It bears repeating: VOTE D even if it is for a DINO. HERE'S WHY:

[helderheid]

I will vote for Jim Matheson this year, ONLY because if we take back power, the following will happen:

- At least 9 Congressional Progressive Caucus Members would become Committee Chairmen or Chairwomen
- An additional 35 Congressional Progressive Caucus Members would become Subcommittee Chairmen or Chairwomen.

The following Progressive Caucus Members would become Committee Chairs:

- Congressman George Miller, Chairman of Education and Workforce Committee
- Congressman Barney Frank, Chairman of Financial Services
- Congressman Henry Waxman, Chairman of Government Reform
- Congressman Bennie Thompson, Chairman of Homeland Security Committee
- Congressman Tom Lantos, Chairman of International Relations Committee
- Congressman John Conyers, Chairman of Judiciary Committee
- Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, Chairwoman of Rules Committee
- Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Chairwoman of Small Business Committee
- Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman of Ways and Means Committee

The following Progressive Caucus Members would become Subcommittee Chairs:

- Appropriations Subcommittees -- Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro and Marcy Kaptur and Congressmen John Olver, Jose Serrano, and Ed Pastor
- Armed Services Subcommittee, Congressman Neil Abercrombie
- Education and Workforce Subcommittees, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and Congressman Dennis Kucinich
- Energy and Commerce Subcommittees, Congressman Ed Markey and Congresswomen Jan Schakowsky and Hilda Solis
- Financial Services Subcommittee, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Congressman Luis Gutierrez
- Government Reform Subcommittees, Congresswoman Diane Watson and Congressmen Dennis Kucinich, Elijah Cummings, Danny Davis of Illinois, and William "Lacy" Clay
- International Relations Subcommittee, Congressman Donald Payne
- Judiciary Subcommittees, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee and Congressmen Jerry Nadler and Melvin Watt
- Interior Subcommittees, Congressmen Raul Grijalva and Tom Udall and Congresswoman Donna Christensen
- Rules Subcommittees, Congressman Jim McGovern
- Small Business Subcommittees, Congresswomen Madeleine Bordallo
- Transportation and Infrastructure, DeFazio, Filner, Holmes-Norton, and C. Brown
- Ways and Means Subcommittees, Congressmen Pete Stark, Jim McDermott, and John Lewis of Georgia

[IndyOp]

1. JOHN. CONYERS. WITH. SUBPEONA. POWER. -> :-)))))

VOTE D.
DONATE $ D.
CAMPAIGN D.

MAKE SURE THAT ALL VOTES ARE COUNTED ACCURATELY.

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. Man, that thought brings a BIG SMILE to my face!

Conyers with subpoena power...:7 :7 :7 :7 :7

[helderheid]

4. :D

:hi:

[helderheid]

3. No more basement hearings!!

[in_cog_ni_to]

24. Exactly.

I hope the repukes are relegated to the basement by Conyers. Karma's a bitch.

:hi:

[KansDem]

46. No more tandem, no-oath "testimonies" from Bush and Cheney

We can have a real 9/11 investigation!!!

[Renew Deal]

65. The basement needs some plants.

And new curtains. :P

[helderheid]

58. Yeehaw !

[helderheid]

59. !!!

[Hugin]

5. That's a whole lot of reasons...

My, my.

[helderheid]

7. I'm disenchanted by the party much of the time but this makes it

sooo worth the effort!

[beyurslf]

6. I couldn't have said it better myself.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

8. Dems often have the "cut off your nose to spite your face" problem.

Thanks for posting the reasons why they shouldn't!

[Tesha]

42. So why are Dems votinng for Lieberman and Schwartzenegger?

Or are we just supposed to hold our noses when it's
time to vote for a DINO, but not when it's time to
vote for a Liberal?

Tesha

[helderheid]

44. they aren't Dems - what does that have to do with the OP?

