Login HereRahm Emanuel continues to amaze and impress. Not content with nearly fucking up the 2006 House races as head of the DCCC with his "don't mention the war" strategy, he's now in the process of bungling immigration.
Jonathan Singer of MyDD was on an immigration conference call with Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), who carries the title of Assistant to the Speaker:
While conceding that the current agreement in the Senate was more conservative than the bill passed through the Senate last Congress, Becerra explained that he believed Democrats had to be careful on this issue because it was one that cut both ways; though there were some Democrats who won at least in part because of their moderation on the issue (Gabby Giffords in Arizona and Ed Perlmutter in Colorado being two examples he brought up), others (Tammy Duckworth in Illinois being his prime example) lost at least in part because of being hit for supporting "amnesty". Frankly, this isn't a line of reason that I buy into -- that the Democrats left some seats on the table because of their stance on immigration.
This confirms what I've been hearing -- that Rahm, in control of "House Messaging" -- has bought into the crap "Third Way" polling that suggests the future of the party is with White Men. Which may tell him what he wants to hear, but even if you don't trust your common sense on the matter read Tom Schaller. It's utter crap. And running around telling candidates to STFU about immigration makes about as much sense as telling them to STFU about the war did in the previous election cycle. The GOP knows full well they're up against a Double Edged Wedge and desperately need to be courting Latino voters, but their bigoted base won't let them.
Rahm just does not want to admit that he made a huge mistake with Duckworth (who was wishy-washy on the war just like Rahm at precisely the wrong time), and had the millions he poured into her campaign been devoted to those races that were really close, the charge of "seats left on the table" wouldn't stick in his egotistical craw:
NC-08- Hayes v Kissell (60,926 vs 60,597)
OH-02- Mean Jean v Vic Wulsin (120,112 vs 117,595)
CO-04- Musgrove v Angie Paccione (104,876 vs 97,670)
NY-29- Kuhl v Massa (99,926 vs 93,974)
NY-25- Walsh v Maffei (105,235 vs 101,322)
WA-08- Reichert v Burner (61,921 vs 59,268)
I hope everyone isn't sick of the above video yet because I'm going to keep running it. This man has a whole lot of influence over where the party goes from here and he has one of the biggest political tin ears in creation. I don't want a Democratic Karl Rove to begin with, but if they insist let's at least get a smart one and until ego starts to equal IQ Rahm can lay no claim to brains.
BTW, Rahm is collecting quite a few little love letters over on his YouTube. They're quite amusing.
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Zed?
Kewl! Off to go read and watch.
There are several members of my party who need to seek employment elsewhere.
((((((Jane))))))
So much cleaning, so little time.
WrongWay Rahm.
It’s a shame some truly good candidates lost because he got his compass out of a Cracker Jack box.
JANE!!!!! Hope you are feeling better today; methinks from your posts that you most assuredly are!!!
One of the problems with Rahm is that he does NOT represent the rank and file members of the Democratic Party but rather he represents the corporate ownership wing.
As Howard Dean has said, I want folks who represent the DEMOCRATIC wing of the Democratic Party.
What does it take to get rid of these fence-straddling “Centrists” like Rahm and get some leadership that isn’t so chickens…?
Rahm seems to think if Democrats make nice and stay quiet they can slip into power without, like, disturbing anything. As if disturbing things isn’t what desperately needs to happen right now…
I made a tiny donation to Vic Wulsin last week, right after my congressman voted the wrong way on the war funding bill. I’m not in her district, but that’s OK.
Man, I hope she wins. Ohio needs her.
Great stuff Jane. That list of close races is telling. You could even augment it further with additional names. One in particular jumps to mine because I was in the middle of it. Lt. Col. Charlie Brown vs. John Doolittle. (46%-49%)
Rahm embodies so much of what is wrong with the Democratic Party. He’s a walking, talking billboard for ending corporate dominion of our political process.
Ah Teddy has been leaving love letters for Rahm. Too funy.
James Clyburn looks like he sees right through Rahm’s bullshit. It’s very subtle, but he’s really editorializing with his eyes — watch him instead of Rahm for one run-through, and you’ll see exactly what I mean.
My distaste for Rahm knows no bounds.
Rahm Emanuel a’ bas! Yayy Howard Dean!! Where in the HELL does Rahm get off claiming victory for the last election?? Remember the “50-state strategy?” Sure that was your’n, Rahmy-baby. Just get lost — along with your DLC cronies — wouldntcha? TYVM.
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Jane Hamsher @ 10
Funy is as funy does. *g*
And I am going to keep on bashing the DLC.
