David Sirota: A List Of Democrats Who Are Going To Lead The Fight (& The Dems Who Will Fight Them)

[Hissyspit]

http://www.alternet.org/stories/45066/

People Party vs. Money Party: Who's Who Among the Democrats
By David Sirota, AlterNet
Posted on December 4, 2006, Printed on December 4, 2006

The fact that our nation's politics is divided not between Democrats and Republicans but between the People Party and the Money Party is obvious to anyone who looks at the political system honestly (which is to say, not most journalists or Washington political hacks). Calls for "bipartisanship" and faux "centrism" that has nothing to do with the actual center of American public opinion are most often moves to prevent the political debate from analyzing the People vs. Money divide that actually fuels our politics. We already have plenty of "bipartisanship" -- Republicans and a faction of Democrats who regularly join hands to screw over the vast majority of Americans.

Many people ask me who? Who are the leading members of both sides of the actual divide? The answer is that there is no official list because no one is forced to formally declare their allegiance to the People Party or the Money Party. But it is fairly obvious which lawmakers in the new majority have specifically defined themselves on economic justice issues.

Though this is by no means a comprehensive list, here are the ones to watch in the coming Congress:

People Party Leaders

Freshman Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Jim Webb (D-VA): This is the core group of economic populists who defined the larger populist trend in the 2006 election. Brown has a long record in the House as an economic justice champion, as has Sanders (who I worked for years ago). Tester (pictured above from an event he did here in Helena last night) made his campaign about cleaning up K Street corruption, and Webb has declared that his top issue is going to be addressing the taboo issue of economic inequality.

Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL): Dorgan has been one of the strongest voices against profiteering by the energy and pharmaceutical companies, and has recently written a book called "Take This Job and Ship It," which is one of the strongest declarations against lobbyist-written trade deals from any sitting Senator in recent memory. Similarly, Feingold has voted against every major lobbyist-written trade deal that has come through the Senate, even airing campaign ads on the issue well before that kind of message became more popular. Kennedy, as the incoming chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is expected to continue his rabid support for the People Party on nearly every economic issue. And Durbin, now the number two Democrat in the Senate, has also had a solid record on trade, and is additionally talking about pushing public financing of elections -- the most effective way to cut off K Street's ability to manipulate Congress.

House Chairpeople George Miller (D-CA), David Obey (D-WI), John Conyers (D-MI), Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Henry Waxman (D-CA): Miller will now head the Education and Workforce Committee where he is expected to turn his longtime leadership on pension security, wage protection and union organizing rights into legislative action. Obey, who will head the Appropriations Committee (and who I worked for a few years back), will make sure that any budget submitted by the White House that slashes health care, education and labor law enforcement will be dead on arrival, and replaced with a real spending plan that protects people (Obey was the guy who famously authored amendments to slash tax cuts for millionaires in order to better fund these priorities). Conyers will head the Judiciary Committee, which oversees all sorts of regulatory affairs where his pro-consumer record will finally have a chance to shine. Slaughter will chair the powerful Rules Committee -- the panel that governs how the entire chamber operates. She has been an outspoken leader against media consolidation -- one of the toughest issues to champion because the broadcasting industry is so powerful. And finally Waxman will head the Government Reform Committee, where we will now have a chairman who is serious about rooting out the waste, fraud and corruption that has plagued the no-bid Iraq contracts given to President Bush's cronies.

FULL LIST AT LINK

[leftchick]

1. "The Money Party"

what a shock I tell ya....

<snip>

Money Party Leaders

Sen. Chuck Schumer and Reps. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD): All three of these men, now in leadership positions, have made very little effort to conceal that they answer to Big Money interests. Schumer, for instance, recently trumpeted a new report calling for post-Enron corporate reforms to be gutted. Emanuel was the architect of NAFTA who used the prospect of his being in the majority on the Ways and Means Committee to suck corporate cash out of Wall Street. Hoyer bragged on his website about starting his own K Street Project, and, as I documented in Hostile Takeover, one of his top legislative staffers serves simultaneously as an official for his corporate fundraising operation -- 'nuff said.

Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA): Tauscher has been one of the most aggressive spokespeople for the Money Party, using her position to undercut major Democratic efforts to address core economic issues from a middle-class perspective. As an example, it was Tauscher who ran to newspapers desperately trying to let K Street know that she would be working to undermine Democrats' efforts to reform our trade policy. More recently, she told the New York Times that Democrats would be engaging in a "kabuki dance" with their own base voters -- implying that there would be moves for show, but that pay-to-play business as usual in Washington will continue in the new Congress.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (CfL-CT): Lieberman's reelection campaign (which I worked against) was funded by a massive infusion of K Street and Republican cash, and he will -- as usual -- be using his position to shill for the special interests who have so openly relied on him. If ever there was a lobbyist in Senator's clothing, Lieberman is it.

[marmar]

7. "If ever there was a lobbyist in Senator's clothing, Lieberman is it."

David Sirota keeps it real. :applause:

[Zorra]

22. List of Dems that signed letter to Hastert urging bankruptcy bill

get passed in House:

"It is our hope that the House of Representatives will consider this important piece of legislation in an expedited manner. We stand ready to work with you and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass bankruptcy reform into law."

Sincerely,

Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher
Rep. Adam Smith
Rep. Ron Kind
Rep. Artur Davis
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy
Rep. John Larson
Rep. Stephanie Herseth
Rep. Dennis Moore
Rep. Mike McIntyre
Rep. Joe Crowley
Rep. Jay Israel
Rep. David Wu
Rep. Diane Hooley
Rep. Melissa Bean
Rep. Jim Davis
Rep. Harold E. Ford, Jr.
Rep. Ed Case
Rep. Jay Inslee
Rep. Shelley Berkeley
Rep. Gregory W. Meeks

http://www.tnr.com/etc.mhtml?pid=2584

Here's an (edited) song for these Dems:

Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
Ill be watching you

Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
Ill be watching you

Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
Ill be watching you

Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
Ill be watching you

Every move you make
Every step you take
Ill be watching you

Ill be watching you
Ill be watching you
Ill be watching you
Ill be watching you...

(Every Breath You Take, Police)

[al bupp]

2. Cueing The Knack

á la Frankin, that is

My my my i yi woo. M M M My Sirota...

[Greeby]

3. Nice to know someone notices the difference

It's usually the Money Party heavyweights who get all the air-time, and thus, the electorate percieves that they represent the party as a whole

[Kolesar]

4. Cong Dingell D-MI "will work to cut America's dependence on foreign oil" but opposes efficiency stds

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) -- Leans People Party: Dingell has been a solid consumer advocate on the Energy and Commerce Committee on many major economic issues. But it is unclear how he will use his new chairmanship of that committee in the minority. Suggesting allegiance to the People Party, Dingell has told USA Today that he will work to cut America's dependence on foreign oil. Suggesting Dingell's allegiance to the Money Party, the Associated Press reported that he may oppose efforts to allow seniors to purchase lower-priced, FDA-approved medicines from Canada -- a proposal vehemently opposed by the pharmaceutical industry that wants to use protectionism to keep medicine prices artificially high in the United States.

Dingell sure is trying to bullshit us in the USA Today article (that Sirota references from Alternet)

Dingell is not eager to force automakers to improve fuel economy by boosting what's known as CAFE, for corporate average fuel economy. In an interview, he said, "The committee only has so much time," and noted that the CAFE standards recently were boosted. Fuel economy standards, he said, "can be addressed very well, automobile or light trucks, within the framework of existing law," which "gives an awful lot of freedom to the administration" to adjust the standards to keep up with improving technology.

"If you're talking about straight CAFE, you can't regard the arrival of John Dingell in that position as good news," said Therese Langer, transportation program director for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2006-11-09-energy-usat_x.htm

[Demeter]

5. Dingell Is Very Like a Lieberman

Looking out for number 1. Unfortunately, I'm stuck with him.

