text: ok, now that the people have spoken....? we have clearly chosen the democrats' agenda of a "new direction."  why do i still feel like we're still wondering along without a compass? in order to be moving in a direction, you need to have a starting point, waypoints to verify that you are indeed traveling in the right direction, and a destination. without these, you are wandering about aimlessly. can the dems please specify what "direction" are we headed?   i hope they can keep this little reminder in their lobes. the difference between a rut and a grave, is the amount of time you spend in it.  act quickly dems, or the quagmire of iraq will surely draw you in and never release you.  the dems number one complaint is iraq.  actually, people voted democrat , thinking they were going to resolve the iraq problem yet the new speaker of the house said this of the first one hundred hours. if you honor democratic candidates with your vote today, in the first hundred hours of a democratic congress: we will restore civility, integrity, and fiscal responsibility to the house of representatives. we will start by cleaning up congress, breaking the link between lobbyists and legislation and commit to pay-as-you-go, no new deficit spending.  we will make our nation safer and we will begin by implementing the recommendations of the independent, bipartisan 9/11 commission.  we will make our economy fairer, and we will begin by raising the minimum wage. we will not pass a pay raise for congress until there is an increase in the minimum wage.  we will make health care more affordable for all americans, and we will begin by fixing the medicare prescription drug program, putting seniors first by negotiating lower drug prices. we will also promote stem cell research to offer real hope to the millions of american families who suffer from devastating diseases.  we will broaden college opportunity, and we will begin by cutting interest rates for student loans in half.  we will energize america by achieving energy independence, and we will begin by rolling back the multi-billion dollar subsidies for big oil.  we will guarantee a dignified retirement, and we will begin by fighting any attempt to privatize social security.  what about iraq? the crux of the democrats platform?