Democrats seize control of Congress; Pelosi, first female US House
speaker, takes gavel
UNITED STATES: In a day of ceremony and historic change, Rep. Nancy
Pelosi became the nation's first female speaker of the House of
Representatives as Democrats eagerly took control of Congress for the
final two years of President George W. Bush's term.
"The Democrats are back," Pelosi rejoiced Thursday. Within hours, the
House had cleared stricter new ethics rules, a main piece of the
Democratic agenda, on a vote of 430-1.
As is customary, the opening moments of a new Congress produced
pledges of bipartisanship at both ends of the Capitol, the Senate and
the House. Yet Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid signaled a
new political order when they swiftly challenged Bush over the war in
Iraq.
"No issue in our country is more important than finding an end to
this intractable war," said Democrat Reid. "Completing the mission in
Iraq is the president's job, and we will do everything in our power to
ensure he fulfills it."
The two houses convened at the stroke of noon, under Democratic
control together for the first time since 1994.
That meant a return to power for men long used to wielding it.
Venerable liberals such as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and Rep. John Dingell
are Democratic committee chairmen again, for example.
It also brought reduced circumstances to others, no one more so than
Republican Rep. Dennis Hastert, just a member of the ranks after eight
tumultuous years as speaker in charge of almost all major decisions in
the running of the House.
By custom, lawmakers brought their children to opening ceremonies in
the House, and Pelosi swept into the chamber accompanied by her
grandchildren.
Formality reigned, as always, in the Senate, where Vice President
Dick Cheney administered the oath of office to 33 new and newly
re-elected senators.
Former President Bill Clinton watched from the gallery as his wife,
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, was sworn in for a second six-year term
from New York.
In a chance encounter, he dodged questions about her presidential
ambitions. "I would like not to talk about it today," he said.
It fell to Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the new House Republican
leader, to hand Pelosi the gavel, the symbol of the speaker's
substantial authority. "Whether you're a Republican, Democrat or an
independent, this is a cause for celebration," he said, noting her place
in history.
He also gave notice to the party she leads, adding, "Republicans will
hold the incoming majority accountable for its promises and its
actions." Across the Capitol, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky took over
as leader of minority Republicans and said it was time to put an end to
"a culture of partisanship over principle."
He said cooperation was clearly possible on minimum wage and lobbying
bills, and he added that he hoped the issues of Social Security and
immigration also would yield to compromise.
Washington, Friday, Reuters |