[LiberalEsto]

19. Lieberman is owned by the insurance industry

and Dingell by the auto manufacturers

[leftchick]

6. kick

.

[Hippo_Tron]

8. I hope Sirota continues consulting

I think he has potential as an up and coming strategist in the party.

[Zodiak]

9. I love Sirota's work

He really knows the score when it comes to corporate interests in our government. For people like me who wish to see at least ONE party represent the people, it is imperative to know who is an ally and who is working for the enemy (or with them, anyways).

I agree with his list of swing votes, as well. Clinton and Kerry are not fully on-board with the corporate interests, but can swing that way if circumstances permit. Those swing votes need to have the grassroots buzzing around their ear as much as they do their political advisors.

[yurbud]

13. it would be nice to have more candidates who were this blunt

[quiet.american]

10. What an excellent breakdown. Sirota is terrific. n/t

[blm]

11. Sirota should move Kerry up - he's always taking on the most difficult battles

against the establishment and coverup wing of the Dem party.



Kerry Seeks to Reverse FCC's "Wrongheaded Vote"

Commission Decision May Violate Laws Protecting Small Businesses; Kerry to File Resolution of Disapproval

Monday, June 2, 2003

WASHINGTON - Senator John Kerry today announced plans to file a "Resolution of Disapproval" as a means to overturn today's decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to raise media ownership caps and loosen various media cross-ownership rules.
Kerry will soon introduce the resolution seeking to reverse this action under the Congressional Review Act and Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act on the grounds that the decision may violate the laws intended to protect America's small businesses and allow them an opportunity to compete.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Kerry expressed concern that the FCC's decision will hurt localism, reduce diversity, and will allow media monopolies to flourish. This raises significant concerns about the potential negative impacts the decision will have on small businesses and their ability to compete in today's media marketplace.

In a statement released earlier today regarding the FCC's decision, Kerry said:

"Nothing is more important in a democracy than public access to debates and information, which lift up our discourse and give Americans an opportunity to make honest informed choices. Today's wrongheaded vote by the Republican members of the FCC to loosen media ownership rules shows a dangerous indifference to the consolidation of power in the hands of a few large entities rather than promoting diversity and independence at the local level. The FCC should do more than rubber stamp the business plans of narrow economic interests.

"Today's vote is a complete dereliction of duty. The Commissioners are well aware that these rules greatly influence the competitive structure of the industry and protect the public's access to multiple sources of information and media. It is the Commission's responsibility to ensure that the rules serve our national goals of diversity, competition, and localism in media. With today's vote, they shirked that responsibility and have dismissed any serious discussion about the impact of media consolidation on our own democracy."

[Zodiak]

15. Well, he says that Kerry leans with the People

Kerry is DLC and has a history of voting for Free Trade Agreements. That is the worst of his record and probably why Sirota has him in the swing vote category.

Kerry is an excellent liberal voter on social issues and government accountability. The ONLY THING he is not progressive on is his love for free trade.

Without Kerry's free trade ideology, he would have absolutely nothing in common with the DLC. His voting record is the most liberal of the whole DLC, and 20% more progressive than Clinton (the next most progressive DLCer).

[blm]

17. Kerry does believe in global trade with prolabor measures built in.

I remember the Unions pushing Kerry's amendment during NAFTA. If NAFTA was going to pass they wanted Kerry's amendment as part of it. Clinton didn't get behind the amendment.

Kerry as president would have revisited the trade agreements and added the prolabor and environmental protections he always fought for. In my opinion, that is the best way to deal with the issue, without the unrestricted aspect of the current agreements and without the protectionist position of the left.

I actually believe Gore, too, would revisit these agreements now that he has distanced himself from the establishment DC crowd.

[Zodiak]

18. I agree with all of those points

..only providing a rationale for Sirota putting Kerry in the the "swing" category on corporate interests.

I would have put him in the People's category, but then again I trust Kerry quite a bit.

