The Hill, in
Dems face their own dilemma, discusses how
Senate aides asked House operatives last week for their help in saturating the airwaves with specific and repeated references to the "nuclear option," a focus that House aides thought was too narrow and esoteric.
The House Dems
offered to keep pounding Republicans for an "abuse of power," but they urged the Senate to broaden the attack from the "nuclear option" to include broadsides against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas).
Here the House Dems are exactly right. Tie Frist's abusive "nuclear option" to DeLay's abusive everything else. Abuse abuse abuse. The Senate Dems need to see how framing the big picture helps them strengthen their issue.
ABUSE OF POWER
- Bush: Abu Ghraib
- Frist: Nuclear Option
- DeLay: Ethics Scandals
Note how the Terri Schiavo case tied all three together in their abuse of power.
Hans Nichols goes on to discuss how
The level of coordination between House and Senate leadership offices is causing consternation among senior Democratic aides and other party strategists who long for the close cooperation that was the hallmark of former Minority Leaders Sen. Tom Daschle's (D-S.D.) and Rep. Dick Gephardt's (D-Mo.) tenure.
Using various Hill staffer sources, Nichols argues that Reid and Pelosi haven't figured out yet how to work closely together (an example was their inability to stand strongly behind one DNC chair candidate).
They both need to know that we've got their backs. Get those chiefs of staff hanging out with each other.