U.S. News and World Report; August 4, 2009. After another day wrangling over healthcare reform, it was no small amount of frustration that inspired Rep. Henry Waxman to stand in front of a press gathering and not-so-subtly accuse the "blue dog" Democrats of being party turncoats. "I won't allow them to hand over control of our committee to Republicans," Waxman said, threatening to have the bill bypass the Energy and Commerce Committee he chairs if the blue dogs didn't accept the deal before them. "I don't see what other alternative we have, because we're not going to let them empower Republicans on the committee," he added, in case his point had been lost on anyone.

This response by Waxman frustrates me to no end. I can't imagine what people on his committee think. He said, "We're not going to let them empower Republicans on the committee."

Here are other ways to interpret that phrase:
-We're not going to let them work in a bipartisan way.
-We're not going to let them think on their own.
-We're not going to let them threaten my power.
-We're not going to let "the opposition party" have any say or feel good about anything that happens.

This is leadership at it's worst. It's top-down, heavy-handed, I don't care what you think or say, my way or the highway stuff. Both Republicans & Democrats on the committee (while I'm sure they have thick skin) must have felt ignored, devalued & completely uninspired to work with their "leader."*

*It's always a problem when someone doesn't lead well, but they still have the position of authority.