In win for Blue America another House Blue Dog goes down

by: Zappatero

Wed Apr 25, 2012 at 12:39:09 PM MST

That's what Blue Dogs do, and that's why Blue America has been working against this insidious Blue Dog species - and more often than should be the case - the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee), to get these people out of office and prevent them from harming Democrats and the Democratic brand further.

Blue America took on another Blue Dog in Pennsylvania recently and sent Tim Holden packing. They went after this "Democrat" because he supported Republican Speaker Boehner's agenda an astonishing 64%, has been virulently anti-Choice, anti-gay and anti-health care, and routinely supported the Republicans on just about every other critical issue.

A Democrat, who will truly vote his district, and will hold to Democratic principles to boot, won the PA primary against Blue Dog Holden yesterday. Here's AMERICAblog's take:

U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, Pennsylvania's longest-serving congressman, lost his re-election bid in the Democratic primary[.] ... Holden, who was elected to Congress in 1992 and was one of its conservative, so-called Blue Dog Democrats, lost Tuesday to personal injury attorney Matt Cartwright, who spent nearly $400,000 in the race.

A lot of that money came from BlueAmerica. Here's Howie Klein, BlueAmerica treasurer (and all-around Great Guy, Music Industry Legend, and Progressive Congressional Expert - Z), on the victory:

Something very rare happened tonight, something that will send a chill down the spines of members of the Democratic establishment: a true blue progressive unseated a tired Blue Dog congressman. We were told it was impossible. Pennsylvania's Matt Cartwright just proved them all wrong. ...

They had a choice and they chose the progressive candidate who would stand up for working families instead of corporations and who believes that individual liberty applies to women as well as men.

Real Democrats, in the form of Blue America and Democratic voters around the country, are running the Blue Dogs out of congress one by one. Republicans will attack any that Blue America misses. It'd be a benefit to the nation if those remaining public servants who have a (D) behind their names would learn the message of that increasingly rare, yet not extinct,  congressional breed, The Blue Dog Democrat.

Sal Pace labors under Dewy Haze of unrequited Bipartisanship

by: Zappatero

Wed Apr 11, 2012 at 08:39:00 AM MST

Tipton has also been dogged with a campaign violation, revelation that a "sham front group" gave him an award, an investigation and apology to a House ethics committee and accusations that he selectively informed Republicans and mining industry interests about a public meeting over a wilderness proposal in the San Juans while excluding others.

In the most recent fundraising quarter, Pace raised over $280,000 and a spokesman says he will report over $520,000 in cash on hand, "demonstrating his ability to compete this November." For the quarter, Pace had over 1,400 individual donors, with 90 percent of those contributions coming from in state.

"Our fundraising shows that people are fed up with the partisan politics that have gridlocked Washington..."

Does their fundraising really show that people are fed up with partisan politics? Even the campaign admits otherwise:

After Tipton voted to cut Medicare benefits "to pay for a special interest tax break for multimillionaires," contributions began pouring in to Pace's campaign, according to his spokesman.

Democrats like Pace need to understand this and take the appropriate steps to 1) make sure voters know that both sides don't act the same way towards enacting common-sense policies, 2) Republicans will not allow - under any circumstances - even the slighest tax increase on the most elite workers to help fund vital programs and pay down the nation's debt, and 3) the delays and obfuscation over what's needed to fix the economy have mostly come from Republicans.

Paul Krugman put the phony bipartisanship and "both sides do it" b.s. in perspective recently:

These are people whose whole pose is one of standing between the extremes of both parties, and calling for a bipartisan solution. The problem they face is how to maintain this pose when the reality is that a quite moderate Democratic party -- one that is content to leave tax rates on the rich far below those that prevailed for most of the past 70 years, that has embraced a Republican health care plan -- faces a radical-reactionary GOP.

The voters don't want it, Republicans won't allow it, and the urgent and necessary goals of our current policies can't survive it. The Krug-man reiterates for the hard of hearing:

The truth, which is obvious from every day's news, is that there is nothing, nothing at all, that Obama could offer - other than switching parties - that would get him any GOP cooperation.

John Salazar As Commissioner of Agriculture and the Assumptions March On Unquestioned

by: Yoda69

Wed Jan 05, 2011 at 16:05:10 PM MST

Here's what I think: I think you'd think like me if you really thought about it.

I know that's arrogant but give me a shot.  

Will John Salazar Oppose Obama Tax Plan?

by: saindenver

Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 18:56:02 PM MST

Republicans want to prevent  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from making Republicans go out on a limb for the wealthiest Americans just so close to November. With only weeks to go before the election, they're putting  dozens of House Democrats on the spot, demanding a single vote on extending all of the Bush tax cuts -- including the tax cuts that solely benefit the wealthiest Americans.

The GOP pressure might make some Democrats cave, and will certainly make others hide from questions about the Bush tax cuts. But unless Pelosi plays hardball on tax cuts, it's these Democrats who will decide whether the wealthiest Americans get to keep all of their tax cuts.
...
Others are Democrats who might, based on their voting records or their current political vulnerabilities, break with leadership on this issue. (For instance, we've marked Blue Dogs "BD"). Some of these members will no doubt side with Pelosi. Others not listed here might surprise us and side with the GOP. The list is not meant to be a perfect summary of Dem fence-sitters and tax cut proponents. It's to demonstrate that Pelosi has a lot of whipping to do if she's going to win the tax cut fight on straight up or down votes.

Those marked with an "L" "indicate that they've signed a letter to Pelosi asking for all the Bush tax cuts to be extended."  Besides being a Blue Dog, our CD3's John Salazar has signed that letter.  We need to find out if John will support the President's proposal that tax cuts extend to all but the top earners. If you are a constituent, please contact John and ask him.  Report any reply to talk@talkingpointsmemo.com

John can be reached at his offices
Washington, DC
326 CannonHOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-4761
202-226-9669- fax

Grand Junction, Colorado
225 North 5th Street, STE 702
Grand Junction, CO 81501
970-245-7107
970- 245-2194-fax

Pueblo, Colorado
134 West B Street
Pueblo, CO 81003
719-543-8200
719-543-8204-fax

Durango, Colorado
1099 Main Avenue,
Suite 305
Durango, CO 81301
970-259-1012
970-259-9467-fax

Alamosa, Colorado
609 Main Street, #6
Alamosa, CO 81101
719-587-5105
719-587-5137-fa

Blue Dog John Salazar: Aiding Koch Empire, hurting The President

by: Zappatero

Mon Aug 23, 2010 at 13:14:01 PM MST

Locals don't like it. Partly because the recipient of the favors, Bill Koch, can't be trusted, and partly because Salazar is pushing this tricky land swap that veers far and wide of the normal process:

[S]ome staffers at the Bureau of Land Management worry that Koch will be getting land with much higher value because of its potential for energy development. They also complain that there was very little opportunity for public input and scrutiny of the deal. There were no public hearings specifically devoted to gathering public comment, as there are with most proposed government land swaps.

"I'm not very pleased about it. It doesn't look like a very good deal for me or other people in this area," said Tony Prendergast, a former Forest Service ranger.

Thank You, Betsy & John

by: saindenver

Sun Mar 21, 2010 at 22:58:01 PM MST

http://www.actblue.com/directo...

John has raised $7387 there and Betsy, $247,761.  They both need some help.  Why not give them each what you can?  

Some times we need to thank even those whom we sometimes oppose when they have helped the country, their constituents and all of us in Colorado.