[Tesha]

49. Read this carefully: VOTERS WHO SELF-IDENTIFY AS DEMS...

Read this carefully: VOTERS WHO SELF-IDENTIFY AS DEMS,
and some folks we *KNOW* are supposed to be Dems because
they were *ELECTED* as Dems, are supporting Schwartzenegger
and Lieberman, two people who are clearly not Dems.

So, apparently, the call to vote for Dems, even if they
are DINOs, only applies when the call is asking lefties
to hold their noses. The call never seems to make righties
support lefty Democrats.

Tesha

[helderheid]

57. AH!

[Temporary1]

9. Are the chairs really set?

I believe the leadership can block their positions.

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. True, but if the dems are the leadership, why would they?

It still stands.

[Zhade]

61. Depends on the leadership.

Someone like that fucking scumbag lieberman would block someone like Kucinich, or anyone trying to, you know, get justice.

[IndyOp]

13. The leadership can try to block the positions - there are many hurdles,

we *must* work to make it over the top of each and every hurdle.

No one ever said democracy would be easy...

:hi:

[Hippo_Tron]

19. Leadership has to have a good reason

Like if William Jefferson of Louisiana were up for a chairmanship, he would be a good case where leadership would deny it to him. But if they blocked it without a good reason it would cause severe unrest within the caucus and thus they wouldn't do it.

[Zhade]

62. Are we talking about the same leadership that allegedly promised lieberman

he would retain his seniority?

(Or did that turn out to be a lie on lieberman's part?)

[Hippo_Tron]

70. Stripping Lieberman of his seniority...

Would've allowed him to caucus with the GOP and get away with it.

[Zhade]

60. That's my question, too.

If it's a lock, fine. If not...that makes it more questionable.

[warrens]

10. There is no excuse for staying home or voting R this year

None.

[Pacifist Patriot]

18. Agreed

[chill_wind]

26. There never is, this year or any other. nt

[Ian_rd]

11. That attitude is a total sell-out. And yet that is exactly how I will vote

First priority: Remove the Republicans from power. The second priority does not even exist at this point. Nothing else matters. Remove them from power for the love of America, the Constitution, and Freedom.

[IndyOp]

17. The attitude might be sell-out if there was no plan to change DINOS

once they are in office. Get them IN office. Clean UP elections. Then tell them what we want them to do daily - loudly - in 4-part harmony.

Elect them AND change them. True Democrats, DLCers, and DINOS (except LIEberman who is not even a democrat in name-only any longer).

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[dkofos]

14. OK if you must, but

next election, make an effort to not let him get past the primary

[helderheid]

16. If we take back power, we all need to work on getting REAL Dems in power

Utah is a tough crowd but I'm willing to get a real Dem in office once we're in power.

[Pacifist Patriot]

15. It's the only reason I'm voting for Bill Nelson.

[IndyOp]

20. Peace = John Conyers & Dennis Kucinich with power.

I weep for the fact that you have to vote for Bill Nelson.

Seeing Dennis Kucinich - THE PEACE candidate - with more power: Priceless.

:hug:

[cascadiance]

21. Weeding out the DINOs will come later in "round two"!

It's only too bad that we have to wait six years to get a crack at taking out Feinstein again. Perhaps we can talk her in to resigning her spot (after Angelides becomes Governor of course) to run in 2008 so that she can get voted out in the primaries and put to pasture then. Hopefully we start this time around by getting rid of Lieberman as a sample of things to come. Perhaps we should persuade Hillary to resign her seat too if she wants to run in 2008 so that Spitzer can appoint a less DLC-tied replacement if he gets elected in 2006.

[IronLionZion]

22. Support Democrats because we can't afford NOT to.

And VOTE because we don't have a good excuse not to.

I'm filling in the oval on my paper ballot for Bob Casey for Senate because can not let sick santorum continue his reign of hate and bigotry upon this land.

[helderheid]

23. thanks for getting this on the greatest page y'all!

