Tired of hearing we "don't have the votes." Yes, we do have the votes to pass the Democratic agenda.

[madfloridian]

I was contacted this week by one of the Democratic committees. We stopped our donations for a while except to the ACLU and occasionally to the efforts by Howard Dean about health care.

I told the lady we were concerned about some things and would resume donations when we felt more comfortable. She was nice and took the time to ask me about our concerns. I mentioned the way Dean was shuffled out of the national leadership without a mention or thank you. I mentioned the choice of someone for WH Chief of Staff who had a lot of contempt for the grassroots and netroots. I mentioned the fact that two groups were being marginalized, women and the gay community. I said we were letting the religious right set the tone on those issues completely.

I mentioned the awful language toward gays used by Obama DOJ in the DOMA brief. I said our party should never use those words toward a group of people. I told her I had worries about the faith-based council having 19 anti-choice members, and as best we can determine only 6 who say they are pro women's choice. I mentioned that the DCCC had picked 12 anti-choice Democrats to run in 2008. She seemed surprised at that. Not sure she believed me but it is true.

...."The anti-abortion pitch is standard fare in Alabama’s Second Congressional District, a deeply conservative area that President Bush carried twice and that has been represented in Washington by a Republican for four decades. What makes the spot unusual is that Mr. Bright is a Democrat. And that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has been pushing hard for Mr. Bright’s election, paid for it. In fact, Mr. Bright is one of a dozen anti-abortion Democratic challengers the party has recruited to run for the House this year and has aggressively supported with millions of dollars and other resources in culturally conservative districts long unfriendly to the party. That is the highest number of anti-abortion candidates the party has fielded in recent memory to run either for open seats or against Republican challengers, according to party strategists and a leading anti-abortion organization.

I told her many were concerned that the new party chairman did not support a woman's right to choose an abortion, did not support civil unions for gays, and was not really union-friendly. She seemed surprised.

I told her that there was no excuse for dilly-dallying and pretending we did not have the votes to get a decent health care program passed.

She listened, and she was nice. Then when her responses began, I realized that I hearing the kind of language we had heard when we were in a hopeless minority. She said we needed to be careful not to push for so much stuff at once, I believed she used the word "antagonize." She said we needed to pick our battles.

I said you mean we need to keep our powder dry? She must have been reading some forums because she chuckled a little. But the words I heard were the same kind of words we have heard from Conservadems since we won the election. I think I heard the word "bipartisan" several times. God, I hate that word now.

I asked her when she thought we might have such a good majority again, and she said it would be hard to do that again. I asked her why we should not use it to get the Democratic ideals voted in, like rights for women, rights for gays, and good health care for our country.

We have an 83 vote margin in the House. We have a 9 vote margin in the Senate. Yet we can not seem to control a single agenda.

There is something wrong with that picture.

When Howard Dean became chairman in 2005 he made a powerful statement. He said the reason we lost control to the Republicans was because we forgot why we were there in power.

CNN covers Dean's speech as new DNC chairman

Dean, 56, won the chairmanship on a voice vote of the 447-member committee after six other candidates dropped out in recent weeks. He immediately laid out his vision for rebuilding a party clobbered in recent elections, leaving it out of power in the White House, both chambers of Congress, and a majority of governorships.

"Republicans wandered around in the political wilderness for 40 years before they took back Congress.

"But the reason that we lost control is because we forgot why we were entrusted with that control in the first place," Dean said in his acceptance speech.

The American people cannot afford to wait for 40 more years for us to put Washington back to work for them. It won't take us that long -- not if we stand up for what we believe in, organize at the local level, and recognize that strength does not come from the consultants down. It comes from the grass roots up."

Republicans, Dean said, "know the America they want, and...are not afraid to use any means to get there.

"But there is something that this administration and the Republican Party are very afraid of -- it is that we may actually begin fighting for what we believe: fiscally responsible, socially progressive values for which Democrats have always stood and fought."

That is an echo of some words from his book in 2004, You Have the Power.

"Democrats, in our pursuit of big dollars, have neglected the people we're there to serve."

In recent years the Democrats, in our pursuit of big dollars, have neglected the people we're there to serve. We let our connection to our base atrophy and have forgotten, as they say in politics, who brought us to the dance. In service to a falsely named "centrism," we've sidestepped every major request from labor unions, especially on including worker protections in our free-trade agreements.

