RW-(the original) Dancing Madly Backwards Through A Liberal Minefield

It was a solemn pledge, repeated by Democratic leaders and candidates over and over: If elected to the majority in Congress, Democrats would implement all of the recommendations of the bipartisan commission that examined the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

But with control of Congress now secured, Democratic leaders have decided for now against implementing the one measure that would affect them most directly: a wholesale reorganization of Congress to improve oversight and funding of the nation's intelligence agencies. Instead, Democratic leaders may create a panel to look at the issue and produce recommendations, according to congressional aides and lawmakers.

Because plans for implementing the commission's recommendations are still fluid, Democratic officials would not speak for the record. But aides on the House and Senate appropriations, armed services and intelligence committees confirmed this week that a reorganization of Congress would not be part of the package of homeland-security changes up for passage in the "first 100 hours" of the Democratic Congress.

"I don't think that suggestion is going anywhere," said Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.), the chairman of the Appropriations defense subcommittee and a close ally of the incoming subcommittee chairman, Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.). "That is not going to be their party position."

So what was the pre-election story?

Reid said if Democrats take power, they would work to redeploy troops off the battlefields. Renew efforts to fire Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Fully implement the 9-11 Commission's recommendations. Rebuild the military, which some estimates show needs a $75 billion investment to bring it back up to pre war levels of readiness.

That was Harry Reid in an October 9. 2006 article. So wahat did his House counterpart, Nancy Pelosi, say back on June 13th?

"Republicans' misplaced priorities mean America is not as safe it should be. Democrats have a new direction for the American people -- one that will fully implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and make the security of the American people a top priority."

As much as I agree with the fact that a commission's, especially one as partisan and sloppy as the 9/11 commission, recommendations can't be followed without careful consideration, the Democrats were put into power with nothing more than a promise that they would do just that. Now that they have been elected they don't want to follow through. This isn't some new recommendation that came before them, they said the whole time they were planning to do it all. The only reason they aren't doing this one is because it would take power away from the corrupt John Murtha. Oh yea, they did have one other thing. They said they were going to end corruption in the halls of Congress. Nice start!