Don't look now -- but some of our (supposed) "own" might be the biggest roadblocks in Congress

[FLAprogressive]

From October 30th but still relevant:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081030/ap_on_el_ho/election_blue_dogs;_ylt=AlnlP9u6R1ADoi1qYC_sOoWs0NUEp bad link
http://tinyurl.com/592qcd

"WASHINGTON – Conservative Democrats who've been a thorn in the side of liberal party leaders could grow into a major obstacle to Barack Obama's agenda if he is elected president.

Majority Democrats are positioned for big gains in next week's congressional election. But many of the new faces would join a growing chorus of "Blue Dogs" who often part from the party base on big issues like taxes and increasing federal spending.

That could set up a roadblock for Obama, who has promised to broaden health insurance coverage, start a new round of public works projects and improve early childhood education, among other things — all initiatives that would require substantial government spending at a time of soaring deficits."

I really wish people would think for a second when donating to the DCCC/etc. When you donate to them you fund right-wing crap Dems like Jim Marshall (DINO-GA), Chris Carney (DINO-PA), Travis Childers (DINO-MS) or John Barrow (DINO-GA). The DCCC should actually fund PROGRESSIVE candidates in their "Red to Blue" program instead of their right-wing reactionary crap "Dems"....we would have picked up so many more seats IMO.

Did anyone else not really care that right-wing corporate "Dems" Nick Lampson (DINO-TX), Don Cazayoux (DINO-LA), and Tim Mahoney (DINO-FL) lost? These three were some of the worst....we need to quit defending some of these reactionaries and work to elect progressives. Is the potential of picking up a few seats really worth trashing our party's values?

[Ghost in the Machine]

1. If you want to change Congress, you've *got* to change Congressmen... n/t

[FLAprogressive]

6. Exactly. n/t

[Warren Stupidity]

2. most of us are well aware that our party is disfunctional

and that Obama will have to compromise with our own and the republicans to get anything done. On the other hand, I've come to realize that Obama is very smart, that he keeps a group of very smart advisors close to him, and that he gets things done.

I am taking an official position of Hope. I will give him 100 days, and if he asks, another 100 on top of that, and then if he asks again, he can double down for another 200. I might only count week days. I will be patient. That doesn't mean I will be silent, just patient.

[FLAprogressive]

3. Don't you think though...if the DCCC spent a little more time/money on.....

progressives like Vic Wulsin, Annette Taddeo, Dennis Shulman, Larry Joe Doherty, etc. instead of losing losing right-wingers/corporate Dems like David Boswell, Paul Carmouche, Christine Jennings, Mike Montagano, and the rest of the bunch we would have the potential of BETTER Dems and not just "MORE" Dems.

[Warren Stupidity]

7. I stopped giving money to the DCCC and the DSCC after 2004.

They screwed one of our new democratic reps here in NH, Carol Shea-Porter, did practically everything they could to insure she didn't win. I now only give directly to candidates, including both of my states incumbent representatives and to our newly elected senator.

I agree with you about the DCCC. I suggest not funding them until they change.

[FLAprogressive]

8. Carol Shea-Porter: Proof that Progressives CAN win.

A shame that the D-Trip didn't realize that. Instead they waste money on right-wingers.

[DarthDem]

4. K & R

I am a tried-and-true liberal. Always have been (since politicsl sentience), always will be. And I don't mind people with moderate points of view - - but it's always strange to me how they feel a creepy need to proselytize and convert everyone to the supposed "middle" - - which always seems to be awfully close to the right.

One of the reasons why it's so much more fun to follow the Senate these days than it was 15-20 years ago is because all of those phony Dems from the Confederacy (i.e., the Clarence Thomas-enablers like Robb and Nunn) flushed themselves out of Congress. In the House, I have absiolutely no interest whatsoever in the Blue Dogs, and I see no reason to believe that Obama's election gives them more influence. Why would that be? If anything, the opposite should be true.

[FLAprogressive]

5. my thoughts exactly. Have you read the blog DownWithTyranny?

downwithtyranny.blogspot.com

They pretty much keep a "shitlist" of sorts with all the right-wingers in our party.

[defendandprotect]

9. Also ... it takes 18 years to overturn Senate -- 1/3 every 6 years ....

These should be 2 year terms + USHR 4 year --

We also need more in USHR -- representation too low --

SC should also be enlaged to at least 15 --

[bemildred]

10. Actually, starting now, you could have a complete new Senate in eight years.

You gotta kick out all the incumbents to do that though.