March 21 Open Thread: Blue Dog Night
Blue Dog Democrat Dan Lipinski eked out a victory against his progressive challenger, Marie Newman, in suburban Chicago. This indicates to me that November’s blue wave isn’t about electing any particular kind of Democrat so much as tossing Republicans out.
The British TV expose of Cambridge Analytica brought about the suspension of its CEO, along with official denials of all the stuff he admitted on hidden camera. Someone should send the videos to James O’Keefe so he learns how to make the hidden-camera thing work: Have a true story to tell.
Over here on the left we think of Republicans as interchangeable douchebags, but they’re not really. The sensible people have faded away, leaving the field to pedophiles and convicted killers like coal baron Don Blankenship, who has surged to the lead in the West Virginia Senate GOP primary. Republican operatives see this as Roy Moore all over again, with dead miners taking the place of live molestees.
Here’s how we do things in Delaware: Name a task force to study a problem until everyone loses interest. The Council on Corrections, for example, apparently spends most of its time deciding how to manage its continued existence, if indeed its existence continues.
Trumplandia is all astir today because news leaked out that Trump — despite an ALL-CAPS WARNING not to do so — congratulated Vladimir Putin on successfully rigging the Russian election. This has Trump enraged, not because it makes him look like a puppet — no puppet, no puppet, you’re the puppet — but because somebody leaked it to the media. At least we know he has his priorities in order.
We ought to give retired Gen. Ralph Peters, the Fox News military analyst who quit the network because it’s a propaganda machine, honorary Delaware citizenship. He worked there 10 years before he figured it out, which is about how long as it takes most new developments in western society to reach the First State.
Also, Joe Biden went butch in a speech in Miami, again saying he would have “beat the hell out of” Donald Trump in high school for his disrespect towards women as expressed in the Access Hollywood video. “I’ve been in a lot of locker rooms my whole life,” Biden continued. “I’m a pretty damn good athlete. Any guy that talked that way was usually the fattest, ugliest S.O.B. in the room.”
I agree that November’s blue wave is MAINLY about tossing Republicans out. It is about the realization that Republicans are actively threatening the democracy.
But this year’s primary season is an unprecedented opportunity to put pressure on status quo Dems like Carper.
I’m not saying Carper is isn’t the prohibitive favorite, but things can happen in primaries.
Lol. That Biden can still get the knife in.
Newman was a serious challenger, so Lipinski fought like hell to keep his seat. Carper doesn’t seem able to fight, unless a corporation is in trouble and needs his help.
Sanders had l.7 million followers on his facebook townhall!
Here’s an item for the Pelosi-haters:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/3/21/1750318/-If-Nancy-Pelosi-is-a-problem-for-Democrats-it-s-because-Republicans-are-good-at-sexism
“For a 2010 paper in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, the Yale researchers Victoria Brescoll and Tyler Okimoto showed study participants the fictional biographies of two state senators, identical except that one was named John Burr and the other Ann Burr. When quotations were added that described the state senators as “ambitious” and possessing “a strong will to power,” John Burr became more popular. But the changes provoked “moral outrage” toward Ann Burr, whom both men and women became less willing to support.”
I am not a Pelosi hater. She knows how to count votes and is a big fund raiser for dems. However, pukes used her as a wedge against dems in many states and it worked. The smear will continue in 2018/20…which is why the progressive wing of the party has had difficulty with the “agenda”. She does not support progressive ideas or support their issues. Why, because she isn’t a progressive, she is a liberal who has own ideas re: the party. Meanwhile, Sanders, Warren and others are holding rallies and events all over the country pushing the progressive agenda and its working.
How about the simple scenario where Ann Burr, as leader of her caucus, loses House seats cycle after cycle after cycle for the caucus she leads ?
It’s not about gender, its about performance.
Just go ask Rep.-elect Connor Lamb what he thinks!
Lipinski did have the major union endorsements. Progressives are pro-union, but unions are not necessarily progressive.
Just got email from Carperdyne Inc. saying:
Someone is telling the truth about him, and he thinks it’s hell.
