PLOTTING FOR '08 ... CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS. The NYT had a column today about how the Republicans are already working to characterize as "disastrous" some of the early congressional votes made by the new Democrats. The GOP is using the politics of parliamentary procedure that the story calls "formally known as motions to recommit, usually obscure party-line proposals that Republicans are using to pummel Democrats in swing districts." The lesson to take away from this (and the disastrous labeling of Kerry as a flip-flopper) is that the general public is confused by the technicalities of Congress, and clever campaign managers can spin almost anything to sound like the a candidate voted to pass horrible legislation. May the voters be willing to see through the hype and may the reporters make sure to fully and throughly examine congressional records in the other '08 elections. --Kay Steiger
