Democratic Achievements

As disgusted as we are over congressional Democrats' unfathomable capitulation to President 28 Percent on warrantless wiretapping, it is worth remembering that they headed into the summer recess with some substantial accomplishments under their belts.

After months of being flogged for accomplishing little, Democrats who control Congress headed into a summer recess having passed several high-profile bills from raising the minimum wage to bolstering U.S. security and expanding children's health care.

Their top priority -- ending the Iraq war -- remains frustratingly unfulfilled. But the Democrats who took over in January were able to go home early on Sunday for a monthlong break having won more support in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for bringing combat troops home by early next year, marking a significant turnaround from last year.

Democrats also will be able to batter President George W. Bush and congressional Republicans for sticking with a war policy that droves of Americans increasingly oppose.

And it was Bush's fellow conservatives who helped kill his top domestic priority, immigration reform.

I'm not sure what Reuters means by "bolstering U.S. security," but I certainly hope it is not a reference to the Iraq occupation funding bill and the warrantless wiretapping abomination.

It would not do, however, for us to fall into a fatalistic mindset and buy the GOP talking point that this congress isn't accomplishing anything. They have reached some important goals, despite a Republican strategy of obstructionism.

We should communicate with congressional Democrats during the summer break to make sure they understand that one of the reasons we placed them in the majority was to hold the line against Bush's authoritarian inclinations. That means stopping him from grabbing more power, rather than rolling over and giving it to him. When they get back to work after Labor Day, we want them to know that we expect them to build on their early successes and actually hold the president accountable for his high crimes and misdemeanors.