I don’t like Emanuel, and I think a lot of his behavior is explained by a commitment to maintaining our occupation of Iraq, but one thing I’ve seen circulated about him, that he served in the IDF, is false. He was a civilian volunteer in Israel during the Gulf War.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.....ote-NR1997
Rahm is a tool. If we backslide on our numbers in the House next year, we can pin it on Rahm. He is a spineless coward. Only out for himself. Everything about him screams out one word. Well three actually.
Me.
Me.
Me.
…the future of the party is with White Men.
WTF???
What planet (& I mean that literally) is Rahm living on? Even more to the point, what country does he think he is living in? Has he even looked at a census report?
Oh, never mind, I get it. He thinks that politics is all about the $$$…and he is still laboring under the delusion that only White Men get to have enough to spend.
looks like Marcy is taking good care of you, Jane. can hardly wait to see your smiling faces on June 5th (assuming we’re gonna get a reprise of PoliticsTV). we’ll try to have the weather fixed by then!
This bill is bad maybe having Rahm muck it up might prevent this bill from passing. On the Republican side they need this issue short term for the election so I can see them bucking their leadership to vote against it. Then after the election we can use our majority to pass a good bill we want. Don’t worry about the “third way” fools like Rahm there is no middle now so their power to make things happen WITH Republicans which is their strength is limited. Rahm is only a danger to democrats if we let him/are dumb enough to give him another postion of power.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 15
Me too!! They are the death of the Democratic Party.
Hah! Comment from TeddySanFran on there - worth a read!
Does Emmanuel really care about the fate of his party, I mean, in terms of winning?
What’s Rahm’s position on the immigration bill? As far as I can see- it isn’t mentioned here.
One can be a Democrat simply by saying so. There is no entrance exam, no test, no performance review for Democrat-ness.
So, why are we surprised that The Money Party has their people in the Democratic Party?
So,
Nice list, can we hope they will run again? And Diane Benson, Christine Cegelis, Ned Lamont.
OT..but this is pathetic..lizard brains is probably the best meme to describe this and the rest of their sick behavior. Bush is also asking for more billions for the fundies.
Concerned Women for America spokesman blasts Mary Cheney and girlfriend as just “playing house,” not “real parents,” birth of son is “tragedy”
www.americablog.com/2007/05/co.....esman.html
Albatross @ 7
This is exactly what I was going to say!
Why is it that we see more of Rahm speaking out and apparently leading the party instead of Dean? Why doesn’t Dean - or anyone in the party who has a little bit of power and can read the writing on the wall - limit the power that Rahm Emmanuel has over our party? He is ineffective, as it’s clear his political compass is badly damaged. The biggest concern I have is that I can’t tell if he doesn’t NOTICE or just DOES’NT CARE (cuz big business is paying him off).
Albatross @ 7
Am I right in thinking that Rahm’s power in the party has to do with his ability to get corporate $?
DC Rahm… is so Jr League.
Keep it coming Jane.
TeddySanFran @ 11
Yeah, I noticed that, too.
I won’t be able to stick around for Chris Dodd, a man I admire. will someone ask him what he’s doing to stop the occupation NOW rather than his plan for after he’s elected. sorry, but would (and will) ask the same question of every candidate I can.
Margot @ 8
That is such a good idea. If we make little $5 contributions to good guys/gals when they do good, and when other guys do bad, perhaps they will get a message. Congresscritter training treats, oh dear, but it might work…
TiredFed @ 19
Yep, we’ve already got a date with the PoliticsTV guys. We’ll be there with bells on.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 15
I believe it is called demanding accountability.
I am a white man and Rahm does not speak for me.
Steve @ 25
Well, what the hell do the Cheneys expect from their frikkin “base”? I sincerely hope this will bite Bush/Cheney in the @$$ (right where they tuck their wallets).
The Speaker’s told the President that he needs to get 70 GOP votes in the house for the immigration bill before she’ll bring it to the floor. Using his usual charm, he’s sure to succeed:
also:
I sure hope the GOP, and the reichwing think-tanks, wanna be on the receiving end of what they’ve been dishing out for years, because President Pixiepants has his bitter-swizzle aimed at them for a change.
TiredFed @ 30
Dodd voted for the war. At a certain point you have to take the politicians you can get, but this one is a very slim reed to place hopes on.
Eureka Springs @ 34
Secondus!
Eureka Springs @ 34
Hate to burst his bubble, but somehow, I don’t think he’s speakin’ for the NASCAR dads, either.
HotFlash @ 24
Nice list, can we hope they will run again? And Diane Benson, Christine Cegelis, Ned Lamont.
