We! The People Webzine: The First 100 Hours...A Success? by Stephen Handwerk

The First 100 Hours… A Success?

by Stephen Handwerk
January 23, 2007

So much talk has been bantering about the country on "The First 100 Hours" that Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been pressing in the House. Republican talking heads are attacking saying it took more than 100 hours, that the Democrats aren't playing "fair" (funny, welcome to our world after years of Republican control) and an entire litany of other things that clearly show there is no "there, there."

I think I find the Republican's whining about us "Not Playing Nice" to be the most funny. As they took to the airwaves and even the floor of the house I couldn't help but breakdown laughing hysterically. I mean where were these folks for the past decade? Democrats have employed largely the same rules that Republicans had "enjoyed" for the last congress, but it is a foul when we do it? An interesting charge, but not completely true. Democrats have not held votes open until the wee hours of the morning to strong arm members to get things passed. Also, we are not using the "Majority of the Majority" rule that Tom Delay was so fond of.

Also, interesting to note - Democrats are governing from the center. It is refreshing actually, to see a positive approach that will help real people rather than multi-national corporations. Minimum Wage hike, relief with student loans, a modest attack on the corruption by curtailing lobbyists, a good first step in ending corporate welfare by revolutionizing our energy policy and, of course, the attempt to end the pharmaceutical companies' strangle hold on seniors. There is so much more to do and all of these measures are relying in the senate for their clean passage.

Perhaps the most interesting piece of this was hit on by George Stephanopoulos Sunday on "This Week." These bills all enjoyed bipartisan support, according to ABC, on average, 62 Republicans joined with Democrats to support these measures.

So it is my opinion that this is a huge success for Nancy Pelosi and indeed all of us. These were issues we have been screaming about for years and the Republican leadership knew they would lose the votes if they allowed it to come to the floor of the house. Their response, bury them - don't let them see the light of day. Obviously this was not acceptable by the majority of Americans.

But we Progressives seem to want it all and we want it now. My friends, it is going to take time and it is going to take some smart politicking on our part to insure we make lasting policies and legislation that we know will propel us forward and make this country even better. Simply said - we do not get our way by punishing our friends - we can't allow "friendly fire" to take out our leaders due to our impatience.

Of course, the first item in this area that comes to mind is Iraq. I have to say the day to day has been greuling to most of us watching the reports coming in from Iraq and then having to endure President Bush's "New Plan" (that sounds a great deal like the old plan, only escalated), has been hell. But credit must be given to the House and Senate Leadership in the way they are currently handling this situation.

I am a really big fan of giving my opponent "enough rope so that they can hang themselves" and it seems this is the approach that the Democratic leadership is taking against the Bush Administration. Allowing the Bush Administration to march out their "new" plan and prodding the media to cover and look into it, they are preparing the ground to be successful in getting our kids home. They are allowing the Bush Administration's worst enemy to attack them and the plan first. That enemy of course is Bush. The more he talks, the more Americans side with us. Our plan has a great potential for success and to possibly be "the gift that keeps on giving." Seeing the Bush administration flounder and prod the few friends they have left to go onto the talk shows is only going to hurt them in the 2008 election.

I am sure the first complaint with this plan is - time. The more time our troops are in Iraq, the more death and dismemberment will be endured. It is my contention that it is much worse for the democrats to play their hand now and not get a full and complete withdrawal.

What is our end goal here? Getting all of our sons and daughters out of harms way in Iraq? Or preventing the surge of 21,500 new troops from going in? I think it is getting completely out of Iraq, and if that is the case, the current course of action seems to be working, as the people of this country are now starting to pay attention and they are on our side. By doing this, and by getting clear and solid support from the American people, the Congress can place back on the table the "power of the purse." Using this too early could backfire on us and on our troops in Iraq.

So to my Progressive friends I say - we don't defeat our enemies by hurting our friends. Hang on, we are on the right track, we are moving forward by leaps and bounds daily. However, it is going to take time. With the huge success of the "First 100 days" in addressing things real people want for this country it has done two huge things for our movement…