Madam Speaker.

Charlie Rangel.

Wyclef Jean.

More, including commentary, on the flip.

The DCCC gave a high-dollar fundraiser at Cipriani's on Wall Street last night, with myself and several other bloggers invited along for the ride. The event raised a quarter of a million dollars for the D Trip's efforts to secure and expand our majority in the House.

I took away several things from this event. First of all, Speaker Pelosi is growing into her role as the country's most powerful parliamentary figure. She's palpably comfortable with power, with leadership and the exercise thereof, and it shows.

Second, New York has gained disproportionately from the Democratic takeover of Congress; we have thirteen, count them, thirteen committee chairmanships. That's raw power right there, and it's being used to benefit not just us, but the entire nation.

Third, without exaggeration, we have some really cool people representing us. I still can't quite wrap my mind around the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, third in line for the Presidency, rocking out a few feet away to Wyclef Jean. Two words: Dennis Hastert.

And lastly, let me again point out that all of us blog people, and there were a few, were there at the express invitation of the NYSDC. In New York, literally in this case, the netroots have a place at the table. That's worth celebrating.

And oh yeah, Eliot Spitzer reads and loves us. We love you too, Governor.