FL Dem leaders want FL Progressive Caucus shut down for criticizing DSCC choice.

[madfloridian]

This is a problem. Conservative Democrats just can not go around demanding liberals be shut down because they criticize other Democrats.

FL centrist Dems want progressive FL Dems out because they criticize party leaders.

Celeste Bush, chairwoman of the St. Lucie County Democratic Executive Committee, emailed party leaders across the state advocating to the "de-certification" of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida, which like other Democratic clubs and caucuses must be reauthorized by party brass every few years.

Her strongly worded email came a day after the Progressive Caucus held a conference call with reporters promoting the possible Senate candidacy of outspoken liberal Rep. Alan Grayson of Orlando over the announced candidacy of moderate Rep. Patrick Murphy of Jupiter. Bush listened in on the call and seized a chance to defend Murphy, her congressman. The seat is expected to open once Republican Sen. Marco Rubio launches a presidential bid next week.

....."This action runs counter to our Democratic Party's very existence," she wrote. "We cannot have 'so called' Democrat leaders aggressively attacking an elected Democrat or any Democrat running for office. A Democratic leader is just that -- a leader of Democrats -- not just some Democrats that fit a preconceived notion of what constitutes a Democrat."

Celeste was equally critical when Dean was Chair. She even sent emails demanding Florida Democrats not give to the DNC.

Now she is comparing the Florida Progressive Caucus to the Tea Party.

"They're looking for purity in their Democrats," Bush said, comparing progressives to conservatives in the GOP. "They have a lot of single issues, just like the tea party does, and they think everybody needs to check that box, so to speak. That's just not the way people are."

The head of the Progressive Caucus, Susan Smith, wrote a letter to Patrick Murphy about how his supporters are advocating against the progressives.

Florida Democratic Party, a Picture Of Congenital Dysfunction

Yesterday, I learned your supporters have organized an effort to eliminate the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida. In all honesty, I have to tell you that I was shocked by this news and even more dismayed by the implication that you support this effort.

I am writing to you directly so that you will know that our aim is not conflict, but debate. We do want to hold your feet to the fire on core democratic principles, but we are not attacking you personally. We don’t want a war, we just want a primary.

The truth is that we have some serious concerns about your record on Social Security, Medicare and other key issues that Democrats hold dear. Given your sudden switch from Republican to Democrat just in time to run for office and your past support of Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama, we believe those concerns are justified.

.....Soon after you were elected to Congress, you told CNN, “we have to look at cuts across the board. We’re going to have to look at Defense. We’re going to have to look at some structural changes to some programs like Social Security and Medicare.” And when you coauthored a letter with congressional Republicans, you pledged only to protect “current beneficiaries” of Medicare and Social Security.

You can see why we are concerned. You have plainly said that you would support cuts to Social Security.

The Democrats statewise or nationally under DWS are making a serious mistake in demanding we all toe a handpicked line.

[DonCoquixote]

1. dws is not playing

She has made a tidy living making sure that Florida dares not step to the left of Reagan. She knows that she will need to deliver Florida. However, it is too bad she keeps backing the sort of Dems that eaisly lose to the tea party types.

[delrem]

3. It has the earmarks of a coup.

It isn't democratic, it is driven by money, which is economic power, and it is in the hands of those who have that money, that power.

I am left wondering, though, where the hell is the vast body of the Dem Progressive caucus?
We are seeing that Hillary Rodham Clinton, a quasi-Republican "centrist" on economic policy who is, on matters of foreign policy and war especially, a hard core neo-con as well, is getting endorsement after endorsement from high level Dems. But the Dem Progressive caucus is silent, or is even going along. Out of what, fear? That doesn't even make sense. If you're going to go along with the outrageous economic/war agenda that HRC presents out of fear, why not go along with it for $$$, like Hillary does? No, it makes no sense for the Dem Progressive caucus to be silent at this critical time. It's more like a betrayal.

[cascadiance]

8. I wonder if from 2000 onward if there was some disaffection of progressives when voting for Nader...

... at that time, which was a big black mark in the party loyalist eyes who probably still blame them for Gore losing to Bush then. And perhaps some of them have been staying independent a lot more up until Grayson's trying to get progressive strength back in the party there. I think that the vindictiveness towards Nader is misplaced, and would be more constructively dealt with if Florida were to work towards putting in place instant runoff voting in that state to keep that sort of thing from happening again.

