"Senators Specter, Nelson and Lincoln are not Democrats, they're Republicans in Donkey suits"

[Better Believe It]

Max Baucus: "never quite sure if he's home or if he's just had one motorcycle accident to many"

December 7, 2009

Time to Declare War on Democratic Blackmailers
Ax Max
By MARGOT KIDDER

Canadian actress Margot Kidder co-starred with Christopher Reeve as Lois Lane in the Superman movies. In addition she has co-starred in The Amityville Horror, Some Kind of Hero with Richard Pryor and The Great Waldo Pepper opposite Robert Redford. Today she can be seen making special appearances on Smallville and Brothers and Sisters. She lives in Livingston, Montana.

------------------------------

The Democratic Party needs an intervention and then it needs to be sent to rehab. The lunacy behind the thinking of many traditional Democrats that any Democrat in Congress is better than no Democrat at all needs to be exposed and treated for the infectious disease that it is. But there is no 12 step program for corrupt politicians, and turning the problem over to God is just not going to cut it this time, no matter what Sarah Palin thinks .

The absence of democracy in a congress whose votes are bought, sold, and traded like pork bellies by big corporations in exchange for highly profitable votes and amendments on bills is a bi-partisan infection. And the pus is everywhere.

Give me a nut job for an enemy anytime. You can take aim at the obviousness of the problem and roll a strike 99 times out of a hundred. But if your enemy is disguised as a boring but harmless friend, and wears the same logo on his sweatshirt as you do, then landing a punch is like trying to slug mist. There’s no connection, no delicious smacking sound, there’s no obvious win. The fact that 20 to 25 percent of Americans support policies and politicians that are bat shit crazy is not as much a concern as the fact that 50 to 60 percent of Americans support politicians whose policies are for sale to the highest bidder, and exist independent of any underlying morality or consistent philosophy of government. Arlen Specter calls himself a Democrat for God’s sake. And so does Ben Nelson. And Blanche Lincoln. These are not Democrats; they’re Republicans in Donkey suits. And somewhat tasteful donkey suits at that. None of them would have strings of tea bags dangling from THEIR cowboy hats, you can bet the ranch on that. They are much more dangerous than Rush Limbaugh could ever hope to be.

And oh how they bray, and the bray is as bad as the bite. With each snort and hee-haw the party trembles defensively and gives them whatever they want. To hell with traditional Democratic principles, its all about keeping the guy from leaving you, so what if he’s hit you so many times that your face is no longer recognizable? Keep that man. Get more numbers on your side of the aisle than they have on theirs and pay no attention to the actual quality of the people who make up those numbers. If they say they are Democrats, if they will wear our label, they must be on our side. Democrats can’t hurt us. Can they?

Look at Max Baucus, the most anti-charismatic Montanan in the state. How is it possible to recognize such a surfeit of blandness as dangerous? Talking with Max is like talking with drywall: he nods at whatever you say and he’ll smile vacantly at you for hours on end, but you’re never quite sure if he’s home or if he’s just had one motorcycle accident too many. I say this because I believe that those of us he purports to represent have a right to know who the person behind the mask really is.

The hideous truth is that this empty suit-person almost single handedly took the reform out of health care reform, has introduced and somehow passed more legislation to abet the cornucopia of crime that is our banking system than anyone else in congress, and has stalled the funding of any, if not all, modern programs that would give financial lifeboats of one kind or another to families in need. He did it by pretending he was a Democrat and by hanging in there long enough to get appointed, almost by default, as chair of the banking committee. And he gets elected in a state with the fourth lowest per capita income in the country by consistently “bringing home the pork.”

Please read the full article at:

http://www.counterpunch.org/kidder12072009.html

[rudy23]

1. Brought to you by Rahm Emanuel.

Aren't you glad those seats went "blue"?

[Vincardog]

2. Calling for real democrats to primary the DINOs is not undemocratic it is the height of Democracy.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

3. Oh my... can't we get better spokespersons?

I like Margot Kidder, but wasn't she found wandering around naked in a psychotic episode a little while back?

Mental illness and/or addiction do not invalidate a person, of course, but the are bound to affect how one is perceived when proclaiming on weighty matters.

