The New freshman Democrats (ND's) in the House of Representatives were charged, by voters, with putting the brakes on the global elite's push for more trade deals.  Old Democrats (OD's) are newly in charge of House committees, and are now receiving bucks from the global elite.  The OD's are perfectly happy supporting new trade agreements, without any strategy but getting one, if they can receive a few written bromides on labor and environmental standards, and if they can opine with oral bromides about imports, outsourcing and trade deficits.

The bipolar Dems, conflicted between ND's and OD's, are beginning to twist under the pressure of Fast Track expiration in March.  Yesterday, the Financial Times reported the OD's were closing in on a deal with the Bush Whitehouse to extend Fast Track.  And during a Ways and Means Committee hearing on trade yesterday, Rangel praised USTR Susan Schwab on her willingness to discuss the labor issue.  (Merely discussing the issue is good?)

But when Sander Levin asked about the import problem, Schwab refused to concede that imports were anything but beneficial.  Pomeroy said Schwab had been a wimpy negotiator, already conceding too much to other countries.

Meanwhile, Dorgan held an "Overseas Sweatshop Abuse" hearing yesterday as chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade and Tourism.  Dorgan has sponsored a bill, with Lindsey Graham, to prohibit companies from importing products made in sweatshops.

Meet our U.S. Trade Representative, never relinquishing U.S. interests.

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