Bank-Friendly Dems Shut Down House, Threaten To Kill Wall Street Reform

[zazen]

Source: HuffPost Reporting

A group of Democrats friendly to Wall Street interests forced a delay in consideration of the landmark financial regulatory reform bill scheduled to hit the House floor on Wednesday, Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) told reporters in the Speaker's lobby.

Frank accused the New Democrat Coalition of blocking the bill because its members are being prodded by big banks to abolish the Consumer Financial Protection Agency and to allow major financial institutions to avoid state laws tougher than federal regulations.

A Democratic leadership aide confirmed that centrist and conservative Democrats are threatening to vote no on the bill, leaving the caucus short of the needed votes. "The big banks in particular are trying to get more preemption," said Frank. "It's a state-consumer battle with the big banks. We want compromise. They want to offer an amendment that makes it easier to preempt state consumer laws."

New Dem Vice Chair Melissa Bean (D-Ill.) is demanding that her preemption amendment, which would in effect mean that state regulations on the financial industry could be no tougher than federal guidelines, be given a vote on the House floor. It was first beaten back in committee in October.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/09/bank-friendly-dems-shut-d_n_386200.html

---

I think they've just brought this to the floor--or they're voting on the rules for debate (7 PM EST). Don't know what amendments have been dropped behind the scenes, however.

[fascisthunter]

Do these Democrats just want to lose

they barely hide themselves for what they really are, corporate whores for hire.

[villager]

2. There were enough apologists for Democrats as a "different" party after the Clinton era

How many will be left now after they're even more brazen about how their "affections" are bought and paid for?

There are two corporate parties: A batshit crazy one, and another one with a more pleasant smile...

[normrx7]

44. Pro banker Dems

Excellent point, they are two sides of the same coin.

[No Elephants]

73. "Coin" being the key, although paper money is preferred bc it is easier to lift and to conceal.

[normrx7]

46. Corporate Shills

Now you're finally getting it.

[grasswire]

1. who are these Dems?

Put their names out for people to see.

[OhioChick]

6. Agreed. Show their names. n/t

[amborin]

128. Melissa Bean is one

you can read about her on Fire Dog Lake

[NBachers]

37. Jesus God where do these fucking people come from?

[Vermontgrown]

100. Probably planted by the RNC

Just by the way they act kind of makes me suspicious that they
are planted by the RNC

[droidamus2]

107. Wouldn't surprise me but..

I wouldn't necessarily say Republican plant but rather conservative plant. The conservatives moved into the Republican party (actually when Goldwater ran) when Reagan won and basically took over the party pushing out any liberal Republicans (if there were any) and any moderates. If their idea is a total takeover of the political scene in the US wouldn't it make sense make an attempt to get people into the Democratic party to slowly turn it to the right. Look at what they do at the grassroots level they have people run as so called 'stealth candidates' where they don't really let the public know what their true agenda is until it is too late. The conservatives don't even really need to take over the Democratic party they just need to gum up the works to the point that the only legislation that ever gets passed has to be approved by the 'conservative caucus' (sound familiar).

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

109. My Thoughts, too...

...eom.

[liberation]

115. RNC? Not really, this is the ultimate DLC wet dream...

... all that silly crap about the big tent.

Hopefully, people are realizing that the size of the tent for the DLC had nothing to do with expanding political diversity... but to allow the huge elephants the DLC wanted to sneak in, to sh*t on all of us safely from the rain.

[amborin]

129. um

<http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/18369>

[Dr.Phool]

47. DLC TRASH!

That's who.

[jgraz]

3. More Kabuki theater

There's no way the "bank-friendly Dems" could be worried about this weak and pathetic non-reform bill.

[bvar22]

94. +1 for Kabuki Theater.

The older I get, the more I believe that the whole thing is just for show.
The decisions have already been made BEFORE the "debates".
The American People are are never given any REAL choice.

There will be one Pro-Corporate option.
VS.
Another thinly disguised Pro-Corporate Option.
(The "Don't throw me in the Briar Patch Option")

Americans are ONLY allowed to choose between the two.

Anything that represents REAL reform is taken OFF THE TABLE before the "debate" begins.

On bad days, I suspect that even the Progressive Caucus is part of the theater simply playing the role of a losing opposition voice to maintain the illusion of "debate" and "choice".



The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[inna]

118. +1.

I feel the same way. :(

[CrispyQ]

122. You are absolutely correct - it's a total sham,

a facade to keep the People from realizing that we no longer have a government of, by & for the People. The corporate class has won & most of America wasn't aware or didn't care. Many are starting to wake up now, but the takeover has been so thorough, that I have little hope of a return of power to the People.

Guess your going to have to change your sig line, now, huh? :-(

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. Unbelievable.

Don't these idiot "Dems" realize that this is the ONE topic that unites like, 98% of the country right now?

I agree with the above. Name names.

[normrx7]

45. Name Names?

You wanna know the secret? Find out who their largest campaign contributors are. Follow the money...

[Left Coast2020]

62. Thats it. Get the names of these corporate bastards out there

including Nelson, Baucaus, and these other sons-a-bitches that are hell bent on f'ing up what we busted our ass for prior to the 08 election. I'm so pissed at these fuckers--especially what their doing to health reform--killing it. Instead of posting stuff here, we need to do something that gets these bastards out of Washington. They belong on a street corner somewhere--like all good whores (no offense to sex workers).

