Rahm oh Rahm, what are we going to do with you?
You were showing so much promise the day after the Connecticut primary:
“This shows what blind loyalty to George Bush and being his love child means,” said Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, the leader of the Democratic House Congressional campaign. “This is not about the war. It’s blind loyalty to Bush.”
But that was then, this is now. Today in the NYT:
Rahm Emanuel, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, expressed confidence that Democratic turnout would be strong for the House races in Connecticut.
“Explain to me how two Democrats running is bad,” Mr. Emanuel said in an interview.
Say what?
I won’t descend into cheap, common snark and point out that Joe Lieberman is now running as a "line five, party of one" candidate after his defeat in, you know, the Democratic primary. There is only one Democrat in the Connecticut Senate race in November and his name is Ned Lamont. He isn’t the incumbent and thus doesn’t trigger knee-jerk DC loyalty but really, this is quite beyond the pale. Lieberman is neither a nominal nor a spiritual Democrat; he’s now running a Republican campaign as a once and future lackey of Dick Cheney and Karl Rove. He’s doing the devil’s own work now and I give you credit, Rahm, for being smart enough to figure that out.
I realize it’s not going to do the Connecticut House candidates any good for you to be pointing out the obvious — the Mighty Wurlitzer is now going full tilt to pull out Republican voters to the polls in November who will vote for other Republicans. But do you really believe Rush Limbaugh or Fox News or Ann Coulter or Sean Hannity talking every day about how great Joe Lieberman is will energize Democrats in November? Because I have to say I have a tough time seeing this, Rahm. I really do.
I know you are looking for a silver lining to pimp, so how about something like "The numbers of people coming into the political process energized by Ned Lamont’s strong message of hope and change and a willingness to stand up to George Bush can only help the Democratic Congressional candidates."
Or perhaps delve into the fact that Dianne Farrell’s campaign was explicitly strengthened when she didn’t have the dead weight of Joe’s war position to haul around on the campaign trail? Remember when her opponent Chris Shays said that his position on the war was Joe’s, and he made Farrell run against Lieberman every time she tried to make it an issue? Those days are over. "How Ned Lamont is helping the candidates" seems to be much stronger, more positive message than "Joe’s a Democrat," which he obviously is not.
But alas, I realize that this would violate what seems to be the chief tenet of the DSCC/DCCC November strategy — "Shhh!! Nobody mention the war!" So maybe I am hoping for a bit too much. Who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky and the whole damn thing will just blow over before November arrives? Could happen.
But in the meantime, at least throw us a bone, okay Rahm? Maybe take an easy swing at Lieberman’s on-site liar, Dan Gerstein. His credibility is flagging, and trust me, it’s a slow, easy pitch right over the plate. Just take a look at his quote from the same article from the NYT when he tries to walk back Joe’s un-endorsement of your Democratic House candidates:
“It’s a little awkward for me now,” Mr. Lieberman said on Friday, speaking to reporters in New Haven. “I’m a noncombatant — I am not going to be involved in other campaigns. I think it’s better if I just focus on my own race.”
[On Saturday, a Lieberman campaign aide called to offer a clarification for this article. The aide, Dan Gerstein, said that the senator had endorsed all the Democratic candidates for the House and still hoped they would win.
[Mr. Gerstein said, however, that in light of their endorsement of Mr. Lamont, the senator did not expect the Democrats to ask him to campaign with them this fall.]
Come on Rahm, go for it. You don’t even need to mention the W-A-R. I just know you can knock that one right out of the park.
Related posts:
- Lessons Learned in VA and NJ: Is Rahm Emanuel Orchestrating 2010 Democratic Massacre?
- “He’s With Us On Everything But The War”
- Lieberman’s Filibuster Threats Run Counter to 2006 Campaign Rhetoric
- Maxine Waters: White House Won’t Put Pressure on Blue Dogs
- Rahm Meets Reid, Will Discuss Merging Senate Bills
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
FITZ!!!
Rootz!
Jane!
Christy! (sorry, didn’t see Gardner.)
That’s two zero’s in one day. I told you, I just feel them.
yes Rahm, there is a problem with two dems on the same ticket. the problem is that there aren’t two dems on the ticket and saying there are gives dems a reason to not feel bad about voting liebs. liebs is done. why is there even a question? can they not see how he sold out dems so publicly for the last couple months. its not like there is a lack of evidence. Rep. Rahm’s resources should be directed on dem candidates, not obvious turncoats.
That last bit is what amazes me. I can understand how he might conveniently rationalize away the possibility of increased Republican turnout, but what kind of Democrat would rather support Republicans than Democrats, especially when a possible House majority is on the line?
A House majority, I might add, which it is Rahm’s fucking *job* to secure.
Yeah, that was an astounding sequence. That statement followed by bracketed correction. Joe can’t keep his talking points straight.
Bizarre, too, because you’d think a direct quote from a candidate would trump any post quotation message management. Hence the brackets, I guess.
So just what is Joe’s principled position on Iraq? Hell, what is Joe’s principled position on anything? From today’s Courant op-ed, the only principle he seems to believe in is delivering pork.
OT? Webb up by one in VA n Zogby poll. Let’s hope enough new blood comes in that it rattles the racket and we get real reform.
Remember that feud between Howard Dean and Rahm Emmanuel over how to spend the DNC “50 state strategy” money? Looks like Dean knew what he was doing when he wouldn’t give it to Emmanuel.
I am unable to get youtube to work after last download on Pachs thread I get a script flash 7 error?? So I left firefox and opened safari. All sorts of new ads in the margin and no youtube / photo at all for the post shows up.
Is it just me?
Patrick Kennedy @ 8
Hell, I coulda told you that right when it happened…
I’m concerned that all of this beating my head against the wall is going to give me a concussion.
