Cash-Strapped DCCC To Cut Weakest Democratic Incumbents From Funding
Oh boy. Not a good sign when the majority party is throwing their members over the side:
WASHINGTON — As Democrats brace for a November wave that threatens their control of the House, party leaders are preparing a brutal triage of their own members in hopes of saving enough seats to keep a slim grip on the majority.
In the next two weeks, Democratic leaders will review new polls and other data that show whether vulnerable incumbents have a path to victory. If not, the party is poised to redirect money to concentrate on trying to protect up to two dozen lawmakers who appear to be in the strongest position to fend off their challengers.
“We are going to have to win these races one by one,” said Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, conceding that the party would ultimately cut loose members who had not gained ground.
With the midterm campaign entering its final two months, Democrats acknowledged that several races could quickly move out of their reach, including re-election bids by Representatives Betsy Markey of Colorado, Tom Perriello of Virginia, Mary Jo Kilroy of Ohio and Frank Kratovil Jr. of Maryland, whose districts were among the 55 Democrats won from Republicans in the last two election cycles.
Representatives John M. Spratt Jr. of South Carolina, chairman of the Budget Committee, and Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota, who is seeking a 10th term, are among the senior Democrats who have appeared to gain little ground in the summer months in the toxic political environment. A sputtering economy and discontent with Washington have created a high sense of voter unease that has also put control of the Senate in question.
To hold the line against Republicans, the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, issued an urgent plea for members in safe districts to help their endangered colleagues by contributing money. She called out Democrats who were delinquent on paying their party dues and instructed members with no re-election worries to tap into a combined $218 million from their campaign accounts to help save their majority.
I know many of us refused to contribute to DCCC, the DNC and the DSCC, but it's still important to give directly to these campaigns -- at least, the ones who aren't Blue Dogs. So please, if you can afford it and these are your representatives, this is the time to pitch in.
Hey Obama, how's that DLC republican-lite Rahm thingy workin' out for ya'? You moron!
Despite your greatest efforts to betray all things democratic, I still don't believe the repukes are gonna win much of anything, just like 1998.
But if they do, you have no one but yourselves to blame.
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
I don't appreciate that comment. Why don't you go somewhere you will fit in better like Drudge report.
Why don't you bite me!
If you can't handle the truth, then screw you!
I'll say anything I want to about our Manchurian president. The same corporate sellout that I worked to get elected. How many union members and people in your community voted for him because of your efforts. This guy is a traitor!
The fact that you would even insinuate that I somehow am a "righty" because I don't cotton to be screwed by corporate toadies, just proves you are not that bright!
For the last year and a half, the majority of posters here (including the folks who run the site) have been saying exactly what I said about O-sellout, Rahm, and the DLC.
Why don't you get a clue, or at least have enough intelligence to keep your mouth shut when people who know what they are talking about hit the hammer on the head of reality.
As far as the Drudge report, that's where you need to go! Where all the other conservatards exist who won't say a word against their oppressors.
I have been here for many years. Who the hell do you think you are to tell me to go to the Drudge report - you punk!
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
I don't appreciate MANY of your comments. It's not your place to dis-invite our posters from visiting here. If you want THAT kind of power, start your own blog. We've told you to knock off the flame baiting, and this isn't your first on this thread. Thin ice, mister.
Thanks monitor.
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
the sellout Dems are lame, refuse to fight back by simply listing the facts, and then don't support Progressive conger people like Alan Grayson who DO fight back. The Dems will be getting what they deserve. Unfortunately, their base, US, will not be getting what we deserve, which is honest representation, from them or the Rethugs.
Obama is not the DCCC nor the DLC head. Go bark up another tree.
Why don't you get a clue!
He is the freakin' PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!
He pushed out all of the real FDR type democrats after they brought back the party, and replaced them with all the Clinton corporatist DLC republican-lites. The same ones who lost FDR's two generation stronghold in congress because back in 1994 they thought it would be a great idea to be more like the republicans.