[BREMPRO]

90. This should be DU members main focus in the next election cycle

replacing these corporate shills with more progressive Dems. They are an obstacle to every significant effort that Obama and the majority of Dems are making for reforms, forcing compromises that water down legislation. This should be JOB ONE. Target them with money, resources, time, energy- publicly shame them for their UN-democratic positions. NO MORE "NEW" Dems!!

[pscot]

125. Here's a list

from Wikipedia:


Alabama
Bobby Bright (AL-2)
Parker Griffith (AL-5)
Artur Davis (AL-7)
Arizona
Harry Mitchell (AZ-5)
Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8)
Arkansas
Vic Snyder (AR-2)
California
Lois Capps (CA-23)
Adam Schiff (CA-29)
Jane Harman (CA-36)
Laura Richardson (CA-37)
Loretta Sanchez (CA-47)
Susan Davis (CA-53)
Colorado
Diana DeGette (CO-1)
Jared Polis (CO-2)
Ed Perlmutter (CO-7)
Connecticut
John B. Larson (CT-1)
Joe Courtney (CT-2)
Jim Himes (CT-4)
Chris Murphy (CT-5)
Florida
Kendrick Meek (FL-17)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20)
Ron Klein (FL-22)
Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24)
Georgia
John Barrow (GA-12)
David Scott (GA-13)
Illinois
Melissa Bean (IL-8), Vice-Chair
Debbie Halvorson (IL-11)
Bill Foster (IL-14)
Indiana
André Carson (IN-7)
Kansas
Dennis Moore (KS-3)
Louisiana
Charlie Melancon (LA-3)
Maryland
Frank Kratovil (MD-1)
Michigan
Mark Schauer (MI-7)
Gary Peters (MI-9)
Missouri
Russ Carnahan (MO-3)
Nevada
Shelley Berkley (NV-1)
New Jersey
John Adler (NJ-3)
Rush D. Holt (NJ-12)
New Mexico
Martin Heinrich (NM-1)
New York
Steve Israel (NY-2)
Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4)
Gregory W. Meeks (NY-6)
Joseph Crowley (NY-7), Chair
Mike McMahon (NY-13)
Eliot L. Engel (NY-17)
Scott Murphy (NY-20)
Mike Arcuri (NY-24)
Dan Maffei (NY-13)
Brian Higgins (NY-25)
North Carolina
Bob Etheridge (NC-2), charter member
Mike McIntyre (NC-7), charter member
Ohio
Charlie Wilson (OH-6)
John Boccieri (OH-16)
Oregon
David Wu (OR-1)
Kurt Schrader (OR-5)
Pennsylvania
Jason Altmire (PA-4)
Joe Sestak (PA-7)
Patrick Murphy (PA-8)
Chris Carney (PA-10)
Allyson Schwartz (PA-13), Vice-Chair
Texas
Charlie Gonzalez (TX-20)
Virginia
Jim Moran (VA-8), charter member
Gerry Connolly (VA-11)
Washington
Jay Inslee (WA-1)
Rick Larsen (WA-2)
Brian Baird (WA-3)
Adam Smith (WA-9), Vice-Chair, charter member
Wisconsin
Ron Kind (WI-3), Vice-Chair, charter member

[L0oniX]

5. Fucking dinos

[xchrom]

7. New Democrat Coalition --

i thought they had a party -- the republican party.

[beyond cynical]

68. Let's hope not...we don't need any more of of them.

[zazen]

8. close your eyes and Tom Price (R-Georgia) sounds like Ned Flanders on the Simpsons

He's on C-SPAN 1 right now attacking the bill.

Niddly diddly.

[depakid]

9. Melissa Bean & the usual suspects

I hope after all she's done over the years, that NO ONE would work or vote for her in 2010. Much better to have a REpublican in this and other seats where sell outs predominate and dilute (or destroy) traditional Democratic values.

[zazen]

10. fights on "haircut" provision and refusal to allow CFPA to pre-empt stronger state laws

Two I know about . . .

Melissa Bean, a new "Dem," headed the fight to throw out state-level regs by having them be "pre-empted" by federal regulatory standards, but that would sort of been like making California throw out its stricter environmental standards because EPA had lower ones. Her amendment failed in hearings, but it seems to be being resurrected right now.

There's also a fight about the Miller-Moore haircut amendment, which would mean something about preventing a future AIG by spreading some of the loss around--certain creditors can't just go take all of the collateral up front and have nothing left for anyone else, but have to take a 20% loss as well. I'm butchering this, but that's my best understanding of it.

[zazen]

11. any strong primary challengers against Bean or her ilk? can we do an emergency fund drive?

[chill_wind]

12. NDC website-- leadership & membership

"New Democrat Coalition"

http://ndc.crowley.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62&Itemid=54


Text-only list:

http://ndc.crowley.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63%3Amembers-text-only&catid=36%3Amembers&Itemid=54

[zazen]

14. thanks for list! personally, several mean well, but some are seriously misguided

I think Ms. Bean is seriously misinformed. Apparently Financial Services gets some of the biggest contributions. It's hard to stand up to the lobby unless you're in a very, very safe seat.