EvilDrPuma @ 11
You puny liberals are all the same: no resolve or dedication whatsoever. We conservatives can beat our heads against the wall all day, and well English fine is for me today.
Rahm, Rahm, Rahm, you ass. Three words for ya:
Florida. 2000. Nader.
That’s how it’s bad.
Some simple math, jackass. When you split a half of something, the little split bits are now less than a half. Kee-rist, how are we going to get a majority when the jacktards ostensibly spearheading the effort don’t really understand the mathematical concept?
Rahm has been eating a few to many triangle shaped Clinton vitamins.
Pat 208 in a kos thread about Allencancelling a gig bc he was scared of the bannana suit says:
It would be cool to see Allen running to represent Virginia as the “Connecticut for Lieberman” Party nominee
LOL
No, Youtube is buggered tonight for some reason.
I agree about the 50 state strategy and Rahm. Let him find his own fucking money, he’s not getting any of mine.
triple ply heavy duty tinfoil helmet works ok for me so far EvilDrPuma– try it, though unannounced guests get a little freaked by the noise followed by the look when you open the door. (the cat is sorta used to it)
A black outfit works best, I find. :)
Thanks Twisited M
Eli @ 12
Good thing I looked at the last sentence and the byline before I jumped to any conclusions about trolls!
Conservatives think that having Lieberman run is a bad thing for dems- divides the party- makes an issue of the war- etc.
IS it a bad thing? Doesn’t seem like it- dems get the vote for leadership either way.
‘I’d love to be Santa Claus. I’m not.’
– Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, 8/27/06
Santa Rumsfeld climbing down a chimney near you.
Silent Night, Rummy Night.
-GSD
Up with Howard Dean. Down with Jilted Joe Lieberman.
Does anyone actually listen to Rahm? Other than the rest of the DC insiders, from within the bubble that is apparently made of one-way glass, and is soundproof?
Maybe someone needs to just say that they don’t know what the hell Joe Lieberman is. He’s a Democrat within the Senate term he is finishing out. He’s not a Democrat in the CT general election, because he lost that vote. He says he endorsed the Democratic House candidates, but doesn’t want to get involved because they endorsed the guy who IS the Democrat in the general election.
He’s yin and yang. He’s both sides of a coin. He’s got one leg on either side of a fence, and most people I know care less about which side he comes down on as they do that he comes down while he is still in full straddle position…yeah – ouch.
(thunk, thunk…what? Is someone knocking on the bubble? What? I can’t see anything out there? Is someone trying to talk to us? Can any of you guys hear what they’re saying? What? Joe’s gotta nose? That makes no sense. Joe’s gotta hose? Really? No, wait. Joe’s gotta GO??? Ohhh…Joe’s gotta go. Anyone know where the door on this bubble is?)
What. A. Dumb. Ass.
I find Lieberman distasteful and Rahm Emanuel perplexing and annoying. You need to get with the program Mr. Emanuel. Do you want to be left in the dust? Senator Lamont will not forget, and we shall not forgive your lo-ball playmanship. Come on! Be A Democrat.
Rahm and Joe are the same…there loyalties are questionable…Rahm served in the Israeli army…but no one ever hears about that one
GSD @ 21
I’m not so sure. I was rewatching the first Xmas episode of Futurama the other day, and I thought their Santa had a lot in common with Rumsfeld.
My take? R.E. thought he could score a quick and easy few points with the bloggers by going on the record strong immediately after the primary while we were still watching closely. Now it’s back to business as usual, apparently he’s unaware that we don’t focus intently on an issue for one news cycle and move on, like the MSM.
Allow me to put it another way, Rahm–when someone forms another political party, and puts themselves on the ballot as that new party’s candidate*, and runs AGAINST the nominee of your party, that person is now NO LONGER A MEMBER of your party.
*Doesn’t matter if the new party is a silly thing, with a silly name, and that it only has one member.
We’re going to have to show that we will withhold our votes before these people will ever listen to us.
I for one am not going to vote for my dem senate candidate in nov, a hand-picked Schumer sell-out. I refuse to support anyone who is a GOP lite pathetic sell-out excuse for a dem.
Once they realize the NEED US and can’t just assume we will go along with whomever they foist on us, then, and only then, will they begin to listen.
Political Wire
– Washington Democratic party spokesman Kelly Steele, quoted by the Seattle Times, on U.S. Senate candidate Mike MCGavick’s (R) disclosure of a DUI arrest in 1993.
There are times when Rahm embarrasses me as his constituent. Sigh. If there were a viable alternative, I’d vote against him — but, sadly, the primaries came and went without a viable alternative, and now I have to vote for him again in the general. But Rahm, Rahm, how idiotic can you be? Its depressing. And I had such hopes for him after the Bush love child remark . . . remember about being a “fighting Dem?”
Rahm is doing the same ol’ “have it both ways” Democratic political strategy kneejerking that the rest of the other DSCC/DCCC types are infamous for.
To wit: “I want my cake and eat it too! I’m such a WATB that I can’t sh*t or get off the pot. Jeebus, what if JL wins? If I continue to call him a Democrat now, maybe he won’t turn on us. Better cover all the bets”.
As you’ve made clear Jane, burying one’s head in the sand tends not to help Dems win elections.
They say that crazy folks continue to do the same things over and over again while expecting a different result.
Seems like an apt description of some Dummicrats we know!
Message to Rahm: Lead, follow or get the feck out of the way!
bdu @ 27
That sounds quite possible.
Does anyone actually listen to Rahm? Other than the rest of the DC insiders, from within the bubble that is apparently made of one-way glass, and is soundproof?
They are in the lost city of Democratlantis.
Ever since the Clinton days, not one sou of mine has gone to the DLC.
Individual candidates? Yep.
I really think that is the thing for Rahm & co.
Dry up their money. As the saying goes, grab them by their wallets, and their hearts and minds will follow.