The Democrats, by using appeasement as a political strategy, have solidified the Republican hold on power. Harry Truman once said: "When the voters are given the choice between voting for a Republican or a Democrat who acts like a Republican, they'll vote for the Republican every time."

The lady on the phone listened and had a conversation with me. But I don't think she understood what I was saying.

I love the fact that we have an 83 vote margin in the House and a 9 vote margin in the Senate. We worked hard to get it. We made many donations.

I love President Barack Obama, I know he has a huge job to do. I love his family, and I love the pictures of them. I think the world in general appreciates him as well.

However, we can not start out this Democratic majority by giving up on rights for women, rights for gays, and real health care reform for this country.

I heard Diane Feinstein today said we did not have the votes for real health care reform. That is the kind of statement that angers me. Of course we have the votes. The trouble is the ones in charge of getting these issues through are more amenable to the corporations and the religious right than they are to those of us who make up the people in the Democratic party.

[Psychic Consortium]

1. We have a corrupt congress. That is the only explanation.

They do not do the people's work.
They work for themselves and the corrupt corporations.

[roody]

8. We need to take away their health care.

[onenote]

42. how do you propose to do that?

What's the plan.

[Psychic Consortium]

2. We have a corrupt congress. That is the only explanation.

They do not do the people's work.
They work for themselves and the corrupt corporations.

[Autumn]

13. I think we have no Democratic leaders,

they are very busy making sure they get along with each other and not upset the status quo.

[Psychic Consortium]

14. They are making sure they get along with the corporate world and lobbyists.

And make enough happy talk to get elected.

[Autumn]

15. Hopefully their "happy talk" will get

them a one way ticket home in the next election.

[Psychic Consortium]

16. You may be correct on this one, If we can manage free elections again, nt

[Autumn]

20. That Sir, is a big IF

and I doubt it will happen unless we get real reform and transparency.

[Psychic Consortium]

35. Free elections, free media. Necessary for a 21st century civilization. nt

[bvar22]

26. Oh, We HAVE Democratic Leaders.

Here they are doing their REAL job.

NOW we have Your Children’s Money too !!!
And there is not a fucking thing you can do about it!
Now THIS is “Bi-Partisanship” !
Better get used to it!!
Hahahahahahahahaha!

[Autumn]

27. That is rich

thank you and so fucking true. Doesn't it just turn your stomach to see him standing there front and center ? Surrounded by our supposed Democrats.

[DaLittle Kitty]

77. 2006-08 Congressional Candidate John Russell Nails IT Right On Da $!

John was offered the BIGGG BUCK$ TO "sell Out" in 2006 and he TURNED DA $ down! Listen to John Tell it Like It tis!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBJAkCjjz1Y

This is the kind of true representation that we MUST demand if we are ever to prevail over the congressional prostitution that we have working solely for themselves and their lobbyist check writers!

[PM Martin]

3. kick

[billyoc]

4. I have a feeling that the Dems are in a blind panic at the thought of Franken being seated.

No more excuses then.

[Sebastian Doyle]

5. And none more so than Spineless Harry Reid

You know he's pissing his holy underpanties every night thinking of a supermajority, and a public demanding they act like one.

[madfloridian]

23. Then they will have a really hard time with excuses.

[tavalon]

62. They may use excuses, but they have no valid excuses at this point

[madfloridian]

50. No more excuses at all.

[babylonsister]

6. Just wow. The House members are the ones to emulate, and

their plan should be followed, or at least used as a plan. I'm glad they have one.

And Dr. Dean is a great guy.

[madfloridian]

37. Agreed. They can get things done if they decide to do so.

[OHdem10]

7. I love your post but I would like to throw this out. Yes we have

more Senators. However, how many of them are Conservatives???
Here lies one of the problems. They vote most of the time with
Republicans.

[madfloridian]

10. That's the problem. They are voting Republican though elected as Democrats.

That's the problem.

[cherokeeprogressive]

25. I think their number one concern is not to make a difference, but to stay in office

as long as possible. Nobody wants to be known as the congressperson/senator who is responsible for ending the healthcare problem in this country when the balance is that in doing so they may lose their seat. It's more important to be a six-term senator than it is to be credited with something major and then voted out of office.

