THIS IS WHY DEMS IN TROUBLE: 31 Blue Dogs tell Pelosi not to end tax cuts for rich

[yurbud]

I heard this on NPR the other day, and it tells you why the Democrats have an enthusiasm gap and the GOP is onto something with enforcing some ideological conformity.

These corrupt nitwits could sabotauge a winning issue for the Democrats in November. The standard argument that we would lose the seat if a real progressive ran instead of these Chamber of Commerce drones seems like it would be a pretty meaningless loss since these guys are threatening to line up with the GOP on a core policy issue and the orange boner can brag about having more Democratic votes in the wings.

On bread and butter issues, if you call yourself a Democrat, you better vote like one or you should have the White House, Congressional leadership, and party structure come down on you like a pile of bricks. Instead, they get their ass kissed and get what they want even though they need the party far more than the party needs them.

Every progressive group should put these guys on notice that we will back primary opponents for them in the next election, and they ought to be followed with signs demanding they come out of the closet as Republicans.

Legislators Divided On How Far To Extend Tax Cuts

by NPR Staff

Debate over extending the so-called "Bush-era tax cuts" has not been cleanly divided along party lines. Last Thursday, 31 moderate and Blue Dog Democrats in the House sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi imploring her to extend all of the cuts, including those for top earners.

"There are several other Democrats who have indicated they have the same interest. Some didn't sign the letter because they didn't think the letter was strong enough — they wanted to go farther than just a one-year extension, quite frankly," he says. "But I do think that there is a chunk of folks within the Democratic caucus who — on a short-term basis — are very concerned about where our economic circumstances are today and they're prepared to extend — at least for some period of time — the tax cuts."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129973643

[bullwinkle428]

1. Time to start naming the bastards.

[City Lights]

2. One of them is my Congresscreep, melissa bean.

I cannot stand her. :puke:

[blondeatlast]

3. Harry Mitchell, Arizona. I've sen the names before, but he's the one I remember

for onvious reasons (see my sig).

[n2doc]

11. John Barrow, Ga

And he will be gone in november, no matter how much he wants to vote like a republican. We tried to remove him in the primary, but that failed. But it is a swing district.

[blueworld]

26. delete - my mistake

[ThoughtCriminal]

32. Ann Kilpatrick - AZ

Going to have to hold my nose this election.

[Vinnie From Indy]

4. The rich will get their tax breaks - you can count on it!

They paid good money for our government and by God they are gonna use it to acquire even more oceans of money. Greed - it's what's for dinner!

[Cicada]

5. Bluedog effort to extend tax cuts for rich politically rational

If they vote to not extend tax cuts for the rich then in their conservative districts opponents will run attack ads against them. If Pelosi has all the votes she needs even without bluedog votes - why should a bluedog hurt his election chances? Politics isn't for purists - it's for pragmatists. If Pelosi needs more votes she will order the least vulnerable bluedogs to vote the right way.

[Individualist]

7. Fuck DLC!

[sharp_stick]

13. That kind of talk doesn't go over well here

we must all conform to the ideals, actually explaining why these guys are doing it isn't enough.

Welcome to DU :hi:

[yurbud]

20. read the article: Blue Dogs are close to doing it

[yurbud]

21. you are right about the ''hold & release'' business: those are the times when you see the

real priorities of Congressional leaders.

They didn't do it on the public option, and obviously not on getting the toughest possible financial reform.

The problem is that in the long run, it is not only not pure, it is not pragmatic: people have more respect for someone with convictions they disagree with than a groveling opportunist.

Also, I reject the notion that this would make them LESS electable. During the health care debate, polling was done that showed majorities of voters in opponents of the public option's states WANTED the public option.


You could make the argument on that issue that DLCers and Blue Dogs could have lost their seats, but not because of voters. Rather, it would be a sign of how profoundly corrupt the electoral process is in those states and the veto power business interests have over democracy.

