Peterr @ 24

I would have thought that by NOW progressives would have learned to find out the FACTS before they start doing Karl Rove’s work.

Apparently not.

Note: Jerry’s Progressive Punch rating is higher than Barbara Lee’s. If you care that is…

Oh, I do care and that’s why I suggest we simply wait and watch and question him a bit before deciding anything.

It was probably just inexpert language meant to smooth over differences, but without actually changing his personal positions. At least I hope that’s all there is to it.

A little feedback from him to his Progressive supporters and everything might work out just fine.

now the guy from Justice is insinuating that the U.S. District Court, even in an in camera setting, does not have the right to view the document in question.

“No Fair! Secret, Secret, Secret!!!”

“state secret”? Isn’t the Judicial branch part of ‘the state’?

Bush wants to do away with checks and balances, plain and simple.

When he crowns himself Emperor for Life, I wonder if he’ll have a golden sash to match the crown. Maybe a blood red robe and scepter with jewels on one end — just perfect for ramming up the backsides of any American who dares challenge him.

Nolo @ 11

…
And yes:
Princeton – a degree to Petraes
Yale – a degree to GWB
Yale – a professorship for Wolfie
Harvard – an MBA for shrub

…

Does this mean we should never ever support a presidential or senatorial or house candidate who graduated from a ‘top’ school?

One item is introduction of articles of impeachment of Bush/Cheney for a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives by the end of 2007.

If the Dem’s can’t even do this, then I’m gone, gone, gone.

babaloo @ 165

RightOn! @ 153 (emphasis added)

McN has not changed his position. He has been unwise in his choice of words which have been parsed here as being almost-Rethug. He simply stated he saw some progress. He simply indicated he could be flexible. He did not endorse the war. He did not walk the Rethug walk. He also forgot to describe what he saw as progress so we could understand why he said what he said.
He is HIS OWN MAN, voted for by US who Walk Our Own Walk, neither taking Dems’ stance or allowing ideals to be shaken.
Criticise him, but I doubt you’ve got the whole story.

I don’t advocate him being shaken out of office. I think he needs to go to Political Speak School and choose his words more carefully so that the folks who love This Forum can understand what it means to be flexible, reasonable and not disdainful.

I don’t think anyone here would disagree that “he has been unwise in his choice of words.” Nor would they disagree that “he also forgot to describe what he saw as progress so we could understand why he said what he said.”

Further, I totally agree that he could certainly stand to “go to Political Speak School and choose his words more carefully.”

As to the rest… eh.

McN has not changed his position. He has been unwise in his choice of words which have been parsed here as being almost-Rethug. He simply stated he saw some progress. He simply indicated he could be flexible. He did not endorse the war. He did not walk the Rethug walk. He also forgot to describe what he saw as progress so we could understand why he said what he said.
He is HIS OWN MAN, voted for by US who Walk Our Own Walk, neither taking Dems’ stance or allowing ideals to be shaken.
Criticise him, but I doubt you’ve got the whole story.

I don’t advocate him being shaken out of office. I think he needs to go to Political Speak School and choose his words more carefully so that the folks who love This Forum can understand what it means to be flexible, reasonable and not disdainful.

I don’t think anyone here would disagree that “he has been unwise in his choice of words.” Nor would they disagree that “he also forgot to describe what he saw as progress so we could understand why he said what he said.”

Further, I totally agree that he could certainly stand to “go to Political Speak School and choose his words more carefully.”

As to the rest… eh.

While we’re at it, Joe Sestak in PA deserves the same treatment. Elected with netroots help, he — like Jerry — has taken the thirty pieces of silver and is squarely in George Bush’s corner.

I don’t agree with those who want to primary McNerney. But he does need some tough love right now.

Yep. Right now.
Nice work.

Peterr @ 24

In Jerry’s March 2007 visit to FDL for a Blue America chat, Howie Klein wrote this in the setup post:

This was in March. According to his website, he’s still holding these “Congressman on the Corner” events, and will be in Tracy on Monday 8/20 and Woodbridge on Tuesday 8/21.

It might be worth having a couple local Blue America supporters ask him in person about his apparent change of heart on Iraq. For example . . .

Whatever happened to public timetables for withdrawal that you once supported unconditionally?

You said last year that this “war that has been leveraged by terrorists to incite sectarian violence.” How does staying longer (for an indefinite period) help to reduce the leverage of terrorists?

Much the same sort of outrage flared up when the House failed to attach a time-line to the appropriations bill. Jerry was ‘quoted’ as saying something which sounded like he supported Bush and one of his votes appeared to back Bush.

When I spoke with him about this at the YK2007 fundraiser in SF he stated that he is utterly committed to bring the troops home ASAP.

What does ASAP mean?

Kinda hard to say in a Blue Dog riddled House with Madame Speaker selling out the Farm BIll and caving to the Dogs on seemingly every issue while Bush’s ‘Road Block ReThugs’ splatter their monkee feces all over the process.

You got a problem with Jerry?

Fine.

Go ask him any question you want.

But get your facts straight first. And quotes in the corporatist press are not facts homer. I would have thought that by NOW we in the blogosphere would be a little suspicious of ‘facts’ which smear progressives.

Apparently not.

I would have thought that by NOW progressives would have learned to find out the FACTS before they start doing Karl Rove’s work.

Apparently not.

Note: Jerry’s Progressive Punch rating is higher than Barbara Lee’s. If you care that is…

1) Barbara Lee is rated 3rd most Progressive on Progressive Punch. McNerney is 110th.

2) Both Babaloo and I have spoken to McNerney staff members about this and other similar issues. So far nobody has disputed Babaloo’s characterization of McNerney’s stance, nor the fact that it has changed.

To Jane: Thanks for letting Babaloo come here to post. She’s the best expert the blogosphere has on McNerney and I think it’s important that we establish a culture of accountability in Washington. And as they say, sunlight is the best disinfectant.

I don’t agree with those who want to primary McNerney. But he does need some tough love right now. And I think Babaloo is correct that this isn’t about McNerney upsetting those of us who expected more from him, it’s about McNerney actually undercutting his own ability to get re-elected. He’s alienating his base, which is something he can’t afford to do. We need to make sure he understands that people are watching him and that they care about what he does.

Heck, even if he persists in voting the wrong way, he can at least learn to get out in front of the issue and explain his bad votes before people read about them in the paper. The fact that he’s always reacting to the anger or disappointment of his supporters after bad votes gives the impression that he’s not proud of what he’s done and/or that he can’t defend his votes.