NDC Membership

Joseph Crowley (NY), Chair
Melissa Bean (IL), Vice-Chair & Whip
Ron Kind (WI), Vice-Chair
Adam Smith (WA), Vice-Chair
Allyson Schwartz (PA), Vice-Chair

John Adler (NJ-03)

Jason Altmire (PA-04)

Michael Arcuri (NY-24)

Brian Baird (WA-03)

John Barrow (GA-12)

Shelley Berkley (NV-01)

John Boccieri (OH-16)

Bobby Bright (AL-02)

Lois Capps (CA-23)

Russ Carnahan (MO-03)

Chris Carney (PA-10)

André Carson (IN-07)

Gerry Connolly (VA-11)

Joe Courtney (CT-02)

Artur Davis (AL-07)

Susan Davis (CA-53)

Diana DeGette (CO-01)

Eliot Engel (NY-17)

Bob Etheridge (NC-02)

Bill Foster (IL-14)

Gabby Giffords (AZ-8)

Charles Gonzalez (TX-20)

Parker Griffith (AL-05)

Debbie Halvorson (IL-11)

Jane Harman (CA-36)

Martin Heinrich (NM-01)

Brian Higgins (NY-27)

Jim Himes (CT-04)

Rush Holt (NJ-12)

Jay Inslee (WA-01)

Steve Israel (NY-02)

Ron Klein (FL-22)

Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24)

Frank Kratovil (MD-01)

Rick Larsen (WA-02)

John Larson (CT-01)

Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04)

Mike McIntyre (NC-07)

Dan Maffei (NY-25)

Mike McMahon (NY-13)

Kendrick Meek (FL-17)

Gregory Meeks (NY-06)

Charlie Melancon (LA-03)

Harry Mitchell (AZ-05)

Dennis Moore (KS-03)

Jim Moran (VA-08)

Chris Murphy (CT-5)

Patrick Murphy (PA-8)

Scott Murphy (NY-20)

Ed Perlmutter (CO-07)

Gary Peters (MI-09)

Jared Polis (CO-02)

Laura Richardson (CA-37)

Loretta Sanchez (CA-47)

Mark Schauer (MI-07)

Adam Schiff (CA-29)

Kurt Schrader (OR-05)

David Scott (GA-13)

Joe Sestak (PA-07)

Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20)

Vic Snyder (AR-02)

Charlie Wilson (OH-06)

David Wu (OR-01)

[Jefferson23]

15. Good to know the whores by name, thanks.

[eggplant]

17. NY-20?!?

Aww, geez, now I've got to go make phone calls. Rrrrrrr.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

19. My rep is on this list

I will be calling him tomorrow.

[bongobobtherealone]

117. Mines there too

Frank Kratovil of district 1 MD. He did however say that he would be caucusing with the screw dogs so it's expected. He's getting lots of calls these days~

[mia]

24. Sorry to see Meek(FL-17) and Wasserman Schultz(FL-20) listed.

I like them both.

[ChiciB1]

33. Geez, Schultz & Meek Get Air Time A Lot! What Has Happened To

THE REAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY??? I think I joined one a long time ago, now I don't recognize it anymore! And as time goes by it gets even WORSE!

I don't know which way to turn anymore!

[No Elephants]

72. The DLC, the NDC, et al. ate most of the real Democrats (or work hard to keep them out of office).

The big McGovern loss ultimately gave rise to the Super Delegates of the Democratic Party, whose purpose is to make sure that liberals are not Presidential nominees, even if Democratic voters want them to be. (In other words, the Democratic Party became highly undemocratic as to its Presidential nominees). And the big Reagan win gave rise to the DLC.

In other words, rather than letting a couple of dramatic losses simply spur them to being better at winning elections, the Democrats reacted to the losses by trying to become Republicans, but without losing their base (which is actually many bases).

I believe that will ultimately fail. And, if it doesn't fail, we will really be a one party country, with that party being the Republicons (regardless of which party designation any given politician may choose to put after his or her name).

[FLAprogressive]

54. most people here like DWS but she is a real problem

[BREMPRO]

88. shocked to see Wasserman Schultz on the list- she's a solid progressive

and has been a great advocate for the people from what i've seen. I don't get it.

[No Elephants]

102. That's what I thought, too, but I will take the word of the Floridians here.

[tabbycat31]

25. surprised to see Rush Holt on the list

he's known more as a progressive.

I'm not in his district (my county's gerrymandered) but I'll have my friends who are call him

[chill_wind]

26. Ah yes. And here's the DLC's effusive endorsement..

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=3869&kaid=103&subid=110

[ChiciB1]

32. Kendrick Meek??? Seems Like I've Heard He Wants To Run For Senator Here In Florida...

Or is it Governor? How could I have forgotten which? I'm NOT liking this one bit!

[Dr.Phool]

48. Meek is more DLC Trash. He's Florida's Harold Ford.

He wants to be Senator. If he get's the nomination, I'll be an undervote.

[ChiciB1]

66. Thanks For Your Input... I DO Respect Your Analysis Dr. Phool As I Know

you have been one who knows much more than I about Florida & it's politics. As with madfloridian, I always try to see what you are saying.

Thanks again, and this does sadden me!

[FLAprogressive]

52. he sucks, I think I'm gonna support Kevin Burns

[ChiciB1]

67. And To You Also FLAprogressive... You Are Another Who Has Been Front & Center

regarding Florida politics. I on the other hand take my "heads up" from you and several others here who keep us informed about what is going on here. While I try to stay active here, in my county I'm sort of a "lone wolf" of sorts because it so red. Statewide is another issue, however I find my local Democratic Party to be quite DLC or DINO too!

[Frank Booth]

61. Jane Harman. What an embarrassment she is.

It makes no sense that she's the representative for this solidly liberal district.

[JDPriestly]

64. Check out Marcy Winograd

http://www.winograd4congress.com/

[Frank Booth]

65. Thank you. It looks like she'd be a huge improvement on Harman.

[JDPriestly]

63. Jane Harman is facing a challenger, Marcy Winograd

http://www.winograd4congress.com/

[bdamomma]

114. I'm not from California but I hope someone unseats Harman.

time to move them out.

