Rachel Maddow: The Conservadems

[babylonsister]

Run time: 05:07 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mQoK-q_6wQ   Posted on YouTube: March 14, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: March 14, 2009 By DU Member: babylonsister Views on DU: 3193

 
And this is why I love Rachel Maddow. She laid out the situation exactly as it is. What the hell are the Conservadems thinking anyway?



Rachel Maddow takes the "conservative" Democrats in the Senate to task for sitting on their hands while Bush was in office, and choosing now to make themselves look as idiotic as the House Republicans - what with their new coalition and a sudden concern for fiscal responsibility in the middle of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Way to go, geniuses. So nice to see you channeling John Boehner's rhetoric on spending!

Rachel should have just called them what they are: DINO's. Of course, if she did, the list would not be limited to these few. We've got two corporate parties: One that likes unions and actually cares a little bit about governing, and the other that's just lost its damned mind entirely and worships at the throne of Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin.

[depakid]

1. The bottom line is that these folks need to pay a political price

for their very likely corrupt and surely irresponsible behavior-

[AlbertCat]

12. They are free to call themselves what they believe they are....

....and to act as they seem fit. But there should be consequences. They should get no quirks for siding with the opposition. No chairmanships or responsibilities, just their voice, which is their right to raise. But no "special powers".



P.S. They're doing it now because it's safe. Cowards.

[MindMatter]

19. It is as if they didn't notice that

there is a real apparatus in place now to put serious pressure on DINOs. Maybe we can't take them all out at once. But it is time to target 3 or 4 of them for replacement at their next election. Maybe it is time for MoveOn and the other progressive groups to form a coalition of their own.

Here's a scenario. The top progressive groups hold a private summit meeting, and let it be leaked that the principal agenda item for that meeting is to address this move by the Senate DINOs. And in this private summit, they will agree on 4 of those Senators to be replaced when they next come up for election. But here's the thing. The names won't be circulated. Instead that whole rotten lot will have to wonder whether they are on the short list. If you are on the short list, you are certain to come up against a primary contender who can outspend you 10 to one.

Senators, would you like to reconsider forming that DINO splinter group?

People like Bayh think they are safe because he's from a "red state", so no Democrat would ever risk losing that seat.

Wrong! Indiana is now a blue state, and that goes to show that we don't have to accept DINOs and snakes from ANY state.

[depakid]

21. Accountability Now is planning on doing just that

Some of the most prominent names in progressive politics launched a major new organization on Thursday dedicated to pinpointing and aiding primary challenges against incumbent Democrats who are viewed as acting against their constituents' interests.

Accountability Now PAC will officially be based in Washington D.C., though its influence is designed to be felt in congressional districts across the country. The group will adopt an aggressive approach to pushing the Democratic Party in a progressive direction; it will actively target, raise funds, poll and campaign for primary challengers to members who are either ethically or politically out-of-touch with their voters. The goal, officials with the organization say, is to start with 25 potential races and dwindle it down to eight or 10; ultimately spending hundreds of thousands on elections that usually wouldn't be touched.

"Most of the time, regardless of your record in Washington, an incumbent does not have to worry about being challenged in a primary," explained Jeff Hauser, an online Democratic operative who will serve as the group's executive director. "This only increases the power of the Washington echo chamber and the influence of lobbyists. We are trying to change that... We think there are potentially talented challengers out there who think the process of mounting a primary challenge is simply too daunting. When you bring to bear the resources of national organizations and the influence of the netroots, you can help these potential candidates."

It is a concept bound -- indeed, designed -- to ruffle the feathers of powerful figures in Washington, in part because the names behind it are now institutions themselves. With $500,000 currently in the bank, Accountability Now will be aided, in varying forms, by groups such as MoveOn, SEIU, Color of Change, Democracy for America, 21st Century Democrats and BlogPAC. FireDogLake's Jane Hamsher and Salon.com's Glenn Greenwald will serve in advisory roles, while Markos Moulitsas of DailyKos will conduct polling, with analytical help from 538.com's Nate Silver.

"This will be very much interactive and localized," said Hamsher. "We are already going out to local state blogs to help us identify well-qualified candidates in their communities. Once those people are identified we will be able to bring the strength of our resources to help them mount primary challenges."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/26/accountability-now-blogge_n_170163.html

[MindMatter]

23. BRAVO! I look forward to interesting times ahead. We have only just begun

to take this country back. I notice that the Accountability Now charter seems oriented towards Congressional districts. There is some wisdom in that in order to challenge the DINO Senators, you need a proven "farm club". However, it seems to me that we already hold a commanding advantage in the House and it is the Senate where all our obstacles exist. I hope to see this project evolve its mission to directly target the problem.

So nice of the DINOs to identify themselves by forming this dissenters group. As that announcement is apparently being made formally in the upcoming week, perhaps Accountability Now is getting prepared to have something to say about that.

