So what's being done on DU about Bayh and his gang of 15?

[woolldog]

Any organized resistance? Letter writing? Anything?

Or are people here still distracted by AIG and Geitner? Seems like Bayh is a bigger danger to the Obama agenda.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/18/bayh-organizes-moderate-democrats/

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Now that I am aware that BOTH of my Senators from Colorado

are implicated in this scheme, they're going to face a REAL nasty primary when they are up for re-election (Bennett is first.) UNLESS they publically disavow Bayh's New Crap DLC Groupsies. They're either REAL Democrats, or fucking Republicans. No more of the splinter group crap.

The Gang of 14 was bad enough to "bridge" stuff and literally destroy what we have built in the past 50+ years since FDR.

Hawkeye-X

[woolldog]

4. Don't understand what these dems are thinking.

[Abq_Sarah]

40. They're thinking about getting reelected

[paulk]

24. Mike Miles could run again!

LOL!

[JPettus]

26. Sounds to me from the responses here

like the left is trying to do the same thing to their moderates that the Repugs did to their moderates under the Bushies.

I didn't like it then and I don't like it now.

[starroute]

31. These people are not moderates -- they are obstructionists

They are not centrist Democrats who might offer a slightly different agenda.

They are not trying to reach across the aisle to Republicans -- who admit they have no policies of their own.

They are simply trying to sabotage President Obama's programs, particularly in such areas as climate change and health care reform, to please their corporate donors and increase their own political influence.

Dignifying them with the name of "moderates" is an abuse of language.

[JPettus]

44. Ah, the logical fallacy

of the false dichotomy.

Sorry, the world is not an either-or situation and neither is politics, except in Bushworld.

I rejected Bushworld and I reject the false dichotomy being created by people who think it's either their way or the highway.

The Constitution was set up so that all sides are heard and compromise is encouraged. Those who can't see that are as guilty as the fascists who offered the same false dichotomy for the last eight years, including Tom DeLay.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

48. Obama is a centrist and a moderate, too. I think he has shown that he is willing to compromise

But why is it that the liberals are always the ones who MUST compromise. Don't the progressives deserve any concessions? No one is trying to silence the DLC and the Blue Dogs. These folks are deliberately working to join the Republicans in obstructionist attempts to undermine his agenda...which is pretty moderate to begin with!

[JPettus]

49. I agree

But I don't find the moderate Dems yet to be obstructionists. The Repukes demanded changes, got many of the changes they wanted and still refused to vote for the bill, THEN went out and touted it to their constituents. They clearly state that they want Obama to fail.

The moderate Dems don't want Obama to fail, but if they have a problem with a bill, they want their input heard and considered and not be steamrolled like the Repug conservatives steam rolled their own moderates.

[ladywnch]

35. I wrote a letter to Udall last night

telling him that rethugs don't need his help to be obstructionist and that we elected him to be a DEMOCRAT not a conserva dem AND that the same grass roots organization that elected Obama would back his replacement when the time comes.

this is bayh trying to position himself for a presidential bid if Obama is not successful and Udall trying to shed the "Boulder liberal" moniker in his bid for a lifelong Senate seat.

Once again, Bayh and his cronies show that political ambition is more important than the good of the country.

My husband is writing to both Bennett and Udall today

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

47. I'm very saddened by Udall. I didn't think he was DLC, nor did I think he would try and

undermine the president. He and Klobachar have me stunned.

[babylonsister]

2. Time to dog the blue dogs, but not much interest...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5279677&mesg_id=5279677

[woolldog]

3. Yup. I guess not.

Good on you though. ;-)

[liskddksil]

5. 2 groups set to take on these conservadems

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8271806

[woolldog]

9. tks for the link....

[FrenchieCat]

6. Ain't nothing gonna get done until the all important bonus issue is resolved!

Next up, Barack OBama brought into handcuffed to testify!

After all we are all so outraged about this tragic situation!

[woolldog]

8. Is there something wrong with me,

for not being outraged at the bonus thing? I understand why they needed to give out those bonuses. And the amount is so small compared to how much aid AIG has gotten, it doesn't seem like a big deal.

