Card check (EFCA) is dead and no it's not Obama's fault

[cali]

Feinstein is backing off of supporting it, and if Feinstein's publically backing off, you can bet people like Blanche Lincoln are as well.

Dem senator delivers blow to union bill
By J. Taylor Rushing
Posted: 03/31/09 03:32 PM
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) on Tuesday told Capitol Hill reporters that she is skeptical of the Employee Free Choice Act, possibly dealing another deadly blow to the legislation.

Feinstein's skepticism, coming a week after Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) announced his opposition, means Democratic leaders might find themselves in an even deeper hole as they search for 60 votes to move the so-called "card-check" bill.

"I think in this economy that what has to happen is that the unions and management get together and try to see if they can work out something," Feinstein said. "The card-check bill, as drafted, in this economy, is extraordinarily difficult and I think almost a lightning rod to dissent. I think there are some things that can be done. I've talked with both sides and continue to talk to both sides to see if it isn't possible to work something out."

Feinstein hedged when asked if she was definitely opposed.

"I'm not on the bill, and I said what I said," she said.

Specter's announcement last week was widely seen as political, given that polling has shown him with a double-digit deficit against former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) in the 2010 race. Specter defeated Toomey by just 2 percentage points in 2004, and it is estimated that as many as 200,000 centrist Republicans have since switched their allegiance to the Democratic Party.

<snip>

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/sen.-feinstein-not-sold-on-card-check-bill-2009-03-31.html

[BeyondGeography]

1. The wuss wing of the Party has spoken

:puke:

[Thrill]

2. This was over the day Specter said NO

[Kdillard]

3. Isn't there anything we can do? Feinstein really needs to go.

[avaistheone1]

5. We can alway look forward to some right wing platitudes from Ms Feinstein.

[firedupdem]

4. Feinstein! Why is she there? What is her purpose? n/t

[avaistheone1]

8. To enrich herself and her husband's companies.

And it has been working very well. Thanks to the taxpayers.

[firedupdem]

10. She needs to go. She is horrible. n/t

[mvd]

6. How are Snowe and Collins looking on this?

Not that it will matter since there will likely be some Democratic defections. It's not Obama's fault, but Congress could use some prodding.

[Thrill]

14. They voted against t last time, This has NO Repuke support. NONE

[RepublicanElephant]

7. these back-stabbing dems are gonna make for some very interesting primary races...

...where they have to explain in a debate why they didn't support president obama.

[avaistheone1]

11. Unfortunately there are many years left to Feinstein's term.

I wish she gave an indication of what a turncoat she was going to evolve into before the last election.

[Occam Bandage]

9. This was over the day Specter backed out.

[me b zola]

12. The old guard is playing hardball

I hope they get smacked the fuck down.

[jamieque]

13. Here is how you can get rid of her and others like her...

Recall them back home. In other words threaten her and the others like her with Electon Recall. Check your laws in your particular states on what can be done to recall those public servants aka Democrats or Republican who are doing what is best for their own polictical gain and not for us the taxpayers who pay them.

Our taxes pay their salaries so they have a obligation to serve us not the 'Special Interest' groups. So my solution to the problem is just recall them.

[Jennicut]

15. Feinstein is such a Rethug lite at times its sickening.

Remember the whole Leon Panetta at CIA dust up? No one asked her about it and she got ticked at Obama. I really don't like her at all. 15 years ago maybe I thought she was okay but not now. Barbara Boxer on the other hand is great.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

16. This is Feinstein running for Governor.

If ever there were a more clear indication of one's intentions, I'd be happy to entertain it.

It's all political posturing to help her assure the nomination in a crowded primary.

[liskddksil]

17. and she expects unions to help her when running for governor?

good luck with that.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

19. No, she expects the business community to help her.

The idea is this: You'll likely have a half dozen or so candidates for the Democratic nomination, right? Well, that certainly is going to water down the unions. They can't/won't support them all. However, if Feinstein can be the pro-business Democratic nominee for Governor in a state that will likely elected whomever the Dems nominate, well, that might well trump the unions, unless they choose to back one horse and never look back (which is really not the ideal situation for them, nor is it something they could even really guarantee, as members tend to have minds of their own).