[glitch]

15. Aren't you getting a little tired of modifying our voice to appease the perceptions of people who

will never side with you anyway?

She has guts and charisma regardless of her health issues (which would actually add weight to her opinion on healthcare reform, I hope she keeps writing), and this is a fine OP. Most people have health issues or know someone who does, I think Americans can handle hearing from Margot Kidder.

Plus she's a Canadian living in Montana, she probably has quite a few stories to tell comparing the two systems.

[emulatorloo]

4. Specter called out Liebermann the other day for his lies about the public option

Counterpunch is painting with a pretty broad brush.


Specter To Lieberman, Collins: Reread The Fine Print On The Public Option
Brian Beutler | December 4, 2009, 12:49PM
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/specter-to-lieberman-collins-reread-the-fine-print-on-the-public-option.php

[Inuca]

6. Exactly

Glad (and endlessly amused) old Arlen is on our side. I know about all his faults, but I kinf of like him in spite of myself. Self-serving and all that, but at least he is rather honest about it. And heis smart, tough, and not an ideologue.

[emulatorloo]

9. "not an ideologue" is something to be prized in any politician

He could be more liberal if I could take him to the factory and refurbish him of course. But he has been a pretty good team player.

However if you are a socialist and an avid Counterpunch reader that probably doesn't count much.

[Better Believe It]

12. Read the article. It's not about Spector and health care. It's about Wall Street political whores

who have to call themselves Democrats in order to have any chance of winning elections. The so-called "centrist" and blue dog a-holes. You like them?

And why do you always comment on and attack articles written by liberals/progressives on DU that you haven't actually read?

[backscatter712]

19. I'll agree with you on that.

Specter may be a bastard, but he's our bastard! The threat of a primary has him well-behaved at the moment, at least on health care.

[Inuca]

5. What exactly did SPecter do wrong

re health care reform? He says he strongly supports a PO, and had a very good floor speech the other day proving in his no nonsense (and very knowledgeable as far as judicial matters are concerned, at least) way the Ensign amendment about tort reform makes no sense. Why he does, I don't care much at this point. But he has been a pretty reliable soldier and his current junior status notwithstanding, I am sure his actual seniority means a lot in the clubby Senate.

[MiniMe]

7. Agreed. Specter has been a pretty loyal dem lately

I always thought he was a moderate rather than one of the neocons, he would frustrate all of us because he would give great speeches and then not vote the way he spoke. That was when he was a repub, and I think in the beginning, he kept forgetting he didn't have to kow-tow to the repubs anymore. I trust him much more than LIEberman. He has been a pretty reliable dem lately.

[Better Believe It]

8. Didn't read the article? Seven paragraphs are about Baucus, none about Spector and health care

It's always a good idea to read an article before commenting on it.

You don't write a movie review if you haven't seen the movie .... do you?

[emulatorloo]

10. Read your thread title n/t

[ClarkUSA]

11. lol

:rofl:

[Better Believe It]

13. Do you see something in the caption about Spector and health care?

Got your glasses on? Here's the caption:

"Senators Specter, Nelson and Lincoln are not Democrats, they're Republicans in Donkey suits"

So you're a big fan of Spector, Nelson and Lincoln and hated that title.

OK.

I can accept that.

But why attack everyone who isn't?

[emulatorloo]

24. You wrote the title, not me. And don't call me a "fan" of Blue Dogs just because you got caught

n/t

[Better Believe It]

25. Caught? Caught doing what? You're not making any sense at all.

If you're a little high you might want to post later after you get yourself together.

OK?

[emulatorloo]

28. If you say so . . . .

[TheKentuckian]

14. More or less true but ole Arlen has moved to at least the middle of

the caucus, maybe even to the more leftward wing. Of course he has the real threat of a primary to keep his ass in line but so far he isn't nearly the problem that some much more established people are.

That dude will do anything to keep his seat, he'll be kickin it with Bernie and Russ next. lol

[Better Believe It]

16. Until he wins, if he wins, the primary. He can change his position on issues as easy

as he can change his party registration .... just to win an election of course.

If he wins the primary and general election he is free once again to move to the right.

It's a political game he's playing with voters! The bottom line is he will serve Wall Street and corporate America.