[madfloridian]

31. I agree. Not willing to stand up for stuff.

.

[sharesunited]

Blue Dogs. You are counting them as Democrats, right?

That may be where you are encountering the math error.

[madfloridian]

11. Might be. But some say...

we have to vote for them in red areas.

What do I say? I say we are paying a price for that right now.

[47of74]

9. That's why Feinstein and those limp wristed sorts in the Senate

That's why Feinstein and those limp wristed sorts in the Senate who let the Republicans get away with fucking everything should face primary challenges next time around. I don't care if the primary challengers have poor chances at best, and I want primary challengers who would make more than a token effort. Feinstein and the Democratic-Lite Senators need to understand that they're in that goddamn building to work for us, not the other way around. And if they're not willing to do their jobs then we the people will vote someone in who will.

[Atman]

12. They mean they don't have the Blue Dogs and lobbyists onboard yet.

Sad, but true.

.

[madfloridian]

29. That's true.

And it will hurt our party so much.

[OHdem10]

17. Again just throwing this out there. Feinstein (as I understand it)

has a serious problem with the Medicare Cuts and Medicaid Cuts.
I am willing to listen. So many states are in financial crisis
that cutting Medicaid and Medicare just might ruin them.

If we make things worse for people who are already hurting
what have we gained.

As a Democrat, having all this secrecy about healthcare
reform--what are they really changing, what can the country
expect??? This may not be the best approach to have the
American People support it.

First do no harm.

[madfloridian]

21. With our majority, we should not have to cut Medicare and Medicaid.

Methinks Obama and Orszag have been listening to Zeke Emanuel too much

We could do it without cutting those programs. But the agenda for years has been to get rid of Medicare. Sadly.

If they cut Medicare payments again, our party will lose in 2010 and 2012. Seniors will not tolerate it.

[Dragonfli]

45. I thought the same thing when I heard about the cuts,

I am worried, no actually convinced at this point, that they will follow the Zeke blueprint for health care.
The "cuts" are merely a down payment on dissolving Medicare/Medicaid (or in Emanuel's word's "phasing out").

The only parts they have yet to "hash out" is a way of implementing the regressive 10% sales tax to pay for it and the neutering of a "public option" (they need something named "public" to fool most of the sheeple that overwhelmingly want PUBLIC reform).

I think they are well on their way to achieving this public option in name only, it will act like, look like, and follow the same methods as private insurance and will be contracted out for "administration" by one of the private firms.

They will mandate the entire thing so that they can call it "universal health insurance" and also because the insurance lobby wants the captive customers (they get what they want for their contributions unlike us).

The truth and the will of the actual people is all we have on our side, I am hoping it is enough but I have seen too much of politics to be overly optimistic.

[FLAprogressive]

18. "we don't have the votes" is just a cop out.....I think they just don't WANT to get anything done.

[tavalon]

63. Oh, they are getting plenty done for their constituents

It's just that we aren't their constituents, the corporations are.

[KakistocracyHater]

19. It's anti-birth control, it's NOT a "choice"

& I knew we had enough votes.....they are just the Other Right. No matter what it seems to always go further to the right. When in yet another Recession they always cut education-YET COMPLAIN ABOUT AMERICA'S ED LEVEL, they cut health coverage-YET SCREAM AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS THAT WE'RE #1, they cut aid to the elderly, they cut the veterans-WHO PUT THEIR OWN BODY IN HOC TO OUR GOV IN EXCHANGE FOR EDUCATION. I am sick from it all & disgusted, I can't find words to adequately express my revulsion & heartbreak.

[PHIMG]

22. Until corporate Democrats are drummed out of the party, get used to it.

Corporate power has captured nearly everything. The next major revolution will be against corporate power. Hopefully it is a peaceful revolution.

[jgraz]

24. Sorry, but anti-union, anti-gay, pro-corporate and pro-war IS the Democratic agenda

I'm not buying the "ooh, we're so timid" act any longer. These policies are in place because the Democrats WANT them in place.

[Autumn]

28. So where do we go

from here? I have a feeling you are right.

[jgraz]

38. Iran?

I hear they're willing to stand up for democracy over there...

