Unlike Carney, numerous House Democratic candidates this year -- including those from red districts -- have spoken out strongly against telecom amnesty and warrantless eavesdropping. Bill Foster, who just won a special election in Denny Hastert's bright red district, emphatically opposed the FISA/amnesty bill, and won.
House Democratic candidate Lawyer Alan Grayson -- a credible challenger to Far Right incumbent Ric Keller in Central Florida -- said: "The fact that Congress even is considering retroactive immunity shows that the law is for sale, and the phone companies are buying."
As Glenn notes, Carney's behavior arises out of a belief that the only pressure that will be brought to bear against members of Congress on this issue will come from the right. This campaign, paid for by your donations -- which will involve TV, radio, newspaper and billboard advertising -- will serve to correct that misapprehension, and reinforce the notion that simply knuckling under to George Bush and the GOP is not an option that is free of consequences.
We care very much about the fact that a Democratic majority does not mean Democrats for sale. It does not simply mean more and better parking spaces for members of Congress. If you'd like to contribute to this campaign to hold Democrats accountable and encourage them to fight for our freedoms, you can do it here.
Update: Howie and J-Ro have more.
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Kick-ass ads! Thanks for your role in this Jane.
the telecoms have been very very good to most the politicians in eastern PA, so it’s no surprise he’s very very good to them in return.
clicked on the print ad, love it –
and psyched to read the very last bit, paid for by…
Glen has also written:
perhaps a party like that isn’t worth supporting, at all?
That’s at the end of the video, too. I just checked, and the fund sits at over $66,000 collected so far. That can have a huge impact in a single congressional district at a time like this, so far ahead of the election. Carney will have to work very hard to overcome this if he wants to stick with immunity. Note in the comments on Glenn’s post that Carney tried to get the campaign stopped when he heard about it and was told that stopping it would be easy: all he has to do is come out against immunity and the ads stop.
$20 to the Blue America PAC, sorry it couldn’t be more.
jane - would you tell us more about this? glenn says there was a call?
I’m Peterr, and I approve of this message.
A lot.
And here’s a reminder as to why.
Am I right in thinking that Carney has already won the primary? So Blue America is supporting a gooper for this seat? Is the theory that Carney is going to lose anyway cause his district is so red?
I made a contribution. This capitulation/prostitution crap drives me nuts.
Who’s running against him?
when we contact carney’s office I want to put our concerns in perspective they can follow;
“why do you want telecoms to get immunity if they have stolen intellectual property”
“if they stole my manuscript of invention to give 100 miles to the gallon, why do you want them to get away with it?”
“why do you want telecoms to get immunity if they have allowed depraved to follow my wife or kid and committed crimes, possibly sexual against them?”
“why do you want telecoms to get immunity if they have stolen national secrets and sold them to our enemies?”
see that?
THAT’S the way to address this issue, forget that “it violates the constitution and my rights” stuff, that is not nearly as effective
from glenn:
I will let Mickey Edwards, a former member of the Conservative Republican House leadership, speak for me:
I was just trying to figure out what the facts are in this case. So this is NOT a primary challenge but actively supporting a gooper, correct?
1,848 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…
Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:
Thank you for the post and a big “boo-yah” for the Blue America campaign to get Chris Carney to wake the fuck up. Digby has a post up from yesterday called “Main Core” that reinforces the critical importance of stopping the institutionalization of government surveillance of its own citizens.
What I want FDLers to remember this mornin’ is that the United States government has been doin’ stuff like this for well over 50 years and ya ken go back as far as WWI and Wilson’s Attorney. General to see some a the first efforts at nationalizing anti-subversive government activities. The key to a new understandin’ of the history of our country and our fascist political genes lies in the study of the relationship between federal LEGAL efforts to outlaw anti- government politics in the Alien and Sedition Acts and those efforts to protect the property rights of slave holders beginnin’ in the 1820’s.
The subterranean beast of American fascism has surfaced again in the politics of the neo-conservative “movement” and across the entire apparatus of executive administration of government. What makes this appearance most deadly is that it has a long and accepted history and is being implemented through quasi-legal actions of the executive and decisions of the SCOTUS.
Finally, let’s see the monster of American fascism in it’s entirety, let’s recognize that the end result of unregulated corporate capitalism in a democracy is fascism…and it’s here and it’s been here for a long time.