[LibDemAlways]

25. I agree that if a race is close and voting for the DINO

could give the Dems another seat they don't already have or are not in danger of losing, then, by all means, vote "D."

I live in California where Dianne Feinstein will have another 6 years with or without my vote. There's no race here. I don't even know the name of her opponent, and she's not even bothering to campaign. In this circumstance, I'll take a pass and leave that part of the ballot blank. No way in hell is DINO Dianne getting my vote.

[helderheid]

27. I think the big picture has to be taken into account. Think Diebold.

We need as many people voting D now than we ever did before, not only because of the OP, but because the Rs have the means to steal this election and we need to be such a united front voting in massive numbers that any fraud would be obvious. I hope you'll reconsider.

[LibDemAlways]

30. Nope. Dianne will get probably 65% of the vote -

Dems who haven't been paying attention and moderate repukes - her natural base - will vote for her. She doesn't need my vote and she won't get it.

However, I get your point, and if DiFi was in a close race (or any kind of a real race) I'd hold my nose and vote for her.

[cascadiance]

31. She got a gift from the Rethugs like Lieberman thought he had earlier...

Republicans got trapped when Lieberman got voted out in the primary, cause they knew that they'd already practically "given" him the seat with no real competition on the Republican side, much like the Republican against Feinstein isn't a serious hitter or well funded either. Had Feinstein lost to Fernald or Cindy Sheehan (had she run like she threatened to earlier), then the Republicans might have to talk Feinstein into running as an indy too, as the race would be wide open then, and who knows, even someone like Todd Chretien as a green could have won the seat. My vote is still with him, as I think there needs to be enough votes to other progressive candidates there to send Feinstein a message that she needs to do more to work for us or she won't get our vote in the future.

Though I wanted to vote for Nader in 2000, I still held my nose and voted for Gore then for the reasons given here. Now with the way Gore has changed since then, I'd proudly vote for Gore! I think he's discovered the problems with working too much with the DLC since then.

[Radical Activist]

28. And when it comes down to a close vote we lose

because of all the conservative Democrats. Once the conservative Democratic incumbents are in office it will be nearly impossible to get them out. Of course, this has to be dealt with in the primary and I'm willing to bet a majority of those complaining about DINO's haven't actually knocked on any doors for a progressive Democrat in the primary.

[redqueen]

29. I think this should be bumped or re-posted every other day

until 11/7.

Nice work!

[helderheid]

32. I "lifted" it from Kevin Spidel when he was with PDAmerica :)

Thanks Kevin!

www.pdamerica.org

Let's do it - repost it every other day and get it on the greatest!

[mmonk]

33. I guess the key will be

what actions they will be able to pursue if they are allowed to assume these chairs.

[tavalon]

34. We need this thumbtacked to each forum through the election

I have a hard time understanding why this has to be said but it does and you said it well. Thanks.

[helderheid]

35. Thanks - Kevin Spidel put this together - it is too bad it bears repeating

but it does!

[tavalon]

55. Could you IM the Mods and find out if we can repost this weekly

Honestly, it is the most important message outside of GOTV and then vote! I'm one of those fearful that Diebold can win anything, even if we get out in force but if it's obvious that they stole it, we can bring the whole house of cards down so we've got to get out there in force and we have to have independent exit polling. We need the proof and hell, if I'm wrong, we'll win both houses by a landslide and what follows is what you put in you OP.

[helderheid]

72. Sure, I'll IM Skinner - thanks!

[gollygee]

36. Straight party Dem

it's all about taking back power at this point. And some DINOs might stop being DINOs if they aren't in the minority party anymore.

[helderheid]

37. that thought occurred to me as well

[Skidmore]

38. I'll vote for change, but that change had better include

turning back some of the disastrous legislation that got through--e.g. some of the more egregious aspects of the Patriot Act, revisiting the Military Commissions Act, the pharmaceutical bill, banking and finance bills, etc. A Democratic congress having votes handed to them should get very busy on some people-minded reforms. AND outlawing all contributions from lobbyists. Money is not speech--it is bribery.

