Blue Dogs Don't Get It Anymore than GOPers Do: Government Spending Is NECESSARY at this Moment

[BurtWorm]

Hullabaloo's dday takes the scolds to school:

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/scolds-never-stop-by-dday-john-mccain.html


The Scolds Never Stop

by dday

John McCain had another "old man yells at cloud" moment yesterday, complaining about earmarks in last year's spending bill, and trying to eliminate all of them. His effort lost on a bipartisan basis, probably because this is last year's spending needed to keep the government running, a shutdown at this point would be completely counter to economic fiscal stimulus, earmarks are 2% of the total bill and half of them were inserted by Republicans, including $76 million from Thad Cochran (R-MS), the overall leader.

However, this hasn't stopped the Democratic worry warts to fret about spending, at a time when there's practically no other economic activity other than that coming from the federal government.

Moderate and conservative Democrats in the Senate are starting to choke over the massive spending and tax increases in President Barack Obama’s budget plans and have begun plotting to increase their influence over the agenda of a president who is turning out to be much more liberal than they are.

A group of 14 Senate Democrats and one independent huddled behind closed doors on Tuesday, discussing how centrists in that chamber can assert more leverage on the major policy debates that will dominate this Congress <...>

Asked when he’d reach his breaking point, Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate, said: “Right now. I’m concerned about the amount that’s being offered in budget.”

Another attendee, Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.), said she expected the newly formed caucus to shape Obama’s budget proposal as it moves through Congress.

“We want to give the president a chance, but our concern is going to be on the budget, looking forward,” Landrieu said. She added that she agrees with Obama that there needs to be “fundamental change” in fiscal policy, but she said “we do have to keep our eye on the long term, on intermediate and long-term fiscal responsibility.”

Sen. Evan Bayh, the Indiana Democrat who assembled Tuesday’s skull session, added that he was “very concerned” about Washington’s level of spending, especially in a $410 billion “omnibus” spending bill to fund the government until the start of a new fiscal year in October.

As for the tax increases on high-income earners called for in Obama’s plan, Bayh said, “I do think that before we raise revenue, we first should look to see if there are ways we can cut back on spending.”

“The American people and businesses are tightening their belts,” Bayh added. “I think we need to show that the government can economize as well.”



Ladies an gentlemen, your almost-Vice President, Evan Bayh.

Once again, the path for a Democratic President must go through Democratic fiscal responsibility scolds. And this is coming in the middle of a Great Recession, where investment is non-existent, trade is stalled, and consumer spending isn't going anywhere, meaning that ONLY GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING. Cutting that spending translates directly into losing thousands of jobs. That's reality for the next year or so. <BW's emphasis>

If anything, Obama is being modest in his plans. And he is paying for the big investments in his budget by making the tax code more progressive and fair. And that's the reality of the fiscal scolds - they want to protect the status quo for their buddies and contributors. They would rather the 30-year cycle of radical conservative economic policy continues unabated. Obama's budget is a a threat to the DC estabishment that is best represented by these "moderates."

...

[valerief]

1. Blue Dog dems ARE Rapublicans. nt

[lsewpershad]

5. We must never forget

who they are next time around.

[Jack Bone]

2. I think Bayh's up for re-election in '10...

maybe that explains his spineless reaction to "shift right".

[Winterblues]

3. Not just Spending but where the money is spent.

America needs some investment back into itself. No more War Machinery...We need hospitals and schools and airports and bridges and Dam repairs and electrical grid work. We suffer far more problems with electrical grids from normal every day storms than we ever have from terrorists. Time to spend our money in keeping America safe for a change. Find cures for cancer and aids and MS and Parkinson's Disease and eliminating tobacco usage, and ???? Things that truly effect Americans safety and put aside this ruse of more Defense spending just so huge Republican campaign contributors will make billions while average Americans continue to suffer and die from what really threatens our lives.

[seafan]

4. It's time to put some controls on the Blue Dogs' negative influence on progressive policies.

Blue Dog Democrats (US House of Representatives)


Members (via Wikipedia)


* Mike Arcuri (NY-24)
* Joe Baca (CA-43)
* John Barrow (GA-12)
* Melissa Bean (IL-8)
* Marion Berry (AR-1)
* Sanford Bishop (GA-2)
* Dan Boren (OK-2)
* Leonard Boswell (IA-3)
* Allen Boyd (FL-2)
* Bobby Bright (AL-2)
* Dennis Cardoza (CA-18)
* Christopher Carney (PA-10)
* Ben Chandler (KY-6)
* Jim Cooper (TN-5)
* Jim Costa (CA-20)
* Lincoln Davis (TN-4)
* Joe Donnelly (IN-2)
* Brad Ellsworth (IN-8)
* Bill Foster (IL-14)
* Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8)
* Bart Gordon (TN-6)
* Parker Griffith (AL-5)
* Jane Harman (CA-36)
* Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration
* Baron Hill (IN-9), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy
* Tim Holden (PA-17)
* Frank Kratovil (MD-1)
* Jim Marshall (GA-8)
* Jim Matheson (UT-2)
* Mike McIntyre (NC-7)
* Charlie Melancon (LA-3), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications
* Mike Michaud (ME-2)
* Walt Minnick (ID-1)
* Dennis Moore (KS-3)
* Patrick Murphy (PA-8)
* Collin Peterson (MN-7)
* Earl Pomeroy (ND-AL)
* Mike Ross (AR-4)
* John Salazar (CO-3)
* Loretta Sanchez (CA-47)
* Adam Schiff (CA-29)
* David Scott (GA-13)
* Heath Shuler (NC-11)
* Zack Space (OH-18)
* John Tanner (TN-8)
* Gene Taylor (MS-4)
* Mike Thompson (CA-1)
* Charlie Wilson (OH-6)


Former members

Prominent Blue Dog Coalition members who have left the House or the coalition include:

* Brad Carson (OK-2) (retired from the House to run for the Senate in 2004, losing to Republican Tom Coburn)
* Gary Condit (CA-18) (defeated by Dennis Cardoza in 2002 Democratic primary)
* Bud Cramer (AL-5) (retired from the House in 2009)
* Harold Ford Jr. (TN-9) (retired from the House to run for the Senate in 2006, losing to Republican Bob Corker)
* Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-20) (appointed to Senate in 2009)
* Ralph Hall (TX-4) (became a Republican in 2004 and is still a member of the House)
* Nick Lampson (TX-22) (defeated by Republican Pete Olson in 2008)
* Bill Lipinski (IL-3) (retired from the House in 2005)
* Ken Lucas (KY-4) (retired from the House in 2005)
* Tim Mahoney (FL-16) (defeated by Republican Tom Rooney in 2008)
* David Minge (MN-2) (defeated by Republican Mark Kennedy in 2000)
* Owen Pickett (VA-2) (retired from the House in 2001)
* Max Sandlin (TX-1) (defeated by Republican Louie Gohmert following 2003 Texas redistricting)
* Charlie Stenholm (TX-17) (defeated by Republican Randy Neugebauer following 2003 Texas redistricting)
* Billy Tauzin (LA-3) (became a Republican in 1995)
* Jim Turner (TX-2) (retired from House following 2003 Texas redistricting)



A good working list.


'Accountability Now': Bloggers and Progressive Groups Plan to Challenge Elected Democrats, who are seen as acting against the interests of their constituents., February 26, 2009


The Scolds Never Stop, by Digby, March 4, 2009