If he had governed with a new deal passion like FDR, the republican party would be dead today!
I know, I know; what about those tyrannical republicans who controlled the Senate with a 40-60 vote minority. How could he possibly get anything done?
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
figurehead, don'tchaknow.
Ok, I've noticed as late that the quality of posts across the blogs has changed since the 2008 election. I used to be able to find a lot more calls to "action." If the blogs are really the new organization tool then perhaps someone would be kind enough to put together an Actblue page for deserving progressive candidates. I would like to donate directly to deserving candidates, but there are none in my area (Conservative IL County) and there is no way I can keep up with all of the national elections. So Crooks and Liars, perhaps more action posts or a candidate list? I've already sent some cash to Feingold and Grayson, who else? It would be nice to have tiers, as in candidates who really need money or who we can get the most bang for buck as it were. How about separate lists for house and senate candidates, maybe a governors list, state legislator lists. Focus people, not much time left.
Thanks
At the top of this page click on "Blue America".
Then, click on "continue reading" in the first post on that page, "Blue America '10".
Or just follow this link:
http://blueamerica.crooksandliars.com/campaig...
There's a whole list of progressive candidates throughout the US.
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
Go figger.
edit: I take it back in the case of Grayson.
Looks like the corporate friendly dems are trying get rid of all those pesky un-corporate friendly Democrats in Congress.
How'd that not listening to the base and cutting loose these candidates during the primary season work out for them.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Spineless? Cute.
Make that up by yourself, or did Mommy help.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Don't you love how this clueless punk comes here and attacks the adults who have the nerve to say, "hey I don't like being screwed, even if you are a democrat!"
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
This doesn't mean shit. The incumbent party always loses seats in the midterms and the Dems have such a huge majority in the house they gotta pick and choose where the money goes.
Actually Captain clueless, they won seats in 1998 and 2002!
Rah, rah, I'm being screwed by the DLC; but it's okay, because they are "democrats."
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
The democrats are going to lose big time. They seem to always destroy themselves. They can't compete with the republican media and sound bite machine. They can never come together as a unit. Obama needs to come out with some major changes to the tax code to help the middle class more. Set his own tax cut off points and drive home how the republicans are only for the rich. He can make the tax cut off for all small business. He needs to end the trade agreements and start with agreements that protect America and it's workers but I forget Obama isn't any better than all the rest he is bought and paid for by wall street and big business just like all the other politicians. The Americans are all a bunch of fools. Do any of you really believe these rich career politicians have the best interest of the average American at heart? Both parties are only for the rich and themselves. Until we stop allowing the millions of dollars to fund these crooks and put term limits on elections we will continue to be suckers. I also wish to thank the supreme court for just adding to the problem, I guess even the courts have been bought off. I wonder who the Chinese will want to send money to, republicans or democrats? THROW OUT ALL OF THEM!
"They (Democrats) can never come together as a unit."
So I'm sure as hell not going to try?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
more right. Obama has sold us out and when he cuts Social Security then maybe the American people will understand and get a third party candidate in the mix. I bet they extend the tax cuts for the wealthy because the Democrats have failed to get a spine and let the Republicans set the narrative. As I have said before we are a nation of idiots. When will we learn.
I still don't think 3rd parties have a chance.
http://australianpolitics.com/usa/president/p...
This is a list of US presidents and their parties. As you can see there are some name changes, but it looks as if the Federalists became the Whigs which became the republicans, in a form of reorganization. But through out our history it's been primarily two parties alternating in office, although smaller parties were sometimes on the ballot.
So we would have to replace first-past-the-post with something like proportional voting for 3rd parties to have any real chance. I tend to think that would require the passage of an amendment. When Lani Guinear broached the subject back in the 90's the republicans howled, "The Democrats are trying to take away the one-man, one-vote rule!"