[delrem]

9. I don't think enough "progressives" voted for Nader to make a difference.

That election was heisted by another means.

But even back then people were showing that they were very leery of 3rd way.
And that was Gore.

In the end I think every element of that loss was Gore's fault.

I watched in awe as GWB set himself up in office, in DC, while Gore watched and didn't do a fucking thing.
I don't blame anyone but Gore for that.

[LiberalElite]

11. Gore didn't even try to fight -

he was like Oh OK .

[delrem]

12. I didn't understand it. I was shocked. Watching from Canada.

eta:
and the last person I'd hold to blame is Nader.

[liberalhistorian]

35. Sorry, but I do blame Nader at least

somewhat. His running in the first place when he knew how critical the election was to the future of the country and he knew there was no way in hell that he had any chance whatsoever of winning and his bullshit claim that there was "no difference" between the parties when there damn well was a huge difference and he fucking knew it.

[madfloridian]

13. Actually most of us think the DLCish party let him down, didn't back him up. Some links.

Prepare to get angry.

http://crooksandliars.com/2008/06/16/recount-lieberman-helps-sink-gore-in-2000-election

http://www.democrats.com/joel-kaplan

And several more theories:

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/782

And here's one with some speculative thoughts here at DU in 2004.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1703332

[noiretextatique]

21. It was clear to me he was "advised" to cave

Gore was fired up and ready to fight...then he wasn't.

[hifiguy]

26. I remember that well.

He went from "gung ho" to "I give" virtually overnight.

[madfloridian]

29. And holy joe played a big role.

I remember we used to wonder why he was VP pick.

[hifiguy]

31. Moldy Joe just loved him some GW Bush.

Probably had far more in common with Chimpy than Gore, politically speaking. Voted for everything Cheney put in front of him. Whatta floating turd that guy always was and still is.

[madfloridian]

33. He's the one who said NO INVESTIGATION of Iraq war lead up.

He said no digging around in the past. From 2006

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/615

At a time when this nation's partisan divide seems to be ever widening, Senator John Warner (R-VA) and Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) teamed up at a recent installment of the monthly Aspen Roundtable Series in Washington, DC, sponsored by the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund, to speak out about the critical need for bipartisan policymaking. Both senators offered foreboding predictions for the situation in Iraq if America's political setting continues to be as divided as it is currently. "I anticipate a very stressful situation unless this Government takes strong control in Iraq—120 days from now is when serious stress on where we're going to go will begin to set in," said Warner. "I don't want to see us digging around anymore for who did what in 2003," said Lieberman, stating that continued partisan finger pointing is damaging the public support that is needed to complete the efforts in Iraq and finally bring US troops home.

[liberalhistorian]

36. I've always wondered how much of a

role Holy Joe Lieberpuke played in his decision. There were times when I wanted to scream at Lieberpuke to just go over to the other side already, because that's where you obviously would rather be. Why the fuck Gore ever chose him for veep I will never, ever figure out. Always so ready, willing and able to criticize Dems for everything and anything while groveling before the repubs.

[zazen]

22. hell yeah they're afraid of payback--they'll lose major fundraising help from party

Though you'd think they'd worry that they could easily lose it anyway, given how self-serving and capricious the support is under less contentious circumstances.

Reps/senators can lend/donate some of their campaign cash to others, and DNC can bring a lot of support (or not, obviously) to candidates in tight races. Or DNC might decide that someone just isn't electable, like Elaine Marshall here against McCrory, and they hang you out to dry.

I've been surprised by some of the people sitting on the fence. I think they also though are deeply conditioned to believe in their own failure--that a progressive agenda simply cannot get through. They really haven't believed that Bernie might win until now, and still barely believe it because they think the DNC juggernaut will somehow prevail.

To stick your neck out now unless you're in a really safe district and have some other political edge is really, really risky.

[delrem]

2. Pleasant news, that some Progressive Dems have enough spine to fight back.

I only wish that there were more.

Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of the progressive cause.
If not now, when? After conceding?

[madfloridian]

4. There's a lot of us in Florida, but we've been squashed down so long....

that it's become a habit not to fight. That's not a good thing.

[delrem]

5. I imagine that there are places, Florida seems to be one,

where just about all of the progressive democratic infrastructure required for success has been eliminated or beaten down to mincemeat. This DWS seems to be quite some number.

