Huh, never had a zed before.

It wouldn’t be proper to call her the madam of the house would it?

Hey, I wasn’t done downstairs….

Great news though! Congratulations to everyone who helped make that happen.

W00t! Good news, great news. Yay everyone who pitched in for Donna!

Go Donna!

The Pelosi support of Wynn reminds me of the Clinton (under the table) support for Lieberman.

Nancy Pelosi. Not. Albert Wynn. Not.

I think there is no doubt now, Edwards is going to get the post. Great job everyone.

WOO HOO!!!

Right on, once again~ her actions hit that ol’ emotional spot~the one that reacts to folks who believe they know what is best for me~

The struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party continues.

Well Jane, I may be going out on a limb here but something tells me you aren’t going to be invited to any of the Victory Balls Democrats will throw after the ‘08 elections.

Such is life.

THAT IS GREAT……
I loved the smackdown of Pelosi Jane…..
she deserves that and far far more!

Oklahoma kiddo @ 11

The struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party continues.

I went down to the crossroads
and….
well…
It was all dusty and deserted.

Apparently all the deal makers had moved on to Washington.

We have sent money to three candidates, Dodd, Edwards and Kucinich.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 6

The Pelosi support of Wynn reminds me of the Clinton (under the table) support for Lieberman.

except that it wasn’t so under the table….
now Big Dog is comparing our Democratic candidates to swift boaters…just like i said, he threw the progressives under the bus before THEY will do it again

kindness @ 12

Well Jane, I may be going out on a limb here but something tells me you aren’t going to be invited to any of the Victory Balls Democrats will throw after the ‘08 elections.

Such is life.

Au contraire, we are going to be invited to a LOT of victory parties. Our folks are going to win!

I’m still on an election high watching our local State Senate seat get taken away from the Republican incumbent, Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, and given to a great guy, Democrat Chap Petersen. The voters of Fairfax County have spoken.

Control of the State Senate is now in the hands of Democrats. Tom Davis, you listening?

egregious @ 17

kindness @ 12

Well Jane, I may be going out on a limb here but something tells me you aren’t going to be invited to any of the Victory Balls Democrats will throw after the ‘08 elections.

Such is life.

Au contraire, we are going to be invited to a LOT of victory parties. Our folks are going to win!

Please, please, please……

I wonder if Pelosi regrets that cold shoulder now.

I wonder if she’s starting to realize that the folks who supported her are running away from her as she rushes to embrace BushCo.

I wonder if she realizes the power of the netroots yet.

I wonder if she’s seeing a drop in donations to her own re-election funds.

I wonder….

Boxturtle (Greetings to the Pelosi flack who has to read this without admitting they pay attention to blogs)

I’m so really, really proud of this community. I’m just awed to feel like I’m part of something like this. Pelosi is furious! Last night we won in Kentucky– keeping out the Insider Club Democratic choice (last May it was gonna be a coronation for Bruce Lunsford) and slaughtering Ernie Fletcher. You know what’s next?

egregious @ 17

kindness @ 12

Well Jane, I may be going out on a limb here but something tells me you aren’t going to be invited to any of the Victory Balls Democrats will throw after the ‘08 elections.

Such is life.

Au contraire, we are going to be invited to a LOT of victory parties. Our folks are going to win!

Hear, hear dear egregious!

tbsa @ 18

egregious @ 17

Au contraire, we are going to be invited to a LOT of victory parties. Our folks are going to win!

Please, please, please……

The people around fdl are very good at seeing patterns and making connections. Howie especially can spot outstanding candidates very early in the cycle, where our early support makes a huge difference.

This is going to be one fun year.

There was a struggle for the heart of the Republican Party. The neocons won. There is a battle within my party. Between real Democrats and the DLC.

Howie, tireless warrior!
Thanks so much for all the energy.

It just gets more interesting…

(CNN) — The GOP has held on to the governorship in Mississippi but failed to keep one in Kentucky and reportedly has lost control of the Virginia state Senate for the first time in 12 years.