[Juche]

30. We have the votes. We lack the political will

A little arm twisting and senate maneuvers could get EFCA and UHC passed. Bush got his tax cuts passed with a 50/50 split in the senate.

[madfloridian]

40. Exactly.

The Republicans would not for a moment hesitate to take complete advantage of us if they were in power.

Not for a moment.

[Political Heretic]

32. Many democratic leaders and congress persons are corrupt and on the dole of the financial elite

Dead was right when it called out the "pursuit of big dollars" as a watershed moment when the Democratic party began to crumble in terms of substance.

It's not a people's party anymore. Its just another special interest party with a slightly different base of special interests.

How would we fix that? I'd be happy to see the Democratic party be a true people's party. So despite my strong criticism (which I don't plan to cease) I don't desire the Democratic party to fail. What I would say instead is that its already failed. And while I would be thrilled of something could be salvaged... I'm just not sure I see the way anymore.

[Greyhound]

33. The Democratic Party has always been the party of preserving the status quo.

FDR was an aberration, JFK and even Johnson were mavericks and paid heavy prices for their independence.

Traditionally it is the Republiks that change and recently (35 years) have changed for the worst, but Lincoln, Roosevelt, Harrison (anti-trust), McKinley (progressive), and Eisenhower were all Republiks and laid the foundations for modern progressivism. Even Nixon was a "far left" liberal by today's measure.

Those of us on the left are again marginalized and fought against by the Democratic power brokers and have even been told that we are neither needed or wanted by the current "deciders" through their representatives.

So once again we have to ask ourselves, just what is the Democratic Party's agenda? Who benefits from it and who will pay for it?

[Hannah Bell]

34. we (the rank & file) don't have the vo$$$$$$es.

[madfloridian]

48. Very true. Dollars mean more than votes.

[snot]

36. K&R'd

[madfloridian]

39. Dean speaking out this morning again on MSNBC. Video.

Says being bipartisan with an obstructionist Republican minority makes no sense.

Video

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/31489567#314895...

[Echo In Light]

41. Hysterical. First it's a matter of lacking votes. Then they get them, and move on to the next excuse

...which is the motives, aims, goals and intent of corporate America versus what the people need. That's why there will ALWAYS be an excuse with entire political/media industries dedicated to selling the lies that the excuses require. Suckers keep on buying it too. Nutty, eh?! ...you'd think after awhile more people would, ya know, catch on...

[Dragonfli]

43. The DLC

Has stolen our party for the corporations they work for and are currently in the process of selling portions of policy to the highest bidder. They no longer care to even hide the sale of our government. The polls and the votes were quite clear and yet they thumb their noses at us and vote against our wishes and best interests.

Rahms appointment confirms that the President we elected has no intention of interfering in these corporate buy-outs of policy.

It matters very little that the centrists are not actually Democrats because there was a coup and the party of the people is now dead - infiltrated and taken over from within.

The Democrats that are left in the party (those that do not support republican principles and corporate ideals) are now but a few hold outs that the DLC will work against to replace with more stealth republicans, that is how they have been doing it since the republican false flag operation began when they formed the DLC and began the infiltration.

We have little chance of taking it back from the oligarchs because our fellow Democrats will choose to keep supporting them and making excuses simply because the (D) stands next to their name and they think this is a football game.

When our reps vote against us the "loyal Dems" will claim it is due to "spinelessness" rather than face the calculation behind it and STILL vote for them in the next election.

They will claim it is our fault for not writing enough (even tho we do) and again they will STILL vote for them.

Oft times "loyal Dems" will claim they our pols go against us because we don't have enough of them, no matter how many there are in the House and Senate or how much they vote against us and thus will continue to vote for even more false flag "democrats"

Battered wife syndrome or hero worship in the case of the smoother talkers, either way they will vote against their best interests just like the republican working and middle class vote against their best interests in search of the (R).