[4_TN_TITANS]

17. I think it's a well written, spot on OP.

"The fact that 20 to 25 percent of Americans support policies and politicians that are bat shit crazy is not as much a concern as the fact that 50 to 60 percent of Americans support politicians whose policies are for sale to the highest bidder, and exist independent of any underlying morality or consistent philosophy of government"

This is particularly disturbing and the reason we are given the Sarah Palins to bat around the kitchen floor, while the house is being sold out from under us by ones we think are on our side.

[onenote]

18. I'll repeat what I wrote when Kidder's rant was first posted in late November:

A campaign to "ax max"?

First, he was elected one year ago. He's not up for reelection for five more years. Talk about throwing money and time down a rathole.
Second, some numbers: Montana may have a Democratic governor and two Democratic Senators, but anyone who thinks its Vermont is sadly out of touch with reality. Here's a dose of reality: Obama lost to McCain in Montana by 10,000 votes. Baucus got over 100,000 more votes than McCain did. Tell you something?
Third, Margot suggests that going after Baucus (and others) will "soften them up for the blows of the more polished, and hopefully, progressive politicians who will remove them from office."
Oh, Margot, let's take a look at the folks Montanans have elected in recent years: Conrad Burns, Max Baucus, Jon Tester. You think Montanans have a secret hankering for "more polished" politicians? And "hopefully" more progressive replacements? Fat chance.

I would love to see more progressive Democrats elected. But you have to pick your battles wisely. I supported Lamont over Lieberman because I thought he had a very good chance to win; my mistake was that I didn't foresee Lieberman running and winning as a third party candidate. I'd still do exactly what I did then, but anyone who thinks knocking off a Democratic incumbent means that a more progressive Democrat will take his or her place ought to keep that example in mind. If there weren't enough progressive voters to take out Lieberman and a weak repub opponent in Connecticut, why in heavens name would anyone think the results would be better in a state like Montana or Nebraska?

[Better Believe It]

26. You should have titled your post: "A rant in defense of Senator Baucus and other conservatives"

"Obama lost to McCain in Montana by 10,000 votes. Baucus got over 100,000 more votes than McCain did. Tell you something?"

Yes, Senator Baucus to the right of John McCain and Sarah Palin based on your suggestion that most people in Montana are somewhere to the right of racist teabaggers in Alabama! And you think that's good!

So based upon your doom and gloom political forecasts we should not expect the see anyone progressive or liberal ever elected state-wide to any office in Montana.

So ya think the Democratic Party ought to find even more right-wing candidates for run for office in Montana?

Talk about a lame excuse for supporting the so-called "centrists" and "Blue Dogs" in the Democratic Party!

[onenote]

29. no, its more of a rant in defense of reality

And how in the name of all that is sane did you ever come to the conclusion that I thought it was good that the outcome of a campaign to oust Baucus is likely to be the election of someone to the right of Baucus? If you can show me where you got that from, I will happy retract it.

And no, I don't think we can expect to see someone as progressive as, say Bernie Sanders or Feingold etc elected from Montana. I think its far more likely that the outcome of the expenditure of time and money to "get" Baucus will be the election of someone worse than Baucus.

And I think the Democratic party should find people to run who can win given that the candidate that doesn't win can't do a damn fucking thing to help us.

[Better Believe It]

30. So authentic liberals can't be elected in Montana. Thanks for the insight and your surrender.

Are you from Montana like the author or do you just know a lot more about her home state?

"And how in the name of all that is sane did you ever come to the conclusion that I thought it was good that the outcome of a campaign to oust Baucus is likely to be the election of someone to the right of Baucus? If you can show me where you got that from, I will happy retract it."

I didn't write that. If you can show me where you got that from I will happily retract it.

You need to read posts more carefully.

[onenote]

32. no I'm not from Montana and I await your retraction

I'm not from Montana, but then again I provided some fairly telling electoral numbers and history for Montana (Conrad Burns?) and you have provided not a thing to suggest that "an authentic liberal" could be elected from Montana. Indeed, even Kidder has little confidence that would be the result.

And what you said was that "most people in Montana are somewhere to the right of racist teabaggers in Alabama! And you think that's good!"

