Headache? Take a pill, boys.

D.C. as home of “incumbent protection racket.” Sweet! *g*

One more thing and then I’ll shut up for a while. The whole language of political campaigning fuels the divisiveness. (Lord knows there’re plenty of other reasons.) Spine vibrates unpleasantly at the words “camp” and “team.” Now maybe that’s just me, but I am a strong believer in the power of language. Framing. You know. The Lakoff thingie.

Yesterday was an outstanding day.

Accountability Now and the US Budget outline for FY2010.

I see them as somehow related.

Consider also primarying Congresscritters who want to shut down transparency in House and Senate processes.

Woohoo!! Go Jane!!

Didn’t think about that.

I kept seeing stuff you and Markos on the web yesterday so I wondered when you would post on this. Good work and maybe some folks will think twice about who they are supposed to be representing.

So when do you thing the conservatives will do their version of this? Oh wait, Steele is already doing that!!

Think not thing

as Mr. Burns would say, Exxcceelleenntt. “Incumbent protection racket”, it’s gold!

Paying attention to how a senator or House member votes, and whether or not their voting record takes their constituents’ wishes into account is a “headache” for (all) Democrats? How so, I wonder? Seems to me that that kind of attention to detail would be welcome by all Democrats except for the guilty ones who show themselves to be a candidate for being primaried. Seems that the Democratic Party in general would and should be pleased for the help. Especially if the help results in bringing better Democrats into the party. But that old thing called Democracy I guess went out of favor a long time ago?

Hope y’all talked about the bankers lobbying those “serious” Blue dogs into taking out the provisions that would have helped defaulting homeowners negotiate their mortgages. Bankers do not represent The People.

Thanks, Jane.

You are essentially being the eyes and ears for constituents or even better, an electorate ombudsman.

This is an important role to play. Having a score card on line, showing the relationship between a congress person’s votes, level and frequency of communication with certain lobbiests will be a “living connect the dots” for voters. It sounds like you will track all in congress, not just Dems.

I would add, polling information form districts constituents to find out what their concerns are and post information about a district from the State Department of Development. An example that comes to mind is Boehner. I have met with people in his district and studied the stats on his district from the state of Ohio’s Department of Development as well as county level develpment stats. His votes do not even come close to the needs in his district and his lobby influences have nothing to do with his district for the most part.

I love this concept. You are going to create a new landscape and there are specific, powerful lobby groups who will not like this.

The challenge will be when special interest groups are representing interests and needs of most constituents…

How are you planning to measure the needs and desires of the constiuents in a specific district?

Primarying Blue Dogs certainly can be done with no feeling of guilt whatsoever due to fact that they voting the wrong way most of the time.

Jane, I know this disconnect between the chattering class in Washington DC and NYC has been going on a long time but it’s become so stark in the past year. Even “normal” non-blog addicts are noticing and getting disgusted. And people like me just cannot bear it any more. It’s funny, but I think the economic crisis, not the political upheaval, has exposed their mendacity so completely.

Anyway, keep charging forward!

tired ass sports analogy or not . . .

dear goodness – Hamsher, Greenwald, Moulitsas, Bowers . . . and Silver to bat clean up ?!?!? Murderers Row baby ! sending corporatist whores back to Palookaville !

this fan in the stands likey – thanks Jane

If they think we’re a headache now, just wait… ;)

Here’s the Digg:

http://digg.com/politics/Accou…..y_Headache

Well…looks like we are acknowledged, now feel our wrath!

Jane – one small suggestion: Make some buttons that we can place on our blogs to spread the word.

.

WE THE PEOPLE……..are you listening Beltway?

sounds like your next film will have the working title of
Mr. Kos goes to Washington”

or

Kos and Jane Kick Blue Dog Butt

Great work Ms. Hamsher

You know …it is tiresome and kind of a waste of time for these “media” people to be all veclept about Democrats who criticize other Democrats. We are *not* Republicans who walk in lockstep. As Markos has often said, our strength is in our differences.

