Did you anger DSCC and Dem senators when you called/emailed them over DSM? Alito?

[blm]

Censure? Iraq Withdrawal? Torture?

Did you tell them you refuse to donate money until they started doing what the people wanted?

Did you tell them you'll only send money to Dean at the DNC or individual candidates, instead of the DSCC and DCCC?

Every time you and I did that, we pissed off the establishment Dems.

The backlash is now against those Dem leaders who caused them their discomfort - Howard Dean. John Kerry. Russ Feingold.

Dean is being plotted against openly - Kerry is being smeared relentlessly - Feingold won't run for president as planned.

They are taking the hits because they have been representing US. When they get hit, it's the coverup, establishment wing of the party hitting at all of us, the anti-corruption, open government wing of the party.

Here's the latest shove:

What on earth did Schumer say to Kerry?

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2006/11/what_on_earth_d.html

[HereSince1628]

1. This has less to do with payback than a DLC push

I'd say putsch, but actually they are still in power and I don't think that technically they can have a putsch.

Personally, I'm glad we did what we did. Now these DCDems are trying not only to preserve their elitist club but to advance its interests.

[blm]

5. I've heard for 10yrs now that the party division is Clintonism vs Kennedyism.

I used to think it was an exaggerated division and too much inside Washington gossip.

After the last six years, I believe it's an accurate description.

[KoKo]

11. Don't forget the Power Lobbyists are working the Hill to get their clutches

into "suseptible Dems." All that money and all those lobbyists aren't going away just because Dems took power. DC has grown tremendously with all those lobbying jobs since Bush and those folks and the Media who depend on many of them aren't going to tuck tail and run...they are out for the kill.

Who are the ones who are suceptible to new money pouring in. Those are the ones we have to watch. I have no doubt Carville is working for a piece of the action along with the rest of the quasi-Dem "consultants" who've been out in the wilderness for so long.

I don't like Schumer..he's a big mouth and Kerry's seniority would make the ABC article sound like a smear piece of gossip which is what ABC's "The Note" has always been good at.

[blm]

17. ABC will take any smear they can against Kerry.

But even they have gotten used by the Clinton team - remember, it was Clinton who praised Halperin's book like it was a Bible for reporting on 2004.

[zanne]

2. Still want to go to the "center", folks?

We still have to be on our toes.

[Totally Committed]

4. NO WAY!

NEVER SURRENDER!

I will not back down.

TC

[blm]

18. I wonder how they intend to 'marginalize' Kennedy? Kennedy has been

standing squarely with Kerry and both promised to not let up on Iraq withdrawal no matter what Poppy Bush's Iraq study group says.

[Totally Committed]

3. So, are you saying WE are to blame for these a**holes' treatment

of those who stood for us?

I'm not surprised AT ALL by Schumer's treatment of Kerry. Nor am I shocked that Dean is being thrown under the bus, and Feingold has opted out of the Presidential rat race. That having been said, I do not regret ONE e-mail, ONE phone-call, ONE donation to individual candidates who responded to or represented us valiantly, while avoing the DSCC and the DCCC like the plague. I don't regret opposing the DLC every day and in any way. I REGRET NONE OF IT. None.

It's maybe time for those of us a too far to the LEft of what the a**holes in the Dem. Leadership (the ones who felt they belonged in the shot, minus Kerry... the ones who are setting their daggers for Dean... the ones who made it clear to Feingold he'd better sit out 2008) that we will continue to fight them and their cynical power grabs every time they make them, that we are NOT through watching them, and that if they give us one of THEIR ilk as a nominee for POTUS in 2008, we just may leave them dangling in the wind without OUR votes.

Sorry... NO SURRENDER!

TC

[blm]

6. WE caused them the discomfort - Lieberman wouldn't have lost the primary except for

the Iraq withdrawal plan by Kerry-Feingold where he came out and spoke for the GOP on the senate floor, and all the networks carried his speech as he carried Bush's water yet again - THAT is when his poll numbers in Conn. started downwards and stayed there.

That threat to Lieberman pissed off alot of establishment Dems.

[KoKo]

15. Remember when Schumer said in a Press Conference....

when asked how the Democrats were dealing with push from their activist left by a reporter, Schumer said: "When they push...we push back."

I posted about it here on DU at the time and it gave a view into Schumer 's thinking about us out here in the Netroots who were working to make our State Parties stronger.

Schumer's one that needs to be smacked down but not enough Dems yet in the Senate to do it and with Lieberman strutting around like the Kingmaker it's going to be difficult.

[blm]

16. I didn't remember that, but it really does illustrate what's happening now.

.

[kath]

26. It's becoming more and more clear that the Dem. establishment is not interested in

"we the people", the typical working person. While the Progressive Caucus is increasing in numbers, I wonder whether they will be able to make much of a difference, since there are so many Repug-lites in the leadership that they have to fight against.

The two-party system sucks. What we really need is a PROGRESSIVE Party, but sadly it's so very hard for a new party to get started in our system. So those on the left get stuck with Schumer, Lieberman, Hoyer and other Repug-lite assholes.

Thanks for this thread, blm.

[zanne]

20. Well then let's just shutup from now on.

Let's not dissent so we don't hurt the little centrist/conservative feelings.