AP elections info

First it was Blue America helping out Tom Allen, when HoJoe went to do a fundraiser for Susan Collins.

That was mighty tasty.

Then came this effort to give Donna Edwards a push, after Pelosi stepped up for Al Wynn.

Yum.

Just one question, Jane/Howie: How much do you think BA could bring in if Rahm offered to do a fundraiser for a Bush Dog?

What are the differences between the thinking of the Democratic “leasership”, (Pelosi, Reid) and HRC?

Pelosi and her leadership team are the ones who enable all the Bush Dogs to be Bush Dogs. It all starts at the top.

In a way, then, Pelosi is the Alpha Bush Dog, the leader of the Bush Dog pack and the one who most desperately needs a strong primary challenge.

Sofistic @ 25

It just gets more interesting…

(CNN) — The GOP has held on to the governorship in Mississippi but failed to keep one in Kentucky and reportedly has lost control of the Virginia state Senate for the first time in 12 years.

AP elections info

We took the necessary 4 seats and there’s even a 5th one possible where it’s still too close to call [Oleszek - Cuccinelli, only 91 votes apart].

The victories in northern Virginia we anticipated because of how heavy the vote was for Webb last year. But it was stunning to see the races in Hampton Roads that we have thought of as conservative, heavy military presence. Maybe they have HAD ENOUGH.

Please don’t let the conservative Democrats steal our party.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 30

Please don’t let the conservative Democrats steal our party.

It’s a lil late….

Reid, Pelosi, Rahm, HRC, Harold Ford Jr., the DLC. The Democratic Sleazership.

Kind of OT:
Over at TPM, they have a note from CQpolitics that Mukasey’s support is, well, not as strong as anticipated. His backers may not have enough votes ….

tbsa @ 31

Oklahoma kiddo @ 30

Please don’t let the conservative Democrats steal our party.

It’s a lil late….

Perhaps so. But there is still the Democratic primaries and the general election ahead.

Reid, Pelosi, Rahm, Steny - The Alpha Bush Dogs.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 32

Reid, Pelosi, Rahm, HRC, Harold Ford Jr., the DLC. The Democratic Sleazership.

Forgot Mister Hoyer.

Peterr @ 26

Just one question, Jane/Howie: How much do you think BA could bring in if Rahm offered to do a fundraiser for a Bush Dog?

Jane is sitting on the couch laughing. She said “$1,000,000.” Actually she’s on the phone talking with a newspaper reporter right now about the battle between Insiders and grassroots Americans and how that is reflected by the Edwards v Wynn battle.

tbsa @ 36

Oklahoma kiddo @ 32

Reid, Pelosi, Rahm, HRC, Harold Ford Jr., the DLC. The Democratic Sleazership.

Forgot Mister Hoyer.

Yes. That was a glaring oversight. ;0)

Poor Mueller…

FBI Decries Ruling Blocking Security Letters

NPR story

Oklahoma kiddo @ 38

tbsa @ 36

Forgot Mister Hoyer.

Yes. That was a glaring oversight. ;0)

Not so bad an oversight.
The real fight may be with sleezoids like Shuler, who was at his greasy best on Tweety yesterday. Sounds verrry much like Duncan Hunter.
What a maroon.

I like Donna Edwards. Now there’s presidential timber.

P J Evans @ 33

Kind of OT:
Over at TPM, they have a note from CQpolitics that Mukasey’s support is, well, not as strong as anticipated. His backers may not have enough votes ….

Hmmm…if he fails to pass the vote…W will appoint a Thanksgiving Recess Turkey AG, like…Addington or Fielding…or some such fuckery.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 41

I like Donna Edwards. Now there’s presidential timber.

Now, OK, let’s not get into talking wood here.

Howie,
Thank you for your efforts, they are appreciated.