[LaurenG]

12. Finally I'm in a state with a people person leading! nt

[yurbud]

14. the problem with flushing the Money turds out of the party...

Is that the more progressive our leaders our, the harder the mainstream press will hit them, either with merciless ridicule or simply a news blackout. And if they get to close to winning, someone else will put a bullet in their head.

I'm not saying this means we should give up (especially since we're ahead!), but this is a formidible obstacle we have to work around whenever a candidate has to move from speaking to activists to getting the votes of layabouts who get all their news from TV or above the fold headlines as they walk by a newspaper machine.

[porphyrian]

16. Hell yeah. - n/t

[Strelnikov_]

20. .. n/t

[TayTay]

21. I think this is a very good point

And I think Sirota makes a strong case for who is in the People camp and who is in the Money camp. Nice job and a great analysis.

[Hissyspit]

23. .

[paulk]

24. well, two years ago Sirota was declaring Ken Salazar

and his brother John the "economic populists" who were going to lead the Democratic Party out of the wilderness. Tell me how well that turned out, Dave...

I don't need this guy to tell me what Democrats I should or should not support.

If Sirota spent half as much time going after Republicans as he does trying to spread divisivness amongst Democrats, I might have some respect for him.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

25. K&R, thanks Hissy... good OP!

[John Q. Citizen]

26. Baucas is money party, Sirota's uncertainty not withstanding. With the exception of

Baucas' stance on Social Security (the bush proposals were DOA, Baucus or no Baucas) Max has voted solid money party as long as I can remember.

[Hissyspit]

27. .

[Hissyspit]

28. Kicking to make sure everyone prints out a copy. n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

29. He forgot to list JOE BIDEN as part of "The Money Party."

Money Party Leaders

Sen. Chuck Schumer and Reps. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD): All three of these men, now in leadership positions, have made very little effort to conceal that they answer to Big Money interests. Schumer, for instance, recently trumpeted a new report calling for post-Enron corporate reforms to be gutted. Emanuel was the architect of NAFTA who used the prospect of his being in the majority on the Ways and Means Committee to suck corporate cash out of Wall Street. Hoyer bragged on his website about starting his own K Street Project, and, as I documented in Hostile Takeover, one of his top legislative staffers serves simultaneously as an official for his corporate fundraising operation -- 'nuff said.

Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA): Tauscher has been one of the most aggressive spokespeople for the Money Party, using her position to undercut major Democratic efforts to address core economic issues from a middle-class perspective. As an example, it was Tauscher who ran to newspapers desperately trying to let K Street know that she would be working to undermine Democrats' efforts to reform our trade policy. More recently, she told the New York Times that Democrats would be engaging in a "kabuki dance" with their own base voters -- implying that there would be moves for show, but that pay-to-play business as usual in Washington will continue in the new Congress.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (CfL-CT): Lieberman's reelection campaign (which I worked against) was funded by a massive infusion of K Street and Republican cash, and he will -- as usual -- be using his position to shill for the special interests who have so openly relied on him. If ever there was a lobbyist in Senator's clothing, Lieberman is it.

Any Lawmaker Who Signed This Letter: Any lawmaker who signed this famous letter begging then-Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) to immediately pass the credit card industry-written bankruptcy bill is most likely a committed member of the Money Party. There may, of course, be some exceptions as some lawmakers on the list may have realized the error of their ways. But anyone who still believes in this letter and the bankruptcy bill it advocated for is very deeply committed to the Money Party because the bill was arguably the most brazen tool of middle class economic persecution that ever came through the Republican Congress. Yes, some bills were perhaps more far reaching, but most of those were at least packaged as an effort to help regular people, even if they weren't. By contrast, the bankruptcy bill made absolutely no real effort to pretend it was anything other than a weapon to hurt regular citizens. And therefore, anyone Democrat who signed a letter to a Republican Speaker of the House asking that he pass this bill was making a statement not just on this bill, but on their entire philosophy and loyalty on every economic issue.<snip>

http://www.alternet.org/stories/45066