Ya think maybe we need to find another Ned kinda guy or gal to run against Rahm in the next election cycle?
Works for me.
RevDeb @ 36
We have 4 years to find a viable opponent for Schumer.
actually, it is the aipac problem.
israel wants joe in the senate.
and rahm, well you know, he is an aipac kind of guy.
Melissa @ 31
What does he do the rest of the time? ‘Cause right this moment, I’m not sure the “love child” remark wasn’t lip-synched.
To quote John Crichton, “Weather changes. People don’t”. Of course, people do change occasionally, and even more occasionally the weather doesn’t, but I know how I’m betting. And just like you can’t trust that a megalomaniac who defies orders to chase you halfway across the galaxy on a ridiculous quest for vengeance is probably someone you don’t want to trust when he says “I’ve matured”, a politician who’s seldom failed to put self-interest above either party loyalty or the interests of his constituents can’t be counted on to keep his word if he’s likely to benefit more from breaking it.
It’s really that simple. Lieberman has no reason to keep his word, unless you can outbid the opposition for his services. Why take that chance? If Lieberman is clearly on the outs with Democrats, he’s probably not going to win, and Lamont certainly will support the Democratic position on most issues. Without Joe being a serious contender, lots of Republicans either stay home or vote for the real Republican candidate. Either way, it sounds like a winner to me.
And Rahmy sounds more like a knucklehead every day.
What about inviting Rahm to post here and
explain his sorry assthen give us a chance to comment back to him.I suspect he’ll ignore the invitation, but making the invitation, might turn up the heat on him.
diogenes @ 35
I’ve told both the DSCC and DCCC that my money goes to either Howard Dean via the democracy bond, or individual candidates. Cuts out the Kingmakers.
*ilson46201 @ 30
I really, really like that kind of moxie!
John Casper, that is an excellent idea.
when the Democrats take the House in November, Rahm will be a Big Kahuna
John Casper @
40
I will do that right now.
*ilson46201 @ 44
I’d love to see Jack Murtha backbench his preening ass.
*ilson46201 @ 44
I thought he was going to be a Big Kahuna even if they *don’t*? Which I think is part of the problem…
Twisted Martini @ 41
I’ve told both the DSCC and DCCC that my money goes to either Howard Dean via the democracy bond, or individual candidates. Cuts out the Kingmakers.
There you go!
rwcole @ 20
Respectfully rw, I believe the right analysis is that if we just had Lamont running (and Loserman retiring to his dotage), Ned would kick ass and win running away.
The details of the impact of having Joe “Gotta Go” still hangin’ around may be debatable, but the bottomline is he’s taking up space that could and should be filled by the actual Democratic nominee!
Jane Hamsher @ 45
I promise not to call him an asstard or jackanapes or whatever it was I called him a few minutes ago. I shall be very civil.
RevDeb @ 7:44 pm (#36) – After Christine Cegelis lost the primary by a small margin against a hand-picked Rahm Emmanuel candidate, I read a rumor that she was thinking of running for Rahm’s position next time. It’s apparently OK by Illinois state law. If progressives get behind her next time she might be able to win.
1,255 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…
Citizen Hamsher:
Since it is in Rahm’s interest for Dems to lose in November as he will then be elevated to minority leadership…are we to understand that if the Dems win in November that the new Congresspeople will remember and kick the bastard into the cloakroom when it comes time to vote for leadership?
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, NOT ALL THE BASTARDS ARE REPUBLICANS!!
Eureka Springs, AR @
9
Youtube has been sluggish for me all day today, even trying to access it directly. I’m assuming they are having server/traffic issues over there today.
Cujo359 @ 51
That’s something I would work for and give money to!!!!!
cleter @ 50
And I promise not to call him a knucklehead again.
Oh, and now that Jane’s gone ahead and done it, I suppose there’s no reason to say it’s a great idea.
We need to send Rahm (and a few others) a flier with two pictures on it, side-by-side: one of Ned Lamont, showing his vote total in the CT primary, and the other showing Joe Lieberman with his vote total.
It would say, on Ned’s side: PRIMARY WINNER – DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.
On Joe’s side, it would say: PRIMARY LOSER – NOT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.
Done:
We’ll see what comes back.
No need to wring hands over Rahm being a dumbass. Just throw him out of office.
Now when do we get our lovely Progressive Thinktank to engineer stuff like this? And can I work for it??!! :)
Cujo359 @ 55
I promise nothing. :-P
Jane Hamsher @ 57
“Not in the face! Not in the face!”
fwiw, legally one does not have to live in the Congressional District one is running for — just be a resident of the same state. Of course, voters tend to prefer local folk…
Hi Mary@ 25
I think I’ll go back to Mary4Now
*g*
Hey is anybody else having trouble seeing the videos at the top of the threads.
I went back to Trex’s Shirley Manson thread the other night and that one worked the other night but now there is a big blank space.
Any ideas?
David Roth (CA-45) just had the pleasure of Rep. Maxine Waters’s company out here in Palm Springs and Moreno Valley. Rep. Waters came to stump for David like she did for Lamont. Who’s the Rubberstamper he’s running against? Mary Bono
We need some cash out here, too, Rahm.
On the light side, here is a nice pic of Ned and Rosie Perez schmoozing…I mean that in the nicest way possible.
http://apnews.myway.com/image/…..=D8JOGBHG0
I would like to highlight a post by our amazing Mary, that was made at the end of a thread times past.
http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..ent-264818
just a bit:
~~I’ve had it.
Let’s chat, Joe…
Pluto’s no longer a planet. Lieberman’s no longer a “combatant.” What does it portend, oh what might it mean in the world according to bush?
