Nancy Pelosi

Congressman Jim McGovern said Wednesday that the Democrats should be ready and willing to use their now considerable majorities in both chambers of Congress to pass significant legislation, the Associated Press reports.

The remarks came two days after Democrats expanded their majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate, and a day after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that "the country must be governed from the middle."

McGovern told the AP he is not concerned with the House moving left, but that he is worried about Democrats not using the mandate he believes the election provided.

"I'm not worried about overreaching," McGovern said. "I'm worried about being too timid and too cautious, and not stepping up to the plate and doing what we promised we would do."

In a new spot echoing Sarah Palin's latest attacks on the stump, John McCain goes after Barack Obama for a portion of a comment he made on air raids in Afghanistan as "dishonorable."

The ad, said to be airing nationally, also attacks "congressional liberals," with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the embattled House Ways and Means Chair Charles Rangel coming into frame. About 24 seconds in, one more comes into focus: 4th District Democrat Barney Frank.

Republicans said that about a dozen Republican votes for the bailout plan were lost as a result of a partisan speech given by Speaker Nancy Pelosi just before the roll call.

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank responded: "We don't believe they had the votes...give me those 12 people's names, and I will go talk uncharacteristically nicely to them and tell them what wonderful people they are and maybe they'll now think about the country."

A taped message from U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy is scheduled to run on the first night of the Democratic National Convention, the Associated Press reports. 

Kennedy (D-Hyannis Port) recorded a message to the Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Hyannis Port)convention to be a part of a reportedly 15-minute tribute to the senior senator from Massachusetts at the convention. The message was taped in case Kennedy, who suffered a seizure on May 17 as a result of a malignant brain tumor and recently completed a six-week chemotherapy and radiation cycle, is unable to travel to Denver.

The Democratic National Convention will begin the night of Monday, August 25, in Denver, Colo. In addition to the video tribute to Kennedy, Michelle Obama, presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama's (Ill.) wife, and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will speak on the opening night.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Worcester)Rep. Jim McGovern (D- Worcester) was named co-chair of Congressional Human Rights Caucus Thursday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

McGovern replaces Rep. Tom Lantos (R-Calif.), who passed away in February, as co-chair and will join Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) in leading the caucus.