Just write legislation so that it doesn't happen again. :shrug:

[FrenchieCat]

11. The whole point of the bonuses media induced mania is to slow Barack Obama down

and tie his hands as much as possible by attempting to erode his popularity and bring down his numbers. The last thing they want is his budget, etc.....passing. Remember that our President was just about to go on the offensive to sell his budget. Instead, he has to defend against something, that in the larger scheme of things wasn't earth shattering.

Of course, we are falling left and right for it...as usual.

Anyone who questions how to gauge motive,
just look at the faces of those who report on whatever Scandal they are cheerleadering.
That will tell you more than you would want to know.

[Jennicut]

27. No. I think Americans are reacting to the entire economic situation

by freaking out over this one little thing...everyone is on edge. Understandable but kind of ridiculous.

[Jennicut]

28. delete, wrong place

[Grinchie]

46. Nope, nothing wrong with you...

Nor does it bother me, because it's all monopoly money anyway. After I lost the farm as fallout from the Enron Energy Crisis, I left the Monetary world and got back to basics. Strangely, even though I work only for myself, my dollar goes farther than when I was making six figures in the software industry. Before that time, I was totally into increasing my income, but ultimately, those days were unsustainable, and the DOT.COM, and ENRON Crisis were the nails in the coffin. Outsourcing burned the corpse.

These guys are empty souls that have no spiritual energy, and follow a path towards their own doom, sickness and Karmic catastrophe.

The people that are outraged actually still buy the scam of Fiat currency, and don't know that these bankers conjure it up out of thin air. I find it quite humorous that Bankers think millions of dollars specify a wage these days, and it sure shows us what they think our money is worth, which is nothing really. They probably see the Hyperinflation coming and know that quantity will mean a lot. Too bad for them when people refuse their money and keep all the food and products for themselves.

I'll maybe let them have some food if they clean out to chicken coop, but the money would be more useful to start of fire for a cup of tea. I never would have thought subsistence farming would be so rewarding and peaceful. After living through the Yuppie dream and finally waking up, I'll never work for another person as long as I live. It's a full time job looking after myself, and I don't need the hassle of Taxes, Working hours, dress codes, witholding forms or all the other trappings that go along with the rat race.

Once you are out of the system, nothing can touch you, except changes in Real Property taxes, health issues and public stability.

The Repugs are itching for a fight so they can start a Civil War, and they are trying everything in the book to get people riled up. I've seen mention of Hippies, Commies, Nazi's, Traitors, Socialists, Coral Huggers, Tree Huggers as targets of Republican ire when their little schemes are reigned in and stopped dead. These people are either part of the Military Industrial complex that will benefit, or they are just nuts. Perhaps they are both, but it is quite disturbing.

[amandabeech]

7. This will be a huge problem.

Bayh is a long time deficit hawk from a fairly conservative state. Quite a few of these folks are from newly purple places. The only one who isn't is Carper, and he represents credit card companies. I don't find this development too surprising.

The problem I see is that this may force Obama to get health care and other controversial items passed in the budget reconciliation bill, which needs only 50 votes and not a lot of discussion.

This means that won't happen, and Obama will have to slug it out for 60 votes. That could be okay, but the chances of a really good bill go down.

My heart will be with Obama, but my head suggests that setting a precedent with this tactic will be used against us in a Dick Cheney, Jr., administration.

[woolldog]

10. Great analysis. Thank you.

[amandabeech]

13. Many thanks.

I don't get much praise around here these days, so yours counts for more!

[babylonsister]

12. Please check these out:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8269423&mesg_id=8269423

Health Care Reform: A Peek Behind the Curtain

and...

Obama Getting Tougher With Congress

After two months filled with deference to Congress, President Obama is finally playing a little hardball with the Republicans and right-leaning Democrats who are threatening to attenuate his ambitious budget proposals. He's both calling out his critics and raising the option of using a legislative shortcut that would eliminate the threat of a Senate filibuster.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/white-house-watch/2009/03/obama_getting_tougher_with_con.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

[FrenchieCat]

14. Ooh. They are going to go after the President extra hard now!

Shit.

