AMERICAblog: While the nation is in crisis, Conservative Democrats are busy building a new bridge to a mythical place where everyone gets along
tlsintx
· 8 months ago
Bayh, you're pathetic. This is politics at it's worst. I'm glad Jane Hamsher is on it. She'll kick his ass.
KerrynowCampau
· 8 months ago
How much is the banking industry spending on lobbyists....
Not that these guys aren't jerks.....
Spending on war OK!! Spending on the US, hey, wait a minute...
Older_Wiser
· 8 months ago
Nothing like whoring for the Rethugs, eh, Bayh? Corporate asshole.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 8 months ago
"Moderation is not a mathematical process of finding the center for its own sake. Practical solutions are practical because they offer our best chance to make a difference in people's lives.."
Joe you totally destroyed this key "argument". If they were looking for practical solutions, they would choose one that's already out there. There is no support for bizarre mixtures of left and right. Obstruction is not "moderation". Bayh et al. are looking for the spotlight, not solutions. And they will destroy to get it.
Older_Wiser
· 8 months ago
OT, but thought this story at the right was interesting, and wonder just who might be involved...
(ABC 3/25/09) The number of economic crimes is expected to "skyrocket" in the near term, and the FBI is working to fast track some financial fraud cases, Director Robert Mueller told lawmakers today.
"While the FBI is surging to mortgage fraud investigations, our expectation is that economic crimes will continue to skyrocket," he told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"The unprecedented level of financial resources committed by the federal government to combat the economic downturn will lead to an inevitable increase in economic crime and public corruption cases," he said.
Mueller cited the FBI's growing mortgage fraud caseload, with the number of cases rising from 700 three years ago to more than 2,000 currently.
"We're working with a number of U.S. attorneys and with the Department of Justice for what we call fast track prosecutions in a number of areas," Mueller said, "We're prioritizing our cases to hit the most egregious early and put those persons away."
anastasjoy
· 8 months ago
Talking about "driving up the cost of credit" is nothing but bullying and blackmail. The cost of credit to the banks has never been lower, but they have been charging their borrowerrs, such as credit card holders, usurious rates that are arbitraily raised on good customers for no reason. In fact, if he's so worried about that, then we need to pass another bill limiting their ability to abritraily increase the cost of credit. But his pals the banks wouldn't like that either.
anastasjoy
· 8 months ago
Nice Curves ad, BTW. Just want to warn anyone who's not aware that this chain of fitness centers is own by radical righties who are incredibly anti-choice. FYI.
nenabeans
· 8 months ago
sounds like sour grapes and empty pockets
flash123
· 8 months ago
Sens. Evan Bayh (D-IN), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and Tom Carper (D-DE), who recently created a coalition of moderate Democrats, respond to their progressive critics in an op-ed. "We understand the Beltway impulse to emphasize conflict and the blogosphere's concern that Democrats stick together," they write. "Without Democratic moderates...the president's agenda COULD WELL be filibustered into oblivion."
Yeah, and "With Dem moderates... the president's agenda DEFINITELY WILL be filibustered into oblivion."
triple7s
· 8 months ago
We are talking about dem pols who have a majority of constituents who probably are NOT thrilled at having a "black man" as President. They are thinking about keeping their jobs in '010 and '012, NOT what's best for the country.
flash123
· 8 months ago
The problem with that argument is that 10 of the 15 "moderate" Democratic Senators are from states that Obama won in November. The other 5 I could understand, but not the 10 from Blue states. I have said for months that winning 60 seats in the Senate so Dems could have a "filibuster proof" majority is a joke. There are at least 5 hard-core Blue Dogs (or DINOs) in the Senate, so you would need AT LEAST 65 seats, and perhaps more, to have a "filibuster proof" majority with this group.
triple7s
· 8 months ago
Right. However if Bayh, Landrieu (LA), Lincoln (AR) and Nelson (NE) don't appeal to their racist segment in their elections, then they will lose to a repuke. My point was that they think first about the next election.
lynchie
· 8 months ago
What a sorry point we have come to. We elected a President who is everything we on the left imagined. He wants change, he does want to do things for the American people but we have a Congress made up of washed out whores who owe their souls to Corporate America and believe that by stopping Obama's agenda they will suddenly become our representatives. I read on Crooks and Liars today that the Military budget is over $700 billion and education is $40 billion, glad to see we have our priorities straight. Keep Corporations over billing, double billing and shoving war down our throats but we have no money for health care, eduation or infrastructure. Bayh you represent nothing that America wants.