I'm especially aware of how difficult it must be for a progressive Dem Floridian to speak on these matters - and I don't equate time spent by wordsmiths such as you on considering how that heavy lifting can be done with some kind of hesitation due to "fear" (referring to my other post). The opposite in fact - you're a leader.

But if a Floridian has claimed to be a progressive, and has done stuff in a specifically Dem "progressive caucus" or "group" in the past, it's past time for them to publicly endorse Sanders - or forever hold their peace. And this is true across the entire USA. It's most emphatically true of the highest ranking Dem "progressive caucus", the ones now in elected office.

Else wtf?

The time is now, it'll be too late tomorrow.

[merrily]

6. Learned helplessness. I need to read more about that.

[madfloridian]

32. It's a chronic disease of teachers as well.

So much easier than going against the flow. In fact I did it at times to survive my the regime of my punitive principal.

DWS and other FL Dem leaders have taught Floridians well.

[Mbrow]

15. Yeah the clowns don't get it,

You have to wonder why you have low turn out in midterm elections, might it be because so many of your base is to the left of your candidates? They are tire of voting for the lesser of two evils? What a bunch of F*&KHeads....

You know I pushed the shift key and the 6 key with the capitol h behind and got this ^H, hmmm I wonder what thats all about? does Bernie have one too? It must be only on DU let me try ^B. Hey! it works! cool beans!

[MisterP]

23. heck, the clowns have had to recruit Pubs to run as Dems rather than

let the locals build a core of the party

[kristopher]

7. Thank you very much for bringing this here.

It should give all of us an incentive to look more closely at our own backyard.

[jonno99]

28. +1

[Scuba]

10. K&R

[djean111]

14. I wish everyone who sneeringly dismisses opposition to DWS as sexist and/or anti-Hillary

would read this.

Oh, and Patrick Murphy is literally a DINO, and is embraced by DWS and Clinton. No vote or support from me, come what may. I am done with enabling. All we will get if we keep electing DINOs is - fucking DINOs. They are NOT going to get liberal once in office. That "New Democrat Coalition" is advised by the Third Way. If the Democratic Party is leaving me to go in that direction, then I have no choice but to leave the Democratic Party.

[madfloridian]

16. For years they have pushed progressives aside here...very noticeable.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026154337

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2534215

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4229538

[Cassiopeia]

17. This year we get to push back.

After the Mar 15th primary I'm going to check out district 23 to see what I can do to help. It's only an easy 2 hour ride over there to help knock on doors, hand out flyers, get out the vote etc.

Lets remove DWS this year!

[madfloridian]

20. And he's a very credible opponent for her.

Very credible.

[SoapBox]

18. K & R

Not my idea of being a Democrat, when the Conservatives want to call all the shots and basically want a purity "pledge".

Time for a Political Revolution.

[Kermitt Gribble]

19. I will absolutely NOT vote for Patrick Murphy.

And shutting down the Progressive Caucus will force me to consider registering as an Independent.

Thanks for this post, madfloridian.

[B Calm]

24. and her last name is BUSH. . EOM

[RandiFan1290]

27. Don't forget Allison Tant!

Meet Florida's New Democratic Party Chair!!!

http://thepoliticalhurricane.com/2012/12/19/breaking-news-allison-tant-was-lobbyist-for-firm-that-purged-african-americans-from-voter-rolls-in-2000/


Allison Tant!
She donates to republicans
She was a lobbyist for Choice Point in 2000 when they scrubbed thousands of democratic voters from the rolls
And her husband was a Bush lawyer for the recount fight!

[hifiguy]

25. That is truly beyond disgusting.

[Baitball Blogger]

30. They're lucky they're just being criticized.

Compared to what we could do with a few strategically placed public records requests.

[ChiciB1]

34. Susan Smith Came To Our First Meeting To Help

us organize. We elected officers at that time, but even though we are small (very Red County) she was VERY DETERMINED and extremely knowledgeable, confident and HELPFUL!

She said it was time to make our voices heard that we want a PROGRESSIVE PARTY, not the one we have now in our state Congress. She also said that many Democrats vote right along the Repubs too many times.

She's so dedicated and is on the road all the time. She even had to buy a larger car to carry all the information to keep the Caucuses going. I have nothing but praise for such a hard worker. I was amazed by how much time she's put in to this.

Once again, the Big Boys don't want interlopers!

[FloriTexan]

37. Kick!