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
can still hope. I think we are past the tipping point for this country to recover. It has been this way since the beginning. Have you ever read Howard Zinn's "A people's history of the United States" It pretty much explains how it's been since this country was founded.
I've been meaning to. I think Bill Moyer's had a story on him in one of his last year Journal pieces.
I still miss Moyers. The new show replacement show is more of that false equivalency nonsense, with a couple of people who may be fine behind the camera, but not in front of it.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Not happy either about Obama and some scared Dems caving to the do nothing, racist, Reslugs and some terrible picks in Obamas cabinet.
And your solution is Alan Grayson for Prez? Put down the crack pipe and step away from the computer.
Yeah, because Grayson might actually work for the people instead of sucking corporate *%$#!@^%!!
Why don't you quit insulting some of the best posters who have been here for years you little punk!
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
Why not? Obama is worthless as tits-on-a-boar. Just like I said he was going to be, before the primaries.
The only good thing about his election has been the Obama supporters that aren't completely delusional have at least admitted I was right. That his lack of spine meant he was going to constantly sell-out to the Repubicans and the only "change" Obama stood for was Changing the Presidency from Bush to Obama...
Wish Grayson would run for Prez.
this is why Howard Dean is necessary and the schmuck who took his place two years ago needs to be fired.
dog Democrat. I'm also thinking that Crist could beat him. At least the polls say he's running 3rd.
I have the same questions about Meek, but consider the fact that he's the only candidate who is 100% against privatizing Social Security, he has consistently supported a woman's right to choose, and he has opposed offshore drilling--both before and after the Horizon spill.
The political strategies of Raum Emmanuel are going to give the Republicans a majority in Congress. Just what that DINO wants.
probably to continue unquestioning, unthinking support of Israel.
Had a call from one of the D- groups, (can't remember which one), but it was gratifying, if pointless, to tell the phone drone that until the Democrats started representing the working man they could just continue to get their funding from Wall Street.
Examine your own territory and concentrate on that. Do research. If things really look bad-- such as races in which there is no challenger to the incumbent-- create a write-in campaign.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
Rahm thinks it's 1994 again and he wants a Republican Congress elected that Obama can run against in 2012.
Problem with that is the minute the Republicans get the Congress they will put impeachment in gear. And they will drive Obama out with the help of the Blue Dogs.
Then they will drive Biden from office.
Thanks a lot, Rahm. Thanks for nothing.
If the Repugs want to pursue some bullshit impeachment charge, let them. Then they can explain to voters why they are wasting everyone's time rather than working to alleviate unemployment and the national debt...among lots of other things.
What if they bring charges for illegal air strikes in Pakistan and enhanced domestic spying? Sure it's hypocritical but...............
HOWARD DEAN didn't fit into the corporate plan for the predictable swing between the two corporate parties. The last thing they wanted was a true progressive takeover of the House or Senate. So they kicked Howard out and put in a reliable corporate representative to do their bidding. Sad fact.
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Quite clear that the democarts are being betrayed from within at this point. Even with the so called funding problems this is really extreme and not needed.
The democarts are being set-up to fall and Obama and the others are clueless.
So why don't you change your handle to "oblivious11380"? Or maybe "truebeliever11380"?
You need these: http://www.strike-the-root.com/voting-stupid-...
http://charliedavis.blogspot.com/2010/09/sire...
troll on dude ..
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
But wait!...Don't flame me as a Fox "News" troll. Let me explain.
The best scenario for the Dems is holding onto Congress with a razor-thin margin. If that happens, Obama will be even more impotent than he has been the past two years. If you think Obama hasn't been able to do anything with the majorities he has now, imagine how little he'll do with an even smaller majority. The economy will continue to decline or grow at a glacial pace, and he stands a good chance of losing re-election in 2012.