Besides all that, so-called “centrist” Democrats have been vehemently against the liberal side of their party for a couple decades at the very least. Why is that not considered “party purging” when in affect is WAS party purging to silence ~ and ridicule ~ a whole generation and more of liberal thinkers?

I just hate these people who are trying to fight liberal thought. Liberals are notoriously known for being open to other people’s views and we are usually appreciative of those views as long as nobody tried to force them on us. As a liberal, I am not wanting to take over the world, nor to make everything liberal, I just want R-E-S-P-E-C-T like even crazy right wingnuts like Matt Drudge get that liberals have not had. These wingnuts haven’t had too many good ideas and the ones they have implemented have created war, misery, poverty and basically ruined the entire earth, thanks to their greed.

Hurrumph!

Cat In Seattle

Would be nice if the “incumbent protection racket” membership could be expanded to include the MSM.

I forgot to add…paradigm shift for the Fourth Estate.

It’s insider vs. outsider, not left vs. right.

Can’t it be both? Isn’t the idea to repalce insiders with outsidfers who are more to the left? Whatever. It’s a great thing and I’msure you’ll keep us posted. Is Blue America in on this?

it’s actually very good that Accountability Now is seen as a headache. when you have a headache, you have to do something about it to make it go away and stop hurting.

It means that Accountability Now is already making some people very nervous.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and the worst headache gets the aspirin. I can’t wait to lend a hand to help fuck some of these guys up really badly.

well, you’re seeing shuster give time to jane and others and Rachel’s in prime time, so maybe the incumbents there are losing some of their grip.

Go Jane and Markos,
The talking heads and others in the traditional media are so used to Republican talking points that when something new is said by someone new, they’re like deer in the headlights. Look at the ‘Cup o Shmoe’ crew when they were told that the bridge from LA to Vegas was a lie. They acted schocked.
And, of course, we’re a headache they esconced Dem’s. We’re changing the rules on them.
Rule # 1: No more corporate whoring!
Rule # 2: If in doubt when taking a position, see rule 1.

Someone seems to have tickled Chris Matthews’ nose recently, to some good effect. The pug debating Barney Frank last night on Hardball barely started his normal schtick in re the “Democrat [sic] Party” and, all of a sudden, lil’ ole’ Chris was absolutely smothering the hapless pug with righteous indignation for his deliberately heinous and demeaning choice of labeling. Frank played it cool with a perfectly straight face, and just let Chris rant at the idiot, before inserting his own stiletto. Good on Barney Frank. ‘Bout time on Matthews, with his sudden epiphany, or whatever.

Some corners of the beltway might wake up and listen, if we keep pounding on ‘em.

Terrific work, Jane! I love seeing you on the telly! Yes, boyz, there’s a gifted brain in that pretty little head, and she takes no prisoners. *g*

do they vote wrong “most of the time” or just too often on important stuff. not defending the assholes for a second. just askin’.

Until and unless Accountability Now can give an example of a Republican candidate they support, the partisan label will apply.

Issa. When he said “Democrat party” matthews got pissed. “C’mon. Let’s cut that Mickey Mosue stuff. Save it for the stump.” Loved it.

I watched Obama’s speech on MSNBC which had a strip chart running across the bottom of the screen. The red stripe showed McCain-voters’ second-by-second approval of the speech, and the blue stripe showed the same for Obama voters. Throughout most of the speech, the red strip was above the blue, indicating (if I understand correctly) that McCain voters liked Obama’s speech even more than Obama voters did.

There is a significant populist sentiment among the rank-and-file GOP, represented by Huckabee and Ron Paul in the primaries. David Sirota has more on this “Robin Hood Republicanism.”

Seconded.

I will agree with you when they show up on shows like MTP, This Week, etc.

Thanks for the link.

Dugg.

and their kids,and family Im looking at you MeekMikka,and Killer Joe

FWIW, I have vivid memories of a Ned JoLie debate questions about CT pork.

Ned gave an excellent response about accountability to which JoLie replied wink, wink, nudge, nudge, that he would be far better than Ned at brining bacon back to CT.

Thanks so much Jane.