[blm]

21. heheh....not on my life, will I stop pressuring them. ;)

That's what they want. I'm sticking it out - just like Kerry is, just like Murtha is, and just like Dean is.

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. Schumer loves to talk instead of listen

That's my biggest gripe about him. He does a 0 to 60 in 2 seconds at finding the live camera.

I'll give him credit for working as a major player on the team to put the Dems in the majority in both houses. But, he is the one I worry most about when it comes to copping an attitude of "I'm in charge here!" type.

[blm]

8. He is Clinton's consigliere in the Senate now - both Schumer and Lieberman.

.

[mmonk]

9. I don't know what was said to Kerry, so I can't make

such a judgement in that regard. I don't want to bear false witness, even if it's by mistake. As far as the other stuff goes, yes it's been very very frustrating. In the last few years, I've watched as my son's equal protection under the law premise of ADA get whittled down to nothing essentially because politicians dismissed my letters over the years as bad people made into our court system. The republicans of course are too strident in their increasingly rightwing ideology while dems have been too eager in my estimation to appear bi-partisan or scared of anything that might could be labeled liberal by their opponents. Of course, I'm not in a position to accept that for my son just as I'm not in a position to allow illegal activities and breaches of our system to continue. I intend to decrease my posts here as I feel I don't really have anything left to add anymore. I'm going to become more of a lurker and thread kicker on points I think are good. I've decided to go a different route than just through party politics. I'm going to join advocacy groups because I just can't sit on my hands (or keyboard) anymore. I intend to send Skinner my thoughts and thank him and everybody for the best online forum IMO. But I can't accept sitting around waiting for elected people to nuance things for political reasons any longer. Everybody keep this the best progressive site the web. The people that keep it going deserve it.

[blm]

12. I was considering the overall pattern for the last two years, and actually, even before.

Seems leadership only showed up at a bare minimum to back up its more outspoken voices against BushInc.

I do hear what you're saying and understand how you're feeling - my main goal is to keep pressure on the media because it is part of the BFEE machinery at this point and I don't feel we are in any position to let up at this point, so for me, this place helps counter that machine to some degree.

Find strength for the battles wherever you can, mmonk. PM or post when you need backup - that's what DU can do best.

Salute to you and yours.

[mmonk]

24. I am. I'll post what I'm working on and will probably request help

now and then.

[KoKo]

14. Advocacy groups are really important these days in getting one's voice

heard and I understand where you are coming from. Look forward to still seeing you post sometime and good on you for kicking threads that might go down that make good points and for seeking larger groups that can give you a strong voice.

:hi:

[blm]

19. kick - hope mmonk sees this.

and knows we're with him.

[mmonk]

22. I do. I think I know what I'm going to work on first.

I'm going to gather information to send to Sen Leahy concerning how legal residents and legal aliens are being detained. A Latino group in N.C. has organized because people are being gathered up and some sent to other states without even contact with their families. Any rewrite (if that's what they are going to do) of the MCA must include protection for these people. At least it will keep me busy when added to other things.

[mmonk]

23. Yep. And I'm used to it

especially with belonging to the Autism society all these years.

[wisteria]

10. I feel responsible for how they are being treated. It is wrong.

Now, there is another power play, trying to do Murtha in because he is so outspoken about the war. I really feel the Clintonians don't care when the war ends really. They may have contributors who are still profiting from this mess. I feel helpless to do much. I gave money and did a lot of grassroots reach out this past election, and people like Schumer and Emanuel just ignore my efforts and the efforts of others worked their buts off and gave their free time to our party. The DLC, Clintonian part of our party does not care about "we the people at all". It is all about corporate money and power to them. There is very little difference between them and the Republicans.

What can I do? I won't give these Clintonian types a dime, but they won't care anyway, they are going after the lobbying and corporate money.

[blm]

13. I should have added Murtha to the original post. He's definitely being targeted, too.

.

[happydreams]

25. K&R. They're closing ranks to stay in power. Let's keep

those ranks open.

[Morgana LaFey]

27. Then we'll have to UTTERLY defeat them, won't we?

Those establishment Dems, that is.

I hope I've read your OP incorrectly -- it sounds like you're blaming frustrated and angry everyday Democratic voters and citizens for this. Surely that's not the case, is it? Because if it is, the corollary is IMO totally unacceptable: sit down and shut up and don't make waves. That's alsio unacceptable because it gives them (cedes them) even more power than they're wielding now.

[blm]

28. Not blaming us at all - I'm linking the backlash against Kerry and Dean BECAUSE

Kerry and Dean were doing what WE wanted which was pissing off the establishment Dems.

When we wanted them to support DSM inquiry, Alito filibuster and Iraq withdrawal plans, and didn't do so, then OUR backlash angered them and they're taking it out on the people who DO listen to us.

[Morgana LaFey]

29. and so what should be done differently?

'cause I just see a reiteration of your previous remarks, which leads me to my same conclusions/questions.

What should be done differently" is perhaps a question you can answer which would clarify your point.

[blm]

30. I am not of the mind that we should stop pressuring them. Dean and Kerry are tough enough

to take the backlash.