[No Elephants]

69. How can you tell who "means well," but is simply misguided?

[cascadiance]

78. Hmm.. my rep David Wu is on there. Joe Sestak is also another curiosity...

Sestak is the "outsider" running against Arlen Specter, and looks to be campaigning on being the progressive alternative to Arlen Specter in the next state senator democratic primary for Pennsylvania. I wonder if he could be pressured into dropping out of this coalition and hopefully to solidify that he's more progressive than what this coalition might allow him to be.

Gotta find out how "infected" Wu is too. He hasn't been nearby Oregon rep's Pete Defazio by any means, but I'd like to get him to move towards DeFazio as a model, especially if DeFazio throws in his hat to run for governor (would rather he stay in congress to keep the good fight going there).

[No Elephants]

79. A lot of those names are also on the list of DLC members.

[closeupready]

83. Steve Israel was on local news just two nights ago calling bankers, quote, "bloodsuckers".

Which is it going to be, Steve?

[IndianaGreen]

16. Andre Carson is my congressperson and he is a real progressive

He is also serving his second term in the House.

[zazen]

20. here's the definition of "New Democrat Coalition"

It's a weird list. Some of the folks do seem progressive on other issues. Not all are on the FS Committee--Bean definitely is, however.

About the New Democrat Coalition


"Founded in 1997, the New Democrat Coalition (NDC or "New Dems") provides moderate, pro-growth Members of Congress with the opportunity to advance a common sense policy agenda to move our country in the right direction. New Democrats have built a reputation as the "go-to" group in Congress on the critical issues of economic growth, national security, personal responsibility, and technology development.

Hailing from every region of the country, New Democrats are intent on modernizing both the Democratic Party and the country. New Democrats support policies to expand economic growth and ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to benefit from that growth; a fiscally responsible and efficient government; a secure homefront; and a robust foreign policy that includes trade, constructive U.S. leadership throughout the world, and a modern and strong military.

Reorganized under new leadership at the beginning of the 109th Congress, the NDC is a cohesive core of active members committed to these legislative goals. NDC members engage in candid policy discussions during weekly meetings and focus their efforts through five policy task forces on energy, financial services, health care, innovation and competitiveness, and trade. The New Dems look forward to bringing new members to these discussions as membership grows. While the NDC seeks to expand its ranks of like-minded members, it is also reaching out to experts for their help in gathering support for critical legislative priorities."

[swilton]

21. It's A House Version of the DLC

[No Elephants]

81. The DLC birthed the New Democrats.

[IndianaGreen]

27. Carson, a Muslim, supports EFCA and card check and marriage equality for LGBTs

I wonder if new House members are guided into joining these groups as a means to network in the Beltway.

[FLAprogressive]

53. so do a lot of other NDC members.....most of the NDC members are great on social issues

but they're for screwing over the working class.

[No Elephants]

76. I think "new Democrat" is code for "I'll say and do anything I think will get me re-elected."

[chill_wind]

28. It has some surprising names.

I haven't done this, but looking at money financing at some place like opensecrets.org might/might not explain what don't seem like readily obvious ties. That's the initial charge in the article, I think-- "Wall Street Friendly".

[NBachers]

38. My god

Reading that makes me want to invade the House floor and run around in a loin cloth and tomahawk. We need some elective scalps in 2010.

And believe me, at this point in my life that wouldn't be a pretty sight.

[zazen]

22. more specific: NDC Financial Services Committee Membership

Note that the haircut amendment is a blue-dog/yellow-dog amendment between Moore (NDC) and Miller (progressive). So it's not all black and white--they cross their own aisles upon occasion, I presume. The haircut amendment is something we want to keep.

Melissa Bean (IL-08), Co-Chair
Jim Himes (CT-04), Co-Chair
Dennis Moore
David Scott
Ron Klein
Bill Foster
Ed Perlmutter
Carolyn McCarthy
Dan Maffei
Jim Moran
Mike McMahon
John Adler
Gary Peters
Suzanne Kosmas
Andre Carson


About the Leaders of the New Dem Financial Services Task Force
Financial Services Task Force Co-Chair Congresswoman Melissa L. Bean (IL-08) is serving her third term in the House of Representatives, is a Member of the House Committee on Financial Services, and is Vice-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition. Congresswoman Bean brings her 20-year business and entrepreneurial background to her role in Congress, having built revenues in sales management positions at leading technology companies before founding her own consulting firm in 1995, which for nine years served high-tech Fortune 1000 clients worldwide.

Financial Services Task Force Co-Chair Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) is serving his first term in the House of Representatives and is a member of the House Financial Services Committee. Congressman Himes most recently led the New York office of Enterprise Foundation, a nonprofit institution that combines the resources of private, public, and community organizations to address complex issues of urban poverty, after leaving his 12-year career at Goldman Sachs, where he served as a Vice President.

[Lilith Velkor]

126. Jim Moran?

Jesus Fuck.

I better call my friend who lives in his district.

[Guilded Lilly]

39. This is the second time

that my Rep has been on a list that I find offensive. He is a freshman, but you know, he isn't the candidate I thought he was when I campaigned for him. Sad. Very sad.

It will make a difference in my area.

[CrispyQ]

123. "but you know, he isn't the candidate I thought he was when I campaigned for him."

And therein is part of the problem. They say what they think will get them elected & once in office they do what they want. Once they have that name recognition, it's that much easier to get re-elected. Not to mention all the campaign contributions they get from big biz, once in office.