Donna Edwards will need more financial support.

newtonusr @ 40

Oklahoma kiddo @ 38

Yes. That was a glaring oversight. ;0)

Not so bad an oversight.
The real fight may be with sleezoids like Shuler, who was at his greasy best on Tweety yesterday. Sounds verrry much like Duncan Hunter.
What a maroon.

I think the ultimate fight is at the very top levels of leadership. They’re the ones who appear unwilling to impose party discipline on the Bush Dogs. Would LBJ have let his fellow Democrats get as far out of line as the current Democratic leadership has? Why, for example, is the DCCC running around to protect Democrats who undermine their own party on key votes? Strong leadership would not allow this sort of thing to happen, and the effect would be seen on Bush Dogs all the way down the chain of power, all the way down to people like Shuler.

Great news, and more humiliation for Queen Nancy.

I think I’m going to call her up right now, and see if she’s having a good day.

I expect her staff will be as rude as she typically is: they always are.

These leaders of ours certainly don’t lead very well (and yesterday’s hilarious Impeachment debacle makes that MORE than clear). Maybe it’s high time we got rid of them.

Sofistic @ 43

Oklahoma kiddo @ 41

I like Donna Edwards. Now there’s presidential timber.

Now, OK, let’s not get into talking wood here.

Okay. ;0)

LS @ 42

P J Evans @ 33

Kind of OT:
Over at TPM, they have a note from CQpolitics that Mukasey’s support is, well, not as strong as anticipated. His backers may not have enough votes ….

Hmmm…if he fails to pass the vote…W will appoint a Thanksgiving Recess Turkey AG, like…Addington or Fielding…or some such fuckery.

Right. And the net loss would be…?
Besides, love to get that prick Addington in front of the Judiciary Committee.

egregious @ 17

kindness @ 12

Well Jane, I may be going out on a limb here but something tells me you aren’t going to be invited to any of the Victory Balls Democrats will throw after the ‘08 elections.

Such is life.

Au contraire, we are going to be invited to a LOT of victory parties. Our folks are going to win!

I’m still on an election high watching our local State Senate seat get taken away from the Republican incumbent, Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, and given to a great guy, Democrat Chap Petersen. The voters of Fairfax County have spoken.

Control of the State Senate is now in the hands of Democrats. Tom Davis, you listening?

I heard from my sister in Vienna this morning - she was pretty excited about the whole thing.

*xyz @ 46

newtonusr @ 40

Not so bad an oversight.
The real fight may be with sleezoids like Shuler, who was at his greasy best on Tweety yesterday. Sounds verrry much like Duncan Hunter.
What a maroon.

I think the ultimate fight is at the very top levels of leadership. They’re the ones who appear unwilling to impose party discipline on the Bush Dogs. Would LBJ have let his fellow Democrats get as far out of line as the current Democratic leadership has? Why, for example, is the DCCC running around to protect Democrats who undermine their own party on key votes? Strong leadership would not allow this sort of thing to happen, and the effect would be seen on Bush Dogs all the way down the chain of power, all the way down to people like Shuler.

Had the pleasure this morning of returning a DCCC letter with big red letters saying “no decency, no honor, no honesty, NO MONEY.” I loved it.

LS @ 42

P J Evans @ 33

Kind of OT:
Over at TPM, they have a note from CQpolitics that Mukasey’s support is, well, not as strong as anticipated. His backers may not have enough votes ….

Hmmm…if he fails to pass the vote…W will appoint a Thanksgiving Recess Turkey AG, like…Addington or Fielding…or some such fuckery.

…or Jeb or Neil…they’re not busy.

If you want to lose your late lunch you can watch Bush looking stern and smug at a presser with Pres. Sarkozy of France. The man is repulsive. Every pause is to gauge the effect he has had on the audience; every gesture betters and belittles; every grin points out his superiority to the simpletons.

Bush puts his arm around Sarkozy, hand on shoulder, Sarkozy winces, Bush’s affect says, “I just out-muscled this guy and now he’s mine — suckah!”