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, THIS BATTLE IS NOT GUNNA BE DECIDED IN THE COURTS!!
if i understand correctly - it is to pressure carney to change his position… knowing that it may mean carney is underminded in his race against an R challenger if he does not. (there is no primary challenger). hopefully jane will correct me if i have it wrong.
and the answer to this question relies on if they allow them to corrupt themselves with all this power just as the republicans did with their power
we really have to get private financing of campaigns made illegal
The answer is “yes”!!
Good points!
Yup.
Isn’t the primary OVER in Pennsylvania?
That’s how I see it.
Public pressure — otherwise known as “constituent input” — is a remarkably strong way to get the attention of a member of Congress.
Chris Hackett is apparently the gooper who will win if Carney craters..He advertises himself as a pro lifer and long term conservative…How do their positions compare on the issues that matter to us? (war, Roe, health care, the environment, etc.) Does anyone know?
Do we know what happened with Jerry Lewis’ threat to attach teleco immunity to the Iraq supplemental?
do you mean that even if we win the election and have a large majority, we still have to hold their feet to the fire? when do we get a vacation?
1,848 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…
Citizen rwcole:
“…it is to pressure carney to change his position…”
And that means withholding money and/or progressive votes in the general election unless the bastard repents, recants and begs for absolution from those who got ‘im elected in ‘06.
It’s a shot in the ass to the Blue Dogs…those north of the Mason Dixon Line…a message that they better get rid of their fascist fleas or get another day job.
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, THE SOLUTION TO FASCISM IS NOT THAT COMPLICATED!!
Epu’ed so I will put it here.
I was just going through the calculations for the June window for an attack on Iran. The whole window extends from May 30 to June 12. During this period, the sun sets over Iran around 8:30 PM and rises around 6:30 AM. The sun contributes to the least amount of light in the sky at this time between about 1 AM and 4:30 AM. The new moon occurs on June 3, a Tuesday. The best dates for an Israeli attack taking a northern route happen during the first half of the window, May 30 (a Friday) to June 4. Because US forces are closer and do not need to fly over third countries, they have pretty much the whole window available whereas the second half of the window is very problematic for the Israelis. Other factors to keep in mind are how many US carriers remain in the region, where Petraeus is and what his job title is, and the ongoing withdrawal of US ground forces in Iraq due to the exhaustion of the “surge”.
Map of PA-10
Scranton Newspapers:
Letters@TimesShamrock.com
this page has a PA blogroll
ps - Carney supported HRC, so much for the Obama coattails - mentioned because now the last thing he needs are us dfh’s saying ‘mean things’ about him :D
As the saying goes, There is no rest for the weary, or is it the wicked? /s
And, as a friend of mine say’s, I’ll sleep when I’m dead.
only one carrier with the fifth fleet now (i think) since the truman has left (a bit early)
there is this:
Yeah- Well I don’t live in Pennsylvania so I can’t withold my vote, and I have never given the guy a penny so I can’t withold money…I am trying to figure out if I want to support this ad campaign–I will make my decision based on a careful review of the FACTS.
A little confused by this as well. Considering the time and talent to produce these ads, then the buying the ad space, wouldn’t those same resources have more impact and results for someone like Alan Grayson?
I understand holding people’s feet to the fire, but at this point in the race I’m wondering if our very limited resources would have more effect if they were used to support BA candidates that really need the help.
Y’all probably talked about all this, but just offering some “customer” feedback. I “miss” things often, so would welcome the reasoning.
1,848 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…
Citizen rwcole:
Sigh…the point is that it is easier to hold a politician accountable to his/her constituents if the politics of that candidate are consistent with one party. That means that if the voters in one Pennsylvania district don’t like fascist surveillance of their mail and the killin’ of their kids in Iraq, then they have a choice. And if it means that the non-Democratic party candidates runs on Democratic politics and policies, then we have bi-partisan government.
It’s easier to fight fascism and fascist policies if their elected supporters and administrators are from one party.
KEEP THE FAITH, THIS AIN’T ALL THAT COMPLICATED!!
hoping we just need a small hibachi grill for the feet and not a bonfire.;-)
Of course we’re not supporting the GOP candidate. The idea that we can’t push back against bad legislation, and that the Blue Dogs should be able to put up the “for sale” sign without consequence, is just not one we subscribe you.
