manipulated by fear and fascism and just laying down and "taking it".

It's just nuts......do they really expect US to to do that as well? They have another thing coming!

[liberalpress]

4. Saddest part of all..

.. they were all duly elected

[Jeff002]

6. The fact remains that greens are working to re-elect repubs to gain power

They use this and other forums to vigorously weaken democrats support for democrats by propagandizing us against our own party. I'm sick of the lies spread by them.. the truth is that we are all expected to unite and fight the republicans, rebuild the democratic party through solidarity with our representatives. Back them up through democrat protests against Bush and that includes protests against green lies. It's no great mystery that the greens promote conservative republicans like Arianna Huffington, who stood up at her so called "Shadow Convention" with John McCain and actually endorsed people voting for George W. Bush, yet not one green criticizes her. Wake up democrats and smell the coffee. What brought about change in the US back in the 50s and 60s was raising awareness and building coalitions. The green bid for power is working to divide and conquer through the blame game, divisiveness and suppressing awareness.

BTW, the irony is that the greens are the ones who are courting conservatives.

[finn]

5. hasert is dickhead delay lackey

so knock dickhead delay out of power and hasert will be looking for someone elses lackey and fellow ratshit eater.