Badwater @ 52

LS @ 42

Hmmm…if he fails to pass the vote…W will appoint a Thanksgiving Recess Turkey AG, like…Addington or Fielding…or some such fuckery.

…or Jeb or Neil…they’re not busy.

Joe Lieberman would be good. He’s a lawyer.

Badwater @ 52

LS @ 42

Hmmm…if he fails to pass the vote…W will appoint a Thanksgiving Recess Turkey AG, like…Addington or Fielding…or some such fuckery.

…or Jeb or Neil…they’re not busy.

Neil may be busy since he is under investigation. What a family!

behindthefall @ 53

If you want to lose your late lunch you can watch Bush looking stern and smug at a presser with Pres. Sarkozy of France. The man is repulsive. Every pause is to gauge the effect he has had on the audience; every gesture betters and belittles; every grin points out his superiority to the simpletons.

As the scion of the Royal Bush Family, Bush’s sense of superiority and entitlement has been long established.

In an HRC administration, do you think there’s a place for Lieberman?

Oklahoma kiddo @ 57

In an HRC administration, do you think there’s a place for Lieberman?

Do the Clintons still have a dog?

Watching the joint news conference with President Sarkozy & the Deciderer on CNN is the most embarrassing public performance of Bush evah! Mon dieu, would someone wrap him in wet sheets?

Oklahoma kiddo @ 57

In an HRC administration, do you think there’s a place for Lieberman?

Where do you come up with these awful things? I just ate! :)

…and the pendulum picks up speed.

ATTACCKKKK!!!

newtonusr @ 58

Oklahoma kiddo @ 57

In an HRC administration, do you think there’s a place for Lieberman?

Do the Clintons still have a dog?

Yes. They have a “big dog”. And perhaps he could be appointed AG. or some such. Large dog is a lawyer too. ;0)

Badwater @ 56

behindthefall @ 53

If you want to lose your late lunch you can watch Bush looking stern and smug at a presser with Pres. Sarkozy of France. The man is repulsive. Every pause is to gauge the effect he has had on the audience; every gesture betters and belittles; every grin points out his superiority to the simpletons.

As the scion of the Royal Bush Family, Bush’s sense of superiority and entitlement has been long established.

Yup. (That ought to have been ‘batters’, not ‘betters’, and I should have mentioned CNN.) And they say that ‘Murka has no royalty. Hah!

From CNN online:

“WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday to clarify a senior aide’s apparent refusal to characterize as illegal the hypothetical waterboarding of an American by a foreign intelligence service.

“There are reports that one of your principal aides and legal advisers, a Mr. John Bellinger, is taking the legal position that he cannot say whether it is permissible to waterboard Americans and that it depends on the facts and circumstances,” Leahy said about the State Department’s principal adviser on domestic and international law.

“I could not disagree more strongly. There are no conceivable facts or circumstances that would justify waterboarding an American anywhere in the world for any reason. Our treaty obligations and domestic law make waterboarding illegal. Please respond without delay and set this matter straight.”

Bellinger’s remarks came Monday during a debate held by Guardian America, the British newspaper’s U.S. Web site, with Philippe Sands, a professor of international law at University College London. (Posted 12:31 p.m.)”

Sofistic @ 43

Oklahoma kiddo @ 41

I like Donna Edwards. Now there’s presidential timber.

Now, OK, let’s not get into talking wood here.

Well, she’s going to need to start branching out…

Twain @ 60

Oklahoma kiddo @ 57

In an HRC administration, do you think there’s a place for Lieberman?

Where do you come up with these awful things? I just ate! :)

I could tell you where Lahoma says I come with “these awful things”. But she might not want me to. ;0)

*xyz @ 28

Pelosi and her leadership team are the ones who enable all the Bush Dogs to be Bush Dogs. It all starts at the top.

In a way, then, Pelosi is the Alpha Bush Dog, the leader of the Bush Dog pack and the one who most desperately needs a strong primary challenge.