However, if the Republicans gain control, by the end of 2011 unemployment will be double what it is now, the deficit will be worse than it is today, and we'll still be bogged down in Afghanistan. This being the case, Obama will have an opportunity to get SERIOUS about the hope and change message he preached while running for the Democratic nomination. Obama will have to fire up the progressive base that elected him, then I suspect Obama will win re-election in 2012 the same way Clinton did in 1996 after a disasterous mid-term election.
It's easier to run against pure evil than trying to defend a weak record. If the Repugs gain control of Congress this November, Obama will have such an opportunity.
Isn't this self inflicted? It seems the 50 state strategy employed by Dean has been largely ignored and dismantled. Well, if they don't set themselves up to compete, is it unexpected that they aren't keeping the infrastructure to compete, that they aren't equipped to compete?
So Rahm Emanuel gets his wish: permanent minority party status for the Democrats, just the way he's always liked it. No more 50-state strategy, even though that's what got him and his boss into office and won majorities in both houses of Congress. He's been working on this relentlessly from Day One and now it looks like he will get it.
This was quite obviously all deliberate on Emanuel's part because it has been a non-stop march in this direction. It may be a disaster for the rest of us, but it is the environment that Emanuel and his fellow Big Business "centrists" like to operate in.
Isn't this just in effect saying we'll only help those who need it least, and not help those who need it most?
How is that different than the republican economic views?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
It's not, and there you have it.
That's why the dog-whistle of "the Republicans will be worse" has ceased to be an effective threat. When the water is already boiling, a few degrees either way aren't going to matter.
It's more important to begin the long, slow process of building up real progressive parties like the Greens. I say if idiot teabaggers can do it, so can progressives. Look at the way that "fringe" (albeit a wholly corporate owned and financed fringe) have affected the mainstream Republican party. I think the same MO is the only way we're going to eject the DLC plants from the mainstream Democratic party.
See my:
ysbaddaden — 9/6/10 9:54am
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I do agree that fringe parties will never be anywhere near a majority, but they CAN work as the lever to move the corporate approved parties more towards their positions, a la the teabaggers. Granted it will be much more difficult for progressives, as we lack the mountains of cash the corporations can spend (the demon Soros notwithstanding), but we did manage to get Obama elected (I know, I know...) so there IS something to be said for people power.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sp-VFBbjpE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwppplxq0yo&fe...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
This is what I was wondering. Why give more to those that don't need it?
North Dakota has low unemployment, so if Dems learned to fight back by listing the facts, they should not have to worry about a seat in a state like this. But of course, they don't fight back, so screw them.
I told them to go to hell. Obama lacks a spine and a moral compass, the blue-dogs vote Republican and the progressives get the shaft. I told them when they start fighting for the middle class, equality for all and stop pandering/selling-out to the rich, to call me back. But until then, go to hell.
I think this is the message that The Democratic Party receives when they do things like ignore their base in favor of reaching out to the right wing. They will never curry any favor, and will receive zero support, financially or electorally, from the right wing, and they've given their base very little incentive to spend money on them. After all, what good is the Professional Left? A bunch of crazies we are.
We voted for change. We voted for fighters, like Grayson. We watched the Blue Dogs and the weaklings in Congress do nothing as the Republican Party walked all over them, starting illegal wars, shredding The Constitution and implementing an overt American torture regime. Then we had enough, and we rallied under Dr. Dean's 50-State Strategy. We got off our asses and put in a Democratic majority to do some agenda-shoving of our own. Right down their throats. Instead, we got an extension of the Bush policies, and watered-down bullshit, passed off as the best that we were gonna get. Sorry, I actually gave money to many people, while unemployed, and I've been let down.
I'd like to suggest that Blue America step it up a little, and provide leadership on which candidates have fulfilled their promises, as well as which candidates are going to represent the Professional Left. Otherwise, Gibbs and the DCCC are right...we don't have any sway. Not a penny to Rahm's team from me.