Reason0Politics1
· 8 months ago
lynchie... man.. i wish you were right. I did vote for Obama.. but c'mon.. he is FAR from "everything we on the left imagined".. thats utter tripe
Obama himself is VERY moderate... we have only been told how liberal he is.. but most of his picks ( the ones that didn't bail ) are freaking right leaning moderates. Certainly geithner and summers... pro de regulation whores.
There is very littler left about him. Its just the the left has been so god damned compromised and pulled to the right.. the "most liberal" label they try to give him.. he 's practically a republican.
thesis > Antithesis > synthesis. Constant compromise to the rights agenda has left our left looking a lot more right than ever
lynchie
· 8 months ago
I didn't say he was what we hoped for. I am on record as saying i have reservations about his true desire to push the country to the left. However, thus far i am somewhat impressed. Putting major items like Healthcare on the table for a discussion is a start. I am not saying he is the Progessive that the country needs or that he isn't beholden to Corporate America in some respects. Compare him to Clinton who did immeasureable damage with NAFTA, the welfare reform act, DADT. I never imagined a true lefty. My first choice was Kucinich but alas he can;t get elected. Fox, MSNBC, CBS, ABC would shit a brick if he got in and started to dismantle Corporate America in Washington. Again, I never imagined him as what the left was looking for, rather I imagined he would do just about what he has.
Reason0Politics1
· 8 months ago
Ahh.. ok. I stand corrected then!
lynchie
· 8 months ago
No apology necessary. I do share exactly your points just not what I was getting at. Perhaps i wasn't clear. Shame, we have the right by the nuts and can't get the shears out to neuter them.
Reason0Politics1
· 8 months ago
omg exactly! here we have 2 wins back to back,, and the assclown dems we have want to compromise...now! when the nation spoke clearly they wanted NO compromise!
Butch1
· 8 months ago
If they snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory, yet, again, I will never give them the chance to do this again. It will be some new progressive party I will vote for. ( if it's not too late )
Chauncey Gardner
· 8 months ago
What a pathetic moron. Another Gang Of 14 fubar that gave us Alito and Roberts. Follow the bribe money because that's the only thing that makes sense. This clown must be a complete sociopath.
Soundboy_jeff_meanie
· 8 months ago
I just had this icky image of byah locking the doors of the senate... picking up an acoustic guitar, and starting to sing Kumbaya.
when the screaming stops... maybe he could get their agreement on something?
I think that's the way its supposed to work in his Rainbow Bright world.
boloboffin
· 8 months ago
It's not a mythical place where everybody gets along that Bayh is building a bridge to. It's a very well-established place where everybody knows who to send the money to. It's called the "center."
Bayh is building a kingmaker faction. He's promising results and guaranteeing that he can deliver them. The lobbyists and the corporations will beat a path to his door.
Lolis
· 8 months ago
I have told the DNC and DSCC that I will not give money blindly to the party if their are Democrats working against Obama's progressive bills. What is the point of electing more Dems if they won't lead when they have the chance?
triple7s
· 8 months ago
I totally agree. What is the point of giving my money to DINO's, when I can save the bucks, and get the same results. What a bunch of "dicks and dickets".
jimkhm
· 8 months ago
What we ought to do is file a class action lawsuit against the Republican party since they were in charge when the economy went bust, 9/11 happened, the Iraq war, and Katrina. We should also include every one in the last adminstration that caused the fiscal damagages, as well as the hardship pain and death. If they want to run the government as a business then they should be able to be sued like a business.
Bill T.
· 8 months ago
Let's call these people what they really are -- DINOs, Democrats In Name Only. Just like the traitorous Feinstein.
Butch1
· 8 months ago
Wouldn't you know it wouldn't be the republicans who bring us down? It will be the power hungry ConservaDems who screw up anything we have tried to achieve. These wolves-in-sheep's-clothing are nothing but pseudo democrats. They are republicans through and through getting the people to vote them in to muddy up any bill the dems put out. This is disgusting and should be stopped. If they want to be republicans then be proud of what you really are and stop pretending you are democrats just to get into power. Was this the coup the republicans were talking about before the election, it wouldn't surprise me at all. We need to dog these people at every turn for being traitors to their own party pulling this stunt. Notice that Lieberman has joined this group as well. We should have gotten rid of him when we had the chance. He's a republican and this is his way of trying to be revelant.
