We Voted for Changing Course

Unless you’re dead or have been in a coma the last forty-eight hours, you’ll know the voting in the U.S. on Tuesday propelled Democrats to their biggest gains since the Watergate era, which allowed the party to clinch a majority in Congress and ended a 12-year GOP reign.

- Yay!

And we now have the very first female Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

- Yay!

And five more women are now added to Congress.

- Yay!

And Rumsfeld resigned.

- Yay!

Those of you who are in office, however, you don’t get to celebrate because it was the voters who voted for change that deserve the celebrations. You, my Democratic friends, will have your feet held to the fire for at least the next two years. You, my Democratic friends, must do some hard work to keep your jobs because you are our employees.

- Crap! errr, I mean, Yay!

Also, the 5 shadiest members of Congress, who, despite their ethically-challenged ways, were re-elected, all by more than 60 percent of the vote.

- Crap!

And they aren’t all Republicans.

- Crap!

And the guy replacing Rumsfeld…

Robert M. Gates was the Central Intelligence Agency’s deputy director for intelligence (DDI) from 1982 to 1986. He was confirmed as the CIA’s deputy director of central intelligence (DDCI) in April of 1986 and became acting director of central intelligence in December of that same year. Owing to his senior status in the CIA, Gates was close to many figures who played significant roles in the Iran/contra affair and was in a position to have known of their activities. [Source - emphasis mine.]

- Crap!

Better hope there isn’t a recess appointment… on the other hand, Louise Slaughter now takes over leadership of the House Rules Committee, John Conyers now takes over leadership of the House Judiciary Committee…

Ms Pelosi outlined the priorities: “In the first 100 hours of a Democratic Congress, we will restore civility, integrity, and fiscal responsibility to the House of Representatives. We will start by cleaning up Congress, breaking the link between lobbyists and legislation and commit to pay-as-you-go, no new deficit spending.”

She went on pledge to raise the minimum wage, promote stem-cell research, research alternative fuel sources and fight the privatisation of social security.

Ms Pelosi will have powerful allies in the newly appointed Democratic chairs of the House committees. Committees with oversight of education, intelligence, the armed services and ways and means could all be powerful tools in the hands of a rejuvenated Democratic leadership. [Source]

Let the investigations begin.