There is the makings of a real Liberal/Progressive Populist bloc in the Senate now

[Armstead]

IMO, the Democratic Party needs to move away from Corporate DLC centrism towards a mix of traditional liberalism and progressive populism.

IMO the election may have made that more likely.

Bernie Sanders, Sherrod Brown are both clearcut progressive populists on many issues. (Bernie is not technically a Democrat, but in practical terms he is part of the Democratic caucus.)

I also believe (hope) that some of the other new "moderates" like Tester are actually economically liberal rather than Corporate centrists.

They join current Senators like Tom Harkin, Teddy the K and Dick Durbin who are either clearcut traditional liberals and/or progressive populists. There are also some "centrist" Senators who have been moving to the left, such as Barbara Boxer. And some persuadable moderates who can't be characterized.

Add this all together, and we may actually have the makings of a rennaisance of a block of senators who can push for real economic liberalism and progressive populism again.

Let's hope so anyway.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. We have a seat at the table.

They may not want us there, but there we are. Yum, what's for dinner?

[Armstead]

2. Here's my menu

A well cooked stew of George Bush mixed with Corporate Oligarchs.

[Armstead]

3. Kick -- Any thoughts or comments on this?

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Here is a listof the progressive caucus in the House from last June

As of June 2006, the following Members of Congress belonged to the Progressive Caucus: Neil Abercrombie; Tammy Baldwin; Xavier Becerra; Madeleine Z. Bordallo; Corrine Brown; Sherrod Brown; Michael Capuano; Julia Carson; Donna Christensen; William "Lacy" Clay; Emanuel Cleaver; John Conyers; Elijah Cummings; Danny Davis; Peter DeFazio; Rosa DeLauro; Lane Evans; Sam Farr; Chaka Fattah; Bob Filner; Barney Frank; Raul Grijalva; Luis Gutierrez; Maurice Hinchey; Jesse Jackson, Jr.; Sheila Jackson-Lee; Stephanie Tubbs Jones; Marcy Kaptur; Carolyn Kilpatrick; Dennis Kucinich; Tom Lantos; Barbara Lee; John Lewis; Ed Markey; Jim McDermott; James P. McGovern; Cynthia McKinney; George Miller; Gwen Moore; Jerrold Nadler; Eleanor Holmes Norton; John Olver; Major Owens; Ed Pastor; Donald Payne; Nancy Pelosi; Charles Rangel; Bobby Rush; Bernie Sanders; Jan Schakowsky; Jose Serrano; Louise Slaughter; Hilda Solis; Pete Stark; Bennie Thompson; John Tierney; Tom Udall; Nydia Velazquez; Maxine Waters; Diane Watson; Mel Watt; Henry Waxman; and Lynn Woolsey.

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6497

I look forward to seeing a full list like this for the Senate.

[Armstead]

5. And the good news is that two of them are now Senators

The better news is that Bernie Sanders was a driving force in the House progressive caucus.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Yes, I think Bernie is going to do great things in the Senate

[Armstead]

7. He's going to make hearings a lot more interesting

[porphyrian]

8. It's a good sign that the "moderates" have their panties in a wad.

They're threatened, so we must be doing something right.