[babylonsister]

15. Yes. Because he's focused. How sad is that? I'm not done either.

I will continue to point out the b.s. whenever possible, as long as I feel it's fitting. I'm not giving the guy a pass, but damn! I'm giving him a break. Two months? Oy. Please.

[PBS Poll-435]

16. It is a calibration of the respective member's political compasses

I couldn't give less of a s**t.

Talk is cheap. What matters is the votes.



Every Democratic Senator elected in 2008 and seated except for two are part of this group. Tom Udall and Jeff Merkley.

[amandabeech]

17. Many of these new Dem members were elected from purple states.

I don't expect miracles from them, and I doubt that anyone much to their left would have been able to win.

[PBS Poll-435]

19. 100% agreed

And I am not disappointed in any of them so far.

Votes speak louder than words. (Remember the Stimulus Package vote?)

[amandabeech]

20. Good point about the Stimulus Package. n/t

[progressoid]

23. Or red states.

I know they often piss off us liberals but it's often hard to even get a less centrist candidate past the primaries is some areas.

[OHdem10]

18. Here it seems we must wait until something has happened before

we gear up and that can be perilous.

You are correct. This group is much more of a threat to Obama
than Geithner. (In fact if Geitner is pushed out, this can hurt
Obama) Besides, we are most often better off with the devil we
know than a devil we do not know. Back to the Group. This group
can if they wish stop legislation. You will never get 15 GOPers
to vote in their place. They are Conservative Democrats and
in voting conservatively maintain the status quo. Only incremental
change if any at all.

[TheWebHead]

21. being a moderate myself I would hope an effort of support

but I'd be dreaming... there's a lot to be said when one party controls the congress/white house that having a moderate force to keep the ideologues from driving you off the political cliff is a good thing.

[brooklynite]

30. Ditto---

I don't dispute that most people here are more progressive than I am, but the last time I checked, this was DEMOCRATIC Underground. Anyone who supports the broad goals of the Democratic Party, and who works for them in Congress should be respected.

[beac]

42. Couldn't they be 'moderate' without forming a group and announcing with great fanfare that

they will be opposing much of what we elected Obama to do?

Call me cynical, but I beleive this is ALL about Bayh's Presidential ambitions (and those of Mark Warner and a few others in this group.) He is working like hell to gin up 'moderate' Republican support for 2016 and doesn't give a damn that he is screwing Obama and THE COUNTRY in the process.

[Pacifist Patriot]

22. Bill Nelson of Florida? Shocking! Shocking I say.

He is another politician who probably has my staff prepped specifically for my number on his caller ID.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

25. I would LOVE to see Bayh get primaried for this

but given that Indiana, with the exception of maybe Andre Carson, tends to only elect conservative/moderate dems just like Bayh, I doubt that the state party is interested on allowing a more liberal/progressive candidate to run against Bayh in a primary and seeing Bayh's US Senate seat potentially fall to a Repuke and Lugar certainly isn't going anywhere until he's good and ready to quit.
Bayh recently had to walk back some of his rhetoric against President Obama's budget when he learned that Repukes here had started using his critical editorial piece in their press releases. He actually seemed surprised that that the Repukes were using it to attack President Obama's budget plan. Umm......yeah, sure. :eyes:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

29. Start by bringing The Heat ---

Kay Hagan and Lieberman's info are missing -- wil come back with contact info for Hagen:


Tom Carper of Delaware
Washington, D.C.
United States Senate
513 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas.
355 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
[phone]
Fax [phone]

Michael Bennet of Colorado,
431 Dirksen Senate Office Building,
Washington
DC 20510-4403
Phone: [phone]


Mark Begich of Alaska,
825C HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
Washington DC, 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Herb Kohl of Wisconsin,
Washington Office
330 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
[phone]
Fax: [phone]


Mary Landrieu of Louisiana,
Washington, DC328 Hart Senate Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510 Voice: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Claire McCaskill of Missouri,
Office of Senator Claire McCaskill
United States Senate
Hart Senate Office Building, SH-717
Washington, D.C. 20510
[phone]
FAX [phone]

Ben Nelson of Nebraska,
Washington, D.C.
720 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Bill Nelson of Florida,
Washington, D.C.
United States Senate
716 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire,
Washington, DC
55 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]

Mark Udall of Colorado,
Washington, D.C. Office
Dirksen Senate Office Building
Suite SD-B40E
Washington, D.C. 20510
P: 202-224-5941
F: 202-224-6471

Mark Warner of Virginia
B40C Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Evan Bayh
131 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
[phone]
[phone] fax

Pressure, pressure, pressure -- including a willingness to support a Democratic primary challenger.