I would love to see them make a statement that they indent to sponsor primary challenges against two or three sitting Senators next year. They have not yet identified which two or three seats to go after, but any Senator participating in the Bayh coalition will be on the list of seats under evaluation.

Time to strip Bayh of some of his committees as well. That would help in the primary challenge because the challenger could make the case that he isn't representing his state well because he has forfeited his seniority privileges.

[mtnchk]

27. Thanks for the lead!

[knixphan]

24. Yes, yes and yes.

Smart idea.

[kpominville]

29. Support primary challengers

We need to put massive support behind primary challengers for all these conservadems.

[ihavenobias]

2. Thom Hartmann, Cenk and now Maddow. I'm happy to see these "Dems" being called out.

The big question is can the threat of primaries scare them into acting like real progressives (or at least not Republicans), or are we doomed to have a group of right of center obstructionists within the party?

K & R

[justinaforjustice]

7. Amen, Pass It On.

We all need to send this clip to all our Democratic representatives. Those who are in the conservidems need to be shamed, those who aren't need to be reminded how important it is that they turn the conservidems into real Democrats, by threats and browbeating if necessary.

[knixphan]

8. that IS the question...

Maybe that AccountabilityNow site will help...?

[MindMatter]

20. We have to target them

See my proposal in #19 above.

[mtnchk]

28. Love it!

[NV Whino]

3. Gawd!

If only the Democrats in congress were half as smart and articulate as Rachel...

[NewJeffCT]

4. I don't get it

why the sudden change? are they scared of Rush? where were they during the 8 years of Bush's borrow & spend?

[knixphan]

5. K&R for WTF!

[RJ Connors]

6. This is something that REALLY needs to be said. Thanks Rachel

[upi402]

9. Exactly! Rachel speaks truth to power

Thank you Rachel.
Yeah, I have no respect for corporate "Dems". Republicants fight to the last breath for big business and by any means necessary. The "Dems" are tepid at best and deprive us of an opposition party to corporatism. It's over folks. Too little, too late.

There are true Dems and they are patriots. After our fall from hegemony I hope history reports that.

[Grinchie]

10. Buh Bye DLC - Hellooo ConservaDems

Thank you Rachel Maddow for illuminating these DLC shitheads and exposing them to America for what they are.

What's the matter Hilary and Bill Clinton, unable to control your group of Milquetoast Repug Lites anymore?, or are you still playing that game to retain political power for 2012?

[FailureToCommunicate]

11. Who ARE these faux Democrats?!?

[bjobotts]

13. We were already headed for that cliff now by god let' keep goings

[bjobotts]

14. The bought and paid for senate dems who don't care about anything except protecting the wealthy

[bjobotts]

15. Conservatism is a disease not a solution. These dems are standing up against the majority of America

[bjobotts]

16. Senate representation shuld be based on the population of states not just 2each

[bjobotts]

17. These obstructionist dems need to be replaced since they don't believe in the dem agenda.

[bjobotts]

18. How is it that the Majority in America is kept from ruling??

[glinda]

25. Exactly. These States did NOT elect Republicans, they need to be accountable to

their people and not go all ROGUE on everyone. They need to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lieberman should get the total bootski.

[cooolandrew]

22. This is where we bring in the power of the move on ads. We'll show them, ha.

[Joe Darrow]

26. Conservadems

An open letter to the Conservadems,
Sir, I voted for you during the last election. I voted Democratic because I wanted drastic change. The Democrats laid out a clear plan. I LIKED THAT PLAN AND VOTED FOR IT! You sir, have decided to rob me of my change and you have negated my vote. All my work, hopes and faith were wasted. I am sick of the cheneys, roves, limbaughs, gingrichs, boners, and the rest of those so called Americans going on television; cheering for and working toward the failure of their own country. Getting face time and giving succor to our enemies. Now the world will see how easily the will of the people can be thwarted by a half a dozen quislings.
I assure you, that should you turn your back on the Virginians who elected you and if you insist on voting for what YOU want instead of what WE voted for, I will do everything in my power to oppose you in any future endeavors you may undertake. Fool me once, shame on you.....in this case you won't get second opportunity! I simply can't believe you did this to me! If we, the people of Virginia, had wanted a conservative to represent us in Washington we would have VOTED for one. We sent you up their to vote our will, and what do you do, you go the other direction!! I will not suffer this insult quietly! How sad Virginians must tolerate a politician like you.
Joe
FCC USN Ret.
Norfolk

[espritjoie]

30. Where is the Outrage!

I have a petition that I started after learning about the Conservadems goals to thwart President Obama and those of us who support him and his goals! Has there been an uprising? A rush to the streets? No this isn't France! Millions of phone calls or petitions? No we aren't there yet! I have 380 signatures .... We have millions and millions of people suffering and we have yet to get desperate enough to see the light as a country! How do we inspire our country to move? Does it take a complete collapse?

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/conservadems-you-should-be-replaced