The largest caucus in the House is not the New Dems or Blue Dogs. It's the Progressive Caucus!

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=139093

BLOG | Posted 11/12/2006 @ 09:10am
The Crowded Progressive Caucus

What will be the largest of the ideological caucuses in the new House Democratic majority?

Why, of course, it must be the "centrists" affiliated with the Democratic Leadership Council's "New Democrat Coalition." Yes, that's got to be the case because all the commentators at the Wall Street Journal keep saying that centrists were the big winners on Tuesday.

Er, no.

Well, then, it must be the more conservative Democrats who identify themselves as "Blue Dogs." Surely, that's the answer because all the folks on Fox News keeping talking about them.

Nope.

The largest ideological caucus in the new House Democratic majority will be the Congressional Progressive Caucus, with a membership that includes New York's Charles Rangel, Michigan's John Conyers, Massachusetts' Barney Frank and at least half the incoming chairs of House standing committees.

The caucus currently has 64 members -- up 14 since last year -- and its co-chairs, California Democrats Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee, say they expect that as many as eight incoming House Democrats will join the CPC. The number could actually go higher, as several candidates in undecided House races ran with strong progressive support. (The CPC worked with labor and progressive groups to assist a number of candidates in targeted races around the country this year, reflecting the more aggressive approach it has taken since the caucus was reorganized under the leadership of Lee and Woolsey and hired veteran labor and political organizer Bill Goold as a full-time staffer.)

more...

[Le Taz Hot]

1. K & R

It's the story that's completely under the radar in the MSM AND DU.

[cali]

2. true, but when you combine

the new dems with the blue dogs, there's more of them. And they are allied.

[niallmac]

3. It's a beginning and a hugh achievement considering

all that the MSM does is villify progressives.

[MannyGoldstein]

8. This is a Fantastic Start K&R

It will be great when Democrats vote against crazy wars, abject infringement of civil rights, and other heinous stuff that should be the reserve of only the very nastiest Rethugs!

[ShaneGR]

4. New Dems + Blue Dogs= more

Srry to bust your bubble, but if we want to get anything accomplished and maintain a majority past 2008 we'll have to legislate a bit left of the center, not all the way to the left.

[Mass]

5. It would already be a great improvement if we can do that.

Some of the Democratic caucus seem to think we need to legislate right of the center.

[flpoljunkie]

7. Good point, Mass.

[flpoljunkie]

6. What do you mean by legislating "all the way to the left?" Pelosi will unite the Dems.

[PegDAC]

18. That usually gets the center to move

just a bit, which is good.

[kenfrequed]

32. We should not be overly timid

Considering the nation has been taking a swing to the right for the last 20 years I would say that we need to be a bit ambitious and inspiring in our vision.

Failing to provide a vision of how we want to make America the land of hope and dreams for all Americans may insulate us a bit from our critics but it will not save us from our own unfulfilled promise.

[FatDave]

40. Kenfrequed, I agree with everything you just said

And welcome to DU.

[bluedogyellowdog]

42. Blue Dogs + Progressive Caucus = most

and the key to an alliance between the two is economic populism. Sen.-elects Tester, Webb, and Brown are good examples of people with the uncanny knack being both at the same time, and they point the way for the direction the Democratic house should go.

[civildisoBDence]

9. Bill Clinton knew the value of maintaining a centrist image

Democrats can govern quietly from the left on selected issues, but if the progressive wing appears to be in charge, we've given Congress right back to the Republicans.

Newsprism

[IdaBriggs]

10. Yes, because people *hate* health care, equal rights, and fair wages --

all things the "Progressive" wing plans to fight for, if I understand things correctly.

:sarcasm:

[Demeter]

13. A Hit! A Palpable Hit!

That is exactly what needs to be said, repeatedly, until it's in everyone's dreams. Until it is a reality, not to be undone by any SOB for any reason.

[bread_and_roses]

14. Second that. (n/t)

[clichemoth]

19. After decades of constant M$M propaganda...

A lot of people do hate these things, or at least think that unchecked corporatism is the better alternative. We need to change this. Getting Carville and his clones out of the public eye and letting real Democrats speak for themselves would be a start.

[IronLionZion]

21. guns, god, and gays

the traditional GOP strawmen.

[Joe Chi Minh]

31. It's guys like that so-and-so Edwards, going after the guys with the

deepest pockets. How unfair can you be!!!

[Hippo_Tron]

38. Clinton's strategy worked in some areas, others not so much, here's why...

In certain southern states not effected by job loss from trade agreements and with more or less decent economies, people will reject economic populist rhetoric for more centrist policies. Hence Clinton's DLC brand of economic centrism did well in certain parts of the south.

In the midwest and certain parts of the south, however, populist economic policies do a lot better. Sherrod Brown voted against NAFTA and won in Ohio by 12 points. John Kerry voted for it and lost by 2.

[wyldwolf]

11. I think the blogger was missing some important information

the New Democrat coalition has risen to 62 members (up 15 from last year) and will perhaps add five more from incoming freshmen Blue Dog members. In fact, over half of the new house seats won last Tuesday have joined the House New Dem Coalition.

[pberq]

12. Yes! Progressives promote issues that help the majority of Americans

[Iris]

35. and keep us moving into the future rather than clining to the past

[FraDon]

15. Vermont proudly sends a new one

You're going to love freshman Congressman-Elect Peter Welch, who handily won the seat Bernie Sanders vacated for his well deserved promotion to the Senate.

