by James Glaser
January 4, 2007

During the run up to last November's election almost every Democrat was saying that something had to be done about George Bush's war in Iraq. The talk about Bush's war was so great, that most Republicans tried to distance themselves from the President and his war.

Almost every political reporter and columnists claimed the Democrat victory in both Houses of Congress came about because of what was happening in Iraq. Every poll for the last year has reported that the vast majority of Americans now feel that the attack on Iraq was a mistake.

So, what are the Democrats talking about with the start of a new Congress? The new Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi says in the first 100 hours they want to do the following:

Day One: Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."

Day Two: Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Time remaining until 100 hours: Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step. Cut the interest rate on student loans in half. Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.

Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds — "I hope with a veto-proof majority," she added in an Associated Press interview Thursday.

All of that is fine and dandy, but the reason the Democrats are in charge now is that the American people wanted something done about Iraq. Why ever vote for Democrats in the future if they can't understand that last election?

Yesterday anti-war protesters stopped the House Democrats from unveiling their reform package at a press conference at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, with chants of "De-escalate, investigate, troops home now."

Anti-war citizens from both parties worked hard to elect the Democrat majority, and they want the Iraq war to be the first thing on the agenda.

If the Democrats stiff their base, 2008 will put the Republicans back in power, and I doubt if anti-war voters will ever believe the Democrat Party again.

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