I have read more diaries here than I can count lamenting the failure of the (Democratic) Congress to take any meaningful steps to hold this administration accountable for any of its criminal acts and incompetencies.
Like everyone else, I have shaken my head in disgust and anger at the spinelessness of the leadership, their utter abdication of true responsibility - they'll vote to spend money, but not to confront this White House on issues that go to the very heart of what it means to be the United States of America. From constitutional issues (warrantless searches, eavesdropping, torture, corruption of the Justice Department, to name just a few), to health care, the environment, energy policy, war-mongering, defense contracting fraud - these people, our elected representatives and senators, have let us down.
Well, no more.
Margaret Carlson said on Countdown the other night (h/t to RFK Lives):
CARLSON: I think Democrats want to freeze the ball because Republicans are in such deep doo-doo now, they don‘t want to change anything, and they don‘t want to be seen as overly aggressive. However, it could be done entirely within the rule of law, just enforcing the contempt citation without fanfare, and just let the system—let the system play out. To be afraid to come forward and exercise your prerogatives, when this administration uses its executive privilege as an excuse for every time they broke the law. It didn‘t work in the Clinton administration. Remember, Keith, how many Clinton administration people were marched before Congress during Monica Lewinsky, which actually had nothing to do with giving advice to the president.
So, it‘s not a blanket excuse, but it‘s been used that way. And you think Democrats now in control would exercise it.
If you truly have chosen to not exercise the power of Congress to rein in these idiots, ideologues and evil men and women - if you actually have put the quest to consolidate power ahead of honoring your oaths of office to protect and defend this country and its citizens - tell me how you are any better than this bunch of Republican goons? You are different, but not better.
So. You have one and only one shot at redeeming yourselves. If we elect a Democratic president, you don't need a "veto-proof majority." You have one year, the first year, to make up for lost time and actually start improving the social, economic, environmental and international conditions of this country. Because if you don't, in 2010 we will vote you out - in primaries - and get Democratic candidates committed to acting in the national interest, rather than their own.