On edit:

Everyone on this list will receive a variation of this letter I faxed to Bayh yesterday:

Evan Bayh -

Many of your recent actions indicate you seem to have forgotten that the American people voted overwhelmingly for President Obama's agenda, and for the Democratically controlled Congress to enact that agenda.

A word of advice, Mr. Bayh:

Get with the damned program.

If I see you and your "moderate" cronies undermining Obama, the Democratic Party, and the will of the American people, I promise you two things:

I will actively support a Democratic primary challenger to unseat you in your next Senatorial run.

I will actively work against any attempt made by you for Democratic national office.

Capiche?

Hell Hath No Fury
Big "D" Democrat since 1979

[Thrill]

32. There is a reason Democrats in Congress approval ratings have improved

Its from agreeing with Obama not opposing him. This the problem with the Democratic Party

[polichick]

33. I've called Sen. Casey to say that I hope the rumors of his involvement aren't true...

...and that those obstructing the President's progress will be targeted in the next election.

(I truly hope Casey isn't one in the "witness protection program" Bayh mentioned. He's been a big Obama supporter so far.)

[polichick]

34. MAKE YOUR CALLS PEOPLE!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8272605

[stillcool]

36. Nothing..especially from..

the people that elected them. But don't worry..they'll be voted out of office....next time!

[yurbud]

37. Educate people on what the Democratic Leadership Council is, so they stop voting for them

they run as Democrats but govern as corporate tools.

http://web.archive.org/web/20010502041458/http://www.prospect.org/print/V12/7/dreyfuss-r.html

[nichomachus]

38. I got an email from the DCCC this morning

asking for a donation to elect more Dems to Congress. I wrote back and told them to stuff it. What the hell good is electing Dems if they won't act like Dems.

I will not donate another cent until they do something about the traitors like Bayh and his buddies.

[PBS Poll-435]

39. First I stomped my feet

Then I cried. Then I yelled at the dog.

[Beetwasher]

41. Toothless Evan Bayh's Useless, Anemic, Impotent Gang Of 15?

Personally, I'm laughing at them since they've never accomplished much of anything, nor seem to be any kind of a threat since he's been announcing them over and over again for the last several years.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/3/18/710222/-Bayh-announces-same-thing-over-and-over

[Vinca]

43. After I calmed down from my initial reaction this morning,

I sent a long and scathing email to my new senator, Jeanne Shaheen, explaining how Democrats worked hard and dug deep to get Democratic majorities in both houses and Republican-lite was not what we had in mind.

[olegramps]

45. I wrote both Udahl and Bennett.

I am especially concerned about Bennett who didn't run for the office but was appointed solely because he professed to be a loyal Democrat. His job is to represent the Democrats who supported President Obama. I don't give a damn about his personal opinions; he doesn't have a right to them since he never ran for election. I am not surprised about Udahl. He is little more than another professional politician from a family of politicans that have been on the public dole for years. If they pursue the course they have chosen they will jeopardized the gains that we have accomplished in Colorado. They have to realize that the only reason that they are where they are is because of Obama.

[genna]

50. After the initial announcement, I thought the rest were telling reporters

Bayh overstated things a bit. What specific Obama agenda do they oppose?

[polichick]

51. Looks as if they are already having an impact...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8277768

[cooolandrew]

52. Yes, exactly because what Bayh was doing is saying show me the money, we respond with >

show you the pressure or if it that fails show him the door.

[espritjoie]

53. Here is a Petition I will forward to each CONSERVADEM

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-shoul...

[liberalsince1968]

54. I sent an email to my senator, who's on the list. For all the good it'll do.

[Reterr]

55. Good point.eom