The Washington Post reports that Montgomery County (Maryland) Democrats are going to start taking an "activist" approach. (What were they doing before??)

"There has never been a more important time to be in local government. Because of gridlock on Capitol Hill and Annapolis, we are going to take the bull by the horn and we are going to be innovative because I believe in progressive government. . . . We are going to push the envelope." -- Montgomery County Council President Tom Perez

"For those of us who have the values that we have, there is a great desire to show what government can do. This is an activist council." -- Montgomery County council member George L. Leventhal (D-At Large)

"We didn't run for office just to rake the leaves and tend to tree trimming. We've got ideas." -- Montgomery County council member George L. Leventhal (D-At Large)

"Those of us who are Democrats were hopeful for a Kerry administration. Well, there isn't going to be a Kerry administration, so what is our choice? Do we wait another four years to see if there is going to be a Democrat in the White House, or do we act locally? The answer is, we act locally." -- Montgomery County Council member Steven A. Silverman (D-At Large)

"I think they feel a sense that they are on their own. If you are in a position like Montgomery, where you've got some resources, talent and political capital, you ought to try some things out." -- Ed Kilgore, a policy director at the Democratic Leadership Council