In 2006 Americans gave a clear message: stop the war in Iraq and focus on America's security and economy.

The Democrats heard the message as within the first 100 hours of the new Congress, House Democrats passed a minimum wage increase, the first raise the poorest working Americans have gotten in nearly 10 years. Republicans have maximized CEO profits, now Democrats give working Americans a boost. Eighty House Republicans also heard America's message and joined Democrats, indicating that bipartisanship can work. I want to point out that this the minimum wage has not even kept up with inflation, meaning America's poorest have lost ground in the last 10 years. This change is long overdue.

Also within the frist 100 hours, House Democrats voted to implement the bipartisan recommendations of the 9/11 committee, something Bush and the previous Republican dominated Congress failed to do. This is also long overdue.

If Senate follows suit, we will already have gotten our money's worth from the Democratic Congress.

Meanwhile, Bush seems to have completely missed the message sent by voters. His big idea is to immerse us further in the Iraq quagmire he created by sending 21,500 more troops of our already over-extended military to Iraq. So Bush failed to implement the bipartisan 9/11 commission's recommendations to make America more secure, but he wants to continue to fight a war against people who had nothing to do with attacks on America on 9/11.

Meanwhile, John Edwards is also showing he heard American voters. He is already calling on Congress to refuse funding for Bush's "surge." Edwards recognizing the foolishness of sending more soldiers to die for a failed war with no exit stratey and no real benefit for America while we still need to deal with the enemy that actually attacked us on 9/11.

Here is John Edwards' statement:

Tonight, President Bush is expected to adopt the McCain Doctrine and announce his plan to send up to 20,000 more troops to Iraq. That is a grave mistake.

The president's decision is wrong for Iraq and wrong for America -- and it's time for the new Congress to stop Bush from stubbornly pursuing his failed strategy in Iraq.

Congress should make it clear to the president that he will not get any money to put more of our troops in harm's way until he provides a plan to turn responsibility of Iraq over to the Iraqi people and to ultimately leave Iraq.

Click here to sign a petition calling on Congress to block funding for Bush's escalation of the war in Iraq.

The situation in Iraq demands a political solution -- not an escalation of the war that our generals agree won't help.

Escalating the war in Iraq sends the wrong message to the Iraqi people, to the region, and the world.

To get the Iraqis to begin to take responsibility for their country, we must show them that we are serious about leaving. And the best way to do that is by actually starting to leave -- beginning by immediately withdrawing 40,000-50,000 of our troops, not escalating the war.

George Bush wants to dig a deeper hole, but we need to climb out:

Join me in calling on Congress to block funding for Bush's escalation in Iraq.

Only when the U.S. starts leaving will the Iraqi people and other regional powers be forced to step up and engage in the search for a political solution -- and bring an end to the sectarian violence.

This president has had nearly four years to get Iraq right -- and at every step, he's gotten it wrong. Tonight, he's more wrong than ever about what America needs to do. It's time for Congress to act. And it's time for America to begin leaving Iraq.

Tell Congress to stop Bush's escalation of the war.

Thank you for taking action,

John Edwards

Bush: mired in failure.

Democrats: looking quite promising so far, with a bit of Republican help.

Let's hope this Democratic led, bipartisan show of actual work and leadership continues, something we have lacked since Bush was elected.

Here is a list of what Nancy Pelosi wants to do next:

We will make health care more affordable for all Americans, and we will begin by fixing the Medicare prescription drug program, putting seniors first by negotiating lower drug prices. We will also promote stem cell research to offer real hope to the millions of American families who suffer from devastating diseases.

We will broaden college opportunity, and we will begin by cutting interest rates for student loans in half.

We will energize America by achieving energy independence, and we will begin by rolling back the multi-billion dollar subsidies for Big Oil.

We will guarantee a dignified retirement, and we will begin by fighting any attempt to privatize Social Security.

An ambitious agenda, but one that I know I stand behind.

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