Show me where I suggested it was good that Montanans are to the right of racist teabaggers or where I said that was good. I'll donate $100 to DU if you can.

And I sure hope you don't consider yourself an authentic liberal. Because most authentic liberals I've known in my life actually try to be truthful.

[Better Believe It]

34. I have nothing to retract. I stand by my opinion. And I notice that you

haven't commented on the same article which is ranked number #1 on the "Greatest" front page of Democratic Underground!

Why the silence onenote? Are you just in the habit of stalking and attacking the posts of a few DU'ers that are too liberal or progressive for your tastes?

[onenote]

36. I've responded to that article several times -- dont' need to do it any more

and I don't pay any attention to the Greatest Page.

and are really paranoid or just playing the part?

[Better Believe It]

37. So you really don't think that 60 liberal Democrats can ever be elected to the Senate ....

because voters in states like Montana are conservatives?

[onenote]

38. I think that focusing on replacing Baucus won't get you an inch closer to 60 liberal Democrats

that was my point

[Better Believe It]

39. So which conservative Democrat Senators do you think can and should be replaced?

[onenote]

40. I think our first focus should be on replacing conservative repubs with more liberal Democrats

Getting George Allen replaced with Jim Webb, for example.

I'll worry about replacing Democrats after we've replaced as many of the repubs that we can.

[Better Believe It]

41. You think that Senator Webb is a liberal Democrat???!!!!

Well, you could claim that Senator Webb isn't as right-wing or reactionary as George Allen but to describe him as a "liberal" is just wrong.

He's not. And that just reinforces the view that you don't really believe any liberal/progressive Democrats can defeat Republicans in supposedly conservative states. That's just a another way of saying Republicans and conservative Democrats will always control the Senate and that we should settle and be grateful for whatever crumbs the bi-partisan majority throws our way.

Here's information on your oh so very "liberal" Senator Webb. There's lots more!

Political analyst Larry Sabato said in May that "Jim Webb is George Allen's worst nightmare: a war hero and a Reagan appointee who holds moderate positions… Allen tries to project a Reagan aura, but Webb already has it."<24> In September, Bloomberg.com's Catherine Dodge wrote an article highlighting Webb and the Senate race, and said "Webb isn't a typical Democrat. His family hails from the rural southern part of the state. He's pro-gun ownership, and he takes a harder line on illegal immigration than many Senate Republicans."<25>

On September 7, 2006, Webb released his first television advertisement which included footage of a 1985 speech by Ronald Reagan praising Webb's service as a Marine.<26>

Webb was frequently mentioned as a possible Vice Presidential Democratic nominee for Barack Obama in 2008 due to his military experience and moderate policy positions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_H._Webb

[onenote]

42. Jim Webb IS more liberal than George Allen

That doesn't make him a "liberal" as you define the term -- just more liberal than allen, which is what I said.

You may not think there is any difference between Allen and Webb, but so far this thread hasn't demonstrated that you think much at all.

And your reading comprehension sucks too.

Oh, and one more thing, name the "liberal" (your terminology) Democrat that could have been elected Senator in Virginia.

[AllentownJake]

20. Specter is more progressive than Bernie Sanders right now

What he will be if he is re-elected is open for debate.

[Better Believe It]

31. What time is it? Check back tomorrow .... or after he wins the primary.

Who said politicians say whatever they think will get them elected?

:)

[joeglow3]

21. Yeah, good luck with that here in Nebraska

Sorry, but this pie in the sky reasoning will only ensure a Republican gets elected here in Nebraska.

[polichick]

27. Do Nebraskans believe that Republicans care about regular people? nt

[joeglow3]

33. Of course not

However, most are beyond hope. The strategy here needs to be to win over younger voters and keep them on our side. It will be a slow process to get a true Democrat elected.

[dionysus]

22. the problem isn't them so much as the conservative-leaning constituency in those states...

what's the bigger problem; that baucus is a tool or the dems in that state voted him in.

[polichick]

23. What a refreshing piece - the party sure does need an intervention! K&R

[beyond cynical]

35. And if they were Republicans they would be (as they did with Spector)

saying that they are not Republicans.

Which do you prefer?

[Vidar]

43. Specter is looking far better than the Blue Dogs so far.