That argument is kind of like “if you don’t support the war you’re supporting the terrorists.” It isn’t an either/or proposition.
Overall the members on the defense committees in both Houses tend to be dorks and hawks. But it would be great if they got a clue and told Petraeus he would be much better employed writing his memoirs somewhere in retirement.
rwcole:
You certainly don’t hafta pay yer money in support of a candidate you don’t like. However you CAN think about supportin’ efforts to pressure a candidate you don’t like into changin’ his positions on fundamental principals of democracy…or not.
are you sayin that Carney is a fascist? Are you saying that he’s pro war? Are you sure you are right?
That’s exactly what I AM thinking about Norske- as I said above.. I like to see the facts before I make a decision….
gates and mullen on cspan3 now:
note - cspan3 has an audio feed only for folks on dial up.
HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT
Thanks
man,
mccain is reclaiming his manhood
yeah. just throwing the date, may 22, into your calculations.
To me, the ultimate fact is that the problem is not one of national security at all. It is, in fact, a problem of separation of powers and checks and balances. The problem is the balance of power within our own government. The President has no inherent right to make demands of the Congress and the Congress has no innate requirement to comply with Presidential demands. Here again from Mickey Edwards in a panel on FISA: Safeguarding Both Security and Freedom which aired on C-Span August 29, 2007:
Glenn has a fine collection of the facts about Chris Carney and his role in supporting BushCo’s warrantless wiretapping. It’s in the Glenzilla link Jane posted above, and in the other links embedded in Glenn’s post.
Thanks- I’ll read it- I am interested in Carney’s OTHER positions vs his gooper opponent. If I am going to support a gooper- I at least want to know that his positions are no worse than the guy we’re gonna dump. If so- I’m in.
I think there’s a “/snark” missing there somewhere.
;)
hmm, listening to the “Financial Speculation in Commodity Markets: Are Institutional Investors and Hedge Funds Contributing to Food and Energy Price Inflation?”
will catch the Gates one on re-run
add my voice of appreciation for leading the effort to keep the pressure up on these folks …
Awe come on Cole, Carney won election by lipsynchin’ some progressive and anti- fascist positions. His actions after election were opposite his statements in the campaign. If he doesn’t publicly recant, SOME folks are callin’ on people in his district who voted for ‘im because of his progressive positions last time to withhold support THIS time. If that allows a Republican that supports those fascist policies to be elected, so be it…that folks will be easy ta target and folks in his district will NOT be able ta say “there is not a dimes worth of difference” between the parties.
It ain’t difficult, it’s an effort to isolate fascist politics in one party.
I don’t see this as supporting a gooper. Out Dems either support the people of this country or they don’t and Carney is especially irritating since he came here to ask for support and money. Feet to fire is good by me.
is the room audio feed working for you - or some other link? i couldn’t get anything when i tried at 10:30am.
What about retroactive immunity for the telecoms don’t you understand?
“Our Dems” Edit back, please
me too, so I went to their website
try this one
http://hsgac.senate.gov/public.....rings.Live
Carney, work’n the congressional carnival.
Great Blue America Ad!
Yes, I see this as an exercise in holding Carney accountable to his party. The best possible outcome is for him to come out against amnesty. As I understand it, if he does that quickly, some of the fund could then be used to thank him for seeing the light.
Good idea!
I’m truly fed up with the Blue Dogs. After we get even more of a majority in November they can strut around talking about being in power and very important and will still vote with the Repubs. I say we go after all of them head on.
wasn’t working for me earlier, but is now thanks. i’m going to listen to gates though, lieberman makes me feel ill. pls let us know if anything interesting and/or amusing is said.
I gave $50.
What’s wrong with supporting a Puke? It would send a strong message.
I think we should do that against Harry Reid. We don’t need to take out all the traitors, just one at a time. We’ll still have a majority in the Senate.
I would rather see a Puke than a traitor Rat who is a disgrace to the party and the country.
I think Reid is running again in 2012. Let’s take the worthless bastard out.
Is a wolf in sheep’s clothing any the less a wolf?
RRRRAAAAWWWWWW!!!!!1`111
amen. the house leadership has been useless, especially with regards to fisa.