A clear solution to our problem eludes me -
We can not vote republican because they are the overt portion of our one party Republican Oligarchy. (the other party option)

We can only expect to pick up a few Independents or third party representatives that happen to follow democratic principles (Bernie Sanders comes to mind) because the right wing press maintain a united front against any non-corporate contenders ESPECIALLY Independent or third party. (the third party option)

Unless the "Loyal Dems" wake the fuck up and kick the DLC to the curb we are fucked, but I suspect they prefer the battered wife fantasy that "it is all our own fault" or "they don't want to beat us but they don't have the votes" or as in the case of the Charming Snake oil salesman followers of personality, they will prove they like the taste of the poison that is being sold them (and destroying the rule of law and the middle class.)

[bvar22]

46. There is nothing good in the Tea Leaves.

The Progressive Caucus has pledged to vote NO on any Health Care Package that does NOT contain a robust Public Option. That gives me some comfort that at lease a part of the Democratic Party are still Democrats.
Unfortunately, NONE of these Democrats have been appointed to ANY position of authority in the Obama Administration, and are currently frozen out of any face time on the TV thingie.
This has allowed the Corporations th frame the debate as Obama& His Corporate Stooges representing the Left Wing vs The Republicans. I have seen almost NO airtime given to Single Payer which has 93 Co-Sponsors in The House.

Anyway. we could HOPE that the Progressive Caucus gets frustrated enough to leave the corrupted Democratic Party as a group, and found something like a Populist/Famer/Labor Party. I would join in a heartbeat, but I don't think this scenario is very likely.

As the Democratic Party moves ever rightward, it IS leaving The Left wide open.
The vacuum WILL be filled.
As more and more Mainstream Democrats become disillusioned by the increasingly transparent betrayal of Working Americans, a charismatic Populist could lead a movement that could fill this vacuum. This movement would have to overcome the Corporate bias of the Media, and the control over debates and election by the established Democrat/Republican Party. This may happen in the long run (over 16 years), but I don't see anything happening quickly.

My Tea Leaves say we are well and truly fucked.....for a long time.
If you haven't already Cashed Out and moved to The Woods, its probably too late.

[madfloridian]

49. Could well happen if a few senators keep having all the power

over everything.

[Dragonfli]

53. There is little we can do but encourage the progressive caucus

Try to grow their numbers using the primary system. Continue to point out the situation to any that will listen (including our reps even tho they don't listen on the off chance they will worry about re-election).
Wait for the revolution within the party, or join the Exodus to a populist party if it appears and fills the vacuum.

Did I miss anything?

We truly are fucked for a long time.

[bvar22]

56. Working within the Primary System....

...is NOT as easy as I once believed.
Even within the Liberal Bastion of Minneapolis, the MONEY behind the DLC was at work rigging the Primaries AGAINST Progressive candidates, and injecting their OWN Corporate Approved candidates.
I witnessed the work of Rahm and the DLC up close in Election 2006.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Dragonfli]

59. Oh I'm aware of how they operate that's why it's under "all we can do"

I know there is very little we can do. Just thinking out loud about our meager options.
In my post above I mention specifically how they may very well force out the few remaining liberals by using the primaries against us.

Rahm made a career out of doing just what you mentioned you had witnessed personally.

I am pretty sure that you and I are on the same page, the question as always is, "how to get people to read the book?"

There are so many more of us (non-wealthy americans) than there are of them (corporate ceos and those that worship them for scraps) that I keep feeling as though I am missing something very obvious that would use all that righteous populist energy to effect the positive change we need.
It still eludes me.
unless it just hasn't reached critical mass yet.

As you have stated, there is a vacuum needing to be filled.

[madfloridian]

60. The DCCC played kingmaker here in FL, and it was not a good ending.

Tim Mahoney...out..lost the seat for us. Rahm made sure a good Dem was shoved out for a millionaire Republican.

Christine Jennings...lost to a man who was under the threat of 8 lawsuits.

[DaLittle Kitty]

79. Same Sh*t In Florida in 2006! WassermanSchultz Is Scum too Endorsing Repubs!

Well documented on the net!

[Froward69]

44. the headline garnered my rec

I need no explanation.

frankly I am getting so frustrated at the Dems "empathy".
FUCK We should be cramming repubes medicine down their goddamn throats. I realize Dems have greater ability to listen and wish to include others in everything.

But shit Goddamn those fuckers on the right would do unto us (in less than a heartbeat) what we seem to unwilling to do to them.

[bvar22]

47. K&R

Another great post from madfloridian.

