NYT: The Blogs Are Alive With the Sound of Angry Democrats

[Totally Committed]

NYT: The Blogs Are Alive With the Sound of Angry Democrats

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 — Progressive and liberal groups and left-leaning blogs are furious, tossing around fighting words like “spineless,” “craven” and “weak.” So much for the hopes of Democratic leaders that they could avoid a withering political attack by clearing the way for Congress to approve an expansion of the Bush administration’s terrorist surveillance program before the August recess.

“Democratic leaders in Congress didn’t put up much of a fight and they didn’t stand up and say ‘no’ to Bush,” said an e-mail message that political operatives for the group MoveOn sent Tuesday to the organization’s members, urging them to sign an online petition calling on Congress to reverse the new law.

"Some are already talking about primary challenges for Democrats whom they consider enablers of Mr. Bush, like moderate Blue Dogs who formed the core of Democratic support for the eavesdropping proposal in the House.The upside is that organizing is beginning already around fixing the FISA legislation, and a campaign to destroy the brand of the Blue Dogs is not far away.” -- blogger Matt Stoller on the Web site Open Left, accusing the Blue Dogs of one of their “standard betrayals.”

Activist groups were somewhat forgiving earlier this year when Democrats backed down in a fight with President Bush over war spending, but the concession on changes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act seems to have touched a nerve.From the perspective of liberal critics, Democrats again let themselves be hoodwinked into handing Mr. Bush substantial new power on the basis of White House warnings of an imminent threat. And they did so when Mr. Bush’s poll numbers are low.

“Ultimately, it was the Democratic leadership on the Hill that rolled over to this demand,” said Caroline Fredrickson, a top lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union. “Instead of standing strong and standing on principle, they panicked and gave the administration not only what it has been asking for, but more.”

Entire Article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/washington/09dems.html?ex=1187323200&en=dcfd5b4f6cab9366&ei=5070&emc=eta1



TC

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. really, I have not noticed

:sarcasm:

[Totally Committed]

2. Yeah, but this is the NYT! -- Usually something has to hit them in the face repeatedly

for months, even years, before they notice!

:)

TC

[intheflow]

12. My thought as well.

My Republican mother will read a NYT article; she won't read the Boston Globe or the Washington Post (both too liberal for her), but the NYT holds a certain authority for her. An article in the Times will reach a different demographic. You know she won't be able to read about this in her conservative rural America local paper.

K&R

[welshTerrier2]

3. the NY Times: what a bunch of macaroons ...

are they serious with this line: Activist groups were somewhat forgiving earlier this year when Democrats backed down in a fight with President Bush over war spending?????????????

and what groups would those be?

the Democrats were stunned by the vehemence of the reaction their bush-enabling behavior caused when they handed bush yet another blank check to continue the insanity in Iraq ... they reacted with pseudo-threats against bush but ended up caving in again and again and again ... the Times is so out of touch it's hard to believe they have any subscribers left ... do they? the Boston Globe, which the Times owns, has gotten so thin there's not enough paper to line a birdcage ...

i'm convinced the Democrats in Congress have a totally deaf ear ... on some policies, there might be a legitimate spectrum of viewpoints ... to blatantly violate the Constitution, however, there's no room for negotiation ... this is the second tragic policy decision in the last few months .... fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me ... in the big leagues, this is the Democrats second strike ... just how many chances do they expect to receive???

great post, TC ...

k&r ...

[MissWaverly]

4. they're triangulating for a 2008 win,

they fell for the line: "there's always room for jello" Well, it's not going to work, we can't put off reality for another year and
a half, people are dying every day from this administration's policies.

[Totally Committed]

5. "there's always room for jello"

What a great line! But, you're right. People are dying every day from the policies of this administration.

Thanks for that post!


TC

[MissWaverly]

7. thanks, love your small photo from Vanity Fair

if I remember correctly, was rather an odd cover, made Al Gore look like Frodo of Lord of the Rings.

[beachmom]

6. Yep, and you know what happened after that war funding bill passed?

The money dried up. The Dems noticed. Obviously, the NYT is clueless.

[Donna Zen]

8. Language is a virus

So much for the hopes of Democratic leaders that they could avoid a withering political attack by clearing the way for Congress to approve an expansion of the Bush administration’s terrorist surveillance program before the August recess.

Why can't the NYT give us some honest reporting? How about this?

The people who read and pay attention are angry because the Democratic leaders wanted to rush out to corporate fundraisers and thus, voted for the bush administration's gutting of the fourth amendment.



My pledge: not one more cent. There were too many names on that list who also appear on my cancelled checks.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

9. After the ad about my teenager doing lots of drugs I had the dubious pleasure of reading a smug

condescending article saying it was, SURPRISE, the fault of the Democrats.

Yet again, the Repubs get a free pass. Are their Bush loving votes just a given?

MKJ

[FrenchieCat]

10. They only noticed because it's just more bad press for the Democrats that

the NYT can report on. :eyes:

[AtomicKitten]

11. The Dems in Congress made a MONSTER mistake.

They are not only NOT finding this administration accountable on anything with any teeth much less scary bark, they have just issued Junior a happy face thumbs-up Get Out of Jail Free card.

I say bullshit to that.

[bvar22]

13. "and a campaign to destroy the brand of the Blue Dogs is not far away."

Where do I sign up?
It is way past time for the torches & pitchforks.


The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[nealmhughes]

14. Wow! You mean there is like a civil war in the Democratic Party and no one told me?

:sarcasm:

What is their next attention getter? "Tensions high in Sunni-Shia areas of Mesopotamia, Sultan to intervene"?