This year I have received more invitations to inauguration parties than I can count. Couldn't make any of them. Well, I could have made Hakeem Jeffries' Brooklyn party, but I didn't think it quite appropriate.

Last night, though, I got just the slightest taste of the energy that must permeate such parties. Last night was the annual Independent Neighborhood Democrats party, this year hosted by District Leader Jo Anne Simon. Two of our local Congress Critters were there and the excitement they were giving off was palpable!

IND throws a good party. They are dessert parties held at 5:30 PM, leading to essentially dessert coming before dinner for us, but awkward timing aside, everything was great! Good turnout, good food and good energy.

For those who have followed my past posts on IND you know that this year was a very divisive one. The NY-11 Congressional primary divided the club pretty much in three and led to some very heated arguements and late night balloting for endorsements (Note to IND: instant runoff voting really works and makes voting far more efficient so that those of us with small children can get home at a reasonable time!).

Members of all three factions were there last night (though none of the candidates who sparked the battles) all amicably eating and anticipating a good year. Shows how we can come together after the storm and move on. They even seem to have forgiven me my kiss-and-tell blogging about the endoresement meetings!

Assembly members Joan Millman and Jim Brennan were there as well as State Senator Marty Connor. But to me the people who were most interesting to listen to were Nydia Velasquez and Anthony Weiner.

Weiner gave a brief speech, which almost sounded like a campaign speech, mentioning the need to remember our soldiers. But here's one key: he mentioned the goal of having them home by this time next year. Weiner gave, in my mind, a solid indication that Democrats aim to get us OUT OF IRAQ. It could have been mere rhetoric, but that wasn't how it felt. It felt like he KNEW the message he was giving and was essentially giving us local bulwarks of the party a taste of what House Democrats have in mind. I am not a huge fan of Weiner anymore, but I do think on this issue he may do us proud this year. Or so I hope.

But the best part of last night was talking to Nydia Velasquez, who now is the first woman to lead the Small Business committee. Jacob (my 2 year old) had fun flirting with her. I got a great chance to talk to her and hear her take on what's coming up in Congress. Nydia was chomping at the bit to get going with this legislative season. She indicated that Democrats will give the public their money's worth, not like the Republicans who last year only had Congress in session about 72 days out of the whole year. Nydia told us it's going to be hard working hours. It seems like our Democratic Representatives are taking their cue from Bill Clinton, known as the hardest working of our modern Presidents, while Republicans took after George Bush, known as the President who has spent the most time on vacation, even during moments of crisis.

Nydia plans on bringing back the Small Business committee from the neglect of the Republicans. She also indicates that Pelosi is going to be extremely tough on the Republicans...as well as on Democrats who have their own agenda. She is uniting House Democrats into a solid front against the Republican mismanagement of America.

The best quote of the evening was Nydia's: "The Republicans AND the Democrats learned an important lesson [in 2006]: There is no such thing as absolute power." The PEOPLE have restored checks and balances to the government.

Change is in the air. And BOY am I ready to see it!