Ooooh Thanks! All those particularly repugnant pugs all run together in my mind some days. No wonder it was so much fun. Issa’s incandescent teeth-whitener rendered me momentarily blind at the time. Don’t these guys ever look in the mirror before going on camera?! He prolly cracked the lens. Idgit!

How are you planning to measure the needs and desires of the constiuents in a specific district?

suspect that’s where wunderkind Silver comes in

and, Co Founders Hamsher and Greenwald touch on that here

They insist that they will “take district realities into account,” which means that Democrats who represent moderate districts will be forgiven for their moderate votes.

and just the thought of all those luscious SEIU boots on the ground really makes me smile

good idea

suspect a change of underwear was called for in your CD-10 :D

do you know if that data available anywhere on the web? i’d like to do an analysis of what obama said that appealed to mccain voters. thanks.

Thanks for the heads up.

Just one thought: moderate district & moderate votes does not necessarily mean the needs of the constituents are being met.

A rep may be voting moderate, and moderate votes may reflect his/her district but voting for legislation that does not meet the needs that voters have voiced is a different ball game, especially if the votes are a benefit to big lobbies.

i’d like to do an analysis of what obama said that appealed to mccain voters. thanks.

Mornin,

here, allow me to save you some time – Everything

MSNBC reviews it’s McCain Focus Group response here

found on this page here

Thanks Jane!
My biggest complaint regarding representative government is the audacity of elected officials who blather in the media about “voting their conscience”. They’re elected to vote for and against legislation as it relates to the desires of their constituents, period! “Voting their conscience” means they’re voting for paid special interest. Please keep up the good work, Jane and Markos and keep Washington politicians on their toes.

they can run, but cannot hide from Nate’s numbers period

Democracy Now just had a news blurb on Accountability now. Said that the group formed to challenge centrist and right wing democrats.
Jane – you might give Amy Goodman a shout out/

Jane, I’ve forwarded the name of a potential candidate for Michigan’s 8th Congressional district, now represented by a neo-con toadie, Mike Rogers. Virg Benero, mayor of Lansing, Michigan. He’s been speaking forcefully for working families in the national media recently. He does not suffer fools.

I’m a Nate Silver fan.

you are a linkgoddes — thank you!!! bookmarked for later analysis.

True,

Additionally, SEIU is so well tuned on the state level I am sure they will be able to add stats on what local constituent issues may be and if voting matches up (beyond the moderate constituent-moderate congressional votes perspective).

Jane, if y’all are going to change the game in D.C., the poor talkin’ heads are gonna get a headache from having to think original thoughts.

After all these years spewing verbal trash, why do you want to trouble these poor folks ?

Virg Benero, mayor of Lansing, Michigan. He’s been speaking forcefully for working families in the national media recently. He does not suffer fools.

I’ve caught him a couple of times as well; he’s really good.

Not that I know of. Perhaps there is an MSNBC video of the speech on which it shows.

There were some very surprising places where the gap increased and I wondered if the McCain-voters understood what Obama had just said. It would really be interesting to analyze that data.

Possibly Nate Silver has something. I recall that he did some analyses of similar second-by-second data during the debates.

so when the thugs have a CPAC with joe the dumber as speaker and michele bachmann presiding over things and rush getting an award, it’s not riling up the base. when liberal bloggers do it, they are a headache? damn right. we are the base of the democratic party and we hold our candidates accountable.

i will contribute to anyone who challenges harry reid, feinstein, lieberweasel and the blue mongrels.

suck on that, CNN.

give them migraines.

I’m really pleased to see this moving forward.

maybe we can replace Baron Hill? Evan Bayh will be too big a nut to crack.

As for Republican challenges – Mark Souder? In the drug policy community there’s a pretty deep animosity to him staying in Congress due to his HEA amendments that deny financial aid to students with a drug conviction.

Wolf, this is just a headache the Democrats do not need.

Wow. He had to ignore the substance of what he just reported to pull that conclusion out.