I agree, but by-and-large it’s too late for the 2008 cycle. The target now is 2010, and we’ll have to put forward progressive challengers in the primaries.
One of the places where it’s not (quite) too late now is New Mexico. Our state newspaper of record (The Albuquerque Urinal) endorsed Harry Teague in the House District 2 Dem primary. His opponent is Bill McCamley, a reasonably progressive younger candidate. So of course the Journal endorses a conservative from the Eastern o’l patch.
BC
McCain live on CNN: in Miami saying, “I will not passively await the day when Cuba will be free.”
What, he’s plannin’ an invasion already?
.
.
More and better Democrats!
Prairie Today: Prairie Predictions
Yes.
If we don’t do it, we’re not supporting all the good Dems who turned down the Telecom’s money.
We’re not the ones lobbying for retroactive immunity. This isn’t a fight that
anyone who believes in the Constitution and the rule of lawliberals/progressives can walk away from.Without blue dogs, would dems hold a majority in either house?
lol! almost spew’d on that one
We need to actively recruit good progressives to run against them and make sure that the people in their districts are told exactly what they are doing. There are times when you take a chance and simply do what’s right and damn the consequences.
Not to worry. I think he means that he will actively await the day. /s
Specter just referred to Gates as Ambassador Gates. I think he is losing it.
Twain, I wish your considered advice might fall upon the ears of Congress, be heard and acted upon …
Sometimes, the only honorable thing to do is what is right. Wouldn’t be a bad idea the rest of the time …
oh that Glenn, he must be ok now. But what about when he says in regards to the (D) congresscritters, who so bravely investigated steroid use in pro baseball:
Well I would say that the odds of progressives winning in blue dog congressional districts are somewhere between slim and none- there’s another way—that’s to build a larger majority in both houses and then go after a few blue dogs in blue districts where the voters are likely to support a more progressive candidate- but that’s a slower more deliberate process than “nuke em all”.
current breakdown
btw - ask Al Wynn about that whole ’slim and none’ thingy :D
can you (please) tell me what we accomplished by having a majority in the house this past year?
better democrats please.
Either you’re missing my point, or I’m missing yours, although I have a feeling we’re on the same side. My point is just because someone fools us into believing he’s a Democrat because he calls himself one and spouts Democratic principles he doesn’t really believe in, once we find out who he really is because he undermines us, do we still owe him aid and comfort? I don’t think so, do you? I don’t think so because he is also undermining all those “good Dems who turned down the telecom’s money” as you state.
We really haven’t gain much this year by being timid. I don’t propose that we nuke them all - I just suggest that we put some handwriting on the wall and see what happens - our way or we will work against you.
Since all they care about is being re-elected, it couldn’t hurt.
Well, I hate to say this but, we got to set the agenda and we got to claim the chairmanship of many of the congressional committees.
Well Harry Reid wrote a book and Nancy Pelosi discovered the difference between leadership and advocacy.
Of course “better democrats” is the goal- the issue is the best way to accomplish that.
I don’t think that the dem majority accomplished much of anything legislatively- I didn’t expect them to with a thin majority- and a member of the opposite party in the White House- what was valuable is what DIDN’T happen- more Bush policies turned into law- and that WOULD have happened if goopers had retained control
Every time I think about her calling us advocates I get totally furious. She might as well have said I’m the queen and you’re not. Who the heck does she think she is talking to the people like that !
I’ve perfected this look.
better n better!
OK–I thought from your previous comments that you WERE advocating nuking them all.
at least specter was advocating talking with iran instead of bombing them.
YES…if you allow for the Blue Dogs who were in office before ‘06…and that’s the point, ain’t it? To get the bastards elected and then DIS-elected if they don’t do the right thing. But the question should really be “were there Blue dogs before 2006″…and the answer of course is “yes”. Carney was elected with progressive support, acted as a Blue Dog and now must pay the consequences if he doesn’t recant. It’s the way we purge the bastards from the party. It ain’t complicated,Cole but I am confused about your discomfort if ya think you might be supportin’ a fascist by givin money to pressure another fascist in your own fuckin’ party. The Dems don’t lose the majority if they lose a few Blue Dogs now…
This is what it’s gunna take ta get DLC-corporatist politics and politicians outta the Democratic Party. Of course, gettin’ Obama on top a the ticket and kickin’ “she who should forever remain nameless” back ta New York is a good start.
