Democrats on the hill lack coordination.

[Kevin Spidel]

Warning: Rant

A new "Get-Out-of-Iraq" Congressional Caucus. After the DSM Hearings/Rally the Pelosi Amendment, the announcement of bi-partisan Iraq Withdrawal Legislation with Paul/Jones/Kucinich/Abercrombie, and the Woolsey H.Con.Res.35 still active, you would think Congressional Dems would coordinate their activity a bit more!

It is exciting that we are getting such activity on Iraq finally. But Congressional Dems do not coordinate their activity. I have been called this morning by producers on FOX, MSNBC, and radio shows all over the US to interview members of Congress on this issue. The problem… THEY ARE ALL IN THE AIR!

Republicans KNOW how to coordinate. When news breaks, they leave key members behind to cover media on the hill.

Example: Just now on Fox, there was a 10 min interview on Gitmo. They had a Republican Congressman, and a Democratic Strategist, not another staffer from the other side. Normally I would think this is another stunt by FAUX news to show that there are not members of Congress on our side of the Gitmo argument, thus had to get a strategist.

But not the case this time. They could not get anyone one. It was like pulling teeth! I have been on the phone for two hours straight to get Radio Interviews Scheduled, Fox, and MSNBC interviews scheduled. But all the dems on this newly formed caucus are in the air. We need to learn from this. Damn it! Lets coordinate the great work these dems are doing, and make sure we don’t loose this momentum because we can not coordinate activities on the hill.

When will the Dems actually “coordinate” and think strategically!

Grrrr….

Sorry


/rant

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. In my experience...

I have found there is an inculcates "inside the beltway" attitude that is ham-stringing the dems. They really have to work on that. Get mean. Get hungry.

[cthrumatrix]

2. you mean - get Dean (these are DINO's drive me crazy)

[zbdent]

3. So, how are the Democrats able to be in lock-step when they're so

disorganized and directionless?

Riddle of the ages . . .

[Kevin Spidel]

4. One of the interviews was just on Fox....

"Get Out of Iraq Caucus" mentioned, and to get more info they turned to a Republican Congressman. The producer and I spent a good 2 hours looking for ONE Dem Congress member... this is sad folks! Why isn't the DNC helping coordinate this stuff! Media, Talking Points, etc. The house leadership and the house whip should be on this!


grrrrrrr

[hedda_foil]

5. Kevin, isn't there even one VA or MD representative in the coalition?

They'd be least likely to be in the air. (Excuse me for not checking myself, but I seem to remember one from MD.)

Would Conyers consider talking with the group about taking turns coming back to DC on Suday night instead of Monday night/Tuesday morning ... or at least staggering their flight so a couple of reps are always available for remotes.

I don't think it's an inside the beltway attitude that's the problem. It's that the reps go home to their families and districts for the weekends and aren't there on Monday because the House isn't in session until Tuesday. That said, this is an incredible opportunity for the progressive caucus to get the upper hand because the so-called moderates aren't likely to do interviews on Fridays and Mondays.