Pledge to America

The Republicans in the House are trying to replicate the success they had in 1994 with a new 'Pledge to America'. Then, they put forward a 'Contract with America' which proposed new legislation in a short time period. Many Republicans credit this document with their winning back Congress in 1994. They hope for a similar success in November ie winning back Congress from the Democrats. This is much more likely in the House than in the Senate, where only a third of members are up for election. See here for more information and some of the conservative measures advocated such as a ban on federal funding for abortion.

Politics and Dancing with the Stars

For those of you who are fans of John Sargeant's efforts on Strictly Come Dancing and like a little politics with your dancing, here is a clip of Tom DeLay - Republican House Majority Leader 2003-5 - dancing the Cha-Cha-Cha on the American version of Strictly, Dancing with the Stars. Known as "the Hammer" in the House for his enforcement of party discipline, you cannot accuse the former pest exterminator and born-again Christian for being boring!