[cali]

20. Peter is terrific

He's such a good, smart guy. He'll maintain a tradition of good VT reps.
I'm happy to have had the opportunity to vote for him.

And Welcome to DU.

[Flirtus]

16. Tennessee sends Cohen in Ford's place

Pay close attention! We didn't totally screwn it!

[Egalia]

39. we sure didn't

I think everyone here is really going to like Ford's replacement!

[peacetalksforall]

17. It is useless to talk about WHERE Dems are and should be

unless it is analyzed issue by issue (or by clusters of issues).

I am a progressive about reversing the debt legacy of the Republicans. But, I may be center in how to do it. Many in the population who are the ones who pay most of the taxes are in a financial downfall because of job outsourcing and more - they can't suffer many more monetary contributions and load - how can a person know how to label themselves until ideas are presented for stopping the debt accumulation and getting the taxpayer group back in the black.

I am a progressive about tolerance and the elimination of killing. Many in the country and who knows how many Dems don't mind some imperialistic killing in the name of freedom. Does that mean they are near or over center because Republicans seem to relish killing (my view of Republicans)? I am absolutely at the far left end of progressive about killing - including death sentences.

I can't get over the day that people started labeling me bleeding heart, progressive, and now there is a 'new' category? I consider myself a US citizen who values what so many have done to show us how allowing people to be human is best and how those who wrote a pretty fine platform for showing how people can do it together to protect themselves and others has aided us.

What am I if I want to save the Constitution and Bill of Rights and resent those people who are trying to change it (destroy much of it) and write a new one - clandestinely and openly through the Societies and Attorney Generals like Gonzales. I am a protective warrior about the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Is there a category name for that I am a protective warrior about children and believe all issues boil down to whether children will prosper and that words spoken to them will not prove hypocritical (such as this country is great because of our right to vote only to find out that votes are secretly stolen with permission of people who are looking away). What category does that fall in to?

I know that I demand that whoever is leading us and speaking for us on tv or in print does not pussy foot around when they are on television or in print - no DLC wishy-washy. Does that make me a Dem far, far left nut?

Labeling should be done by issue by issues or by clusters of issues.

[KoKo]

23. Well said. Enough of labeling without knowing what the label covers and

how it affects those who can't be labeled because their philosophy takes a bit from each.

Pundits making claims should be viewed as just "more of the same" since they get talking points from their RW Hacks as usual.

Glad to see the Nation article debunk the "Conservative Dem Tsunami," though.

[Nosimplehiway]

22. A statistical question...

Has anyone done an analysis of how many of the new members from district pickups (as opposed to those replacing an incumbent in an already blue district) have joined which party? In other words, what was the ideological bent of those who actually increased the net number of Dems in the House and Senate?

In a heavily gerrymandered environment, both sides of the aisle will have a large number of members who play toward their base. It is in swing districts however that we can get a sense of the general sentiment in the nation, especially among the all important undecideds.

[MADem]

24. The writer of this article managed to take statistically significant information and get all snarky

with it. How very unhelpful of him.

I think it's great that progressive candidates won; they'll serve to balance out the conservative elements who also won. Voices from the left to the right in the big Democratic tent will be heard. That's a GOOD thing. No one group can bully the others (and how refreshing, we've had six goddamn years of that shit) and compromise will be the order of the day.

The way the writer approaches the topic, though, it's a CONTACT sport to him, and he's intent upon smacking down purveyors of "conventional wisdom" and gloating gleefully about it.

Quite honestly, the times are too serious, the agenda too important, for me to do a happy dance over a "Nanny, nanny, boo, boo" article. I hope the entire delegation can work together and get things done for the country. They're our only hope.

[wyldwolf]

27. plus, he isn't entirely accurate. Snarky and inaccurate.

[MADem]

33. Yep, some on our team need to get with the new program, I guess

There's no point in boosting differences. We have to work as a unified and mature majority that can pragmatically compromise when we need to, and move forward for the betterment of society to the extent that we are able. The times are way too serious to indulge in gotchas and arguments over whose credentials are sufficiently ideologically pure to suit, or to play horseshit power games.

We've dodged a huge bullet with our brand spankin' new Senate and House. I feel as though we were standing on the edge of a crumbling precipice and stepped back, just barely in time. Had we not won at least one chamber, I was fearful for the future of our very form of government here.

[gully]

25. But we need ALL OF THEM in order to be a majority party.

nt

[wyldwolf]

26. again, the writer isn't entirely accurate

[MaineDem]

28. I thought the largest caucus was the Women's Issues caucus

That's what I heard yesterday.

[greeneggs708]

29. We Must Keep All Dems Seperate

Our job is to keep all Dems in seperate camps.

We must label everyone, that is far either then thinking.

I thought we were all in the same party.

But alas, we are stuck with Dems just fighting each other for two years.

Get used to Republicans coming back in power.

And in 08. the Dem whiners will all vote for a third party.

[wordpix]

30. YAY! Count my newly elected Rep. Chris Murphy in---he wants universal health care,

environmental protection and a sane international policy.

[HappyWeasel]

34. Well...

What we need to do is to take the center and carry it in our direction.

[AtomicKitten]

36. All being Democrats is the common denominator that should bind instead of divide.

We are the world and all that.

[AntiFascist]

37. K&R, great news!...

many moderate Republicans voted Democratic in this election because they opposed the war spending and corruption. They probably have much more in common, on this issue, with Progressives than the DLC, if you catch my drift.

[Zhade]

41. deleted

Too snarky.

Let's just say, it's wonderful that we have such a powerful voice in Congress.

Now let's stop chasing the right-moving center.