As much as I detest Pelosi’s stand on impeachment and some other matters, I don’t think you’re being entirely fair. Before becoming Speaker, Pelosi had a good voting record as a progressive. She was a member of the Progressive Caucus. But since becoming Speaker, her politics have changed a lot.

I think she has bought the line that the Democrats should govern from the center, rather than from the fringe. Where we differ is identifying where the true “center” really is. She thinks the Bush Dogs, the Blue Dogs, and the DLC represent the Center, but we think she misreads the “true” political center.

As Speaker, she has to represent the Blue Dogs and the Bush Dogs more than she ever has before, in addition to representing her otherwise progressive consituency. And evidently she prefers being wined and dined to being pestered.

Bob in HI

Jane has more http://www.firedoglake.com/

Toby Wollin @ 65

Sofistic @ 43

Now, OK, let’s not get into talking wood here.

Well, she’s going to need to start branching out…

Let’s just leaf it alone.

bobschacht @ 67

*xyz @ 28

Pelosi and her leadership team are the ones who enable all the Bush Dogs to be Bush Dogs. It all starts at the top.

In a way, then, Pelosi is the Alpha Bush Dog, the leader of the Bush Dog pack and the one who most desperately needs a strong primary challenge.

As much as I detest Pelosi’s stand on impeachment and some other matters, I don’t think you’re being entirely fair. Before becoming Speaker, Pelosi had a good voting record as a progressive. She was a member of the Progressive Caucus. But since becoming Speaker, her politics have changed a lot.

I think she has bought the line that the Democrats should govern from the center, rather than from the fringe. Where we differ is identifying where the true “center” really is. She thinks the Bush Dogs, the Blue Dogs, and the DLC represent the Center, but we think she misreads the “true” political center.

As Speaker, she has to represent the Blue Dogs and the Bush Dogs more than she ever has before, in addition to representing her otherwise progressive consituency. And evidently she prefers being wined and dined to being pestered.

Bob in HI

Pelosi fosters and encourages an environment in which Bush Dog behavior flourishes.

As such, regardless of her personal politics (which do not matter-only her behavior does), she must be considered the Alpha Bush Dog and treated accordingly.

Peterr @ 69

Toby Wollin @ 65

Well, she’s going to need to start branching out…

Let’s just leaf it alone.

Gonna grind this down into splinters are you?

How do we expand the number of people giving the $5 or $10 donations to the fund drives? It seems to me that even a single small donation increases a persons sense of “ownership” of the process. Any ideas? Does dollar matching stimulate people to participate?

Steve-AR @ 72

How do we expand the number of people giving the $5 or $10 donations to the fund drives? It seems to me that even a single small donation increases a persons sense of “ownership” of the process. Any ideas? Does dollar matching stimulate people to participate?

I think the average donation was noted; did anyone say what the median was? I seem to remember they’ve said a couple times that the $5 ones really add up fast.

peanutbutter @ 73

Steve-AR @ 72

How do we expand the number of people giving the $5 or $10 donations to the fund drives? It seems to me that even a single small donation increases a persons sense of “ownership” of the process. Any ideas? Does dollar matching stimulate people to participate?

I think the average donation was noted; did anyone say what the median was? I seem to remember they’ve said a couple times that the $5 ones really add up fast.

And in addition, once people feel invested in a candidate, even at this level, they are way more likely to contribute again both to this candidate and to others. Need to bring people back into the political process, to have them feel a sense of ownership. This is OUR country.

We would also contribute when it comes time for the election, which might be a really scary story for madame arnold. She may not forget how fickle voters are when you lie to them and fail to do your sworn duty to this nation and it’s people. There will always be safe place in britain for benedict arnold.

Great “smell-the-roses” thread, btw, I love the strategy of focusing on LOCAL races, where we can provide some leverage. It’s a great testimony to the trajectory of this community.

OkKiddo, Clinton’s support for Lieberman in the primary was not under the table. She was upfront about it.
It was NOT a secret.