EXCELLENT point! And the reason so many people don’t vote for Republicrats. I am thinking most particularly of all those unmarried women who feel they have no where to go politically. HUGE demographic which cuts across lines of class and race. As the recent Supreme Court ruling makes clear. That ruling would not’ve happened if the Dems, when they did have power in Congress, had passed legislation to protect the rights of all employees…not just. Fucking. Entitled. White. Men. (apologies to the white guys out there who “get” it.)
You missed one:
NJ-07 Mike Ferguson(R) vs Linda Stender(D) (95,830 vs 92,591)
That was a heartbreaker.
TiredFed @ 30
Open thread to post questions for Senator Chris Dodd here.
why thank you, Teddy.
Eureka Springs @ 34
Yees, but are you a *rich* white man?
329
2517
7206
5952
3913
2653
——
22570 votes
That’s how much by which we lost these seats.
Absof*ckinglutely ridiculous.
I hope like hell we can get these people to run again; if they are in your district, you need to find them and make a personal plea and tell them that we will stand behind them and give them the additional support they didn’t get from that idiot Rahm. Surely we could raise enough money.
And Rahm is on the list. I’d love Christine Cegelis to run against him if she would consider moving into his district — but I don’t live there. Hope the IL-06 folks will consider it.
I don’t want a Democratic Karl Rove to begin with, but if they insist let’s at least get a smart one and until ego starts to equal IQ Rahm can lay no claim to brains.
Jane, you have a way with words that makes me want to :-) .
No wonder the tea was weak. Bush’s tea-bag was steeping on Rahm’s chin for days.
-GSD
Does Ned Lamont live in Chris Shays’ district?
In case NE1’s interested, as I am, in the URL for Rahm’s apologia, it’s http://www.youtube.com/v/6ZnEglEYGWI .
I’m about to visit it to add my $0.02 to the funzies. C U there I hope :)
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I met Rahm and Nancy Pelosi at a fundraiser in early 2006, when getting back the Congress seemed a faraway dream. Didn’t talk much to Rahm, but I told Pelosi that I wanted Democrats to stand up and be proud of being Democrats.
I think Rahm’s problem is that he’s about winning, as opposed to standing up for his core values. (I don’t even know what his core values might be.) I think to be good you need to care about what’s right AND about winning - the two really aren’t mutually exclusive. Get tough with language, hold firm, and stick to your beliefs.
Of course, you have to have some to stick to them.
Ever wonder if the DLC despises the progressive blogosphere as much as we despise them? That’s assuming, of course, that they are enough “in touch” to even be aware that we exist.
HotFlash @ 44
Yes, in ways DC Rahm will never appreciate, I’m afraid.
OfT: Here’s the part of the White House website photo caption that’s got the Concerned “Women” of America (wtf is up with having a man as CEO there, anyway? Is everybody who’s a member barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen??) all a-twitter:
Rayne @ 45
Er, with the Stender loss, it was actually 25809. Yep, we could have picked up 6 seats for about the size of a small town spread over 6 congressional districts. I dunno, it *should* have been doable…
Mutant Poodle @ 50
Well, the problem is, unless you have some core values (no matter how repugnant they are if you are a rethug, for instance) there is very little chance of mobilizing new voters, which is the only way an incumbent can be defeated.
Mandrake @ 51
I think the progressive blogosphere is to the DeeCee Democrats what the fundy Xtianists are to Karl Rove. Despicable but necessary to election.
TeddySanFran @ 56
Hate to have to give credit where credit is due, but Rove is a whole lot more savvy than Rahm on this score. Of course, that should not be a surprise, since Rahn was a triangulating Clintonista…who sold the base out in the 90s.
And he used to be known as
Rahm-bo
Addressing Blair:
Doing his best allusion to LucaBrasi:
and a little Stallone:
What happened?
At the risk of getting flamed, I felt a lot better about what the Democrats did after reading Gene Lyons.
I havew to go do some real work , but this might be a good place to drop this thought I’ve been turning over in my brains since fall of 2006.
The CW is that you gotta have $ to win elections. Where do all those $ go? Into fees for consultants and into advertising — $ for ad consultants, ad producers, and mega bucks for airtime. The theory is that wall-to-wall ads will convert to votes.
But I wonder. The main beneficiaries of expensive campaigns are members of the Election Industry — and it is a huge busness.
So, why don’t we cut out those expensive middlemen and just go straight for the votes? You know, by having a good candidate and convincing people to vote for him/her? Talking to other people like ourselves, in our districts, one-on-one.
I think we can do this if we start early. We need to have our candidates lined up, though, ASAP.
