No Chickens Have Hatched, but Obama and Congress Start Talking

The warnings about not counting Democratic chickens before they hatch have been loud and clear. U.S. Barack Obama has NOT won the presidential election, nor have the Democrats expanded their Congressional majorities. And neither may happen. But just in case, Obama’s team is starting to confer with Democratic leaders in Congress about a new governing agenda. The Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Weisman takes a look at the emerging factions on Capitol Hill vying for Obama’s ear in shaping the legislative agenda:

The first group is the "old bull" liberals, who, Weisman says, “want to move fast on big-ticket issues” such as universal health care; energy independence; regulatory and labor issues. Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel is leading the charge here. According to Weisman, Rangel argues that Democrats need to have faith that a strong showing in the election indicates broad political backing. 

The second group is the Blue Dogs, who favor fiscal discipline. Concerned with a mounting deficit of almost $1 trillion, the Blue Dogs don’t see the money for Obama’s ambitious agenda. The say that Congress should start with approving a bipartisan commission to tackle the deficit and the growth of entitlements, such as Medicare and Medicaid.  Says Blue Dog Congressman Allen Boyd: "We know we have to do the energy plan. We have to deal with health care. We can't do any of that until we lay out a plan to bring the fiscal, financial side in order."

And the third group is the Pragmatists, who, according to Weisman, embrace an activist agenda but is wary about going “too far too fast.”  This group argues that Obama should work with Congress to move on issues that have bipartisan support: an economic stimulus package, expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program funded with a tobacco-tax increase, and funding for federal stem-cell research. Then Congress and the president can work to build bipartisan support for bigger-ticket items – health care reform, energy, education, and regulatory changes. This group of pragmatists includes Congress’ top Democratic leaders.