Pluto was a respected, well known planetary staple for all those educated prior to its recent demotion. Wasn’t it always so cute in its diminutive condition? I mean, who didn’t like Pluto! It was the baby of the family for heaven’s sake…the “junior” of the group. Sure, it wasn’t a dramatic Saturn with its willowy rings; nor was it a monolithic Jupiter, the big one you’d never mess with. All I can think in my attempt to understand this is that a fundamental truth emerges from within Pluto’s demise: Indeed, size DOES matter after all.~~
read on.
*ilson46201 @ 61
Tammy Duckworth who was picked by Rahm didn’t live in the district. Christine did.
Let’s plan to get behind Christine early and with gusto if she decides to take Rahm on.
Mary @ 62
I think you should be Mary4Ever…*g*
Well, there are a lot of people who would support Cegelis if she ran against Rahm! I know people from the 5th who worked on her campaign and who would gladly work for her against Emanuel! Sadly, I think that’s just a rumor. Christine is very sane, and though I’d love it if she ran against Rahm, I kinda doubt it.
*ilson – or sometimes just have a mother with a housein the state, or an empty lot, or …
Softball!
Women playing sports…
Yum!
Did you folks know that this AssClown of a member of “The People’s House” does not accept emails from anyone not in his district?
Sweet, huh….
The scum-sucking, arrogant bastard won’t deign to listen to Americans. He tells the voters, especially the folks in CT, what they want…he’s the Decider. Got that?
I say we run his ass out next time he comes up for election.
No, no one listens to Rahm. He’s always been weird. He jumped right in Upchuck Schumer’s lap when Schumer was beating down and destroying the senatorial candidacy of Paul Hackett in Ohio.
What the hell is wrong with these DSCC guys? A death wish?
rwcole says
“IS it a bad thing? Doesn’t seem like it- dems get the vote for leadership either way.”
From the way Joe has been campaigning lately, there is NO guarantee whatsoever that he will caucus with the Democrats. If he is in the position of being the vote that will put the Republicans on top, he will go to the highest bidder.
With Bush in the White House and visions of sugarplum-Cabinet Posts in Joe’s head, he won’t hesitate to sell out to the Repugs. Don’t forget, HE’S RUNNING AGAINST THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE AND TRYING TO DEFEAT HIM.
I know Democrats. I have worked with Democrats. Democrats are friends of mine. Joe Lieberman, you are no Democrat.
GO JANE!
Melissa @ 7:58 pm (#69) – Christine is very sane, and though I’d love it if she ran against Rahm, I kinda doubt it.
Well, I’m sure that Howie Klein will be keeping an eye out. He was very supportive last time, which is the reason I found out about her.
But the more I think about Christine running against Rahm, the more I like it. I voted for a total nincompoop in the primary to avoid voting for Rahm . . . other people I know wrote in Cegelis’ name . . .
db @ 29
Spot on. I will never vote for Pryor and Lincoln loses ground every day.
Jane Hamsher @
45
JC, thanks for the great idea, and thanks Jane for your incredible instincts as to make things happen.
What I adore about this NYT story is that DangerStein got []. I mean, who is nowadays so unreliable that their updates deserve []?
DangerStein: when updates deserve [].
Is the NYT commenting on DangerStein’s veracity, or is this like [sic] journalistically speaking? From now on, I’m calling him [DangerStein]. He’s earned his [] at the NYTimes!
Thanks, Jane, for your assignment for Rahm. He won’t like the “getting-told-by-a-girl” part of your idea. But he should pay attention anyhow.
Let’s make Rahm’s next election attempt our cause celebre, against Rahm.
VG -Just to be clear that old Mary(4now) isn’t the amazing Mary of the Pluto post *g*
But old Mary thinks new improved Mary’s post was awfully good. Connections like molasses, so I’m off for awhile (finishing The Looming Tower, really really good)
*ilson at 61,
Are you sure? Jim Leach moved into my district in Iowa after redistricting so as not to have to run against another republican. Not positive but I think Nussle did the same thing. Now running for Gov. what slime.
Colleen daily luker @ 82
Maybe it varies state to state?
Eureka @ 77 – Lincoln – is she a disappointment? I don’t know much about her, but listened to this excellent speech she gave about Alito, then watched her fold on closure.
I wonder if the Rahms and the Chucks ever stop to think that it is no coincidence that many of the candidates running as Democrats this year are not in the DLC mold, or cut from the DSCC or DCCC pattern. And if they did stop to think about it, would they have any clue why that is?
Dumb questions, I know. They could not possibly have given it any thought, and if by some strange confluence of the planets, they did consider it, would never have any idea why this was happening.
Not only would I be interested in Rahm’s explanation of his position on the Connecticut race, I would love the opportunity to tell him what kind of Democrat I think the country needs. I think he needs an education in what the people think.
I promise not to call him an asstard or jackanapes or whatever it was I called him a few minutes ago. I shall be very civil.
I shall not.
you dont have to live in the District but it sure as hell helps with the votes if you have a local address. Here in Indianapolis, the GOP candidate moved his family out to the exurbs but retained his old city address which he uses for voting and now, running for Congress…(oppo research is fun!)
Mary or Proud Mary. I like a bold Mary you do it so well. *g*
Mary4evah @ 84
Ah, so she’s an Arlen Specter Republican.
John Casper @ 40
Excellent!
With that ball coming in fast and low, I hope Rahm is wearing protectors.
karen allen @ 73
No, they think they are smarter than everybody else. The same probelm that the Gambino Republicans have. Fuck that, I’m ready for a Liberal dose of Lamont-like or Webb-like or Tester-like humility.
Rahm definitely needs an education on what real Dems out of Washington think.
And in Illinois, the law is that you don’t have to live in the congressional district to represent it, but you do have to live in the state. That’s how Duckworth is able to run — first against Cegelis (sigh) and now against Roskam (go Duckworth! Roskam is evil scum). And Melissa Bean lives outside her district by a hair as well (I think she lives across the street from the boundry). I don’t know what the law is in other states. When what’s-his-name (I’m truly spacing his name right now, though disgustingly I can call up a mental picture of him) who ran against Obama in the last Senatorial race — apparently the law only required that he have his primary residence in the state by election day. Its a little bizarre, if you ask me.
