100 Hours of Fluff

Democrats To Start Without GOP Input, the headline goes. And if this is the Democrat agenda, the GOP would be wise to step aside and let them wallow in it. If it doesn't work, the media won't pay attention anyway. The Democrats will just stick their fingers in the air to see which way the winds blows. All style, no substance.

As they prepare to take control of Congress this week and face up to campaign pledges to restore bipartisanship and openness, Democrats are planning to largely sideline Republicans from the first burst of lawmaking.

House Democrats intend to pass a raft of popular measures as part of their well-publicized plan for the first 100 hours. They include tightening ethics rules for lawmakers, raising the minimum wage, allowing more research on stem cells and cutting interest rates on student loans.

But instead of allowing Republicans to fully participate in deliberations, as promised after the Democratic victory in the Nov. 7 midterm elections, Democrats now say they will use House rules to prevent the opposition from offering alternative measures, assuring speedy passage of the bills and allowing their party to trumpet early victories.

Tighten ethics rules? How about starting with one of their own?

Michelle Malkin has more on The Imperial John Conyers.