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S. Thompson
Its largely true this is Obama's fault. Democrats have been working on health-care reform for twenty years. This should have been a 2 month project, in and out on a 51 reconciliation vote including a public option, Instead these morons running the politics chased aster 60 votes when they know god-damned well the senate is full of industry princesses. He got a shiatty bill with a mandate passed with the same amount of clown-hall resistance he would have gotten if he had put forward a single-payer system.
Add insult to injury with Gibbs slamming the "professional left" and its pretty clear the gutless wonder in the whitehouse walked away from the base and so the base walked away from him,
At this point we need to start thinking about how we can limit the damage Obama has done to the progressive movement.
George Bush told us all to shove it on day 1 after losing the popular vote by 50 million.
They needed 60 votes to get cloture. Without 60 votes, nothing gets to the floor for the up or down vote (there's your 51 votes), and there's nothing at all to reconcile.
And Gore won the popular vote by 550 thousand. Both Gore and Bush got more than 50 million but less than 51 million votes.
Christ, rant and rave all you want, but learn the facts and procedure first, please.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
No. The health-care bill could have been put forward in two votes. The most important aspect was the public option which could have been passed on a budgetary reconciliation with 51 votes. The other provisions such as ending rescission were secondary anyway.
That's the facts kid.
You can't. There weren't 51 votes, more like 46-48 votes.
Obama took the political hit on this. He would have taken a bigger hit if the public option had gone to the floor of the Senate in reconciliation and failed.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Why don't you do some research instead of being an apologist for what's turned out to be a weak poorly thought out administration?
http://whipcongress.com/
Had Obama put some spine into this bill we would have a public option or a medicare buy-in today.
Look at those likely and statement votes. Hell, click on Tester's "Statement" link on that site and you'll get a HuffPo article that quotes Tester as saying:
Well, gee whizz, Senator, how would it have to be designed? Senator? Hello? Where'd ya go?
There were plenty of statements like that filled with weasel words. How watered down would a public option have to have been to pass through the Senate in reconciliation? How many poison pills would the bill have contained?
Again, I ask you for the 51 votes. Solid commitments only.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
That's as close as you're going to get this far after the fact. Why would you engage in such hyperbolic nonsense?
The public option is gone and took Obama's political capital with it, and you're not getting it back. Bashing the believers or "professional left" isn't going to get it for you either. You blew it kid. Better luck next time. It's time to put our support behind someone that's actually going to work for us.
...a hundred times. The problem is that every time I ask for the 51 votes, nobody can really come up with them. The votes weren't there. If the Senate wanted to pass the public option, they would have done so. They didn't because not enough of them were ever behind it, and they made that clear. If you think that Senators from purple states- that trended to red even at the time of the reconciliation procedure- were going to vote for the p.o. based on little more than shouting on the internet, you're just wrong.
John Tester and Jim Webb don't have the leisure of having states whose populace supports the p.o. by a 40% margin. They are representing states where the anti-p.o. crowd is even or outpaces the pro-p.o. population.
Look, if you were all that passionate about the p.o., you could have gone to the manufacturers of this country and gotten them to donate enough money to pay for buses to get 500,000 to the National Mall while this was all going on. Hell, you could have gotten that money from Ford, Chrysler and GM alone- all who've been subtly pushing for single-payer for the better part of two decades- as long as you kept their names out of the headlines (and being in MI, and having a great friend who's a UAW worker, I can say that the UAW guys aren't all that thrilled about the prospect of giving up their pretty-damned-good insurance plans). But there were no large, grassroots rallies in support of the public option or single-payer on the Mall to sway the fence-sitters like Tester and Webb, were there? And you want to blame who? Take a good long look in the mirror and try to honestly tell yourself you really couldn't have possibly done anything more than type for change. I don't think you can do it, kid.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Then you're admitting that the president is just a figurehead who can't do anything. That he has no responsibilities, and that he is just making up promises that he can't deliver. If that is the case, then why run for president in the first place?