Anthony Look
· 8 months ago
Wonder how many of us Democrats are interested in starting grassroot movements to raise moneys to defeat these Pseudo Democrats; start primary search real Democrat opponents; start contacting the Democratic Committe about curtailing financial support for these Pseudo Democrats; start labeling these GOP operatives for what they really are. I hope the anger of the last 8 yrs resonates enough to rid ourselves of these traitors; who by way have been supporting the GOP and Bush way before this public admission. It is time to Purge the Democratic Party of these lying, complicit hypocrits.
Is there any way to let the people of Indiana know what this "moderate" and others like him are up to? They are causing major problems, just as they and others like them did in 1992-93 for President Clinton, who was a DLCer himself. They're never satisfied unless they screw up things and empower the GOP. I don't get it, but I think there has to be a way to broadcast how destructive they are to keep them in line. Otherwise we'll have more damage of the sort we saw with the Stimulus Bill.
Quite Contrary
· 8 months ago
Trying to (shudder) imagine what would have happened if Obama had picked Bayh for his running mate...
cosanostradamus
· 8 months ago
. He wouldn't be leading a group of traitors in the Senate. He'd be locked up in the Naval Observatory, or touring leftist nations in Latin America, enjoying cheers of "Yanqui Go Home!" And Joe Biden would be in a leadership role back on the Hill.
The real nightmare would have been Bayh stepping into the President's shoes through some historical accident, or otherwise succeeding him after 4 or 8 years. And that's why we have Biden. .
Hoosierland
· 8 months ago
Write Evan Bayh and you will get a milqetoast reply carefully crafted to not offend a potential voter, and when you get to the end of it you'll have no idea what his position really is.
There are insects with bigger balls than Evan Bayh
GoodScout
· 8 months ago
Want to know why your APR is 26.9% or more? It's the bankruptcy bill. Thanks, Congress for screwing us back in 2005!
marblex
· 8 months ago
Actually, laws against usury dating back to biblical times, were eliminated from the United States in 1980 by the Reagan administration. This is the same administration that the same year, deleted the income tax deduction for credit card and other loan interest. Neat, eh? That is when the horse was let out of the barn.
With the passing of the "no bankruptcy for youse" law in 2000 under the Bush II administration, the ongoing looting, pillaging and destruction of the US middle class is almost complete.
The Obama administration will rid the oligarchs of Social Security and Medicare and then this country will finally assume its rightful place among other impoverished third world nations.
Heckuvajob.
cwazycajun
· 8 months ago
I am as embarrased to say landrieu is my senator as I am to say so is vitter and jindal is my gov...americablog should do an expos'e on these senators and who exactly funds them...be it banking,insurance,oil,ect ect show them for what they are power hungry greedy opertunist standing in the way of an agenda that hopefully will improve the lives for all of us not just their corprate donors
marblex
· 8 months ago
Once you understand the modern Congress' true function, it becomes readily apparent why these apparent divisions occur. They aren't true ideological differences, they are merely performing their assigned roles.
1. Congress neither writes nor reads the legislation it enacts. That is prepared by the corporations whose bidding they are in the legislature to do.
2. Congress functions as a PR/front operation for these corporations. Note how Congress spends its time: It holds hearings (kibuki); press conferences (more of the same) and its members appear on the Sunday talk shows. Congress periodically holds "debates" that are televised. These are also dog and pony shows meant to create the impression that the Congress are busy. The rest of the time, Congressional members travel. You can see how this very busy schedule of public face time precludes any possibility that they have the time to write legislation (I give you, for example the Patriot Act, prepared well in advance of 9/11/01).
3. Congress members also have to field phone calls, faxes, letters and emails from constituents, whom they are in fact, free to ignore (note 99-1 public opposition to the 9/08 bailout, completely discarded and ignored by Congress)
Once you get over the false belief that the Congress represent YOU, it is much easier to understand that these little rifts; seeming "disputes" and fake oppositions/supporting positions apparently taken by Congressional members are mere theatrics, designed to distract you and maintain the fiction that our government is still of, by and for us, when in fact, it ceased to function in any way shape or form on the behalf of the vast majority of the American population whose bank accounts do NOT end in "illion" for DECADES.
rejoice
· 8 months ago
The conservative democrats need to get on board with the democrats, not the republicans, and make sure that Obama's programs are passed. If this is not done, the democrats will see the republicans back in power in 2010. What an injustice to us all.
All Comments
Not that these guys aren't jerks.....
Spending on war OK!! Spending on the US, hey, wait a minute...
