Digby noted that purple was the favored color of suffragettes, which seems like a more plausible reason for Pelosi to wear it than a symbolic mingling of blue & red. Or maybe she just likes purple. I would have caled it more of a raisin color, personally, but I'm nitpicky about color.

Another Digby-- btw, I tell anyone & everyone that if they can only read one lefty blog, read Hullabaloo-- point from earlier is that promising openness and honesty isn't the same as promising bipartisanship, and while no one [sane] thinks that Pelosi & Co. will engage in outright abuse of GOPers, it would be sheer insanity to meet the nutbags halfway (or even a quarter of the way) in the name of bipartisanship. Lousy ideas are lousy ideas and certainly don't deserve validation just because everyone seems to expect Dems to be extra-nice and concilatory.

At some point the Democrats are going to have to share power with Republicans - this is a democracy after all. However, the Republicans have earned themselves a timeout for bad behavior.

They need to sit quietly in the corner while the adults fix some of the nation's more pressing problems. After a suitable period of time (maybe 1 1/2 years), more equitable parliamentary rules can be introduced.

The writer, Michael Scherer, ends his descriptive piece,

"But for the first 100 hours, partisanship is what she has offered, and partisanship is what she will get."

Such nonsense-- written as if there are no real stakes in things like the minimum wage, ethics rules, the war in Iraq. The purpose of politics and government is to make a real difference in people's lives-- whether it means aiding the unfortunate, or leaving alone the well-to-do.

This is not some game. As we continue to run out of oil, and watch the carbon in the atmosphere rise, as well as watch major parts of the US wiped off the map through a combination of hurricanes and poverty, it would behoove the media to not play the role of the cynical court observer.

There are stakes-- real stakes of survival. And if you cannot see that, nor appreciate that. then get out of the business.

What's wrong with treating republicans with contempt? They deserve it.

In addition, the republican scum lost the election. They don't count. They don't get to say anything and they don't get to add anything to the bills that pass through Congress.

Stop taking the side of the filth that is destroying this country.

You inaccurately imply that she is beleaguered by partisanship. You write this to sound like she faces some titanic struggle ("bitter and protracted battle"). As the Republicans have certainly proven since the time Dreier first took over the rules committee in 1999, it's easy to ignore the minority in the house because they have little power (unless the majority extends it to them).

So what if they squack. I say enjoy the squacking...Republican reps have no weapons or power with which to wage a battle against Pelosi.

How is insuring that fair elections are held "partisan"? The Republicans, after running the most viciously partisan Congress in a century, are now going to whine and cry unfair if Pelosi so much as forgets to say "Bless You" when a Republican sneezes. And Scherer's falling for their BS already. Pelosi's doing the job she was elected to do - the people's busines, and the GOP are doing everything they can to obstruct her in that task, with plenty of help from the "liberal" media.

I really thought Salon would know better than to trot out the same bullshit GOP memes you hear on Fox News. I should learn not to get my hopes up. If you want to report some actual news instead of taking dictation every time Dennis Hastert whines, here's a real story for you: the American people didn't vote for "bipartisanship." The voted, in huge numbers, for the Democrats. People didn't give the Dems the biggest midterm election win in American history because they wanted them to roll over for the Republicans. People voted for the Democratic agenda. Please don't tell us Pelosi doesn't have the right to carry out the people's will.

Work with the R's you can work with, when you can. Marginalize the crazies, since it will not be possible to work with them, while calling them out loud and long for their bizarre beliefs and actions. Try and split their party as a matter of good political principle, and rule them out of order when necessary.

Their feelings? Who gives a rat's ass?

This would be the best 100 "days" the Democrats have to offer! Either do it now or do it right after the Chimp’s "surge" announcement. If the Democrats really want to closely resemble heroes, then that's what will begin immediately after Bush's "new" and ridiculous plan. If the Democrats want a truly historical and poignant victory, this is the true path to the renewal of the American system and the American ideal. Deal with this first then deal with the other less formidable flaws in our system. George W. Bush is the biggest threat to peace and rationality on Earth. This is not something to be ignored!

"But for the first 100 hours, RESULTS are what she has offered, and (hopefully) RESULTS are what she will get."

There has been enough faux press drama about Congress to last us for decades. The issues Pelosi and co. are bringing to the fore have real impact, for real people - a real majority - indeed. We bloody well hired them; let them do it.......and to the media: ixnay on the i-angulation-tray.

Note to Republicans: make a reasoned argument and be treated reasonably.

Note to Hastert: sitting on your ass is not exactly news.

If "non-partisanship" requires phony agreement forged out of intimidation, bad faith deals and slick cynical trading, no one wants to see that anymore. Nor do we believe that's what Pelosi promised.

Non-partisanship isn't simply capitulation to pragmatism. It can't be allowed to replace principle and a progressive agenda for change. Any more than that "balance" in a fair and open media should replace objectivity and truth.

Rather, it's an invitation to honest and responsible cooperation. The onus - despite some really boneheaded political analysis ripppling through the media-ocracy - is not on the Democrats this time.

I'll put my gun away when you drop your knife...