The President is scheduled to meet with Congressional leaders on Tuesday. No doubt there will be a much more subdued Obama who is willing to compromise with Republicans thus replacing the hard-stance Obama hell-bent on ramming through legislation against the will of the American majority under the guise of he “knows what’s best for us.”

Other agenda items of interest are extended unemployment benefits that end this week. Medicare payment reduction is due to go into effect on December 1st which will result in reduced federal reimbursement to doctors who in turn have threatened to drop medicare patients. The fiscal 2011 budget is still pending and a temporary spending plan is due to expire on Friday, if not passed the federal government could shut down. A lot on the proverbial plate before the end of the year.

The one message that elected politicians should have received during this past election is that they will be closely monitored. No longer will it be acceptable for Washington legislators to ride roughshod over the majority of Americans that want nothing more than responsible legislation, accountability and the end of politicians double-talking their way out of broken campaign promises.

Once again – we will be watching!

Right up to the last hours of political campaigning Pelosi was in a state of denial with her predictions of a Democratic majority prevailing in the House. But unlike passing the unpopular health care reform and bailout bills against the will of the American majority this time the voters had a say. They sent an overwhelming message of disapproval to Pelosi and her Democratic cohorts.

It is time for Nancy Pelosi to fade from the spotlight into obscurity. The nation no longer needs or wants her “services”. On the other hand, as the minority leader, she could be beneficial to the Republican party as a constant bombastic reminder as to why the Democrats no longer reign supreme.

Some of the unfinished business included not voting on the expiring Bush-era tax cuts.

“Democrats will go campaign to try and save their own jobs while doing nothing to save the jobs of working Americans. Congress must not adjourn until we vote up or down to extend all current tax relief to every American.”
~Republican Representative Mike Pence of Indiana

Legislators made a mad dash for the door in order to head home and concentrate on the mid-term elections. Hopefully for many that return to Washington it will be of short duration and they can go back home permanently.

The Homeland Security Advisory System uses five color-coded threat levels to determine the risk of terrorist acts to the American people. Maybe it’s time to adopt a similar color warning system for the Congressional threat to America.

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste — and what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you didn’t think you could do before.”
~Rahm Emanuel, White House Chief of Staff

Maybe the White House should adopt a new slogan – “you never want a popular celebrity’s death to go to waste.”

Almost everyone was immersed in the details regarding the life and times of Michael Jackson except Congress. They were busy pushing, I mean passing the latest piece of legislation known as the climate change bill. The House passed this bill late last Friday night by a vote of 219-212. It is estimated that this bill will cost each household at least $175 per year. This is in direct conflict of Obama’s campaign promise of not taxing Americans that make less than $250,000 per year. Main stream news media had their audiences enraptured with continuing coverage of the pop icon Michael Jackson taking the focus and attention off the passing of this bill.

“It amounts to the largest tax increase in American history under the guise of climate change.”
~Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind.

This bill is over 1,200 pages. It begs the question once again – did any member of the House read this tome in its entirety before voting? Probably not. It is now up to the Senate where the bill faces a very tough challenge. There’s always the possibility that another high-profile news story will provide a cover for the Senate vote on this bill. Another late night vote while the Americans that will be affected are sound asleep.

And speaking of providing cover, don’t you think that Governor Mark Sanford has been glad to be off the front page for the past several days.

Here is a man of betrayal that has no shame and no loyalty to party, country, or even his constituents. Senator Specter has only his own selfish personal agenda first and foremost on his list of priorities. It is completely disingenuous to the people that voted him into office to change parties and accept a different political philosophy to fulfill an egocentric desire to remain in Congress.

“I was unwilling to subject my 29-year record in the U.S. Senate to the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate”
~Senator Arlen Specter

Well, at least he didn’t say 29-year record of conservative values.

Arlen Specter had virtually no hope of being reelected as a Republican. By changing his party affiliation he now stands a chance of perpetuating his existence in Congress regardless of his effectiveness or worth. And a question for Pennsylvania Democrats, if elected in 2010 what’s to stop him from switching back to the Republican side of the aisle?

This is a man drowning in old age that will do anything to perpetuate his status as a sitting Senator.

Senator Specter was in a leadership position within the Republican party where he could influence and initiate change if that was his intention. But it was not his intention. He will now be a follower in the Democratic party bending and swaying to the demands of the liberal leadership while continuing to keep a seat polished with his hind end.

Specter has lived his life for the past 40 years as a Republican supposedly based on conservative values and has now become enamored by the party of big taxes, big government, big spending, and endless abortions. How is it that a 79 year-old man wakes up one day, looks in the mirror and exclaims,”I’ve been living a lie”?

The answer: he doesn’t, it’s all about Arlen Specter, a political defector with an intrinsic personal agenda.

Still not frothing at the mouth yet? Here’s another report for you to enjoy while you pull the rest of your hair out.

John Murtha is one political dinosaur that needs to be voted into extinction. But with this kind of money pouring into his district it’s highly unlikely that local constituents will vote him out.

Congress is on a week long break. After all, members of Congress are tired from counseling, scolding and chastising corporate CEO’s for flying private jets to Washington to ask for the taxpayers money to bail them out. Then they had to spend the taxpayers money on an economic stimulus bill that was rushed through even before they had time to read it. So it only makes sense that while they’re on a roll they might as well spend some more of the taxpayers money and send themselves on fact-finding trips overseas.

It’s no wonder a politician will lie, cheat and wrangle their way into office and then want to stay. The perks that include worldwide travel, medical care and retirement on the backs of the taxpayers cannot be matched.

This would be good for Senator Gregg as he has virtually no hope of being elected to anything in the state of New Hampshire ever again. He is the last Republican holdout. Two congressional seats went to Democrats two years ago and Republican John Sununu lost his seat in the past election to Democrat sweetheart Jeanne Shaheen. This leaves only Judd Gregg who loses credibility among state Republicans almost daily. He was one of the head honchos of the corporate bailout bill which there was little constituency support.

Senator Judd Gregg’s political career is on life support. The only way to keep his political life alive is to be resuscitated by the Obama Administration.

Vice-President elect Joe Biden was sworn in as the Senator from Delaware. Why? This is Joe’s only income, he must need the money and cannot afford the break between Senator and Vice-President.

Roland Burris, Governor Blagojevich appointed Democratic Senator from Illinois replacing Barack Obama, was turned away by the Senate. The Senate’s Democratic leaders unceremoniously blocked him from entering the chamber. Is this a case of Democrats consuming their own?

And the winner from Minnesota is – Al Franken!? This is the best that Minnesota has to offer? It is an absolute travesty. Thanks a lot citizens from Minnesota. As if there isn’t enough problems in Washington you have to send an incompetent clown to occupy a prestigious Senatorial seat. Norm Coleman vacated his office and vows to appeal the latest vote count which temporarily prevents Franken from taking office. The “Great” Harry Reid told Coleman to concede, how about after due process has been carried out Harry. Senator Reid was not so quick to have Franken concede when he was behind in the votes. This is a case where America would be better off with a vacated seat than a seated Al Franken. At least when he was host of Air America we could turn him off.

The new year is off to an interesting start and 2009 is bound to be a year of “change” as promised by Barack Obama.