Tom Carper: “Don’t look at my votes!”
@chris: A House speaker’s job is not to win seats for her party. It’s a legislative job, not an electoral one. Perhaps not understanding the job you have was your problem as well.
The Pelosi-hate is just a regular Republican smear job using whatever smears are at hand. Sexism is just part of the toolkit, and not even the biggest part of the smear.
@puck: Union members are, in my experience, roughly 50-50 on the political parties. Among those I know, the decision is based more on personal outlook on life than on their union’s endorsements.
Again just in my experience, but mid- to upper-level bank employees are much more likely to vote (and, for MBNAers, donate) the way their bosses tell them to.
They don’t use her as a wedge, they use her to goose turnout.
The link below is a progressive organization’s congressional scorecard. She’s not a centrist, she’s quite liberal, which is what Republicans accuse her of and what Democrats are complaining about. They don’t want someone more progressive, they want someone less liberal in the mistaken belief that her successor won’t be as easy to demonize.
Such people fail to understand how the algorithm-driven opposition works: They will test as many liberals as necessary to find the one that their base hates just as much, and substitute that name in attack ads. Remember, they weaponize their opponents by saying, “He pretends he’s a reasonable centrist, but as soon as he gets to Washington he’ll vote with Nancy Pelosi and her San Francisco values.” I don’t know what name they’ll come up with, whether an office-holder or a golden oldie (Obama, Clinton, Mueller) or just use George Soros, but come up with one they will.
Trying to find an unassailable Democrat is a mug’s game. If you’ll recall, selecting John Kerry was supposed to blunt W’s perceived national-security edge. The resulting election was the only one of the last six presidential elections in which Democrats lost the popular vote.
You don’t win the ad war by addressing perceived weak spots. You win by speaking directly to the voters. That’s what Bernie does so well.
And don’t dismiss sexism. How else do you explain why people love Bernie but hate Elizabeth Warren?
http://progressivepunch.org/scores.htm?topic=&house=house&sort=name&order=up&party=
http://progressivearmy.com/2017/05/09/house-minority-leader-nancy-pelosi-is-getting-primaried/
she is the establishment.
Ms. Pelosi is so smart and pretty.
I would be honored to be her boy toy.
https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/12/politics/elizabeth-warren-netroots-nation/index.html
“Ms. Pelosi is so smart and pretty.
I would be honored to be her boy toy.”
Vids?
Why are you posting months-old articles about Pelosi and Warren? They have nothing to do with what I’m talking about. I know what these people, and you, think. I just don’t agree with you, and you haven’t yet produced a meaningful reason why I should.
Her positions have nothing to do with her job. Her “establishment” standing is due to her position. Did you even follow the link to see what her grade for liberalism is? Apparently not.
Either say something meaningful or drop it. If you knew how dumb you sound you’d shut up.
Here we go with slick tongued Alby! Guess some old wounds never heal! If my positions offends anyone else, please advise. Haven’t been on these machines for quite some time, maybe its time to get off again. Comments welcome.
Read the thread. Mouse would be her boy and she’s pretty. Sounded pretty sexist to me.
When they go low, we go high…remember Michele.
As far as Kerry not winning. Cambridge Gang were in business back then. Kerry was a traitor dontcha no. Ohio caught with black box voting! Its a new day every day. Kerry refused to challenge the Bush gang.
Listen to the Nix testimony. We don’t know how far back they rigged our elections.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/03/21/progressive-challenger-delivers-political-scare-blue-dog-democrat-ekes-out-victory
This woman deserves our respect.
…this woman shows her disrespect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xar60vwzGvA
“You’re not my constituents!” – Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives
LOL…quoting RT…your a laff a minute.
*yawn*
Why do the heathen rage?
Are you insulted because a woman told you to fuck off?
@spktruth: I remember enough to know how long you’ve been selling Russian “news” sources. Your gullibility is your calling card.
Get a grip AlBY: I am opposed to Russia what are you talking about…russian sources? Splain it.
