10 Progressive Caucus will become Committee Chairs if Dems take the House

[Douglas Carpenter]

Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., would take over the Judiciary Committee

If you are less than enthusiastic about the particular Democratic candidate or incumbent for your district or if you're disappointed and discouraged with the current Democratic Party leadership -- consider this:

"If Democrats retake the House, 10 members of the Progressive Caucus would become chairmen of committees," said Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor and publisher of the Nation.

Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., would take over the Judiciary Committee -- the panel that produced the Patriot Act -- and Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, would run the Education and Workforce Committee."

link:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/01/MNGHHH0QSO1.DTL

link for progressive caucus:

http://www.congressionalprogressivecaucus.org/

link to donate to the DNC:

https://www.democrats.org/page/contribute

[William769]

1. Be careful when you make sense

It really starts to piss some people off.

[Douglas Carpenter]

2. nobody who has read my post can accuse me of being a DLC shrill

so it's a risk I have to take

[Douglas Carpenter]

23. I am a pragmatic wild-eyed leftwing extremist

[LincolnMcGrath]

32. Great Point, though some here want to rid the party of leftists like you.

:yourock:

[Douglas Carpenter]

33. what can I say, I just hope they can be persuaded to follow their head as

well as their heart.

I can stand on the corner and rave away about the evils of our system and how both parties are corrupted by power -- but even if every word of that is true (and I think much of it is)-- a lot of #$#@% good that will do.

being progressive is about making progress. Progressives have such an incredible opportunity this year, we cannot afford to blow it.

[LincolnMcGrath]

34. I agree.

[NC_Nurse]

3. Wow.

I didn't know that. Thanks for posting. That cheers me up a bunch!

[Douglas Carpenter]

4. we have to work with what we have and what is possible and move forward

there is no contradiction between being progressive/left and being pragmatic. thanks

[Douglas Carpenter]

5. The Progressive Caucus -- on issues:

link:
http://www.congressionalprogressivecaucus.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=36

Focus on Issues

Budget

Iraq

Health Care

Education

Trade

Corporate Accountability

Labor Law Reform

Veterans

HIV-AIDS/TB/Malaria

Environment & Energy

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties

National Security/Homeland Security

Media Reform

Election Reform

Youth Violence

Immigration

Urban Renewal

Intelligence

Taxes

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. Progressive Caucus Members & Contact Information

link:

http://www.congressionalprogressivecaucus.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=27

[zann725]

7. Does this "Progressive" group bear any resemblence to FDR's Wallace's

"Progressive" party in the 40's? I realize THESE progressives are going to attempt to stay WITHIN the Dem party, but might help by "re-visiting" Wallace's views and suggestions of "Progressive" party. He was a man ahead of his time, and really the "mind" of the New Deal (as well as hybrid farming...as Sec. of Agric.).

[Douglas Carpenter]

8. I doubt that one can make the same comparison

but I think looking at their issues and position site can give an idea of their thinking -there are 62 members of the House of Representatives in the progressive caucus- link:

http://www.congressionalprogressivecaucus.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=36

also here is their statement, "The Progressive Promise"

link: http://www.congressionalprogressivecaucus.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=28

The Progressive Promise
The Progressive Promise: Fairness For all

Update: Check out the latest, revised Progressive Promise!

The Congressional Progressive Caucus offers the Progressive Promise for all. We believe in government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Our fairness plan is rooted in our core principles. It also embodies national priorities that are consistent with the values, needs, and hopes of all our people, not just the powerful and the privileged. We pledge our unwavering commitment to these legislative priorities and we will not rest until they become law.

1. Fighting for Economic Justice and Security in the U.S. and Global Economies

» To uphold the right to universal access to affordable, high quality healthcare for all.

» To preserve guaranteed Social Security benefits for all Americans, protect private pensions, and require corporate accountability.

» To invest in America and create new jobs in the U.S. by building more affordable housing, re-building America’s schools and physical infrastructure, cleaning up our environment, and improving homeland security.

» To export more American products and not more American jobs and demand fair trade.

» To reaffirm freedom of association and enforce the right to organize.

» To ensure working families can live above the poverty line and with dignity by raising and indexing the minimum wage.


2. Protecting and Preserving Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

» To sunset expiring provisions of the Patriot Act and bring remaining provisions into line with the U. S. Constitution.

» To protect the personal privacy of all Americans from unbridled police powers and unchecked government intrusion.

» To extend the Voting Rights Act and reform our electoral processes.

» To fight corporate consolidation of the media and ensure opportunity for all voices to be heard.

» To ensure enforcement of all legal rights in the workplace.

» To eliminate all forms of discrimination based upon color, race, religion, gender, creed, disability, or sexual orientation.

3. Promoting Global Peace and Security

» To honor and help our overburdened international public servants – both military and civilian.

» To bring U. S. troops home from Iraq as soon as possible.

» To re-build U.S. alliances around the world, restore international respect for American power and influence, and reaffirm our nation’s constructive engagement in the United Nations and other multilateral organizations.

» To enhance international cooperation to reduce the threats posed by nuclear proliferation and weapons of mass destruction.

» To increase efforts to combat hunger and the scourge of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other infectious diseases.

» To encourage debt relief for poor countries and support efforts to reach the UN’s Millennium Goals for Developing Countries.

4. Environmental Protection & Energy Independence

» To free ourselves and our economy from dependence upon imported oil and shift to growing reliance upon renewable energy supplies and technologies, thus creating at least three million new jobs, cleansing our environment, and enhancing our nation’s security.

» To promote environmental justice in affirmation that all people have an inherent right to a healthy environment, clean air, and clean water wherever we live, work, and relax.