So in a fucked up sort of way - yeah, this might actually help her wind up being Governor. It's a risk - no doubt about it - but it's a very calculated one unless the primary becomes a 2 horse race (not very likely).

[yurbud]

27. sad but true. Business will do anything to get an obedient servant in there, hence Schwarzenegger

who never would have gotten in in the first place (at least as a Republican) if he hadn't be shoe-horned in with that recall coup.

What is frustrating is Republicans are willing to do those hail mary passes, but Democrats don't seem to even run with the ball when the field is clear in front of them.

[yurbud]

31. Give money to California Clean Money to clear out moral filth like her:

http://www.caclean.org/

[paulk]

18. why were the Republicans under Bush

able to get bill after bill passed, even when there was a Democratic majority in the Senate, while every time "we" try to get something passed the number "60" comes up?

At what point are the Democrats going to start representing the people who put them in office? Isn't that what we've all been fighting for these last eight years? Democratic control of both the Congress and the Executive?

I have put aside many of my core political beliefs these last eight years to advocate for Democratic control, and this is the payoff?

[leftofthedial]

20. Our "government" is effective and provides outstanding representation.

Unfortunately, it's not representing us anymore.

[ieoeja]

21. Because 10-15% of Senate Democrats are pure Rightist on economic issues.

There is no comparable percentage of Republicans who favor the working class.

[paulk]

22. We should be able to get 51 votes

period.

Put it to the test, let the Republicans filibuster. Let the Blue dogs have their say - let's lay it on the table so that the members of the party can see where their party really stands.

[redqueen]

26. I like that idea. (nt)

[Hutzpa]

30. The key is

not getting the 51 votes, it's finding out what they've deleted from the bill
before it gets to the 51 votes.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

23. Because apparently the Phantom Filibuster is sooooo terrifying to these people. n/t

[yurbud]

25. that's just an excuse. It's really business-owned Dems doing their masters' bidding

in Feinstein's case, her husband is the business.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

29. I was being sarcastic. I am well aware that these people are completely 100% full of shit.

Some actual representation would be n ice for a change. In Feinstein's case her and "Mr Feinstein" have made a killing in the last few years.

[yurbud]

24. translation: at a time like this, the rich need to be free to hoard the fruits of your labor...

In reality, times of economic hardship are when we need unions most because you can't leave your job and immediately get another one. If workers don't band together then, they are at the mercy of their employer who can cut their wages, hours, and benefits to the bone.

[Hutzpa]

28. She is an ass

California election could not come soon enough to oust this republican
patronizer.

No surprise there from her, she is not for the common man, since her
husband is riding on that $600 billion deal he got from Bush.

:mad:

[Enrique]

32. it's not Obama's fault, but he's not helping

ok Feinstein is backing off. Would she be backing off if Obama was pushing it? Even Arlen Specter, Blanche Lincoln, Mark Pryor, etc., their positions could be affected by Obama's commitment to the legislation.

[yurbud]

33. I just called her office and they said she isn't opposing it, which wasn't a ringing endorsement

[yurbud]

34. If you live in CA, it may be time to VISIT one of her offices

Call up and ask to make an appointment with a legislative aide, or better yet, just show up.

I've heard that for every letter politicians get, they think there are ten more people who feel the same way but were too lazy to write.

If someone actually shows up, that should be multiplied by a hundred.

Please feel free to call or write the office nearest you, or you can visit one of the offices between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. We are here to serve you.

San Francisco
One Post Street, Suite 2450
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

The following counties are served by the San Francisco office: Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo, Yuba.


Los Angeles
11111 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 915
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

The following counties are served by the Los Angeles office: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura.


San Diego
750 B Street, Suite 1030
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

The following counties are served by the San Diego office: Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, San Diego.


Fresno
2500 Tulare Street, Suite 4290
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

The following counties are served by the Fresno office: Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne.

http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.StateOffices

[bullwinkle428]

35. I, for one, welcome our new Corporatist Blue Dog overlords!!