News Roundup: Actually Wednesday Morning

Today is when the Democrats roll into town, and tomorrow they take over Congress. However, the first 100 hours legislative blitz doesn't begin until next Tuesday, for various reasons. Democrats plan on getting some laws together on 9/11 Commission recommendations that never got any play, raising the minimum wage, stem cell research, and prescription / Medicare drug price negotiation regulations. As the stories about this schedule come out, the pre-emptive from response from the Bush Administration included an op-ed by the President in the Wall Street Journal warning Democrats to not make "political statements" by way of legislation. I'm not sure if the point of the essay is to publicly request a spirit of cooperation or to say, in no uncertain terms, that anything he doesn't like will get axed. The Deciding is about to gear up in earnest.

So the Democrats have Bush on one side, warning them against being too liberal, and will be greeted by a group of protestors - Democrats, no less - who will warn them against not being liberal enough. The items the various activists want to see on the table are not unfamiliar: the President's impeachment, an overhaul and serious truncation of domestic spying programs, and human rights reforms. The divide between the two sides will be a challenge for the Democratic Congress as they try to bridge the gap and hold some sort of center together.

In state politics, Jim Pitts went to see Tom Craddick and Brian McCall yesterday, and he may be looking to set himself up as "the guy who avoided the bloodbath." Whether he will get to claim that title remains to be seen. I am willing to bet the Speaker's race will be over before the opening of the session like it usually is, and some sort of deal will be hashed out that doesn't really make anyone happy in the GOP leadership happy but will represent the best they can get.

The conservative Texas Eagle Forum released a statement saying that a Craddick defeat more or less gives power to the Democrats. I've pondered this before, and I think that already, Democrats are going to have more power than they have since 2002. However, a Craddick victory would probably end up working out better in the long run for Democrats, even though life might continue to be a little difficult throughout this session.

Once they get the Speaker thing figured out, illegal immigration and worker rules are going to be prominent on the schedule, with a dozen bills filed already. This subject is enormous and complex, and probably something which legislation could end up helping or could end up complicating. The debate will probably get weird.

And finally, Pat Robertson is back to his old tricks again - this time The Lord told him the US is going to get attacked by terrorists in 2007. Information offered without comment.