» To change incentives in federal tax, procurement, and appropriation policies to:

(A) Speed commercialization of solar, biomass, and wind power generation, while encouraging state and local policy innovation to link clean energy and job creation;

(B) Convert domestic assembly lines to manufacture highly efficient vehicles, enhance global competitiveness of U.S. auto industry, and expand consumer choice;

(C) Increase investment in construction of “green buildings” and more energy-efficient homes and workplaces;

(D) Link higher energy efficiency standards in appliances to consumer and manufacturing incentives that increase demand for new durable goods and increase investment in U.S. factories;

» To eliminate environmental threat posed by global warming and ensuring that America does our part to advance an effective global problem-solving approach.

» To expand energy-efficient transportation choices by increasing investment in synthesized networks, including bicycle, local bus and rail transit, regional high-speed rail and magnetic levitation rail projects.

» To preserve prudent public interest regulations that encourage sustainable growth and investment, ensure energy diversity and system reliability, protect workers and the environment, reward consumer conservation, and support an expanding marketplace that rewards the commercialization of energy-efficient technologies.

[radio4progressives]

11. The Progressive Caucus are existing Congress members already Holding

elected Office, and they are Democrats. The Progressive Caucus has existed at least since the 90's to my personal knowledge, don't know when it was formed intitally though.

[Douglas Carpenter]

22. this is the link to the full list and contact info:

http://www.congressionalprogressivecaucus.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=27

[radio4progressives]

12. Lyn Woolsey, Barbara Lee, John Conyers, Cynthia McKinney, Sheila Jackson

Leigh, Dennis Kucinich among 62 other members.

They Progressive Caucus got established in the early 90's according to the web page.

http://www.congressionalprogressivecaucus.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=26

[xxqqqzme]

9. Now THAT'S something to work towards!

Conyers - Judiciary chair - wow the plantation might yet B liberated.

[AtomicKitten]

10. We MUST retake the House this year.

Just think with all the progressive chairs, let the investigations begin!!!!
And then impeachment ...

[madfloridian]

13. I agree on that.

Good post on this.

[Douglas Carpenter]

14. thanks...I hope we can all inspire a little bit of common ground

If the Democrats take the House this November

10 members of the Progressive Caucus would become chairmen of committees

John Conyers becomes Chairman of the Judiciary Committee

https://www.democrats.org/page/contribute

[Douglas Carpenter]

17. just imagine Chairman Conyers in action

[GetTheRightVote]

15. I would love to see Rep. John Conyers in that position, alright !!

:kick:

[thatsrightimirish]

16. Lantos

If we win back the house Lantos, my Representative will be the head of the foreign affairs committee. He is a member of the Progressive caucus but was a pimp for the war. However, I think he is much more critical now

[More Than A Feeling]

18. Guess who will be Chair of Judiciary if the Reps keep the house?

Howard Coble of North Carolina. A man who, according to the American Almanac of Politics, would introduce a constitutional amendment allowing congress to reverse a supreme court decision by 2/3's vote.

[Douglas Carpenter]

19. anyone else want to recommend this thread?

I've never asked for this before. I just think this is like soooooooooooooooooooo important.

[paineinthearse]

20. Louise Slaughter would take over Rules....

...and if she were to take another position in the leadership, Jim McGovern would take over rules!

[Douglas Carpenter]

21. it just gets better and better the more you think about it, doesn't it

[LynneSin]

24. I so totally agree with this

a vote for even a moderate democrat would help bring this great democrats to power. This is why I'm not fighting for the senate anymore but the house. I think we can pick up the 15 seats we need in order to take over the house. But sometimes we'll need to fight for a moderate democrat like Chris Carney, who is running in PA-10, because the moderate ways of that candidate will best fill the seat they are running for.

BTW, Chris's campaign manager actually posted a few times in the PA forum so I have to give kudos to that guy. But he's running in a very republican region against a known adulterer/mistress beater but even still anything with the 'liberal' tag will not fly in that district!!

[Douglas Carpenter]

25. even a vote for a conservative Dem is vote for Conyers and the 10

my God, I didn't mean it to rhyme. It just came out that way.

[LynneSin]

26. This should be our campaign strategy

When we talk about electing more democrats when get the inevitable groans of "I'm not voting for so-n-so because he/she is waaaay to moderate/DINO for me"

People who think like that do not see the big picture - the big picture being that your vote for a moderate will help bring to power progressive democrats across the country to very key committee chair positions.

My favorite thought is this!! If we get the majority then Henry Waxman as the chair of Government reform.

Sign me up for that plan PLEASE!!!

[MrBenchley]

31. You've made that point before, and it's a good one....

By the way, look at the heavy weather Ralph Reed has run into in deep Dixie. I think the Abramoff thing will resonate with the voters much more seriously than the national media thinks.

[paineinthearse]

27. So sad.......this was one nomination away from reaching greatest nt

Repost?

[Douglas Carpenter]

28. I will do that...

but I think it can handle another day or so before I repost. thanx

If the Democrats take the House this November

10 members of the Progressive Caucus would become chairmen of committees

John Conyers becomes Chairman of the Judiciary Committee

Even a vote for a conservative Dem is a vote for Conyers and the 10

https://www.democrats.org/page/contribute

[incapsulated]

29. Excellent point

I'm sorry I'm too late to recommend.

[MrBenchley]

30. Like that makes a difference to some here....

Lynnesin has made that observation before too....and yet the continuing cries for a "purge" by the Junior Joe McCarthy club go on unabated...

[Douglas Carpenter]

35. some thought from the great Mohandas

First they ignored us,

then they laughed at us,

then they fought us,

then we won.

---Mohandas Gandhi

[Douglas Carpenter]

36. KIK one more time