I’d like to see Maxine as Majority House Leader … she’s actually done the work! and she’s right on the issues … I respect Murtha but he’s a conservative kinda fellow you know.
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary- sometimes you are a really really bad bad girl. (a.k.a. bad woman).
If Rahm actually does say yes to the offer, I would ask that everyone be on best behavior (including me). That would be pretty ballsy and worthy of respect.
Not topical, but….hey Jane, where’d you find that picture? Beloit College is my alma mater!!
Federal Election law trumps state law when dealing with Federal candidates — President, Senator, Representative.
Siun @ 94
DITTO
orangejumpsuit @ 91
I’m not so sure he has anything to protect! :-)
Siun @ 94
Hell I’d like to see her send Boxer or The DiFi packing hehe. I admire her tremendously. I know more about her than my own shmuck of a rep hehe.
Mary4evah @ 84
Mary She voted for the flag burning amendment. She will not state her position on Lieberman. Though she says she is pro womens rights, that sometimes is in question as you mentioned.
Sorry these examples are no brainers in my consideration of a good dem.
Thanks for a looming tower recommendation, will check it out.
A.Citizen @ 72
Betcha that “out of state” lobbyists can email him just fine.
‘Course that would be to his other super-secret, “only for friends” email address that ain’t for the peons.
We peons gots to know our place, doncha know.
The other night TRex posed an intriguing question — if you could change sexes, which person of the opposite sex would you like to be? For me: Maxine Waters or Eleanor Holmes Norton …
Late Nite is up. Be warned. It’s a sad one.
A.Citizen @ 8:00 p.m.
“Did you folks know that this AssClown of a member of “The People’s House” does not accept emails from anyone not in his district?
Sweet, huh…”
I tried to contact Mr. Emanuel a while back about DCCC business–something about an issue I thought DCCC should be involved with, you know, briefing their candidates on…
As I recall, Rahm’s Congressional Web site would not accept a comment from me, because my zip code was not in his district. And there was some reason I couldn’t reach him at the DCCC–I think they told me, “We don’t do policy, you would have to contact the Congress about that.” Well, I had just tried to do that, and he wouldn’t accept my message!
So my reaction was, where the hell is the accountability for these DCCC/DSCC vampires who want to suck up our money but have no interest in any democratic grassroots input about how best to spend it, or even about how to advise their candidates on issues we care about?
I look forward to the Congressman coming to FDL and answering these and other pertinent questions.
OT-but after seeing the picture of the softball pitcher with the Beloit College t-shirt I couldnt resist posting this. New BELOIT COLLEGE MINDSET LIST looks at entering college students growing up with no Soviet Union, one Germany and bar codes.
http://www.beloit.edu/~pubaff/mindset/index.html
fwiw, Congressfolk can not by law deal with people from outside their District. In his political capacity at the DCCC, Rahm can deal with the entire USA but not as a Congressman…
Melissa @ 93
You talkin’ about that wild-eyed, crazy guy Alan Keyes(R)?
I wonder how quickly he moved back where he came from after losing that election. LOL!
Well, I have to say that Rahm is not the only member of Congress who won’t accept comments from those out of his district. Speaker Hastert won’t either . . . and he has a huge responsibility to taxpayers out of his district. I’ve e-mailed him, and I live in Illinois . .. but not in his district, so obviously my comments weren’t important to him.
Anyway, post your comments here for Rahm and I’ll e-mail them to him, since I live in his district and therefore can e-mail him via his congressional site . ..
Yes, Alan Keyes. What a crazy goon he was. A true depiction of the complete failure of the Illinois GOP. He lives in Maryland, and as far as I know . . . still does.
sounds to me like both Hastert and Emanuel are tooooo big for their britches.
So deal means communicate? They take money from people and corporations from all over. They vote on issues with consequences for all. I know you know this. just sayin’
who do we call on this? I know congressional staffers are not allowed to discuss politics….does the DCCC have separate staff/offices whitherto one can oh-so-politely express one’s consternation?
Maybe Joe has incriminating photos of Rahm…
America’s Least Wanted
*ilson, what about the fact that members of Congess work for all of us…we all pay their salaries, and they vote on issues that affect us all…and they serve on committees on which we are not all directly represented…maybe I’m missing something, but that sounds like a pretty screwed-up law to me.
And why doesn’t DCCC “do policy”? Isn’t policy somehow involved in getting candidates elected?
Not directing this at you, *ilson. I’m just pissed.
*ilson -
Just got in and am reading the book thread… noticed a poster *molly bloom*. In light of our recent discussion (heh) just wanted to mention that is not my alter ego. I’ll always use JftB when I comment here, though I’ll probably be scarce.
Hope you had a lovely birthday.
Eureka Springs, AR @ 113
That’s what kills me. They can take money from anybody, but they’ve written a law to prevent themselves from having to answer to citizens’ opinions/input/etc.
testing
a Congresscritter is an elective office to represent a particular geographic District. To get elected, they have a campaign committee to accept contributions and political feedback. Political matters should addressed to political committees of the Congresscritter. Governance and policy they gladly want to hear about from their constituents.
Just gets me steamed. Especially the ability to take cash and lobby from all over!
They are all our seats!
neurophius
I had the same problem and got the same responses from Sherrod Brown’s offices. And he didnt respond to my question about Marko’s and Jerome’s book when he was on here last week. F**king politicans.
to contact a Congresscritter in its official capacity on a Congressional Committee, the contact should be thru the Committee. For example, muich of Conyers “national” work is done in his capacity as “minority leader” of the House Judiciary Committee. As a Detroit Representative, Detroit folk are his constituents, not you! So write to the Judiciary Cmte, attn: Conyers…
*ilson46201 @ 108
Not to diss your statement in any way, but I’m still wondering how do all those “money talks” lobbyists communicate with Congresscritters.
