I should pay more attention to the world, because I saw "Scully" and thought, "What the hell is Scully doing talking about humorists? Where's Mulder?"

I don't know if the Republicans realize how stupid they sound in their comments here. The last Congress was one of the least accomplished ever. To complain about her pushing legislation forward so quickly just makes them look like whiny bitches. They're complaining because the legislature is doing what it's supposed to do? There's no traction in calling the 100 hour clock a gimmick. It's like mocking somebody for working hard.

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Hoyer's office kept the official clock that marked how much of the first 100 legislative hours had passed before all six bills were passed and sent on to the Senate. The final tally: 42 hours, 15 minutes elapsed.

Republicans scoffed at the clock, which they called a gimmick that ignored all the more mundane business the House does, enacting a resolution this week, for instance, saluting former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali on his 65th birthday.

Republicans also said it was easy to push through the bills since the minority was barred from offering any amendments that would take time to debate. And the bills never went through the normal committee hearing process despite Pelosi's pledge to run a more open, civil House respectful of minority rights.

"I wish I had a calendar like their clock. My knees would be 32 years old,'' wisecracked the 51-year-old Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga. "I'm very proud of the way they can defy time.''

By any measure, the Democrats made their goal. The House had been in session 87 hours -- including time for speeches and ceremonial tasks -- when the oil tax measure was approved.

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, graded Pelosi's performance in passing her early agenda.

"Showing a new Democratic majority she can win, I'd give her an A,'' said Barton, a senior Republican who chaired the Energy and Commerce Committee until the GOP lost their majority.

"Showing the country she can set an agenda, a B,'' he added. "But for an open legislative process in the House so far, it's an F or an F-minus.''

Hoyer said the Republican criticism of his 100-hour clock was sour grapes. "No matter how they want to count it, no matter how much fun they make of it, we made it in under 100 hours,'' he said.

Go Pelosi...kick their asses. Of course my representatives are all sucking right-wing dick right now...I'm surprised they can do anything with their mouths so full. Maybe that's why John McCain looks so puffy.ETA: I'm a chicken, though. When Mr. Straight Talk was Worst Person a few weeks back, I meant to call and "congratulate" him, but I didn't.

Here's the scorecard, incidentally.

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'Six for '06' agenda
The House passed on Thursday the final piece of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's session-opening agenda promised by Democrats during the midterm elections that led to their majority control of Congress. The six bills and the votes for approval were:

Putting in place recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission -- 299-128

Increasing minimum wage -- 315-116

Expanding federal support for stem cell research -- 253-174

Lowering prescription drug prices for Medicare -- 255-170

Cutting interest rates on college student loans -- 356-71

Ending tax breaks for oil and gas producers -- 264-163

They're going to get steamrolled when they bitch because if you're not advancing the agenda, she's gonna make you look bad.

I'd feel better about that if the Senate majority weren't so fragile that a single disgruntled Democrat could tip things the other way if his (or her) feelings get too bruised by something Pelosi does in the House.

I'd feel better about that if the Senate majority weren't so fragile that a single disgruntled Democrat could tip things the other way if his (or her) feelings get too bruised by something Pelosi does in the House.

That's Reid's job. All Pelosi can do is run the House. There are still (necessary) checks, but if she keeps advancing legislation and it gets shot down by veto or the Senate, then you can make that stick come election time.

You get a ton of political good will by saying: "I promise to do these six things in the first 100 hours of Congress" and then doing them.

It's funny how people think Pelosi is going to blow her wad, or what will happen with the next 100 hours or worrying about the Senate. She's one of the savviest politicos since Lyndon Johnson was a congressman. She will frame the debate so that you will be obliged to take a stand.

When the Repubs tried to stall the Ethics bill by giving Bush line-item veto powers on it (instead of rejecting it outright - which would have been terrible politically), she threatened to attach it to the minimum wage bill (which had the broadest poll support).

The fact is there are democrats in Congress that need to have their toes stepped on. That energy panel was not something she thought up overnight. I have no doubt that her inside group of strategists were planning on doing an end-run on Dingell as soon as they got past their first 100 hours. It had to happen to work on any kind of energy bill or global warming.

"Showing the country she can set an agenda, a B,'' he added. "But for an open legislative process in the House so far, it's an F or an F-minus.''

This means the last Republican congress must have gotten an X, or possibly a Z-minus.

You know, I had lots of deep meaningful things to say about all of the posts today, or at least about hodgeberries, but then I got to this:

I haven't made any definite plans, but I'm pretty sure I'll be in SF in that timeframe, too.

and now the highpitched squeeeing in my brain is drowning everything else out.

Mac gets to see snow!

But yay for Mac getting to see snow!!!

Mac has now seen snow falling twice, but not until this morning did he see snow still on the ground. There was just a dusting on cars and the non-concrete ground, but he was FACINATED! "this snow very good."

but he was FACINATED! "this snow very good."

Heehee! He can have all my snow in the future!

Blarg. Have to wait two whole weeks more for salon appt. This is what I get for not calling sooner.