Yes, Virginia, There Is A Congress

The Republican congress was known for a short work week (one of many reasons they basically accomplished nothing of grand significance... except for legalizing torture and lots of tax cuts and huge $$ deals for defense contractors), and also for acquiesing to the President's agenda. The incoming congress wants it to be known that the times they are a'changing-

House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi made clear Tuesday she's not willing to cede the public spotlight to President Bush in the weeks before his State of the Union speech.

Pelosi plans to start the 110th Congress with a bang on Jan. 4 -- when the House holds its ceremonial swearing in and elects her as speaker -- by immediately setting off on a sprint of several weeks to enact the Democrats' ambitious 100-hour agenda.

Lawmakers usually return home between the swearing-in ceremony and the president's speech, but analysts say the hurried schedule gives Democrats a chance to show instant results. It could also put Bush on the defensive, forcing him to sign or veto a host of popular initiatives.

"Given the well-earned do-nothing reputation of the 109th Congress and its record-setting minimal number of days in session, Pelosi is right to get a quick and sustained start to the 110th Congress," said Thomas Mann, a congressional scholar at the Brookings Institution. "Forget the vacation time -- better to move quickly to set an expectation of more time and serious work in Washington."

Pelosi, in a statement, said the rapid start is needed to tackle a lengthy to-do list that includes everything from passing new ethics rules to raising the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour...

Now that's some good congress-ing. You go, girl. More encouraging headlines...

-Raw Story: Pelosi announces Iraq 'Democratic forum'

- AP: Democrat pledges array of investigations

Plans by Rep. Dingell include hearings on the new Medicare drug benefit, spending on government contractors in Iraq, an energy task force overseen by Cheney, and a review of food and drug safety. Rep Rangel promises Democrats don't want a fight with the President, they want to prove they can govern. Rep. Frank wants to tackle "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

-CNN.com: Intelligence agencies to face 'cleanup agenda'

Sen. Rockefeller "wants to correct what he called a 'lack of oversight' by the committee" and "include reviews of the Bush administration's warrantless eavesdropping and the CIA's secret prisons". Warrantless wiretapping, in particular, is an issue the current congress virtually neglected.

-McClatchy Newspapers: Boxer plans Senate hearings on global warming

The Boston Globe, however, in a detailed overview of VP Cheney's career in government, notes "that the newly empowered Democrats in Congress should not expect the White House to cooperate when they demand classified information or attempt to exert oversight in areas such as domestic surveillance or the treatment of terrorism suspects".

The Globe article looks at Cheney's extreme views on unlimited presidential authority and is a recommended, sobering read. One example they use is how Cheney, as a top Republican congressman during the Iran-Contra scandal, defended the White House's actions and insisted his fellow congressman were the villains for attempting to limit the President's authority in any way. This, folks, is our Vice President.

Anyway, can you tell I'm excited for this new Congress? Democrats aren't perfect, but compared to the outgoing congress, they are a breath of the freshest air we've inhaled in a long, long time. I'm hope they're up to the task; I hate being disappointed.