You were always quoting RT to me. How soon we forget?
A public servant tells the public to f*** off and that’s A Okay with alby.
But he thinks he’s a liberal!
https://theintercept.com/2018/03/21/democrats-progressive-policies-swing-districts/
Hard to believe…but there it is.
Your gullibility is your calling card.
Sorry to have broken into this all white male blog. Your rudeness and out of contol ego speaks volumes.
Resorting to insulting white males speaks volumes as well.
If you’re going to pretend you didn’t send me email after email of stories from Russia Today, I’ll have to see if I can dredge them up. If you want to go away, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
And yes, I’m rude. If you don’t like it, tough shit.
@delacrat: You don’t seem to understand what a liberal is.
“Public servant”? What are you, 12? We’re discussing politics here, not your moral superiority. I stated the widely shared opinion that Nancy Pelosi does the speaker’s job well. You have done nothing but change the subject ever since. I really don’t give a fuck whether she’s liberal enough for you, and neither does anyone else.
If you want to play “I’m more liberal than you,” you’ll find a much more receptive audience for that nonsense over at That Other Blog.
Cambridge Analytica is sending Ukranian whores to your house to frame you into voting for Vladiqueer Putin’s bitch Donald Trump.
There’s not another chief executive or military commander in the free world that wouldn’t be immediately remove for even a small portion of 45’s behavior. It’s surreal, the nation is morally bankrupt.
Alby: Sorry your not just rude, but crude. You “attacked” me personally for my positions. Christ I probably sent you 500 emails over the years and am sure some may have been from RT. Are you saying everything on RT is evil. You do know how many true progressives like Thom Hartman, et al are on that channel. I never addressed you personally with exception of agreeing with you a couple of times. But you had to go hard…like some right winger going after a liberal. Wake up and smell your own coffee. Your acting like YOU have the right to speak for everyone else…you don’t. Don’t like my posts ignore them act like a man, not a man child.
spktruth. Love your politics even though you’re a bit hyper-focused on the argument the media trumpet. You’ve got the right spirit.
For the record though you cannot be personally attacked here as you are anonymous. Doesn’t follow.
House members consider a number of factors when choosing leaders. A member’s personal reputation, interactions with other members, legislative skills, expertise, experience, length of service, and knowledge of the institution are taken into account. Members tend to choose leaders who are in the ideological mainstream of their party and represent diverse regions of the country. The positions that a member has held in Congress, such as service on important committees, are evaluated. Fundraising ability, media prowess, and communications skills are increasingly important criteria for leadership. The ability to forge winning coalitions and the connections that a member has to leaders in the Senate or the executive branch are factored into the decision (Peabody, 1976).
Holding a congressional leadership position is challenging, especially as most members think of themselves as leaders rather than followers. Revolts can occur when members feel leaders are wielding too much power or promoting personal agendas at the expense of institutional goals. At times, a leader’s style or personality may rub members the wrong way and contribute to their being ousted from office (Cooper & Brady, 1981).
Speaker of the House
Vanella: you may not know who I am, but Al and his buds do. Read the thread it was a personal attack. My position on the speaker is listed above, and yes they are supposed to support the “agenda” of the party leadership, not their own.
It’s still a pseudonym, but truthfully, I have no zero fucks to give.
Here’s an idea: Look up her rating. She’s a liberal, whether you think so or not.
The issue brought up was that she was good at keeping her caucus in line. That’s it. That’s the statement — a fact, mind you — that sent you on this long line of typing to show — what, exactly? That you think she’s not liberal enough?
As usual, you address everything but the statement in question.
I attack you personally because you have fucked up the liberal cause in Delaware for as long as I’ve lived here. STFU for once in your miserable life.
Thats your opinion Al…like an asshole everybody has one. I am not a liberal…I am a progressive. Not sure what you are…but who gives a damn. There is no need for your insults, my opinion is just as right as yours…difference of opinion and the right to express is the First Amendment.
You want to dredge this up again a week later? Let it go, woman.