The main beneficiary of expensive elections are the TV haridos that are paid by the proceeds of campaign advertising. Another reason they don’t like blogosphere.
portia.vz @ 54
And in fact it may have been done. It’s pretty clear that the counting was screwed in some places and that urban and other Dem voters were discouraged from voting.
HotFlash @ 60
Ding, ding, ding!!!!!
Rinse and repeat.
Does Rahm want us to try and get the 30%er white male vote? What kind of yoga bending on our principles would it take to bring those guys over? How much of the 70% we now have would we have to sacrifice? I understand that white males have money which we need for political campaigns. But aren’t we doing better than the GOP in fundraising right now? Without the money angle being necesary why go after Bush’s base? Is Rahm still trying to use yesterday’s tactics to win the last war? Didn’t those “third way “plans sink the Democratic Presidential Candidates twice? Rahm not Karl is the real genius behind the Bush Presidency!
portia.vz @ 54
I figure we’re talking about 10 to 20 more votes per precinct for solid win.
NY-29, for example, has 635 precincts if my Googling is correct. That’s about 10 additional votes needed per precinct for a tie, 15 per precinct for a win.
Stats for the district, pre-election:
29th Congressional District: Total Registered Voters: 417,233; Republican: 183,338; Democratic: 122,272; Independence: 14,828; Conservative: 6,738; Working Families: 1,089; Green: 1,446; Liberal: 2,687; Right to Life: 1,617; Marijuana Reform: 13 ; Libertarian: 208; Other: 146; Blank: 82,850
The “Blank” category is huge; I’d have put a team on investigating this segment, and I’ll bet that Rove already did. Also need to look at the “Independence” and both Green, Liberal and Libertarian Parties — did they have a viable horse in the race, or a “fake” candidate, or no candidate at all? Did Massa make a point of asking each of these groups for their votes, too? (It happens, believe me, candidates forget to ask for the votes. Saw it happen this time in a state race.)
And did Rahm ask any of these questions?
Bet you not.
The future of the party is with “white men”, rich white women and A*P*C.
A*P*C’s hold
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060814/aipacs_hold
“Israel’s man in the White House”
Rahm has dual citizenship in Israel and the U.s.
http://www.middleeast.org/archives/1998_10_20.htm
If you have never read Stephen Green’s “Serving Two Flags” it is well worth the read
http://www.counterpunch.org/green09032004.html
HotFlash @ 62
And don’t forget all those Florida votes the machines never counted in Christine Jennings’ race!
Things Come Undone @ 64
Its an old patriarchal mindset–that only the big dudes in power (read: white boys) have the $$ to spend on elections. Or the $$ to spend period.
I would love to know who balances the checkbook in Rahm’s house. I am serious (willing to bet it isn’t Rahm)
Rayne @ 65
Bet you’re right, ’cause my bet is that Rahm is too fucking lazy. And cheap.
Woodhall Hollow @ 57
I can’t quite figure this out. We bloggers strategize so much better than Rahm or any consultant or politician. Is it because they don’t know or because they don’t want to win? Or is it that they don’t want to win with our help and our candidates?
If Rahm wanted to win that badly, his ego would have been better served pulling off a tsunami rather than the gentle mudslide. So, there’s got to be something about us they don’t like. But we’re not monolithic and we’re not crazy radicals or DFH or anarchists. some of us aren’t even that liberal. So, what’s the problem with us exactly? Why won’t Rahm give us some love? Why does he insist on being so top down?
Don’t bother going after the 30% — I doubt that they can be converted. The only thing that’s likely to reach them is having absolute swear-on-the-Gospel proof that the GOP has played them for fools.
HotFlash @ 60
We did it. It’s called the 50-State Strategy. Precinct delegates along with any Dem supporter who chooses to participate simply prints out the materials they wanted from DNC site, goes door to door to meet and talk with their neighbors and asks for their vote. It worked.
But we can do even better this time if we are a little more engaged a little earlier. How about inviting folks to a house party now? How about showing a progressive movie once a month at home? How about hosting a barbecue or hotdog roast and asking potential candidates to run for office, or inviting potential candidates to come and try out their platform on neighbors?
This is how the unions organized, person-to-person, over the kitchen table. It was highly successful. We can do it again.
Bow-tie TROLL Tucker is pushing with the Pod to bomb Iran….He still hasn’t disclosed that daddy is a Libby defense cronie!
S.O.S. from MA @ 49
Hmm. That URL shows the YouTube vid alone, no linky to the comments section. And a search for “Rahm Emanuel” doesn’t turn up any obvious candidates at the top-level. Can anyone post a more appropriate URL so I can tell him off in my own special way? :) TIA.
Right on, Jane! Rahm Emanuel is an ass.