[pleah]

51. K&R

[Pacifist Patriot]

52. I would change one word in Dr. Dean's statement. "we forgot why we were there in power."

He probably should have said, "We ignored why we were there in power."

They bloody well have a "mandate." They're choosing not to exercise it.

[madfloridian]

54. I would agree on that.

Yes, they have a mandate.

[tnlefty]

55. Did you hear Ed go off about this the other day?

He was practically yelling, "if you don't have the votes, then GO GET THE VOTES."

Then Norman Goldman followed up guest hosting and was talking about how he wanted the President to call the Senators to the White House and tell them to either get on board with a strong public program included for real health reform, or let them know in no uncertain terms that he would raise money for and campaign against them for someone who would get on board.

I'll be holding my breath waiting for the getting tough with the Dems to begin.

[Pacifist Patriot]

58. Anyone who has seen a handful of episodes of The West Wing...

has a modicum of an idea of going to get the votes. There is something decidedly rotten in the halls of our Capitol building.

[madfloridian]

64. Yes, there is most certainly.

Too many have sold out their souls to the corporations.

On Countdown tonight, Dean called them out on this big time. I hope someone gets the video up soon.

[tnlefty]

66. Yes, I think so, too.

I'll be holding my breath waiting, while the President and VP have stated that they'll be raising money and helping Specter and not Sestak in PA. Another moment for me.

[madfloridian]

65. Ed has really impressed me on this issue.

Holding breath here as well.

Oh, don't miss the video of Dean on Countdown tonight. He ripped the Senate Dems.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#31496781

[tnlefty]

68. Thanks for the link!

I'll try to watch the replay of Olberman, but I've bookmarked this link.

I have to be at my in-laws early tomorrow. I'm listening to Brad Friedman who is filling in for Mike Malloy right now and waiting for the oldest to get home from work.

ETA: Ed has been raising hell about this for weeks and he was at it again today!

[donco6]

57. This is an obvious leadership problem.

You can blame Congress; you can blame the admin - I don't care. They both suck.

[4lbs]

61. When Franken gets seated, we'll have 58 Democrats on the Senate.

However, that isn't 58 PROGRESSIVE Democrats.

About 12 of those Democrats are "soft" ConservaDems that don't 100% support President Obama's agena.

Another 6 or so, are against some Progressive policies, especially those that go against the bigger corporate interests and lobbyists.

So, we can only truly count on about 40 Democratic Senator votes to side with the Democratic populace and President the vast majority of the time.


In the times of LBJ and FDR, they had 59+ Democratic Senators in Congress (even as high as 75 in one instance in the 1930s), but on almost all issues, each could reliably count on about 51 of them to fully support him.

[madfloridian]

67. I counted 59 on this page...recheck my counting.

http://democrats.senate.gov/members /

Then we have Franken coming someday, to make 60.

Sanders votes with the caucus also.

[4lbs]

74. True. I only counted those that are actually registered as Democrat.

So, I left out the two Independents, Sanders and Lieberman.

Interestingly, and sadly depending on the viewpoint, Sanders is much more "Progressive" than about 1/3 of those registered Democrats in the Senate.

[bertman]

69. TELL IT, SISTER!!!

This is our chance and it's being frittered away by career politicians who are more worried about keeping their seats and lining up their lucrative lobbying gigs for themselves and their family members than serving their country and their constituents.

Rome redux.

Recommend.

[madfloridian]

70. Thanks. Did you hear Dean on Countdown tonight?

He was really speaking crossly about Senate Dems.

Video here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#31496781

[PassingFair]

73. Woot!

Thanks for that, Mad.

He's obviously been given the
go-ahead from Obama.

Tell me again why he wasn't
up to snuff for the HHS job?

[bertman]

76. Thanks for the link. I just got around to watching it. Howard Dean is my hero.

[donheld]

71. We gave them the "votes" on November 4th, but

come November 2010 we may Not give them the votes.

[GeorgeGist]

72. Sorry to burst your bubble ...

but 'THEY' have your votes.

[madfloridian]

75. We do have the votes. Yes, we do.

Sick of the Senate conservadems telling us we don't.

[Skittles]

78. and even if they don't have the votes

try pushing it through anyways - let the American people know who is for what and WHO IS AGAINST IT