Can’t see them waiting 2-3 weeks for snail-mail to show up after the WMD screening, and can’t see them waiting on hold on the phone.
Could Overnite FedEx everything written to the Congresscritters, and I suppose they’d be able to write the cost off (deys the ones who write the laws after all, doncha know *g*).
But I’m still bettin on that super-secret email system that none of us know about or can use.
Conyers doubtlessly has a “Conyers for Congress” political committee. Contributions may be directed there – not to his Congressional office!
neurophius says:
August 27th, 2006 at 8:20 pm
Pelosi’s house site says that, but the autoresponders answers anyway. Her ‘Democratic Leadership’ site (whatever it’s actually called) doesn’t seem to do e-mail unless you sign up for their junk-mail list, which tells me she doesn’t want to hear from us peasants either.
If they don’t want to hear from people, why do they call themselves ‘leaders’? Seems to me that leaders listen to people so they have a clue where the leading should be going! (mumble, grumble, censored dammit politicians)
Thanks for that info *ilson.
spamming is a horrible problem for Congress — it’s too easy to “bulk-mail” everybody on the Hill for next-to-no-cost. Thats why the zipcode screening and use of webmail forms. Yes, most Congresscritters have ‘private’ Email addresses that aren’t widely publicized.
if you snail-mail or Fed-Ex the ‘wrong’ Congresscritter, you will get back a polite note informing you that your concerns should be directed to your Representative and that they have taken the liberty of forwarding your letter to your Representative …
If you are writing as the spokeperson for a national or state organization, a Congressional office might deal with you …
*ilson, I don’t have a problem with them *not responding* to stuff from outside their districts. It’s the cheerful message that implies that *nothing from outside* their district will be passed through that bothers me, especially when their other site (like Pelosi’s) also is limited-access. (For the house leaders, both majority and minority, I expect access at one location for everyone.)
FWIW, my congresscritter makes people go through a poll to access his e-mail page. It gets updated I think about once a session, and never gives me the answer choices I want to see.
calvin, being a cat, is very curious about the picture accompanying the post. Beloit College? Where did you come up with this picture?
Jane, if you are still here…
If Emanuel agrees to appear on FDL, maybe it could be suggested that he come prepared to address how the grassroots/netroots are supposed to communicate their policy concerns to the Democratic Congressional leadership.
a good Congresscritter is slavish in responding to constituents — they are voters! It’s a fool who discourages feedback from its voters…
Pelosi is elected by her Democratic congressional colleagues as Minority Leader. SF folk vote her in as Congresscritter. She does need a general public feedback system though … couldn’t hurt!
full disclosure: until last summer, I worked for several years in a Congressional office …
FYI – Lieberman’s “commentary” in the Hartford Courant today. He, of course, is calling himself an independent Dem (who campaigns with Republicans and withholds support from other Democratic candidates in his state). He truly sees himself as a great statesman…
http://www.courant.com/news/op…..commentary
A Team Player
By JOE LIEBERMAN
August 27 2006
Washington is broken.
For too long the capital has been a place of partisan sniping and political finger-pointing, where games of “gotcha” are played as blood sport. Today, working across party lines to get things done for our constituents is actually looked down upon inside the Beltway.
Like many of you, I am fed up with the partisanship and polarization that is blocking us from addressing the issues that matter most to Connecticut families. And that is precisely why I am continuing my campaign for re-election to the U.S. Senate as an independent Democrat.
(snip – blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…)
——————-
In contrast, Lamont’s piece is terrific
http://www.courant.com/news/op…..commentary
What Voters Want From Their Senator
Someone Who Listens
By NED LAMONT
August 27 2006
Some people are eager to draw larger lessons from our Senate race and victory in the Democratic primary. One supporter approached me at La Paloma in Hartford the other day with a Turkish newspaper featuring our campaign in bold. Japanese, Danish, British and Canadian papers have visited us on the campaign trail. Clearly, our story has caught the imagination of the country and the world.
But, for us, this race is and will remain about the people of Connecticut and their hunger for change. If Sen. Lieberman won’t use his position in Washington to address their concerns, they will turn out in record numbers for someone who will.
it’s probably a little late for this year but, i think it’s way past time to get somebody to run against Rahm Emanuel in ‘08. he has shown very clearly where his loyalties lie and they are not with the Democratic Party, and they are not with progressive ideas.
I’d bet money that Rahm won’t appear here.
karen allen @ 138
I won’t take that bet, but his refusual will make for another interesting post! LOL ; )
*ilson46201 @
99
Fed law probably doesn’t specify that a rep must live in his district, and if there’s no federal law, then the right falls back to the states. Like IL, TX doesn’t require reps to live in the district represented, only the state. That’s why Delay tried to change his residence from Texas entirely, rather than simply moving to another district. States couldn’t do this if the Feds required reps to live in the district.
Jenny from the Blog @ 118
Don’t be too scarce. I know, me too. Growing pains
The best way to communicate with these lowlifes like Schumer, Emmanuel and the rest (and I will do my best not to rip RE a new one if he dares show his face here) is through their pocketbooks. And the ballot box, of course.
And if they still don’t respond, well Jefferson gave us the next step. A little revolution every so often is a good thing.
*ilson46201 @
121
Oh, bullshit.
If Rahm actually does say yes to the offer, I would ask that everyone be on best behavior (including me).
Oh, please. If he’s not going to come here and answer whatever fucking question is asked no matter how fucking “uncivil” he finds it, fuck him.
I really get sick of this “politeness” bullshit.
John Casper @
40
I’d like a seat for that one please. Ringside. Put me next to Howie Klein, please.
