The McClatchy Newspapers did a review of the 2007 Congressional year, and find the Democrats really didn’t accomplish much.
Democrats won control of both houses of Congress in a stunning 2006 election victory by vowing to wind down the Iraq war, marginalize President Bush, enact their agenda and revive bipartisanship.
But after a year in power, their “mission accomplished” list is thin.
They’re constrained by three factors:
* A majority that’s too slim to break party-line filibusters in the Senate or override presidential vetoes.
* Republican lawmakers’ willingness to stick by the White House most of the time.
* And divisions among themselves over how far to go in opposing the war or changing how deals get done on Capitol Hill.
Expect Pres. Bush to continue to frustrate Congress and bash their ineffectiveness – which could improve GOP chances in 2008, if Iraq stays quiet.