[helderheid]

39. If we get in power, we'll see change for certain!

[Skidmore]

41. I sure hope you are right. I don't want to see the political

two step, deceptions, and money grubbing corruption be taken up by any on our side.

[helderheid]

43. It will be business as usual if we don't hold their feet to the fire and

build a progressive base. I urge everyone here to sign up at www.pdamerica.org !

[Skidmore]

45. I've been signed up with PDA for a couple of years now.

Get their e-mails regularly.

[helderheid]

48. does your state have a progressive caucus?

[Skidmore]

50. Yes, it does.

[helderheid]

51. mine too!

www.udpc.org

[helderheid]

40. KICK!!

:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:

[Orsino]

47. I'm trying to imagine which felonies a Dem...

...would have to have committed--on videotape--to make me vote for a Republican. In the past, I've given the occasional nod to the Rs, but the GOP-lobbyist-contractor machine has simply become too dangerous. It's not enough just to abstain if a Democratic candidate is less than progressive. Republicans must be voted against, and kept in the minority of government at all levels, until the day when Dems manage to screw up as badly. It'll take a while for our side to rack up such a breathtaking record of corruption and failure.

Oh, I'd like to be able to afford the luxury of weighing candidates on their individual merits, but those days were over about ten humanitarian crises ago.

[pat_k]

52. Despite their tragic failures, Dems still believe in democracy

Their failures are almost too painful to bear (dereliction of duty on January 6th, 2001, January 6th, 2005, failure to Filibuster Alito, vote for the Authorization to Use Force and War Criminals Protection Act, failure to take up the fight for Impeachment. . .).

Despite all the destructive and tragic failures, we can still enthusiastically fight to see them beat their Republican opponents.

Why?

One reason: Most Democratic candidates and elected officials still believe in our constitutional democracy (which is about more than the collective will of the majority, it is about limits on power and protecting individual rights).

This is a BIG deal.

They are not failing to defend the Constitution because they don't believe in it. They are failing because they are trapped behind a wall of irrational rationalization. We can chip away at that wall. As long as their self-image is rooted in the notion that they believe in our our constitutional democracy, they are reachable. Citizens can lobby them and can have an impact.

Republicans have repeatedly demonstrated their belief that their small and righteous faction can and should force their will on everyone else, and they have proven that they will not hesitate to destroy our most treasured institutions and principles to do it. They have shown us that they view top-down authoritarian rule as the natural order and are oblivious to how Unconstitutional and Un-American that "natural order" is.

Of course, we must continue find strong primary candidates to run against the Dems who repeatedly fail us. But when it's Dem v Repub we can support Democratic candidates without reservation because when we do we are fighting to keep ourselves in the game.

This is the only thing that keeps me from tearing my hair out and opting out. The knowledge that however they fail or anger us we can't let it just be about them. Ultimately, it is about figuring out how to use our power to see that our will is done. Our immediate goals are clear: Impeach Bush and Cheney and reject the results of suspect elections. Actions large and small will make these goals a reality. As long as we believe in ourselves, we can keep hope alive and stay in the fight.

[helderheid]

53. we are fighting to keep ourselves in the game.

:yourock:

[helderheid]

54. .,?

[helderheid]

56. kick for the evening crowd

[Swamp Rat]

63. k&r

[helderheid]

64. hey

:hi:

[Swamp Rat]

66. Way'at helderheid!

:hi: Here's a new one: :D

[helderheid]

68. Woah! Man oh man!

[spoony]

67. k & r

[redqueen]

69. Kick!

:kick:

[helderheid]

71. kick!

[Beelzebud]

73. Mike Malloy yesterday on HeadOn: Hold your nose and vote ALL (D)

We'll cleanse the party AFTER we have power.

[helderheid]

74. Go Mike!

[redqueen]

75. KICK!

:kick: