President Bush has congressional Democrats on a leash. Their subservience to el presidente is most evident in rhetoric that positions them between Bush and voters.

Take for example Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader from California. She delivered a capitulating “rebuttal” to Bush’s State of the Union address last Wednesday evening. Pelosi held viewers in her grip as she moved from word to word and sentence to sentence, with her eyes moving left to right … left to right … left to right. The power of her teleprompter convictions was clear, supported by the forced smile that never seemed to go away.

Her rhetoric attempted to fashion a “tough” image to compete with Bush. She pledged her commitment to the so-called “war on terror” and to militarism in general, noting that “House Democrats have made a commitment to guarantee a military second to none.”

One can only wonder what she plans to do with that military, but I doubt it involves baking cookies for the neighbors. She also verbally threw in support for civil liberties, despite having voted for the Patriot Act.

Harry Reid, the Senate minority leader from Nevada, was even more painful (and boring) to watch. His rebuttal was pulled straight from “Leave it to Beaver” with a story of getting a “bite to eat” at his hometown’s “only restaurant” — going out of his way to bring attention to how far away he lives from civilization. It was God this and family values that. Reid differs from Pelosi, though, in that he isn’t just pretending to be a virulent right-winger.

He is the anti-choice, pro-war Democratic leader of the Senate. The Democrats chose him, of their own free will, to replace defeated former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D. Why? Because Senate Democrats believe they are best represented by a conservative, who, incidentally, is a personal friend of Bush and Cheney.

And then there is good old Tom Harkin, our local senator. It blew me away to watch Harkin debate himself after the November election. Like his colleagues, Harkin tries to play both sides. Observe the left side of his mouth vs. the right side of his mouth in the following point-counterpoint:

— “I want to be clear that I do not question the legitimacy or outcome of our 2004 Presidential election.”

— “What we saw in Ohio was a concerted effort by an official, the secretary of state, to try to minimize the ability of Ohioans to cast their vote.”

— “I want to be clear that I do not question the legitimacy or outcome of our 2004 Presidential election.”

— “Standing in line for 10 hours in America is like throwing acid in the face of democracy.”

— “I want to be clear that I do not question the legitimacy or outcome of our 2004 Presidential election.”

— “It mars it. It scars it permanently.”

— “I want to be clear that I do not question the legitimacy or outcome of our 2004 Presidential election.”

I could go on, but you get the point. The above quotes were taken from a single statement Harkin made Jan. 6, demonstrating the unconscious level from which his politicking emanates. Harkin has himself on a leash, but Bush must surely laugh all the same.

Liberals: Your party has abandoned you in favor of a rising conservatism. The election is over now, and there is no excuse at this point for political pandering. The Democratic politicians, far away in Washington, must be held accountable and viewed not by party affiliation but by their actions alone.

In this context, it is clear that the Democratic Party is more bark than bite. Liberal citizens should therefore break with the party and identify and address community problems themselves, rather than relying on politicians, who put personal advancement above all else.