LJ/Aquaria @
142
RE might find getting replaced by Christine Cegelis revolting. *g* and ActBlue works in IL.
How else is it bad? It keeps attention here for a race that shoulda been a gimme. I should be paying atention to the Darcy Burner race. She’s a terrific candidate.
One thing that should be made clear to Rahm. If those of us who despise Benedict Lieberman, didn’t have to waste our resources getting rid of HoJo, we’d have more to give other Democrats–like those he purports to represent!
…why are these people flip-flopping around about Ned Lamont? Rahm maybe afraid his bread won’t be buttered so thickly with special interest high priced spread?
Oh and did anyone see Doonesbury today and if so what exactly did he mean in the last frame? I read and reread trying to figure it out…
And the reason we are upset at a Democratic establishment pol being stupid is, what exactly? This is like arguing with a rock. We’re criticizing Rahm for being Rahm. These people will never change or “do the right thing.”
Honestly, the energy expended over this kind of thing is appalling. It’s like all we do is complain about the rock in our shoe instead of taking it out, or better yet, going barefoot. And when the next Democratic preznit turns out to be a warmongering corporate shill, what then?!? Does everyone think they’re immortal? I could die before pressing “Submit Comment.” You could die before reading this. ALL of us WILL die before any Congress or administration (Democratic or Republican) saves the world.
THAT, believe it or not, is an individual decision.
Rahm Emmanuel shold know that Lieberman must be defeated. If re-elected he will join the GOP caucus. The target voters for Lamont should be Democrats who are oposed to the war but still have a loyalty to Lieberman and independents who are also opposed to the war and all things W but who are familiar and comfortable with Lieberman.
Democrats at all levels should tie the lead weight of W and his war (and all his disastrous policies) to Lieberman. Make it psychedelically clear that Lieberman is W’s candidate. Make the election a referendum on the President.
This is the ammnition. Use it to atack, attack, attack. Then attack some more. Make Lieberman answer for all the Bush failures.
See slothropia.com for more.
Each time I get fundraising calls from the DSCC or the DCCC, I tell them that my money is going to individual candidates and I usually include my anger at having to waste resources fighting to be rid of Lieberman. Am I the only one saying this, when I refuse to give to the telephone soliciting? Likewise, I’ve let NARAL have it for their support of Lieberman. Again, am I the only one who is doing this and if not, wouldn’t a coordinated response from those who are dedicated to removing the boil of Lieberloser–get the point across en-masse?
Jane Hamsher @ 96
Yeah, you first, Jane!
Jane Hamsher @ 99
Not just to see the look on Rove’s fat face when he gets the news, either…
RonRussel 152…do not think you are alone in showing anger to the Dem party solicitors…every person who refuses to contribute adds another stone to the pile that will weigh them down so much they can’t go forward anymore…every day it seems there are more and more letters to return, emails to send to reps and senators telling of the discontent and begging them to step into the light…it is bound to add up and make a difference
….Doonesbury today, anyone?
Generous take/conjecture:
Rahm was slapped down by the powers that be for his “love child” comment and is making it up to Joe now. You can’t be a senator for eighteen years and not have plenty of chits to call in when necessary. One of those chits was probably used to discipline Rahm.
Lieberman will win, of course, and not so much because he deserves to be in the Senatorial Hall of Fame but rather because he knows how to and because he is running against a Democratic candidate with no particular substance or track record. So Lamont won’t appeal to enough people in a general election to carry it off.
And Joe can be counted on to vote with Democrats about 90% of the time. It’s in his DNA. So just because the Democrat party tent is not very spacious, he won’t be an “official” democrat. If the party really doesn’t want him in it, it would have been smart to get behind someone of substance to carry the Democrat banner in CT in 2006. So Lamont would be a “capital D” kind of Democrat, but an ineffetual one.
Rahm is right, but those who want some kind of “100% purified” party cannot see that.
Democrats don’t accuse Democrats who attack Bush’s credibility of imperiling the nation. I don’t know what Lieberman is, but a Democrat he ain’t.
Joe is bad yes, but why? The support for the war, the study him and Lynne Chenney put out of college professors who are not loyal, the suprme court votes, the famous we can’t critize Bush lecture. There are a lot of people who are just starting to pay attention NOW to the race they need to know why we feel the way we do. Working Joe’s record into every article about him will help get new readers up to speed. Explaining at least one of Joe’s past bad acts and linking the past behaviour to a current act in the news may sound Rovian but we need to hammer at his record and KEEP educating the public
TeddySanFran @
154
Well, not just…but that’s a damn fine reason.
It is so very sad that we have a bunch of fucking aristocracy wannabes in D.C.
Where in the hell is Murtha? Lamont is fighting his fight. Has Rahm told him to stay out?
I see a real Sieg Heiler troll has decided to pollute this thread!
Wonder if the troll will be so low as to troll the Elissa memorial thread above.
“I for one am not going to vote for my dem senate candidate in nov, a hand-picked…”
From comments above. I have only one note these days–you really have to vote for Democrats, that’s the only real choice in November. I agree that Lieberman is no longer a Democrat, but in the case above it’s different. As someone else said, let’s keep Florida/2000/Nader squarely in mind. The only way to win these elections is to get enough of a win to discourage rediculous voting machine manipulations.
Not many run-of-the-mill voters here in CT even know who Rahm Emmanuel is -or could care less.
Many Lieberman supporters were shocked and non too pleased when Joe decided to challenge the will of the voters. Defying ‘The will of the people’ did not play as well as Gersten hoped hence the bounce in Lamont’s numbers following the primary.
After seeing the way the ballot will look on election day, I believe many CT voters will be discouraged from trying to split their vote 10 ways from Sunday. Repugs are on the first line, followed by the Dems, then the three independents.
