Where Landrieu's Loyalties Lie

[babylonsister]

She's done this before, hasn't she. I can't remember the exact circumstance, but it had to do with $$ and hcr?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_09/025915.php

WHERE LANDRIEU'S LOYALTIES LIE.... It's maddening enough when conservative Republican senators abuse Senate rules and interfere with the government's ability to function. It's just as offensive when conservative Democrats do the same thing.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said {Wednesday} she stands by her hold on President Obama's nominee for White House Office of Management and Budget director because the administration has yet to overturn its moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

Landrieu, who has been a vehement opponent of the drilling ban, has come under fire this week from many in her own party -- including Senate Democrats and administration officials -- over the hold on Jack Lew, the OMB nominee. But, in a floor speech today, she said she won't budge.

Keep in mind, Landrieu doesn't object to Jack Lew. On the contrary, she's described him as an "outstanding" choice to head the OMB, and would be more to happy to vote for his confirmation. It's just that she's looking for a hostage, and Lew became a convenient choice to exploit -- as soon as Landrieu gets what she wants, she'll be gracious enough to let the Senate vote on a key administration nominee. Until then, she just doesn't care about the consequences.

In this case, those consequences aren't just minor inconveniences. The Office of Management and Budget is poised to start writing the 2012 budget, and it needs the administration's budget director. But there is no budget director, because Mary Landrieu, in a move that's been fairly described as "both absurd and irresponsible," has decided her demands are more important the administration's ability to govern.

And what are those demands? She wants oil companies to start deepwater drilling again, as well as faster permits for shallow-water drilling projects. In other words, Landrieu won't even let the Senate vote on an important nominee until oil companies tell her they're happy.

The country simply can't be expected to thrive in the 21st century with a Senate that's this broken.

—Steve Benen

[Sherman A1]

1. What a charming member of the

GOP she is.... Oh, wait she's a Democrat.. I think???????

[Pab Sungenis]

2. She'll be gone in January.

Good riddance. It won't make much of a difference with a Republican in that seat since we couldn't count on her vote anyhow.

[karynnj]

3. She's not up for re-election - Vitter is (nt)

[Pab Sungenis]

14. Crap. That's right.

Well, chalk her off anyhow. She should just switch parties along with Lieberman and get it over with.

[karynnj]

15. That would not be helpful

you do understand that McConnell - DeMint, if he rallies enough of the far right - as leader will be FAR worse than Reid or any Democrat as majority leader. I am weak on sports, but liked the analogy that who is the leader changes what side of the court we are on. With Reid, we are fighting for the Democratic agenda. With McConnell, the issues will be the Republican agenda - which we will need to stop.

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. Wow. You sure seem eager to replace Democratic Senators with Republicans, even when

they are not up for reelection.

[Pab Sungenis]

20. If they behave like Republicans

they don't belong in the Democratic party. Period.

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. Voting with the Democratic Caucus 92% of the time is behaving like a Republican?

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/111/senate/party-voters/

Landreau votes with Democrats more often than Russ Feingold. You you rooting for him to be replaced by a Republican also?

[Mimosa]

24. 1000+ Stubbs. n/t

[Me.]

4. Any Chance The WH Will Finally Figure Out Who Their True Friends Are?

[babylonsister]

5. She was elected to her position; what do you think the WH

can/should do about her?

[Me.]

10. For Starters They Can Play Hardball With Money

They support her campaigns and she brings home a lot of entitlements which the WH helped her get. They need to remind her that one hand washes the other. And as to my comments about friends, it's not progressives blocking their agenda. They need to send her a buck up statement.

[mikelgb]

6. you mean L'oilties

[Supersedeas]

9. Profits before country--their are oaths of office and then their are oaths to campaign contributors

[xxqqqzme]

7. Could this become a recess appointment?

[mikelgb]

13. no, because good-for-nothing Democrats are now also the party of NO

They have agreed to block Obama's recess appointments.

[KeepItReal]

8. She won't fight for Louisiana's share of oil royalties ($3 Billion/year)...

Offshore oil royalty sharing with coastal states should begin immediately, Sen. Mary Landrieu says

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., asked Congress on Thursday to immediately implement a revenue-sharing plan directing 37.5 percent of offshore oil royalty payments to coastal states beginning in 2017.

Landrieu said the massive Gulf oil spill shows Louisiana and other Gulf states need the revenue now.

But the revenue-sharing plan is projected to cost the federal treasury $3 billion a year, making it a long shot that Congress or the Obama administration would go along, given the huge federal deficits. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, in response to a question from Landrieu about her proposal, did not take a firm position, though he said "we will work closely with you and other members of the Congress in finding the way forward with respect to Gulf Coast restoration."

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/05/offshore_oil_royalty_sharing_w.html


Louisiana needs its share of offshore oil revenue now, Mr. President: An editorial

Louisiana fought for decades to convince Congress that our state should get a share of the oil and gas wealth being mined off our shores. We're still waiting.

We're being asked to hold our collective breath till 2017. That's when the revenue-sharing measure that was finally adopted in 2006 takes full effect.
...

The nation benefits from the oil extracted by BP and others off our coast. But we are the state that bears the brunt of the oil industry's collateral damage. Thanks in large measure to the industry's crisscrossing pipeline canals, we're losing a football field of wetlands every 30 minutes and are more vulnerable than ever to hurricanes.
...

We can't wait till 2017 for the resources we need to save our imperiled coast. We and other oil-producing coastal states must start getting the 37.5 percent share of oil and gas royalties from new drilling in the Gulf now. Not seven years in the future. Not when it's too late and there's nothing left to save.

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/05/louisiana_needs_its_share_of_o.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Maybe she's getting ready for a job in the private sector?

[COLGATE4]

12. After watching Ben Nelson interview at the Heritage Foundation

yesterday (championing the extension of Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans), it wouldn't surprise me.

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. Apperently her loyalties are with LA

[Phx_Dem]

18. She should dine on some tainted Gulf seafood. n/t

[Arkana]

19. Bitch.

Yeah, I said it. Who wants some? This is bitchiness for the sake of bitchiness, nothing else.

[Mimosa]

25. ^ Idiot ^

Yes, you, Arkana.

[4_TN_TITANS]

22. WTF is going on with these 'lone' senators

holding the people's business hostage? One senator should not have this much power.

[Mimosa]

23. To be fair, Landrieu is fighting for one issue

Jobs for Louisianians. And the ban on oil and gas drilling has hurt thousands of people in the state.