Posted on 11/04/2004 1:33:32 AM PST by kattracks
WASHINGTON - The day after getting their heads handed to them again in national elections, furious Democrats on Capitol Hill were pointing fingers at their own leaders and vowing war with Republicans.Several top Democratic aides blamed House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and national party Chairman Terry McAuliffe for failing to win back the White House or either chamber of Congress.
Instead, they lost ground in both houses and their Senate leader, Tom Daschle, was knocked off.
Angry Democrats also dismissed any suggestion of a truce with GOP lawmakers.
"We'll be throwing a lot of grenades," said one senior Democratic aide in the Senate. "With only 45 members, there'll be times when we can't filibuster, and we'll have to shine the spotlight on their outrageousness."
Despite calls for unity following the bitter election results, Democrats were incensed yesterday over remarks by GOP leaders anxious to push President Bush's conservative programs in his second term.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) said in a statement that Americans must heal differences, but added he'll work with Bush and Senate leaders "to enact our common sense agenda."
White House press secretary Scott McClellan made a point to mention that Bush called several freshman senators, and, speaking about his agenda, told one, "Now is the time to get it done."
"If Republicans ... try to enact a radical right-wing agenda, they'll be met with opposition every step of the way," warned a top Democratic operative in the Senate.
An explosive issue could be Senate confirmation hearings if Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist steps down from the high court because of his cancer, or if Attorney General John Ashcroft is replaced, as is widely expected.
A nomination fight with Bush and Senate Republicans is "likely to seriously poison any aura of good will up here," said the influential operative.
In the House, where Republicans improved their majority by two seats, a senior adviser to House Democrats - who described the caucus' mood as "suicidal" - criticized Pelosi for not taking a page from GOP ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich's playbook and playing hardball this year.
"Nancy looks bad," said the adviser. "The only way to win this place is to burn it down."
Several of the Democratic sources said party boss McAuliffe should resign immediately, despite his plan to leave next year.
"McAuliffe is out - not a question," said one senior House aide.
A top Democratic operative in the Senate said it was time for a change at party headquarters.
"I can't imagine he'd be allowed to stick around, much less to try and further the ambitions of Sen. Hillary Clinton," said the top operative. "Nobody's going to allow that to happen."
But other Democrats defended McAuliffe, who sources say has raised an eye-popping $400 million since 2003.
"By any reasonable measure, Chairman McAuliffe succeeded at his two tasks: raising money and getting out the vote," said DNC spokesman Jano Cabrera.
Originally published on November 4, 2004
Red...color of flyover country.
Have we got one appellate court justice through? Maybe one but no more so far ... Arrgh!
Yeah the Republican vote!! Bwahahahahaha
W to dems: "Bring it." We have a nice little majority going, so bite me dems!
"Nancy looks bad," said the adviser. "The only way to win this place is to burn it down."
These people are downright scary and seditious. They would seek to destroy this country on a mission to hold onto power.
Please Democrats keep doing what you're doing! we're only 5 senators away from a democratic-proof majority! Do not under any circumstances listen to wacked out people like Zell, Evan Bayh, or Joe Lieberman! I would suggest that Barney Frank would make an excellent presidential candidate.
Another demo success story. By the way, where has old terry been. I haven't seen him surface yet and I'm really looking forward to it.
Thanks for the ping!
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