Joe you totally destroyed this key "argument". If they were looking for practical solutions, they would choose one that's already out there. There is no support for bizarre mixtures of left and right. Obstruction is not "moderation". Bayh et al. are looking for the spotlight, not solutions. And they will destroy to get it.
(ABC 3/25/09) The number of economic crimes is expected to "skyrocket" in the near term, and the FBI is working to fast track some financial fraud cases, Director Robert Mueller told lawmakers today.
"While the FBI is surging to mortgage fraud investigations, our expectation is that economic crimes will continue to skyrocket," he told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"The unprecedented level of financial resources committed by the federal government to combat the economic downturn will lead to an inevitable increase in economic crime and public corruption cases," he said.
Mueller cited the FBI's growing mortgage fraud caseload, with the number of cases rising from 700 three years ago to more than 2,000 currently.
"We're working with a number of U.S. attorneys and with the Department of Justice for what we call fast track prosecutions in a number of areas," Mueller said, "We're prioritizing our cases to hit the most egregious early and put those persons away."
Yeah, and "With Dem moderates... the president's agenda DEFINITELY WILL be filibustered into oblivion."
I have said for months that winning 60 seats in the Senate so Dems could have a "filibuster proof" majority is a joke.
There are at least 5 hard-core Blue Dogs (or DINOs) in the Senate, so you would need AT LEAST 65 seats, and perhaps more, to have a "filibuster proof" majority with this group.
Obama himself is VERY moderate... we have only been told how liberal he is.. but most of his picks ( the ones that didn't bail ) are freaking right leaning moderates. Certainly geithner and summers... pro de regulation whores.
There is very littler left about him. Its just the the left has been so god damned compromised and pulled to the right.. the "most liberal" label they try to give him.. he 's practically a republican.
thesis > Antithesis > synthesis. Constant compromise to the rights agenda has left our left looking a lot more right than ever
Another Gang Of 14 fubar that gave us Alito and Roberts.
Follow the bribe money because that's the only thing that makes sense. This clown must be a complete sociopath.
when the screaming stops... maybe he could get their agreement on something?
I think that's the way its supposed to work in his Rainbow Bright world.
Bayh is building a kingmaker faction. He's promising results and guaranteeing that he can deliver them. The lobbyists and the corporations will beat a path to his door.
I hope the anger of the last 8 yrs resonates enough to rid ourselves of these traitors; who by way have been supporting the GOP and Bush way before this public admission.
It is time to Purge the Democratic Party of these lying, complicit hypocrits.
What'd'y'expect from a guy named "BUY"? Don't be fooled by the deliberate misspelling. His buyers aren't.
.
He wouldn't be leading a group of traitors in the Senate. He'd be locked up in the Naval Observatory, or touring leftist nations in Latin America, enjoying cheers of "Yanqui Go Home!" And Joe Biden would be in a leadership role back on the Hill.
The real nightmare would have been Bayh stepping into the President's shoes through some historical accident, or otherwise succeeding him after 4 or 8 years. And that's why we have Biden.
.
There are insects with bigger balls than Evan Bayh
With the passing of the "no bankruptcy for youse" law in 2000 under the Bush II administration, the ongoing looting, pillaging and destruction of the US middle class is almost complete.
The Obama administration will rid the oligarchs of Social Security and Medicare and then this country will finally assume its rightful place among other impoverished third world nations.
Heckuvajob.
1. Congress neither writes nor reads the legislation it enacts. That is prepared by the corporations whose bidding they are in the legislature to do.
2. Congress functions as a PR/front operation for these corporations. Note how Congress spends its time: It holds hearings (kibuki); press conferences (more of the same) and its members appear on the Sunday talk shows. Congress periodically holds "debates" that are televised. These are also dog and pony shows meant to create the impression that the Congress are busy. The rest of the time, Congressional members travel. You can see how this very busy schedule of public face time precludes any possibility that they have the time to write legislation (I give you, for example the Patriot Act, prepared well in advance of 9/11/01).
3. Congress members also have to field phone calls, faxes, letters and emails from constituents, whom they are in fact, free to ignore (note 99-1 public opposition to the 9/08 bailout, completely discarded and ignored by Congress)
Once you get over the false belief that the Congress represent YOU, it is much easier to understand that these little rifts; seeming "disputes" and fake oppositions/supporting positions apparently taken by Congressional members are mere theatrics, designed to distract you and maintain the fiction that our government is still of, by and for us, when in fact, it ceased to function in any way shape or form on the behalf of the vast majority of the American population whose bank accounts do NOT end in "illion" for DECADES.