You know, the liberal DUers and moderate Democrats have something in common...

[Drunken Irishman]

They're both instrumental in trying to undermine Pres. Obama.

They might do it differently and from different ideological lines, but it can't be any clearer than it was today when Ben Nelson joined the Repukes to block Becker's confirmation to the National Labor Relations Board.

And liberal DUers wonder how Pres. Obama isn't doing enough to appease their masses? Well shit, when you're being denied at every step by those in your own party, it can't be easy.

:eyes:

[LiberalAndProud]

1. Moderate Democrats? Oh you mean BEN!

What an idiot. He will be ousted in 2012, and the illusion of our super majority will be gone with him. Will that make a difference in the long run? I don't know. Certainly it won't hurt us much.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. I don't think it'll hurt much either.

Unless he's the difference between a majority.

[Cha]

3. ben nelson is more like a dino but yeah, he

has a lot in common with the regressive tool, dennis.

[TheBigotBasher]

4. Dennis K

is not like the rabid (supposed) followers he has on the main blog. DK and HC would both be appalled at what people who claim to act in their name do online. They would not go near them with a bargepole.

As a fellow Drunken Irishman, I have to fully agree with the point about Ben Nelson et-al. They have claimed the label "Moderate Democrats", but their actions which have held the Senate to ransom are far from moderate. I'm glad his bribe is biting him in the backside.

[Cha]

7. Hillary is team player..

dennis is too far up on his grandstand.

[LiberalAndProud]

5. Comon Cha. Dennis has given some great speeches.

We don't have the votes to pass HCR even if he would support it. The bill *is* flawed, so I'll let Dennis stand on his principles for this one. Obama may have a trick up his sleeve, but I don't see much hope for HCR this time around. again.

I am afraid our healthcare delivery system must be more broken before it can be fixed.

[Cha]

6. We'll see won't we? If President Obama

can get a Health Care Reform Bill passed as something to build on..even if it isn't perfect now..without the help of dennis and the republicons?

Great speeches? Standing on his "principles" like the repubs who also never get anything accomplished.

[LiberalAndProud]

8. If it would come down to DK's vote alone, I don't think he'd take this position.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I just don't see how HCR can happen now. I won't give up until Obama does, but it's hard to keep hoping.

[Cha]

9. "NELSON'S LOVE OF OBSTRUCTIONISM"

".... President Obama last year nominated Craig Becker to serve on the National Labor Relations Board. There can be no doubt about Becker's qualifications -- he's been an associate general counsel for the Service Employees International Union since 1990, has served as counsel for the AFL-CIO, and has spent his adult life working to protect the interests of America's workers.

Last year, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) blocked a Senate vote on Becker's nomination. So, the president re-nominated him last month. After Massachusetts' special election, the nomination was in peril, but late yesterday, the Democrats' most conservative senator crushed any hopes of overcoming Republican obstructionism.

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) announced Monday evening that he will support a Republican-led filibuster over President Barack Obama's nominee to serve on the National Labor Relations Board.

The move is likely to infuriate labor groups who have fought hard for Craig Becker's nomination to serve on the five-member NLRB -- and will likely give Republicans enough support to sustain a filibuster Tuesday.


Nelson, in a statement, accused Becker of wanting to "take an aggressive personal agenda to the NLRB." As a result, Nelson not only decided to oppose Becker's nomination, but insists on preventing the Senate from even having a vote on the nomination.

As frustrating as this is, also keep in mind that Nelson is actually taking a harder line on Obama's nominees than Bush's. Sam Stein reminds us of this report from May.

During the Bush/Cheney era, Nelson decried obstructionism, found filibusters against George W. Bush's nominees offensive, and routinely voted with Republicans to cut off Democratic efforts. He explained that he believed Bush's nominees "deserve an up-or-down vote," even when the person in question "isn't popular with the special-interest groups in Washington."

So, when Democrats raised concerns about John Bolton's U.N. nomination and Alberto Gonzales's Attorney General nomination, for example, Nelson sided with Republicans against filibusters. Now, however, there's a Democratic president, and Nelson is siding with Republicans in support of filibusters.

In other words, a senator who claims to be a Democrat will not let a Democratic Senate vote, up or down, on some of a Democratic president's nominees. It's not enough to vote against them, Nelson wants to prevent his own Democratic colleagues from voting on them at all.

This from a man who claims to oppose "obstructionism."

—Steve Benen 8:45 AM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (25)
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[LiberalAndProud]

10. Yea, ben.... Him I won't defend.

Not now, and not in November 2012. I don't care WHO opposes him next time. FINISHED with him.

[Cha]

11. Oh, and there you are in Nebraska!

:hug: You've probably let him know that, right? 'Cause I don't know who he's playin' to? Probably the fauxsn00zers who he has no business sucking up to.

[LiberalAndProud]

13. Yes, I let him know, for all the good that it does.

He has never been swayed by my opinion. And I was too late to make a difference this afternoon, as the vote had already been taken.

[firedupdem]

12. I cannot begin to tell you just how much I despise that man...I left

him a nice message today and an email. I hate to see his face pop up on the tv. He's nothing but a republican. One more reason I cannot wait to get the hell out of this state.

[LiberalAndProud]

14. Noooo. Please don't leave. We need you!

And a whole buch more just like you, if we're ever to drag this state into some semblance of sanity.

[firedupdem]

16. I remind that creep everytime I write him that Obama did get one

electoral vote from Nebraska and he needs to act like a Democrat. He just won't listen! LOL

[Cha]

15. Wow, I never looked to see

that you were in Nebraska, too! :hug: out there in that nelson/johanns(first time I've heard of him) territory.

[firedupdem]

17. Red hell...and after living in Illinois and Michigan my entire life...

I don't know how to function here. Drives me nuts.

[Cha]

18. Do you have an escape route anytime

soon? I'm moving to Kaua'i later this year..and I'm looking forward to being in even more friendly Obama territory than New York.

[elleng]

19. Bulloney!

[Cha]

20. No, it's not bull. The OP has a very good point.

[Drunken Irishman]

21. Not at all.

How many DU-thinking liberals in MA sat out an election just to spite Obama? How many are on the fence about supporting him in 2012?

They're no different, in my book. They don't support Obama. Never have.