Our government has been thoroughly corrupted & compromised.

Welcome to DU, Lilly! :hi:

[Guilded Lilly]

127. Many thanks for

the welcome.
I am beginning to really like it here (grin)

[rudy23]

41. "I am a New Democrat" -- Barack Obama, March 11, 2009

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=254931&kaid=85&subid=900184

[Bitwit1234]

13. Isn't Bean one of the Dirty er I mean Blue Dogs.

[dgibby]

18. Let's call them what they really are:

The RepubliCON wing of the Democratic Party.:grr: :puke:

[No Elephants]

82. I think that's what Wellstone called the DLC.

[Ildem09]

23. bleh I'm sick of this

As a progressive in the great state of Illinois I am sad that several of the house members of the NDC DLC etc whatever Corporatist BS they are spewing today Paul Simon, and Adlai Stevens are rolling in their graves. FDR and LBJ wouldn't recognize the party today, The Great Teddy probably had a heavy heart at what it had become

[billymayshere]

29. maybe next time they will kiss us

I hope these motherfuckers get really tough challenger in the primaries, it probably won't happen though. Why is it that everytime lately it seems that when I drop by DU I read another story about how these cocksucker centrist DLC,Blue dog, New Democrat, centrist or whatever these asshole republicans want to call themselves fucking us over again? When does it end? I'm so sick of this. This party is past due for an enima.

[winyanstaz]

30. Seems there is now only one party...

and they play "good party/bad party" with us.
I am still holding out for the few good dems to come out fighting.

[Mr. Sparkle]

31. I'm getting sick and tired of these turncoat Dems. They need to be on a Hall of Shame website.

So we can keep tabs on these troglodytes.

[AllyCat]

F*ck them. All of 'em. Melissa Bean...what a huge disappointment

This quote really pissed me off:

Bean and other advocates of preemption say that uniform national standards are preferable to allowing each state to make different rules. Opponents note that federal regulators have been less than adept over the past several years at reining in corruption and excess.

"preferable" to THEM and the banksters because they don't have to fight legal battles and fund lobbyists in every state. They can concentrate their efforts on the worthless, spineless members of Congress so they can do WHATEVER THEY FREAKIN' want without cutting into the profits they so desperately "need".

I hate these f*ckers.

[bertman]

34. Apparently, New Dem means that they don't try to hide the fact that they've been bought off.

[zazen]

35. good news: apparently, Bean's amendment didn't make it out of Rules Committee

Though I guess she succeeded in delaying the floor debate and vote.

Haircut amendment is still in play.

[unabelladonna]

36. they're all whores

and i'm sick of every one of them. the frustrating thing is they keep getting reelected.these creatures lie, cheat and steal and there doesn't seem to be anything we can do about it. i'm totally disgusyed. is there anyone who works for his/her constituents???

[AllyCat]

43. I would argue Kucinich in the House and Sanders in the Senate work for us

And frankly, Roland Burris (Obama's replacement in the Senate) has been a pleasant surprise on a few issues.

[tabatha]

40. Simple - just blame Obama.

[Goldstein1984]

42. Shock Doctrine

This is disaster capitalism, people. The "Middle Class" is on the mat and bound for peasantry; unemployment rates are high, which makes this an employer's market; the fatcats took the TARP money and ran; the wealthy don't care about the non-wealthy so long as they have government on their side. Government is, as another in this string said, a bunch of whores.

Does anybody remember a few weeks ago when Senator Jim Demint took time out from his busy schedule representing the economic elite to fly down to Honduras and prop up their economic elite and support the coup? That says it all.

[Odin2005]

49. CORPORATIST TRAITORS!

:grr:

[Bluesbreaker]

50. We need some White House leadership

This would be a perfect opportunity for our president to demonstrate his solidarity with the middle class and working families of our country. Every one of these efforts by the banksters and their friends in Congress is a test of the administration and an indicator of where the president's true loyalty lies. If he comes out strongly in support of the consumer financial protection agency will know all is not lost.

[FLAprogressive]

55. Obama said it himself: "I am a New Democrat"

[avaistheone1]

57. Yes, he did.

[avaistheone1]

58. ...

[BREMPRO]

51. where did these assholes come from?

the "NEW Democrats"? At least we know which ones are causing the problems. We must target and replace them- ANYONE here who is represented by one of these Dems needs to take actions!

[Bluesbreaker]

56. I'll tell you where these assholes come from . . .

Actually, Madfloridian will tell you. Her journal entry "Why we should not be surprised that it is hard to make our "left" voices be heard" is on the DU home page as I write this. A good background on the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). And, yes, they are a bunch of assholes.

[beyond cynical]

70. There are 66 of them. Where would you be without them?

[Gold Metal Flake]

75. Bob Shrum, is that you?

[No Elephants]

80. The House Progressive Caucus is larger. Where we would be without them? In fact

where would the country be without them?

[beyond cynical]

85. That is precisely my point. But the lack of cooperation between

members of the coalition is one of the reasons that I am "beyond cynical."

[No Elephants]

93. The lack of what cooperation between members of what coalition made you beyond cynical?

Frankly, I don't want my fantastic Progressive Congressional Rep cooperating with these Democratic clowns on their Republican agenda, any more than I want him cooperaing with Orrin Hatch or Leslie Graham.

Being great on social issues is cool, but the Republicans are heading in that direction, too. It ain't enough.

[No Elephants]

84. The DLC started this group.

[avaistheone1]

59. Once again, Democrats who oppose the will of the people get called "centrist".

Since when is it the political center to side with a bunch of banks against the rest of the population?