This classic Matt Taibbi column from last year tells you all you need to know about Emanuel.
http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/40744/
I was favorably impressed by McCloskey in 1972, when he spent three weekend afternoons walking through his district (in newly attached areas) and later in the year when he had a booth at the county fair and was meeting average citizens. (Instead of only having fundraising dinners and ‘town meetings’.)
Yawn. Why does this guy even get airtime? Shouldn’t he be meeting with the head of NARAL or something?
Norman Podhoretz hopes and prays that Bush bombs Iran
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/....._0530.html
Kathleen @ 66
That’s really funny! SCOTUS just handed single women to Democrats on a platter. Honestly, these guys are so out to lunch that sometimes I think a third party is the only way to stay sane.
portia.vz @ 69
I think the explanation is very simple: Rahm (and his ilk, like James Carville) are entitled, lazy, spoiled, cheapskates. As long as he is living well off the electioneering bizniz, then why should he care.
Just on an appearance level, look at the dif between he and Rove. Rove looks like a slob an d does not care, whereas Rahm is always suited up in suits so crisp then can never have been sat down in, never mind walked in. Rove is interested in pure power, period. Whereas Rahm just wants to be pampered and to be admired. (barf)
S.O.S. - here ya go
Franco @ 72
Write to Tucker’s boss and ask that he be removed from MSNBC on Sentencing Day, June Fifth! (Or that he be relegated to covering only the West Coast version, Paris Goes to Jail)
dabrams@msnbc.com, feedback@msnbc.com, letters@msnbc.com,
Rahm was the key to Hoyer trumping Murtha.
Jane, I just read the letter that you and Marcy wrote. Great job and thanks. Although this is OT I would imagine that Fred Thompson is hoping that his letter isn’t released.
Rahm’s working for his “team” - the Li*ud Lobby, using whatever shifting cover story works to disguise his hidden agenda from the American people and especially the blogosphere every time he helps to enact another part of the foreign lobby’s agenda. A divided, weak (if not warring) Iraq whose immense oil wealth has been given away to multinational corporations is obviously a preferred outcome in Iraq for the LLobby, and Rahm’s doing all he can to make it happen, along with a lot of other Members of Congress. Everything flows from that.
Kathleen @ 66
Does anyone know how many of our reps have dual citizenship in another country like Rahm?
JPL @ 83
Ding! Ding! Ding! Because you know that they know that the jig is up: Walton is not going to show a whole lotta leniancy, and the last thing that Rove Thompson wants to deal with is a Dem opponent (should Thompson win the nomination a la reagun) running attack ads about his support for a corrupt convicted felon. Not an ad person myself, but I can easily imagine how they might play.
TeddySanFran @ 82
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Thanks Teddy…I am doing it now!
pow wow @ 84
Like L-I-E-B-E-R-L-I-A-R.
Live vlog starting on new thread in two minutes.
Woodhall Hollow @ 80
Yes, you have to want it and want it badly.
But I also think that Rahm is old f*cking school. He thinks you can BUY votes, simply throw money at the problem and it will be solved. Buy some consultants and it’s covered.
I give you Tammy Duckworth as a classic example of money not being enough.
It takes good old-fashioned shoe leather and people that want it. Rove knows this and has successfully co-opted churches full of people to provide both the shoe leather and the motivation in terms of moral imperative. They can’t campaign for a candidate, but they can bring in front-end loaders of cash in the form of charitable donations that are earmarked for promoting an issue, and then they whip up the faithful into a frenzy, pack them on a bus and dump them into precincts where they are unleashed on the populace.
Yeah. Why aren’t we doing that? And if we aren’t doing that, why aren’t we focusing on a competitive counter-assault? But that’s where the 50-State Strategy comes into play; many of us were trained last year and will continue to be trained this year to be the counter-assault.
By the way, if you haven’t looked for training, you should. There’s a program in my town this weekend, two days of training for candidates and grassroots activists. Is there training in your town soon??
Senator Dodd is in the lake.
HotFlash @ 80
Well, that is, unless you are a single, white, female Bob Jones graduate. But I don’t think we need to worry about them much. They’ve probably been brainwashed to believe they don’t have the right to vote.
Here’s my “Tucker conflict” email for today:
Rayne @ 89
I live in NYC–a media mkt where we see very few national political ads (over 80% went for Kerry in ‘04, for example). I did hike up to CT to campaign for Lamont. Also took a bus to Pittsburg in ‘04. But there have got to be better ways of getting activists out to borderland regions to make a real difference. I will take your advice and see if I can’t find some local training here–to be exported.
HotFlash @ 24
Nice list, can we hope they will run again? And Diane Benson, Christine