Jodi Rell-Gov/R is a popular Governor – even among some Dems. But John Destefano has Mary Glassman running with him and Mary is very well-respected in the Dem’s circle. CT Dems are excited about this slate. Lieberman is (despite efforts to retain higher status) now at the bottom of the ballot. There was talk that running as an Independent would get him the third spot on the ballot. But the Indies already had a candidate, whose name curiously is not on the ballot (maybe he couldn’t get the required # of signatures?) So Joementum’s plan to get high visibility went astray from the getgo.
It’s still a crap-shoot here because there WILL BE lots of confused voters mainly due to the large # of parties represented.
Lieberman is great @ 168
Oh – I see, the race is over?
1) If it’s the interactive poll it is pretty meaningless. 2) Republicans and Independents are just beginning to be included in polling. Is this Zogby’s first poll after the primary? 3) We’ll have a much better idea of what’s going on after some other polling is done. 4) It’s not even Labor Day.
Lieberman’s appalling behavior during the primary campaign and post election has made the case his opponents have been trying to make for months.
I don’t think many CT Dems will forget his parroting Cheney’s talking points about terror – or his campaigning with Repubs and hiring them for his campaign staff (because decent Dems won’t work for him).
It will be a close and bruising race (since Lieberman is the Repubs’ man)but Ned will prevail, as will the three Dem Congressional candidates.
Larry Jones @ 151
Don’t forget the moderate Republicans who can’t stand Lieberman – and sure can’t stand the BuschCo.
Eli @
84
That part can’t. That was the root of the Tom Delay withdrawal problem for the Repugs in TX.
The Constitution designates the requirements for running for Congress. States run their own elections-rules for filing, withdrawing and being replaced etc, but they cannot apply a more stringent residency requirement than the Constitution does, which is that the candidate must be a resident of the state they are to represent.
They also can’t scry into the future to decide whether said candidate will meet the Constitutional requirements on election day. That’s the real detail that tripped Tina Benkiser and the Republitariat up.
db @
29
You’ve got it TOTALLY backwards! That’s the Naderite madness that gave us the entire Bush regieme!
The obvious thing to do is organize and run primary campaigns within the party against the Dem. hacks, while supporting said hacks in November without appology if they win in order to prevent far worse Republican hacks and criminals from running everything.
The “I’ll hold my breath until I turn blue if you don’t do what I want” attitude makes zero sense. That’s only going to make the mortuary happy (in this analogy the mortuary is Bush and the Republican party)!
After Bush nobody can possibly say with a straight face that “both parties are the same.”
It’s utterly short-sighted to view elections as being about what happens in November. If you’re not happy with your representative then the time to do something about it is EVERY day for the next 2 years EXCEPT the 2nd tuesday in November. Send endless complaining letters to your representatives after every sell out. Get other people to do the same. Start volunteering early in your district for whoever is running in the next cycle against said hack. Make them pay – but when the only alternative is a Republican who is 100% certain to be a corrupt self-serving destroyer of our liberties, I’ll enthusiastically vote for every hack on the ticket.
This is exactly what the Republicans did from the 60’s onward and that simple endless work is why they are in a position to run our Nation into the ground today! They didn’t stop voting for Republicans in the general election, they started taking over the party and voting out the Rockefeller “liberal” wing of the Republican party in primaries across the country. Today there are no Rockefeller Republicans. In the future there will be no Lieberman-style Democrats. But it takes work and time.
hmmm… my daughter plays softball at beloit.
rwcole @ 20
Seems like Rahm figures if Liar-man wins he’ll keep him in the Dem fold to get a majority. He’s hedging, ’cause he might need the Lieb., and maybe he’s worried about a defection to the Rethugs.
Seems like the Rethugs figure if Liar-man wins they can challenge his inclusion in a Dem-controlled Senate on some legal basis, since he ran on the CFL ticket. It’s so obvious that their support of Joe Two-Face is a Rovian maneuver.
Eli @
5
A very good question indeed!! WHAT KIND OF DEMOCRAT?!?!? The kind that just has his ass handed to him in CT!
This is why I will be amazed if the Dems win anything come November. I will be even more amazed if they can hold onto it without some heavy housecleaning of the ENTIRE Democratic party, just like was done in CT for 2008!!!
There’s more to the Lieberman story. Lieberman has the potential to control the future of the Senate and to keep the Bush administration in control of the nation. This would happen if the November elections resulted in a 50-50 split in the Senate or even if the Democrats won six seats and had a bare 51-49 majority (these seem to be the most likely outcomes of the November elections) . In those circumstances, Lieberman might use his “independent” status to support the Republicans and give V-P Cheney the deciding vote for control of the Senate. Even though Lieberman has said he would caucus with the Democrats, his personal ambitions might change his mind, once he actually was elected. Or, he might resign his seat, accept appointment as Secretary of Defense (now that he is criticizing Rumsfeld), and let the Governor appoint a Republican to his seat.
These are not just my wild speculations. They are consistent with Lieberman’s coziness with the President, Vice-President, and other Republicans. You or some other smart observer should ask Lieberman about this, and get him on the record.
I
There’s more to the Lieberman story. Lieberman has the potential to control the future of the Senate and to keep the Bush administration in control of the nation. This would happen if the November elections resulted in a 50-50 split in the Senate or even if the Democrats won six seats and had a bare 51-49 majority (these seem to be the most likely outcomes of the November elections) . In those circumstances, Lieberman might use his “independent” status to support the Republicans and give V-P Cheney the deciding vote for control of the Senate. Even though Lieberman has said he would caucus with the Democrats, his personal ambitions might change his mind, once he actually was elected. Or, he might resign his seat, accept appointment as Secretary of Defense (now that he is criticizing Rumsfeld), and let the Governor appoint a Republican to his seat.
These are not just my wild speculations. They are consistent with Lieberman’s coziness with the President, Vice-President, and other Republicans. You or some other smart observer should ask Lieberman about this, and get him on the record.