Comments on: Power vs Finesse – The Real Test of Congressional Leadership http://themoderatevoice.com/10381/power-vs-finesse-the-real-test-of-congressional-leadership/ An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:19:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: GreenDreams http://themoderatevoice.com/10381/power-vs-finesse-the-real-test-of-congressional-leadership/comment-page-1/#comment-45424 GreenDreams Sun, 21 Jan 2007 15:50:04 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/power-vs-finesse-the-real-test-of-congressional-leadership/#comment-45424 Equally important, they skipped the usual break before the State of the "whatever you want to call it" speech. They got straight to work and have done more in their first 100 hours than any congress in history. By speech time, they have already addressed populist issues the GOP blocked for years and totally eclipsed the "do nothing" 109th Congress. And Bush, continuing his petulant Iraq show, assures that the GOP still has to be identified with a giant failure, while Dems are getting to work on the people's business. The point about bipartisanship is important but I believe phony on both sides. Who here expects anything but the same vicious partisanship in the next campaign? Equally important, they skipped the usual break before the State of the “whatever you want to call it” speech. They got straight to work and have done more in their first 100 hours than any congress in history. By speech time, they have already addressed populist issues the GOP blocked for years and totally eclipsed the “do nothing” 109th Congress. And Bush, continuing his petulant Iraq show, assures that the GOP still has to be identified with a giant failure, while Dems are getting to work on the people’s business.

The point about bipartisanship is important but I believe phony on both sides. Who here expects anything but the same vicious partisanship in the next campaign?

]]> By: Kim Ritter http://themoderatevoice.com/10381/power-vs-finesse-the-real-test-of-congressional-leadership/comment-page-1/#comment-45359 Kim Ritter Sun, 21 Jan 2007 03:03:02 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/power-vs-finesse-the-real-test-of-congressional-leadership/#comment-45359 The reason they were so successful, imo, is that they picked a popular (i.e.noncontroversial) agenda and the GOP was well aware that the voting public was watching them as well as the Democrats. They received a lot of criticism for not tackling more difficult issues, but I think it was a very smart move. It showed they are capable of leadership on mainstream issues, and gave them momentum. There's plenty of time to tackle the more complicated issues of social security, health care and the deficit. The reason they were so successful, imo, is that they picked a popular (i.e.noncontroversial) agenda and the GOP was well aware that the voting public was watching them as well as the Democrats. They received a lot of criticism for not tackling more difficult issues, but I think it was a very smart move. It showed they are capable of leadership on mainstream issues, and gave them momentum. There’s plenty of time to tackle the more complicated issues of social security, health care and the deficit.

]]> By: Pete http://themoderatevoice.com/10381/power-vs-finesse-the-real-test-of-congressional-leadership/comment-page-1/#comment-45346 Pete Sun, 21 Jan 2007 00:33:06 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/power-vs-finesse-the-real-test-of-congressional-leadership/#comment-45346 I think the larger point of this post, Paul, is spot-on: true bipartisanship, true blended but visionary solutions are much more difficult than quick, populist fixes. That's not to diminish the Dem's accomplishments, especially on the long overdue earmark reform. But you're right: Now the really tough work begins. I think the larger point of this post, Paul, is spot-on: true bipartisanship, true blended but visionary solutions are much more difficult than quick, populist fixes. That’s not to diminish the Dem’s accomplishments, especially on the long overdue earmark reform. But you’re right: Now the really tough work begins.

]]> By: GreenDreams http://themoderatevoice.com/10381/power-vs-finesse-the-real-test-of-congressional-leadership/comment-page-1/#comment-45333 GreenDreams Sat, 20 Jan 2007 21:53:29 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/power-vs-finesse-the-real-test-of-congressional-leadership/#comment-45333 Funny comment by Boehner, considering the total rout of democracy by the GOP the last 6 years. GOP legislators are crossing the aisle for the most fundamental reason: survival. Boehner will join the defection or get his pink slip soon enough. Of course I meant "minimum wage worker" in my last comment. Funny comment by Boehner, considering the total rout of democracy by the GOP the last 6 years. GOP legislators are crossing the aisle for the most fundamental reason: survival. Boehner will join the defection or get his pink slip soon enough.

Of course I meant “minimum wage worker” in my last comment.

]]> By: The Heretik : Tick Tock http://themoderatevoice.com/10381/power-vs-finesse-the-real-test-of-congressional-leadership/comment-page-1/#comment-45309 The Heretik : Tick Tock Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:51:53 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/power-vs-finesse-the-real-test-of-congressional-leadership/#comment-45309 [...] Hammertime? The Republicans got hammered with up to sixty Republicans joining Dems in the Hundred Hour campaign. “I understand the need for the majority party to make its move and make an impression,'’ [Minority Leader John Boehner] said, “but we’re short-circuiting democracy here.'’ [...] [...] Hammertime? The Republicans got hammered with up to sixty Republicans joining Dems in the Hundred Hour campaign. “I understand the need for the majority party to make its move and make an impression,’’ [Minority Leader John Boehner] said, “but we’re short-circuiting democracy here.’’ [...]

]]> By: GreenDreams http://themoderatevoice.com/10381/power-vs-finesse-the-real-test-of-congressional-leadership/comment-page-1/#comment-45299 GreenDreams Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:26:22 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/power-vs-finesse-the-real-test-of-congressional-leadership/#comment-45299 Good post Paul, but how could a minimum wage payer afford their own health insurance and why should it be the responsibility of the employer? Until the US can match the health care costs of our competitors, by slashing these costs 50%, we can never compete, and indeed we do not. Attempting to shift the burden to the working poor--again!--simply won't work. Good post Paul, but how could a minimum wage payer afford their own health insurance and why should it be the responsibility of the employer? Until the US can match the health care costs of our competitors, by slashing these costs 50%, we can never compete, and indeed we do not. Attempting to shift the burden to the working poor–again!–simply won’t work.

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