Democrats to Use Election to Push Agenda in Congress :NYTimes

[mucifer]

By CARL HULSE
Published: November 4, 2009

WASHINGTON — Blaming election setbacks on a drop in voter enthusiasm, Congressional Democrats said Wednesday that losses in governors’ races in Virginia and New Jersey — and a striking House win in New York — should give new urgency to their legislative agenda, including a sweeping health care overhaul.

As they assessed the results, Democratic lawmakers and party strategists said their judgment was that voters remained very uneasy about the economy and did not see Democrats producing on the health, energy and national security changes they promised when voters swept them to power only a year ago.

“Most of us ran on that,” said Representative Gerald E. Connolly, Democrat of Virginia and president of the party’s freshman class. “We must deliver. I need to give Democrats something to be excited about.”

Democrats still face the political dilemma that has dogged their health care efforts this year and will continue to face tough choices as they take up issues like curbing global warming. Should they concentrate on motivating their core supporters, many of whom appeared to stay away from the polls in New Jersey and Virginia, by taking a more liberal approach, for example by embracing a public health insurance option?

Or do they try to write health, energy and fiscal policies that can attract independents, who broke for Republicans in Tuesday’s voting, in order to protect more moderate Democrats in conservative districts where spending and the rising debt are top worries?

“We have to do something, but it has to be right,” said Representative Frank Kratovil Jr., a first-term Maryland Democrat who won his seat away from a Republican last year. “My biggest concern is cost. The impact on the deficit is a real problem."


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/us/politics/05cong.html?_r=1&hp

[msongs]

1. evidently acting like republicans is not a very effective dem governing strategy lol nt

[Last Stand]

2. Hopefully they see this as a shot across the bow.

Time to stop the politicking and get real.