[Frank Booth]

60. How about re-naming them the Snakes in the Grass Coalition?

These people are the lowest of the low.

[beyond cynical]

71. Here is the alternative...

Present -- U.S. House: Democrats 259 - Republicans 176

The alternative -- U.S. House: Democrats 193 - Republicans 242

[Gold Metal Flake]

74. Bullshit.

What a pathetic, pandering post.

[beyond cynical]

77. Your post belies your sig line.

[KansDem]

86. Speaking of "sig lines"

Capitalism is great if your selling pizzas, CDs, or perfume, but not for energy, education, the environment, and health care. Those are national security issues and should not be left in private hands.

[beyond cynical]

96. Fortunately, the folks who wrote the Constitution disagree with your premise.

[KansDem]

97. Really? What part of "promote the general welfare" troubles you?

The concern of the government for the health, peace, morality, and safety of its citizens.

Providing for the welfare of the general public is a basic goal of government. The preamble to the U.S. Constitution cites promotion of the general welfare as a primary reason for the creation of the Constitution. Promotion of the general welfare is also a stated purpose in state constitutions and statutes. The concept has sparked controversy only as a result of its inclusion in the body of the U.S. Constitution.

The first clause of Article I, Section 8, reads, "The Congress shall have Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States." This clause, called the General Welfare Clause or the Spending Power Clause, does not grant Congress the power to legislate for the general welfare of the country; that is a power reserved to the states through the Tenth Amendment. Rather, it merely allows Congress to spend federal money for the general welfare. The principle underlying this distinction—the limitation of federal power—eventually inspired the only important disagreement over the meaning of the clause.

According to James Madison, the clause authorized Congress to spend money, but only to carry out the powers and duties specifically enumerated in the subsequent clauses of Article I, Section 8, and elsewhere in the Constitution, not to meet the seemingly infinite needs of the general welfare. Alexander Hamilton maintained that the clause granted Congress the power to spend without limitation for the general welfare of the nation. The winner of this debate was not declared for 150 years.

In United States v. Butler, 56 S. Ct. 312, 297 U.S. 1, 80 L. Ed. 477 (1936), the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a federal agricultural spending program because a specific congressional power over agricultural production appeared nowhere in the Constitution. According to the Court in Butler, the spending program invaded a right reserved to the states by the Tenth Amendment.

Though the Court decided that Butler was consistent with Madison's philosophy of limited federal government, it adopted Hamilton's interpretation of the General Welfare Clause, which gave Congress broad powers to spend federal money. It also established that determination of the general welfare would be left to the discretion of Congress. In its opinion, the Court warned that to challenge a federal expense on the ground that it did not promote the general welfare would "naturally require a showing that by no reasonable possibility can the challenged legislation fall within the wide range of discretion permitted to the Congress." The Court then obliquely confided,"ow great is the extent of that range … we need hardly remark." "espite the breadth of the legislative discretion," the Court continued, "our duty to hear and to render judgment remains." The Court then rendered the federal agricultural spending program at issue invalid under the Tenth Amendment.

With Butler as precedent, the Supreme Court's interest in determining whether congressional spending promotes the general welfare has withered. In South Dakota v. Dole, 483 U.S. 203, 107 S. Ct. 2793, 97 L. Ed. 2d 171 (1987), the Court reviewed legislation allowing the secretary of transportation to withhold a percentage of federal highway funds from states that did not raise their legal drinking age to twenty-one. In holding that the statute was a valid use of congressional spending power, the Court in Dole questioned "whether 'general welfare' is a judicially enforceable restriction at all."

Congress appropriates money for a seemingly endless number of national interests, ranging from federal courts, policing, imprisonment, and national security to social programs, environmental protection, and education. No federal court has struck down a spending program on the ground that it failed to promote the general welfare. However, federal spending programs have been struck down on other constitutional grounds.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/General+Welfare

[beyond cynical]

101. Nothing. But I think the guy who wrote it knows the meaning better than you do.

With respect to the words "general welfare," I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators.

~James Madison

[KansDem]

106. But alas...

According to James Madison, the clause authorized Congress to spend money, but only to carry out the powers and duties specifically enumerated in the subsequent clauses of Article I, Section 8, and elsewhere in the Constitution, not to meet the seemingly infinite needs of the general welfare. Alexander Hamilton maintained that the clause granted Congress the power to spend without limitation for the general welfare of the nation. The winner of this debate was not declared for 150 years.

In United States v. Butler, 56 S. Ct. 312, 297 U.S. 1, 80 L. Ed. 477 (1936), the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a federal agricultural spending program because a specific congressional power over agricultural production appeared nowhere in the Constitution. According to the Court in Butler, the spending program invaded a right reserved to the states by the Tenth Amendment.

Though the Court decided that Butler was consistent with Madison's philosophy of limited federal government, it adopted Hamilton's interpretation of the General Welfare Clause, which gave Congress broad powers to spend federal money.

So if Congress can "provide for the common defense" in spending trillions of citizens' monies on unjust wars based on lies, it can "promote the general welfare" in providing Americans with national security such as health care, environmental protection, education, and energy. These are too important to be left with "capitalists" whose malfeasance as has been observed and documented during the recent decade...

[beyond cynical]

110. It is interesting to note that you favor the Federalist approach

over the Democratic approach.