Of course the POTUS has power- but he doesn't write and pass legislation, does he? He can veto legislation, of course, and he executes the law passed by Congress, ya know?
Are you arguing for for a dictatorship, Kelvin? Just remember, the dictator who seems benign to you today can be replaced by one who considers you an enemy tomorrow.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
He wasted a year of our time chasing after 60 senators, plus made deals with Ben Nelson, and Lieberman among others which is just like getting into bed with Blue Cross Blue shield and Aetna. Its not just that, its the spinelessness and particularly the "professional left" comment that's killing party loyalty.
He needs to change his attitude altogether. He's given up the base and got what back exactly, outside of even more republican hatred?
Just save it, I won't to this crap any longer.
The public option never came up for a vote when it should have had one.
There's your missing vote tally.
I for one won't be sending a single penny unless our friendly DLC reps in this site hurl more abuse and insults our way. I don't know about you guys, but in order to win my support I must be told to "shut the fuck up, be quiet, and pay up" at least 5 times a day, I will pay double if they make fun of my mother's weight!
Anyhow, the DLC is now running the show... so expect monumental victories like 2000, 2002, and 2004... oh, wait.
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
Can someone tell me how the new reply button works?
I'm not a kool-aid drinker, nor a puppet. I disagree with some of the things he's done and not done. But, I will not show my discourse via any blog. I will show my discontent via a letter sent to him directly to the White House.
After reading what the DCCC has said about not supporting McCain's opponent in Arizona, I refuse to give them one red cent. With the extra dollars I have I will donate directly to progressive candidates. We're working hard to raise money for Rodney Glassman, who is John McCain's opponent. I don't have to remind everybody that McCain has an endless amount of cash to spend but I feel confident with the amount we're currently raising. If anybody would like to donate to his campaign, please visit www.rodneyglassman.com
We've also got Jan Brewer we have to defeat so even though we have our hands full with these two, we feel very confident we can defeat them both. In fact some republicans are so pissed off at McCain they're voting for Glassman. The media is ignoring this particular race and giving McCain the win but mark my words. This will be a huge upset for the senator of "no pork".
As the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) battles to keep ahead of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), a handful of Democrats who are either in solidly safe seats or retiring have yet to pay their dues to the House fundraising arm -- funds that would go toward boosting the election chances of their vulnerable colleagues.
The Huffington Post obtained the dues sheets for several of these House members. In total, they owe $2,134,509 in unpaid dues to the DCCC. All members, except Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), have enough cash on hand to cover the balance. Individually, they owe anywhere between $45,000 and $250,000.
http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/dueschar...
Some stuff you can't make up!
Van Hollen is the worst DCCC EVER
Obama wants Rahm, and Rahm wants no part of stupid liberals like me. That should include no part of my money. I no longer give to the Democratic Party. I give to individuals like Grayson. Otherwise, I don't have a party anymore.
... then endorse the curtailment of being the World's Policeman, along with the costs.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/17/barn...
All the money in the world isn't going to make a difference, if the candidate can't take a stand on an issue. If they want to win, then get aboard with the Ron Paul/Barney Frank world's policeman reduction proposal. (Estimated savings, $1 trillion over 10 years).
needs to get used to this state of affairs. If the Democratic establishment is going to be nothing but a bunch of toadying, sycophantic sell-outs to plutocrats, oligarchs and the fascist way, they are out of their skulls to think that the base is going to support them with hard earned money or other resources. The politicians and candidates that the DCCC, et al, likes best are indistinguishable from the typical GOPer, and no amount of myth-building is going to hide that. These guys are clueless and beyond redemption because of their corruption. They've forgotten what they are supposed to be about, or don't care, and have become irrelevent to anything that matters. the only time in recent memory that they have behaved like real Democrats has been when Howard Dean was running things. Since then, it may well as be the RCCC, RNC etc, because they seem to be serving Republican/corporatist agendas and ideologies.
A plague on them all.
Comments are closed on this entry