One reason they can't "out the dinos" is that Hoyer is one himself. He's built his power in Congress on raising $$ for these characters. I don't know about Pelosi, but she did want Murtha for majority leader instead of Hoyer. She didn't get him because too many owed Steny, and I'm afraid Steny is the one really in power. And he doesn't care about Main Street.
Posted by Sagacity at November 7, 2007 11:08 AMI see Pelosi and Hoyer as part of the problem, not the solution.
Posted by T2 at November 7, 2007 11:37 AMSteve, you and Stoller are so right about this. These Blue Dogs can talk all they want about "representing their district" but the truth is they're whores, plain and simple. They couldn't point out a district of theirs that approves of the war if their lives depended on it. Disgusting.
Posted by Jeff Dinelli at November 7, 2007 11:51 AMWell lets see 'blue' state New Jersey rejects a paltry $450 mil for embryonic stem cell research after they approved $270 mil a few years ago. Another 'blue' state, Oregon rejects increasing cigarette taxes to pay for childrens healthcare there. Why don't Oregonians "want to help our children?" The governors of both states supported the measures that went down in defeat. Meanwhile, 'red' state Texas approved $3 bil for cancer research.
Who are the DINO's here?
One "Katrina" governor is forced to leave while another wins re-election. Kentucky sees the state return back to the Democrats after it's brief four year stint with Governor Fletcher.
Maybe the reason Democrats don't want to upset the applecart is because Democrats are now the party of the rich. A recent Financial Times article seems to point out how comfortable Democrats are in their wealth. Pulling back on that hedge fund measure is just protecting their own. "Democrats now control the majority of the nation's wealthiest congressional districts. More than half of the wealthiest households are concentrated in the 18 states where Democrats control both senate seats." FT
Just protecting their constituents.
Posted by peter at November 7, 2007 12:22 PM
Another 'blue' state, Oregon rejects increasing cigarette taxes to pay for childrens healthcare there. Why don't Oregonians "want to help our children?"
Dubbed the Healthy Kids Program, Measure 50 was a top priority of Gov. Ted Kulongoski and fellow Democrats in the Oregon Legislature. Democrats placed the constitutional amendment on the ballot when they couldn't get enough Republican votes to pass it outright or submit it to voters as a simple statute."The tobacco industry won this battle," Kulongoski told a somber crowd of Measure 50 supporters in Portland. "But they will not win the war."
In Salem, pediatrician James Lace said tobacco companies ran an effective campaign, "and they outspent us 4 to 1."
Amazing what money can do peter.
Posted by Seven of Six at November 7, 2007 01:01 PMBut, but, but, isn't Democratic registration higher than Republican registration in this 'blue' state. Isn't that the trend? 60% against isn't the GOP only, there had to have been many Democrats and indi's not wanting this. Tabacco shouldn't be a big deal in Oregon and are there that many smokers there?
This one should have been easy with today's climate.
Posted by peter at November 7, 2007 01:13 PMTHE PRESIDENT: "Thank you all. Please be seated. Welcome. Thank you very much for coming today. Today we take an important action to strengthen -- to continue strengthening our nation's economy. The bipartisan bill I'm about to sign makes common-sense reforms to our bankruptcy laws. By restoring integrity to the bankruptcy process, this law will make our financial system stronger and better. By making the system fairer for creditors and debtors, we will ensure that more Americans can get access to affordable credit.
I'm pleased to be joined today by the Attorney General Al Gonzales. I want to thank the bill sponsors in the House and the Senate -- Senator Chuck Grassley of the Senate -- I think you told me you'd been working on this bill for nine years. That's a long time. (Laughter.) I appreciate Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner from the House for being the sponsor in the House. Thank you.
I want to thank the Speaker. Yesterday, the Speaker and I, by the way, had the honor of opening the Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois. I know he'd be pleased to hear me say, if you're looking for something to do this summer -- (laughter.)
I thank Senator Mitch McConnell, Senator Orrin Hatch, Senator Jeff Sessions, and Senator Tom Carper. I appreciate the members of the House who are here -- Mike Oxley, Rick Boucher, Bob Goodlatte, Steve Chabot. Thank you all for coming, and thanks for working on this piece of legislation."
...let us never forget the names of the perps who laughed as turpentine was applied to credit card holders collective anus.
Posted by TIKI AL at November 7, 2007 01:17 PMSounds like you're talking about one of my senators Ken Salazar of Colorado... That man is pure scum ummmm.. I mean republican and we need to find a true progressive candidate to run against him in the Democratic primary in 2010.
Posted by recoveringcatholic at November 7, 2007 02:07 PMIs there any reason why Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer shouldn't shine a light on the Bush Dogs in their own caucus and out them for the corporate scum they really are?
Only that the harm Pelosi and Hoyer do far exceeds what the Bush Dogs have done. Add in Rahm Emanuel, Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid and you've got a Dem wrecking crew that will guarantee losing to the worst Republicans in history for at least another dozen years.
All along we've been led to believe that the Dems have been getting punk'd by the Republicans. It turns out the liberals have been getting punk'd by Dem leadership that makes deals off camera, then pretends in staged photo-ops -- where they take turns pretending to "oppose" the GOP -- and then start the cycle all over.
Here's the latest piece of crap from Chuck Schumer, who recommended Mukasey and is now ducking cameras on the issue of joining with DiFi on swipecarding his pro-torture pal through.
Posted by Ellie at November 7, 2007 08:44 PM"Pulling back on that hedge fund measure is just protecting their own."
pants-pissing peter, are you implying you support taxing the managers of hedge funds like regular income? I doubt that since your type think mega-millionares should pay LOWER taxes than the middle class.
Posted by Gay Veteran at November 8, 2007 10:22 AMBut Hoyer and Pelosi need to shine a light on such hollow defenses by asking each Dog individually what poll in their districts shows the war to be so popular that it needs to be rubber stamped, and to point to a poll that shows their constituents want to be reamed by banks and Wall Street.
And Nancy should also give each of us a pony.
Posted by Fledermaus at November 8, 2007 12:51 PM