The National Republican Campaign Committee on Thursday went on the attack against 18 freshman Democrats who it said weren’t fiscally conservative enough to earn stripes as “Blue Dog” Democrats.
The only problem was the Blue Dogs said those 18 didn’t ask to be a part of the group, which is the most fiscally conservative coalition within the Democratic caucus.
That didn’t stop the NRCC, which blasted press releases to the hometowns of 18 vulnerable freshman, targeting their votes in favor of the $787 billion economic stimulus bill and the $410 billion omnibus spending measure as running counter to their campaign claims to help restore fiscal responsibility to Washington.
Those Democrats the NRCC said were “rejected” by the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition included: John Boccieri (Ohio); Kathy Dahlkemper (Penn.); Steve Driehaus (Ohio); Alan Grayson (Fla.); Debbie Halvorson (Ill.); Martin Heinrich (N.M.); Mary Jo Kilroy (Ohio); Larry Kissell (N.C.); Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.); Dan Maffei (N.Y.); Betsy Markey (Colo.); Eric Massa (N.Y.); Tom Perriello (Va.); Gary Peters (Mich.); Mark Schauer (Mich.); Kurt Schrader (Ore.); Harry Teague (N.M.) and Dina Titus (Nev.).
“The new membership list of the Blue Dog Coalition for the 111th Congress was released, but self-proclaimed “fiscal conservative” Rep. Harry Teague’s name was noticeably absent,” a version of the release read. “Despite Teague’s rhetoric that he would be a good steward of the taxpayers’ dollars in Congress, did the Blue Dog Coalition see Teague’s claims as nothing more than empty rhetoric?”
Who will save us from these meddlesome freshmen who won’t shut up? Freshmen like…Alan Grayson:
The standard playbook for new members of Congress includes this time-honored piece of advice: Lay low, focus on constituent service and avoid drawing too much attention to yourself.
But Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) hasn’t paid much attention to the old adage about being seen and not heard. Just two months into his first term, he’s already making a name for himself with a shoot-from-the-lip style and an ideological edge that some argue is ill-suited for the competitive, suburban Orlando seat that he represents.
On Wednesday, Grayson weighed in on the dispute between the Obama administration and Rush Limbaugh, calling the conservative talk show host “a sorry excuse for a human being.” In January, he referred to Limbaugh as a “has-been hypocrite loser” who “was more lucid when he was a drug addict.”
The tart-tongued freshman also skewered Wall Street CEOs with sharp questioning at a recent Financial Services Committee meeting — video of which he uploaded to YouTube — and, in a much-noted personnel move, hired prominent liberal blogger and political consultant Matt Stoller to be a senior policy adviser on his congressional staff.
Thank gawd we’ve got some new blood with backbone, smarts and principles
But just case if anyone needed more evidence that Blue Dogs are the natural heirs to the failed ideologies of the GOP.
Le Roi est mort. Vive le Roi!



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Any donors around here for the Alan Grayson Presidential Exploratory Committee? Damn, this guy is fantastic!
Glad to see my guy didn’t make the cut for the blue Dawgs
“tart-tongued”
Heh. For once, someone who’s not afraid to call a fat assed drug addled sex addict for what he is..a fat assed drug addled sex addict.
More and better Democrats!
G’morning, Jane.
desperately trying not to fade into irrelevance …
tell alan grayson to keep up the good work.
alangrayson AT graysonforcongress DOT com
Good lord! Watch the video. I knew the Fed was printing off the rest of our economy and this proves it. The guy doesn’t even want to say where the $$$ went. I KNEW they were giving it to overseas banks ! G*ddamnit!
Thought you would enjoy Howard Kurtz’s promotion of the fearsome Republican counterattack on Obama for his gentle reminders of Limbaugh’s place in the Republican party.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..id=topnews
I’m quaking.
wow. just wow.
and good for grayson.
we need more like grayson. the senate banking committee hearing on aig yesterday was beyond pathetic. for the second time this week (the first being the senate budget committee hearing with bernanke) senator bunning was the only semi-coherent senator. he blew away every dem on both committees.
how pathetic and embarrassing.
The whole point of the stimulus is to spend government money because nobody else is spending to get the economy going, the banks are not loaning money and nobody is hiring.
Government is the spender of last resort. The Tax cuts in the Stimulus bill are the problem! China has a bigger Stimulus bill than we do I’m hoping that China jump starts the world economy.
One that may soon be able to apply for Blue Dog status is Rep. Larry Kissell from NC-08. After running a campaign where he promised to represent the working person, Rep. Larry Kissell voted for the banking industry by opposing H.R. 1106. I know it is only one vote, but after all the money and time we here in NC dumped into getting Larry elected, this is quite a slap in the face for not only Americans, but the extremely struggling constituants of down-and-out NC-08.
If you feel the urge, give Larry a call and let him know you are disappointed with his vote and ask him why he doesn’t think it is a good idea to assist homeowners with their mortgages when foreclosure is just around the corner for many of them in his district.
