Democrats Take Control: Time to Deliver

This week was a good one for Democrats, as they took control of Congress and several key governorships. In Washington, DC, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was sworn in as the first female Speaker of the House and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) assumed the post of Senate Majority Leader. For my Canadian readers, Congresswoman Pelosi has a similar parliamentary position as Prime Minister Stephen Harper and would be our first female prime minister if the United States operated under the Westminster system. She and Senator Reid should be congratulated for their achievements and The Canadian-American wishes them productive sessions in the 110th Congress.

Just over the border in Massachusetts, Deval Patrick (D) was inaugurated today as the Commonwealth's 71st Governor. Succeeding former Governor and 2008 Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, he is the Commonwealth's first Governor of African descent. Outside New England, Eliot Spitzer (D) took control of New York's Governorship on 2007-01-01.

Closer to home, it was more of a mixed bag for the Democrats. At the federal level, Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT) began his service today for the 2nd Congressional District. At the state level, my representation in Hartford is still firmly in Republican hands. Governor M. Jodi Rell started her first full term yesterday. State Senator Tony Guglielmo (Stafford) and State Representative Penny Bacchiochi (Somers) continue their terms as well.

The Canadian-American will be providing coverage of the Democrats' "First 100 h" in Congress next week. While I support the new Democratic majority in Congress for both the health of the Nation and the Republican Party, there will be no honeymoon for them on these pages. In times which require decisive action and measurable results, honeymoons are a luxury which we cannot afford. During the last election, the Democrats promised to bring change to Congress. Now that they are in the majority, it is time for them to deliver.