FROM Jack Cafferty:
What a year it's been. Here we are, a little more than a week to go before the Democratic-led Congress adjourns and they don't have a heck of a lot to show for themselves.
First, House Democratic leaders caved into President Bush's spending limit on a massive domestic spending bill. Although they're vowing to shift funds away from the president's priorities to theirs, it still signals a big political victory for the White House.
Next, what started out as an ambitious agenda a year ago has now been reduced to finger pointing between House and Senate Democrats.
The Washington Post reports Congressman Charlie Rangel is accusing Senate Democratic leaders of developing "Stockholm syndrome" - that they're showing sympathy to their Republican captors and giving in on all sorts of legislation. He suggests if Republicans want to filibuster a bill, that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid should keep the bill on the floor and make Republicans talk it to death.
For his part, Reid says he "can't control Speaker Pelosi", that she's a strong, independent woman who "runs the House with an iron hand."
And, in case that's not enough, there's a possibility the government could actually shut down if some of this stuff isn't resolved. It's no wonder so few Americans approve of the job they're doing.
Here’s my question to you: One year later, how would you rate the performance of the Democratic-led Congress?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Amy writes:
It's too bad that any progress the Democrats in Congress have tried to make, such as passing children's health insurance or federally funded stem cell research, has been vetoed by the president and held up by Republican members of Congress who just do whatever he tells them to do. Those Republicans are obviously unaware of how unpopular the President and his policies are, but they will find out in November!
Steve writes:
Performance? What performance? The Democrats are too busy trying to make the Republicans, especially Bush, look bad to actually get something done.
Lynda from Arlington, Virginia writes:
The performance of the Democratic-controlled Congress (there's not much democratic about it) has been abysmal. They have spent the entire year unsuccessfully trying to bring to an end the war in Iraq, and accomplished almost nothing else. Their only domestic achievement: raising the minimum wage, for which there was widespread bipartisan support.
Christopher writes:
Calling this veto-whipped, filibustered Congress "do-nothing" is like blaming a kid's face for bruising a bully's fist. Put the blame where it belongs, on an obstructionist Republican minority and a corporate-run president who thinks the Constitution is an obstacle. If you want forward motion, give the democrats a real majority and/or get rid of this white house.
Bobby from Studio City, California writes:
Simply put, Jack, the Democrats, not Major League Baseball, are in need of "performance-enhancing" drugs.
Ken writes:
In a word, pathetic. They have become masters of the new conference and then follow up with inaction. I realize they don't have the super majority they need to force legislation, but would it kill them to take a stand and fight once in a while.
Bill writes:
Just like the Miami Dolphins, 0-13.
Maybe Jack will read yours tomorrow.