Getting Things Done In Congress By: Mark W Adams

When Congress failed to halt the funding for the "Surge" I was pissed (that's reality-speak for "disappointed"). Outrage sums up my reaction to the FISA capitulation.

But when a leading progressive voice like Glenn Greenwald feeds into a GOP narrative -- when he should know better -- I'm flabbergasted:

This is a real moment of truth for the Democratic Congress. Democrats, who have offered up little other than one failure after the next since taking power in January, can take a big step toward redeeming themselves here. No matter what, they must ensure that Gonzales' replacement is a genuinely trustworthy and independent figure.

I've mentioned before that the accomplishments of this Congress, half-way through their first year is nothing to be dismissed easily.

• First Minimum Wage Increase in a Decade
• Largest Increase for Veterans Affairs Funding in History
• Additional $1.8 Billion for Veterans' Health Care in the Supplemental (above what POTUS requested)
• Passed Ethics and Lobbying Reform Bill
• $17 Billion in Grants and Other Student Aid
• Passed a Fiscally Responsible Budget
• Passed Energy Bill That Increased Fuel-Efficiency Standards for First Time Since 1975.
  

Speaking of the 70's, here's what a motivated congress can do even while "distracted" by an impeachment inquiry. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Watergate Congress:

93rd United States Congress

• 1973-08-13 — Federal Aid Highway Act of 1973, Pub.L. 93-87, title I, 87 Stat. 250
• 1973-09-26 — Rehabilitation Act, Pub.L. 93-112, 87 Stat. 355
• 1973-10-01 — Domestic Volunteer Services Act of 1973 (VISTA), Pub.L. 93-113, 87 Stat. 394
• 1973-11-03 — Amtrak Improvement Act, Pub.L. 93-146, 87 Stat. 548
• 1973-11-07 — War Powers Resolution, Pub.L. 93-148, 87 Stat. 555
• 1973 — Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, Pub.L. 93-203
• 1973-12-28 — Endangered Species Act, Pub.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884
• 1974-04-08 — Fair Labor Standards Amendment, Pub.L. 93-259, 88 Stat. 55
• 1974-05-31 — Research on Aging Act, Pub.L. 93-296, 88 Stat. 184
• 1974-07-12 — Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, Pub.L. 93-344, 88 Stat. 297
• 1974-07-25 — Legal Services Corporation Act, Pub.L. 93-355, 88 Stat. 378
• 1974-08-21 — Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Pub.L. 93-380, title V, §513, 88 Stat. 571
• 1974-09-02 — Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Pub.L. 93-406, 88 Stat. 829
• 1974-09-07 — Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, Pub.L. 93-415, 88 Stat. 1109
• 1974-11-26 — National Mass Transportation Assistance Act, Pub.L. 93-503, 88 Stat. 1565
• 1974-12-03 — Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act, Pub.L. 93-508, 88 Stat. 1578
• 1974-12-16 — Safe Drinking Water Act, Pub.L. 93-523, 88 Stat. 1660
• 1974-12-31 — Privacy Act of 1974, Pub.L. 93-579, 88 Stat. 1896
• 1975 January 3 — Trade Act of 1974, Pub.L. 93-618, 88 Stat. 1978
• 1975 January 3 — Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, Pub.L. 93-633, title I, 88 Stat. 2156
• 1975 January 4 — National Health Planning and Resources Development Act, Pub.L. 93-641, 88 Stat. 2225

All that, AND they ran a criminal out of the White House.

(H.T. Steven G. Brant @ HuffPost)