Speaking of ‘We, the people, I would like to link to Barbara Jordan’s speech to the House Judiciary committee during the Nixon impeachment hearings. I listen to this a couple times a year to renew my passions.

http://www.americanrhetoric.co…..444444.mp3

Those of you too young to remember this should listen. It is among the most powerful speeches ever recorded. It was a shame she was so ill, and didn’t survive to become president. Obama echoes her in many ways. I saw this speech live on TV, and fell in love.

Way to go, Jane & Markos & Nate (and anyone else…)!!!
Stay independent-minded.
Truth to Power always.
Thanks for the excellent work and putting together such great talent and brains.
Dig…dog…dugged….onward.

If Accountability Now is giving corporatist Democrats a headache, maybe they’ll stop fucking us over. “Not tonight, dear…”

This is going to be interesting, Jane. With the pundits and the electorate trained to think left and right, and the language of political views so degraded, trying to move something that really ought to be centrist in nature (we ought to all agree that the Constitution is worth preserving, yes?), is going to be a major uphill battle. That’s not to say the battle isn’t worth fighting. But, it’s nearly like you have to invent a new language to describe it. An ordinarily astute commenter in Glenn’s threads yesterday, just couldn’t get outside the liberal vs conservative box. And, for pundits, there is genuinely only two labels. Anything that is opposed to the way the Bush administration conducted business is liberal by default. And, if it’s liberal it must be the Democrats promoting it. Anything else simply fails to compute. So, I hear Democrats promote Accountability Now as though it is theirs, when in truth its inception was attractive to Libertarians as well. The strength of Accountability Now will be in its ability to attract, what used to be known as liberals – that is, those from both the Conservative and Democratic camps who believed ideas could be tested, and if an idea failed the test it could be discarded in favor of a better idea. Once upon a time both Democrats and Conservatives held a value for the scientific method.

The pug debating Barney Frank last night on Hardball barely started his normal schtick in re the “Democrat [sic] Party” and, all of a sudden, lil’ ole’ Chris was absolutely smothering the hapless pug with righteous indignation for his deliberately heinous and demeaning choice of labeling.

What I’ve observed about CM over the years is that he is impressed by pols or parties acting assertively. Dems, until 06, had for the most part been behaving in a craven manner in their public behavior. Maybe with Dems being emboldened by the Prez’s example (and election results), CM is tiring of the Repugs old Rovian name-calling and demonizing tactics. One can hope…

Wolf, this is just a headache the Democrats do not need.

Wow. He had to ignore the substance of what he just reported to pull that conclusion out.

Talk about lack of intellectual grasp! This is exactly what the Democrats need, and it’s a headache powder. Electing Dems responsive to their constituents will strengthen the party and its current mandate, because responsiveness engenders loyalty. Doesn’t anyone broadcasting on CNN have a brain that can escape circular logic?

I am so thrilled to read about the PAC. What excites me most is the fear some Democrats have. Good. It’s about time their held accountable. Without those democrats, we wouldn’t have had so many Bush policies rammed through. Enough is enough. I only hope this PAC can stay true to it’s original intentions and not become tainted, as so many who play in the DC sandbox tend to become. This would be my only fear.

Stay Golden, Accountability Now.

their = they’re

Well, I’m discovering this article way late in the day.

Klynn had a good suggestion at #14. It’s worth considering if you haven’t already.

A question I have that I didn’t see an answer to is, what about the Republicans? Are the libertarians who participated in Strange Bedfellows going to target some of their more irresponsible legislators, also? I’m sure that having libertarians, who are at least committed to limiting government power, would be an improvement, and the best we could hope for.

My fear, as well, with every new PAC.

Hopefully, this will not happen here. There’s some reason for optimism, in that many of us who are somehow allied with this movement are independent people. I was becoming disinterested in all this stuff after the 2008 election, largely because, as I wrote at the time, I was tired of seeing us getting our asses handed to us. The strategy Jane’s outlined here sounds like a workable one. If it didn’t, I’d be sitting this one out. Hopefully, there are other such people.

Oh, crap, nevermind. I just read the paragraph of the article I skipped over. Glad you’re keeping that thought in mind, though. We don’t just need better Democrats. We really need better Republicans, too. I don’t envy honest conservatives and libertarians the job of breaking that matrix, so to speak. ;)