“Having not yet succeeded in hitting on an opportunity, I send you a part of it in a newspaper, which broaches a new Constitutional doctrine of vast consequence, and demanding the serious attention of the public. I consider it myself as subverting the fundamental and characteristic principle of the Government; as contrary to the true and fair, as well as the received construction, and as bidding defiance to the sense in which the Constitution is known to have been proposed, advocated, and adopted. If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions. It is to be remarked that the phrase out of which this doctrine is elaborated is copied from the old Articles of Confederation, where it was always understood as nothing more than a general caption to the specified powers."

~James Madison

[KansDem]

112. But you still haven't provided any documentation on how the Constitution views capitalism

Your sig line, I may not like capitalism, but is anything else compatible with freedom?

How is capitalism compatible with freedom?

I replied with Capitalism is great if your selling pizzas, CDs, or perfume, but not for energy, education, the environment, and health care. Those are national security issues and should not be left in private hands.

Then you start quoting Madison, yet I don't see anything equating freedom with capitalism. Care to enlighten me?

[FiveGoodMen]

120. Agreed a thousand times over!

[No Elephants]

89. Why? Are you Obama? The sig line is about Obama. The post was about your post.

[Gold Metal Flake]

92. No it doesn't.

Criticism of your post of false choice and inevitability of failure is allowed.

[No Elephants]

87. There are many alternatives, but yours is not among them. Neither New Democrats

nor DLC members will become Republicans and Democrats from the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party can and would win many of their districts.

You've bought into the bullshit that real Democrats can't win elections, simply bc of McGovern and Reagan. What crap. Republicans were out of the White House and out of the majority many times. They never decided to become Democrats. McGovern's loss had a lot to do with 60's upheaval and Reagan was the Gipper. Democrats spooked way too easily.

[beyond cynical]

95. You couldn't be more wrong.

And by this time next year, you will know that I was right.

[No Elephants]

103. Sure I could. I could hold your view. Democrats will probably suffer in 2010,

but not because they were not right wing enough.

[No Elephants]

91. Interesting article about the DLC/New Democrats

<snip>

"At the national level, the movement was founded by the Democratic Leadership Council (501c4 educational non-profit, founded 1984) and includes the House New Democrat Coalition (founded 1997), the Senate New Democrat Coalition (founded 2000), the New Democrat Network PAC (founded 1996), the misnamed Progressive Policy Institute (501c4 think tank, "Bill Clinton's idea mill", founded 1989), and the umbrella funding group The Third Way Foundation (501c3 non-profit, founded 1996).

Since coming to power within the Democratic Party with Bill Clinton's presidency, the New Democrats/DLC have worked towards "essentially the same purpose as the Christian Coalition... to pull a broad political party dramatically to the right" according to John Nichols of The Progressive.

DLC operatives actively worked to sabotage Howard Dean's candidacy for the US Presidency in 2004, claiming that the "far-left" Democrat was wrong to attack George W. Bush's tax cuts and national security policies.

Corporate contributors to the DLC and New Democratic Network include Bank One, Citigroup, Dow Chemical, DuPont, General Electric, Health Insurance Corporation of America, Merrill Lynch, Microsoft, Philip Morris, RJR Nabisco, Chevron, Prudential Foundation, Amoco Foundation, AT&T, Morgan Stanley, Occidental Petroleum, Raytheon, and many other Fortune 500 companies."

<snip>

Rest of article: http://www.nndb.com/group/269/000093987/

The list of members at that website includes the Clintons, Gore and Kerry, right along with Traitor Joe, Baucus, Bayh, Nelson and Nelson, Landrieu, Lincoln and the rest of the usual suspects, but gives no date, so I am not sure if Kerry is still a member. (The presence of Kerry's name on the list was a surprise to me, which is why I am singling him out.)

The full list from the article:

Name Occupation Birth Death Known for
Brian Baird Politician 7-Mar-1956 Congressman, Washington 3rd
Max Baucus Politician 11-Dec-1941 US Senator from Montana
Evan Bayh Politician 26-Dec-1955 US Senator from Indiana
Shelley Berkley Politician 20-Jan-1951 Congresswoman, Nevada 1st
John Breaux Politician 1-Mar-1944 US Senator from Louisiana, 1987-2005
Maria Cantwell Politician 13-Oct-1958 US Senator from Washington
Lois Capps Politician 10-Jan-1938 Congresswoman, California 23rd
Russ Carnahan Politician 10-Jul-1958 Congressman, Missouri 3rd
Thomas Carper Politician 23-Jan-1947 US Senator from Delaware
Ed Case Politician 27-Sep-1952 Congressman, Hawaii 2nd
Ben Chandler Politician 12-Sep-1959 Congressman, Kentucky 6th
Bill Clinton Head of State 19-Aug-1946 42nd US President, 1993-2001
Hillary Clinton Politician 26-Oct-1947 US Secretary of State
Kent Conrad Politician 12-Mar-1948 US Senator from North Dakota
Bud Cramer Politician 22-Aug-1947 Congressman from Alabama, 1991-2009
Joseph Crowley Politician 16-Mar-1962 Congressman, New York 7th
Artur Davis Politician 9-Apr-1967 Congressman, Alabama 7th
Jim Davis Politician 11-Oct-1957 Congressman from Florida, 1997-2007
Susan Davis Politician 13-Apr-1944 Congresswoman, California 53rd
Cal Dooley Politician 11-Jan-1954 Congressman from California, 1991-2005
Byron Dorgan Politician 14-May-1942 US Senator from North Dakota
John Edwards Politician 10-Jun-1953 2004 Vice Presidential candidate
Rahm Emanuel Politician 29-Nov-1959 White House Chief of Staff
Eliot Engel Politician 18-Feb-1947 Congressman, New York 17th
Bob Etheridge Politician 7-Aug-1941 Congressman, North Carolina 2nd
Dianne Feinstein Politician 22-Jun-1933 US Senator from California
Harold Ford Politician 11-May-1970 Congressman from Tennessee, 1997-2007
Dick Gephardt Politician 31-Jan-1941 Congressman from Missouri, 1977-2005
Al Gore Politician 31-Mar-1948 US Vice President under Clinton
Bob Graham Politician 9-Nov-1936 US Senator from Florida
Jane Harman Politician 28-Jun-1945 Congresswoman, California 36th
Brian Higgins Politician 6-Oct-1959 Congressman, New York 27th
Rush Holt Politician 15-Oct-1948 Congressman, New Jersey 12th
Darlene Hooley Politician 4-Apr-1939 Congresswoman from Oregon, 1997-2009
Jay Inslee Politician 9-Feb-1951 Congressman, Washington 1st
Steve Israel Politician 30-May-1958 Congressman, New York 2nd
Tim Johnson Politician 28-Dec-1946 US Senator from South Dakota
Bob Kerrey Politician 27-Aug-1943 Governor and Senator from Nebraska
John Kerry Politician 11-Dec-1943 US Senator from Massachusetts
Ron Kind Politician 16-Mar-1963 Congressman, Wisconsin 3rd
Herb Kohl Politician 7-Feb-1935 US Senator from Wisconsin
Mary Landrieu Politician 23-Nov-1955 US Senator from Louisiana
Rick Larsen Politician 15-Jun-1965 Congressman, Washington 2nd
John Larson Politician 22-Jul-1948 Congressman, Connecticut 1st
Joseph Lieberman Politician 24-Feb-1942 US Senator from Connecticut
Blanche Lincoln Politician 30-Sep-1960 US Senator from Arkansas
Zoe Lofgren Politician 21-Dec-1947 Congresswoman, California 16th
Terry McAuliffe Politician 9-Feb-1957 Chairman of the DNC, 2001-05
Carolyn McCarthy Politician 5-Jan-1944 Congresswoman, New York 4th
Mike McIntyre Politician 6-Aug-1956 Congressman, North Carolina 7th
Mack McLarty Government 1946 White House Chief of Staff, 1993-94
Gregory Meeks Politician 25-Sep-1953 Congressman, New York 6th
Juanita Millender-McDonald Politician 7-Sep-1938 22-Apr-2007 Congresswoman from California, 1996-2007
Dennis Moore Politician 8-Nov-1945 Congressman, Kansas 3rd
Jim Moran Politician 16-May-1945 Congressman, Virginia 8th
Ben Nelson Politician 17-May-1941 US Senator from Nebraska
Bill Nelson Politician 29-Sep-1942 US Senator from Florida
Gavin Newsom Politician 10-Oct-1967 Mayor of San Francisco
Sam Nunn Politician 8-Sep-1938 US Senator from Georgia, 1972-97
David Price Politician 17-Aug-1940 Congressman, North Carolina 4th
Mark Pryor Politician 10-Jan-1963 US Senator from Arkansas
Chuck Robb Politician 26-Jun-1939 US Senator from Virginia, 1989-2001
Timothy J. Roemer Politician 30-Oct-1956 9-11 Commission member
Loretta Sanchez Politician 7-Jan-1960 Congresswoman, California 47th
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Politician 3-Dec-1970 Congresswoman, South Dakota
Adam Schiff Politician 22-Jun-1960 Congressman, California 29th
Allyson Schwartz Politician 3-Oct-1948 Congresswoman, Pennsylvania 13th
David Scott Politician 27-Jun-1946 Congressman, Georgia 13th
Adam Smith Politician 15-Jun-1965 Congressman, Washington 9th
Debbie Stabenow Politician 29-Apr-1950 US Senator from Michigan
John Tanner Politician 22-Sep-1944 Congressman, Tennessee 8th
Ellen Tauscher Politician 15-Nov-1951 Former Congresswoman, California 10th
Tom Udall Politician 18-May-1948 US Senator from New Mexico
Anthony A. Williams Politician 28-Jul-1951 Mayor of Washington DC, 1999-2007
David Wu Politician 8-Apr-1955 Congressman, Oregon 1st

[valerief]

98. We might as well call them NEODEMS. nt

[No Elephants]

104. "Pub Lite" got to Bayh enough to make him vote against Rice and Gonzalez. I often use

Demlicans and Republicrats. But NeoDems is good, too. Supposedly, neocons were also liberals gone wrong.

[valerief]

105. I like your selections, too. I kinda like Rapepublicans now, too. nt

[katty]

99. more for Corporate Welfare-god forbid that is challlenged

[winyanstaz]

108. traitors in our midsts....

This is embarrassingly obvious that the Dem party has either sold out or we have been infiltrated.

[Kablooie]

111. Oh excellent. I guess congress was dissappointed that the depression didn't come.

They want to give it a second chance.

[BlueIdaho]

113. The congress of the United States is corrupt to the point of non-functional.

End all lobbying immediately.

[AnneD]

116. Vote their ass' out of office...

No more elephants in donkey suits. PERIOD.

[depakid]

119. Every single one of them

[txaslftist]

121. Hey, don't blame these dems...

they are just doing what their bosses are telling them to do.

[Blue Owl]

124. They're bought and paid for

Fucking sellouts.

[Agony]

130. Hell, this should be no surprise. Bean's co-chair Himes is a former Goldman Sacks VP