His D.C. number: (202) 225-3715
Fayeteville office: (910) 920-2070
Rockingham office: (910) 997-2070
Concord office: (704) 786-1612
done.
He’s in the neighboring district. Quickly earning a reputation as being full of himself and arrogant.
Good for him. Full of himself and arrogant. Translation. He’s actually standing up to be counted. he’l;l be fine as long as he reminds people who their rep used to be — some Putz named Rick keller, famous for sponsoring the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act or some such crap which shielded fast food places from liability for serving shit.
Sounds like the Conventional Wisdom is being mocked given the education level in the burbs and the drop in housing prices in Florida causing resentment attacking with the issues should score Alan points.
Good -pretty short-article on Grayson. Gotta scroll down about 1/2 way. Bunch of ads at the top 1/2 of the page. crappy layout.
http://www.orlandomagazine.com…..38;id=1261
ok.. these rethugs do realize that they’re definitely not helping the blue dog cause by publicly endorsing the blue dogs with their little attack campaign, do they? might even cause some blue dogs to stop being blue dogs, if this goes on. So bring it on, arsehats.
Local talk here is that Larry Kissell told Heath Shuler “No, thanks”
Kissell will not join any coalition or caucus other than the Democratic caucus in the House, according to his staff.
After turning the surplus to debt the GOP and the Blue Dogs want to run as budget hawks?
We need to spend to get the economy going. However I am open to cutting military spending more like closing army bases in GOP and Blue Dog districts.
the video’s amazing
check on Grayson’s campaign website
http://www.graysonforcongress.com/
interesting guy….
I read that also, and I’m glad Larry made that decision. He did run on being more of a progressive voice, which is why I am very disappointed on his vote on the legislation stated above. Again, it is only one vote, but he still needs to explain it and he needs us to join together and hold his feet to the fire to get that explanation.
what an awesome article. so he was a math and science whiz and had bad health problems..
he’s inspiring!
thanks for sharing this bfl.
Wait a minute the GOP is attacking these Dems for not wanting to join the Blue Dogs when the GOP wants you to do something they Bully you.
The GOP needs more Blue Dogs. Rush has to Debate Obama to stay relevant.
That anti climate change guy wanted to debate Al Gore but Al said no.
The GOP is at stage 3 anger and bargaining the next stage
http://www.recover-from-grief……grief.html
My bold if this idea of mine is correct the GOP will be to depressed to vote come the next election.
The GOP have to mourn the death/fact that they were wrong all these years.
Or to put it another way, as one commenter to an Orlando Weekly article said:
Yes, Alan Greyson comes across as a total dick — this isn’t exactly news. Antics like this from him are widely known by those who pay attention to local politics, and frankly, I’m glad. I *want* an agressive bulldog asshole democrat whose fighting against war profiteers.
great rememberances about his parents being on strike during the NYC teachers strike. very impressive resume. bright guy. overcame quite a bit.
“tart-tongued”
Pool Boy and kidz are slippin’, they left out the obligatory “arch liberal“
I remember Grayson also being very funny and quick during his FDL chats like this one:
http://firedoglake.com/2008/01…..son-fl-08/
Great part about how he was literally thrown “under the bus” as a kid in NYC and survived, so a figurative throwing “under the bus,” one of the most overused phrases in DeeCee, is nuthin to him!
Done as well!
Just saw his comment from that link there at #147:
Wow, a politician that practices what he preaches? What a crackpot he is!
there’s some excellent video on his grayson’s website. i learned his law firm was fighting with whistleblowers against contractor fraud in iraq. definitely one of the good guys.
Talleyrand’s observation concerning the Bourbons seems appropriate:
“Ils n’ont rien appris ni rien oublié.”
BREAKING: Gingrich ponders 2012 run – from Richmond Times Dispatch
The Gods are smilin’ on the Dems …
Saw the video. There seems to be a weak point in the testimony.
If the banks wouldn’t borrow the money for fear that their names would be published, they must have some other plan for survival. Or else, they would not be acting in the shareholders interests. If the Fed is truly the lender of last resort. there would be no other plan.
I’ve never heard about a drowning man complaining about the rope being too scratchy and uncomfortable.
LOL!
Perfect!
Loot Gangrene floats his potential Prez aspirations at least once every year. Been doing for many years now. BigMedia laps it up and repeats constantly. Watch for Snoot on all the Sunday shows any week now. Oldwt snaps his fingers, and BigMedia comes callin.
Interesting as I get older, and have a son of my own, how I can see so much of males behaviour is based upon, “Mommy, Mommy, look at MEEEEEE!!!” Gangrene is a classic example.
LMAO … Loot Gangrene …
Siri !
Those eighteen fresher Democrats should take that description of their fiscal “responsibility” as a compliment. Their leadership should take it as a shot across the bow and respond in kind.