Yes, but Democrats continued to fund the war and the only reason the Republicans got away with so much when they were in the majority is because the Democrats failed miserably to mount any opposition.
now, back to McBluster in Miami . . .
I’m serious firedogs, who in the hell are his consultants . . .LeadBalloon Partners ?!?!?, ’cause I’d like to get in on that windfall . . . the once very reliable anti-Castro boots on the ground/gotv juggernaut has dissipated in the last 3 years - due in large part to the Republics allowing Tancredo/Sensenbrenner to run unleashed and bash the brown people . . .there are also generational differences coming in to play as well
PBS NOW - Florida Hispanics Have Their Say
OT…fukyougeorgebooooooosh
CNN
SANTA BARBARA, California (CNN) — Barbara Harvey climbs into the back of her small Honda sport utility vehicle and snuggles with her two golden retrievers, her head nestled on a pillow propped against the driver’s seat.
Californian Barbara Harvey says she is forced to sleep in her car with her dogs after losing her job earlier this year.
1 of 3 A former loan processor, the 67-year-old mother of three grown children said she never thought she’d spend her golden years sleeping in her car in a parking lot.
“This is my bed, my dogs,” she said. “This is my life in this car right now.”
Harvey was forced into homelessness earlier this year after being laid off. She said that three-quarters of her income went to paying rent in Santa Barbara, where the median house in the scenic, oceanfront city costs more than $1 million. She lost her condo two months ago and had little savings as backup.
“It went to hell in a handbasket,” she said. “I didn’t think this would happen to me. It’s just something that I don’t think that people think is going to happen to them is what it amounts to. It happens very quickly, too.”
Harvey now works part time for $8 an hour, and she draws Social Security to help make ends meet. But she still cannot afford an apartment, and so every night she pulls into a gated parking lot to sleep in her car, along with other women who find themselves in a similar predicament.
It’s a great strategy to go after BushDogs when there is a primary challenger we can rally behind. That’s not the case here with this Carney ad campaign.
I still wonder if Blue America time, talent, and money would have more impact if they were going to people like Alan Grayson, Jim Himes, etc. to make sure we get as many of these people in Congress as possible.
Carney is already the Dem candidate, and it doesn’t seem like we have much sway with him or his constituents. When he’s up again, yes, I’m all for running against him, just as we did with Al Wynn, but at this point of the process, it seems like our resources would be better spent elsewhere.
I can just imagine McCan’t waking up every morning: “Is Cuba free? Put aside that toast, man! IS CUBA FREE?!?!”
That’s exactly the kind of thinkin’ that has got us passive leadership and corporatist Democrats in the first damned place.
omg
http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/LI.....ng.cnn.jpg
LOL!
There must be at least a few Blue Dogs who are beginning to wonder about their future if it could happen to Wynn. We need to push that fear as far as we can.
personally, i’m not interested in supporting candidates (like carney) unless there is a way to hold them accountable. so, for me, it’s a win/win - because it makes the support for dems that we think are progressive more effective if they know what may happen to them if they lie to us (as carney has done).
OT via Raw Story:
“At a campaign stop in Prestonburg, Kentucky, Sen. Hillary Clinton said that an election analysis by a firm led by Karl Rove supports the argument that she is a stronger Democratic candidate than Sen. Barack Obama.
Said Clinton, “There’ve been a lot of analysis [sic] about which of us is stronger to win against Sen. McCain, and I believe I am the stronger candidate. And just today I found some curious support for that position when one of the TV networks released an analysis done by — of all people — Karl Rove saying that I was the stronger candidate. Somebody got a hold of his analysis and there it is.”
AARRGGHH! Why does she do that?! (shaking head in disbelief) Hillary, Hillary, Hillary…
How is filling Congress with a bunch of Alan Graysons and Donna Edwards passive?
I talking about how best to use our extremely limited resources. Making a statement might not be the best use of this money. All I’m saying, dude.
I like your big tent approach, but they could have defunded the Iraq occupation as soon as they took over in 2007.
They had a second
bite of that applechance to defund the war as soon as Bear Stearns collapsed. That would have done a lot to help the credit markets.I’m so pissed at their failure to catch the subprime crisis before it detonated, I could spit.