Then, when Lamont beat him, and Lieberman ran as an “independent”, she grudgling supported Lamont for the simple reason that she had no choice. With control of the Senate hanging in the balance, politically, she would have been torn to pieces for supporting an independent over a democrat.

(As you may have noticed, she’s catching hell for her primary support of Lieberman, a warpimp of the worst stripe, against a good anti-war progressive Lamont…and rightly so.
:o) )

O.T.

Has Speaker Pelosi ever said why “impeachment is off the table”.

Time to kick that bitch pelosi to the curb. She’s proven to be a worthless hack.

Franco @ 13

THAT IS GREAT……
I loved the smackdown of Pelosi Jane…..
she deserves that and far far more!

I think I will write up a postcard for Pelosi, post Edward’s election. It will say:
—
We, the netroots, have defeated your attempts to pack the Congress with go-along-to-get-along Democrats. We win, you lose.

Feel good?
—

Somewhat childish? Sure. But all that matters in this case is it will feel so good.

I simply MUST rub her nose in her defeats.

Dear Madame Speaker:

If you’re going to be a leader, you really need to try and keep up with the people.

Sincerely,
A Progressive Voter

bushbehindbars @ 79

Time to kick that bitch pelosi to the curb. She’s proven to be a worthless hack.

While I feel your sentiment viscerally, you turn of phrase on this at this site will not be welcomed warmly.

We need to kick that ineffectual, cowardly, weak, and pathetic excuse for a “leader” to the curb.

Praedor Atrebates @ 82

bushbehindbars @ 79

Time to kick that bitch pelosi to the curb. She’s proven to be a worthless hack.

While I feel your sentiment viscerally, you turn of phrase on this at this site will not be welcomed warmly.

We need to kick that ineffectual, cowardly, weak, and pathetic excuse for a “leader” to the curb.

I stand by ‘bitch’. Or perhaps ‘inneffectual, cowardly, weak and pathetic bitch’. Has a nice ring to it. But she, and reid, hoyer, rham, et al, for sure have to go. They’re all traitors and will lead our once-great nation further into the crapper.

Twain @51

Had the pleasure this morning of returning a DCCC letter with big red letters saying “no decency, no honor, no honesty, NO MONEY.” I loved it.

I am SO stealing that!!!!! I get crap from both DSCC & DCCC all the time — in the mail & on-line — and I’m always searching for a reply that conveys my disgust but doesn’t make me sound like a crazy lady with cats. [In my case, dogs.]

Re how to increase $5 & $10 donations: I make a point of e-mailing my friends [and I have my own ActBlue page with folks on it] when one of these “drives” comes along [like daily –jk]. I alert them to the candidate with a brief description, point out that in most cases at this point the fund-raising is in the “show ‘em [candidate] is serious” stage, and that thus NUMBER of contributors is quite important.

I try to point out that this is one situation in which $5 or $10 or $25 will go a long way, and to compare that to sending $50 or $100 to the DCCC or DSCC. They can get more “bang for their buck” giving to an individual candidate, they can develop an awareness that there ARE good folks out there in different parts of the country, fighting the good fight, and they can be part of many “mini-celebrations” as each candidate goes forth & succeeds.

This is particularly important for friends who live in Red Hell, seeing anti-abortion billboards at every turn and hearing Fox in every barber shop. A good candidate may not have shown up in their “neighborhood”/state yet, but they’re out there, and we ALL can help them.

Finally, any word on what Pelosi & Wynn were able to raise shaking their tambourine? I’d think either Pelosi’s site or Wynn’s would be trumpeting the amount.

Sofistic @ 25

It just gets more interesting…

(CNN) — The GOP has held on to the governorship in Mississippi but failed to keep one in Kentucky and reportedly has lost control of the Virginia state Senate for the first time in 12 years.

AP elections info

I guess the folks in Mississippi don’t care that after Katrina hit they got no aid from their Republican government. Amazing!