[LiberalAndProud]

6. They aren't working for us, are they?

If some guy wants to reserve his money to reinvest in his business, he should reinvest in his business, because mostly that comes off the bottom line, at least in the form of depreciation. Are our lawmakers really so ignorant about tax law? Never mind. That was a rhetorical question. It's obvious their markers are being called in.

[joeybee12]

8. It's one thing to work with the Blue Dogs, another to give into EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR WHIMS!

Honestly, we're screwed.

[inenemyterritory]

9. They seem to be acting as the Tea Party of the Left

[damntexdem]

10. NO, the Dems are in trouble only if Pelosi LISTENS to these idiots.

If Pelosi leads the House Dems to pass an extension of the cuts for the poor and middle class, the Dems have a chance to get out of trouble.

[Bryn]

12. Blanche Lincoln wants to extend it, too.

One of reasons she's not getting my vote. My vote must be earned. There's a real FDR democrat running as an alternative on the ballot so that's who I am voting for!

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

23. Are you talking about John L. Gray?

If he's on the ballet then I might get out and vote.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

36. Maybe he likes going to the ballet, but I'll look for him at the ballot.

:rofl:

[Bryn]

40. LOL

:)

[Bryn]

39. Yes!

:hi:

[spanone]

14. dnc needs to stop funding these fuckers

[GentryDixon]

15. Jim "my Daddy would roll over in his grave" Matheson.

DINO-Utah.

[Sgent]

16. because

Vitter is better than Landreau?

Those are your choices... LA will never elect anyone who people on DU like.

[Greyhound]

25. Because the LA and national Democratic party organizations will never allow

another progressive candidate to get through.

Ironic that the state that gave us the Kingfisher has been completely sewn up.

[laughingliberal]

17. The rich have nothing to worry about. nt

[chaska]

18. I guess I still come here because most of you get it. But really...

I'm not sure I have a party anymore. I can't vote for these people. No way, no how.

[Bitwit1234]

19. And after he got them in, Rahm wants to run to Chicago

will he do the same there. Turn the state if he could over to the republicans.

[Hello_Kitty]

22. 31 out of 257 Dem Congressmembers is hardly "divided". eom

[defendandprotect]

31. Democratic Party with a DLC corporate wing is . . . DIVIDED ...!!

[DainBramaged]

24. I wonder what our lurking party members think of this?

Maybe we should all go volunteer to work for the party to make this Administration one of the little people?




:rofl:

[AtomicKitten]

27. the 31 Blue Dogs listed here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=444689

[Qutzupalotl]

33. Thank you! n/t

[Supersedeas]

28. Stooges for the Chamber of Commerce proudly carrying the DINO moniker

[Toucano]

29. It is EXACTLY why the Dems are in trouble!

You nailed it.

[defendandprotect]

30. We need to target corporate Blue Dogs and replace with more liberal Dems ....

[Usrename]

34. Yep, he had no problem getting Kucinich on Air Force One.

It's say one thing and then do the opposite.

[Poboy]

35. recommend.

[bvar22]

37. This IS where the Party Leadership SHOULD step in, and...

"..come down on you (them) like a pile of bricks."

31 "Democratic" Reps is a small minority.
They should NOT be allowed to block a DEMOCRATIC agenda.

The Party Leadership COULD mobilize The Base by naming names, and focusing "Democratic" outrage to help "CHANGE" their minds.
The Party Leadership COULD give the the same ultimatum they gave the Progressives when they balked at giving the White House money to keep the WARS financed:

Things like, If you block this we WILL come to your districts and campaign against you.

or

If you block this, the door to the White House will be CLOSED to you and any project in YOUR district.

There ARE ways for a president to get what he wants.

"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone


So how hard will the Party Leadership FIGHT for this issue?
Is it really no skin off THEIR noses if the RICH get to keep their tax cuts?


"By their works you will know them."

[The Magistrate]

38. Exactly, Sir