Comments on: Making Sense of Chris Van Hollen’s Criticism of Progressive Activists Fighting for Obama’s Agenda http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/ Firedoglake weblog Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:53:53 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: SomeGuy http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873223 SomeGuy Sat, 04 Apr 2009 23:53:49 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873223 <p>It’s tempting to just say blue dogs are bad, mmmkay. </p> <p>Blue dogs are all wrong in one way or another, but what they are wrong about varies from member to member. </p> <p>If you look at the voting statistics over at <a href="http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?search=selectScore&chamber=House&scoreSort=lifetime" rel="nofollow">ProgressivePunch</a> you will see that while the Blue Dogs on average are worse than the Progressives, and worse than the New Democrats, they are still much much better than the the Republicans. You can also see in that chart how progressive they are compared to their district. Looking at those two numbers you can find blue dogs who we should try to defeat and blue dogs who would just be replaced by worse Republicans. </p> <p><a href="http://www.swingstateproject.com/" rel="nofollow">SwingStateProject.com</a> also has some great information on that.</p> It’s tempting to just say blue dogs are bad, mmmkay.

Blue dogs are all wrong in one way or another, but what they are wrong about varies from member to member.

If you look at the voting statistics over at ProgressivePunch you will see that while the Blue Dogs on average are worse than the Progressives, and worse than the New Democrats, they are still much much better than the the Republicans. You can also see in that chart how progressive they are compared to their district. Looking at those two numbers you can find blue dogs who we should try to defeat and blue dogs who would just be replaced by worse Republicans.

SwingStateProject.com also has some great information on that.

]]> By: whitewidow http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873207 whitewidow Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:50:30 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873207 <p>I think ads on the estate tax votes could be very effective, highlighting how these born-again deficit haters voted,</p> <p>I don’t think Americans are probably much in the mood to hear about how unfair the estate tax is at the moment.</p> <p>Plus you get to point at that lowering revenues also increases deficits.</p> I think ads on the estate tax votes could be very effective, highlighting how these born-again deficit haters voted,

I don’t think Americans are probably much in the mood to hear about how unfair the estate tax is at the moment.

Plus you get to point at that lowering revenues also increases deficits.

]]> By: kevinp http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873145 kevinp Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:46:31 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873145 <p>Actually the Blue Dogs only help to give committee control. If you count on the Blue Dogs to give us 60 votes, they control the issue. And again, we gain no power if we’re not willing to vote for and support someone else. We’ll continue to be the “battered spouse” forever.</p> Actually the Blue Dogs only help to give committee control. If you count on the Blue Dogs to give us 60 votes, they control the issue. And again, we gain no power if we’re not willing to vote for and support someone else. We’ll continue to be the “battered spouse” forever.

]]> By: Mauimom http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873119 Mauimom Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:17:36 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873119 <blockquote><p>Are there any plans for Accountability Now to back third-party candidates, like Green Party?</p></blockquote> <p>If they do, they can count me [and my of course MASSIVE financial contributions] out.</p>

Are there any plans for Accountability Now to back third-party candidates, like Green Party?

If they do, they can count me [and my of course MASSIVE financial contributions] out.

]]> By: bobschacht http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873110 bobschacht Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:05:13 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873110 <p>I’d like to see more support for third party candidates, esp. Green Party. Not at the presidential level, but down-ticket, to build a third party strength. Democrats need to know that they have to do more than say, “I am not a Republican” to get our votes.</p> <p>Bob in HI</p> I’d like to see more support for third party candidates, esp. Green Party. Not at the presidential level, but down-ticket, to build a third party strength. Democrats need to know that they have to do more than say, “I am not a Republican” to get our votes.

Bob in HI

]]> By: dakine01 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873107 dakine01 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:03:39 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873107 <p><a href="http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/fdl-book-salon-welcomes-nathaniel-frank-unfriendly-fire-how-the-gay-ban-undermines-the-military-and-weakens-america/" rel="nofollow">Book Salon a couple of flights upstairs</a> with Dr Nathaniel Frank’s <i>Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America</i>.</p> <p>Hosted by Christopher Lisotta</p> Book Salon a couple of flights upstairs with Dr Nathaniel Frank’s Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America.

Hosted by Christopher Lisotta

]]> By: hazmaq http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873103 hazmaq Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:02:27 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873103 <p>Seriously?<br /> You’re actually trying to make sense out of Chris -”Oh Israel I’m so sorry I sent a letter to Condi about your excessive use of force against Lebanon and I’ll never do it again” - Van Hollen?</p> <p>Good luck getting a DCCC man to do anything but schill for the Right. Just ask Raaaaahhhhm.</p> Seriously?
You’re actually trying to make sense out of Chris -”Oh Israel I’m so sorry I sent a letter to Condi about your excessive use of force against Lebanon and I’ll never do it again” – Van Hollen?

Good luck getting a DCCC man to do anything but schill for the Right. Just ask Raaaaahhhhm.

]]> By: SomeGuy http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873101 SomeGuy Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:56:51 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873101 <p>One Senator could make a huge difference. Right now the best bills can be killed because we don’t have enough votes for cloture. When Sen. Franken is sworn in we will have 59 including the two Independents that caucus with the Democrats. With just one more, we will have the votes needed without any Republicans. If a bill comes up that would be very unpopular back home, a Senator could vote against it. The opposition would then have to try to cram an explanation of Senate rules into a sound bite for campaign ads.</p> <p>Congressmen and Congresswomen are also important. Depending on what you want from the Government, your Representative may be the person most willing and able to help you in a variety of matters.</p> One Senator could make a huge difference. Right now the best bills can be killed because we don’t have enough votes for cloture. When Sen. Franken is sworn in we will have 59 including the two Independents that caucus with the Democrats. With just one more, we will have the votes needed without any Republicans. If a bill comes up that would be very unpopular back home, a Senator could vote against it. The opposition would then have to try to cram an explanation of Senate rules into a sound bite for campaign ads.

Congressmen and Congresswomen are also important. Depending on what you want from the Government, your Representative may be the person most willing and able to help you in a variety of matters.

]]> By: NorskeFlamethrower http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873100 NorskeFlamethrower Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:54:32 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873100 <p>Citizen Eureka Springs:</p> <p>You have been sellin’ that slush for Uncle Ralphie since 2000 and Al Gore is certainly too classy to pass responsibility off for a loss but WE out here who hafta continue to make voting decisions in the future have the responsibility to learn from the defeats of the past so as not to buy into the charletons and snake-oil salesmen in future elections…the numbers don’t lie, if Nader had released his folks or told them in Florida that that election was too close to protest by voting for him, Gore would have won. And, further, that’s what the obsolete, broken-down political opportunist told everyone he wanned his folks to do and he knew he could swing Florida and he didn’t do it.</p> Citizen Eureka Springs:

You have been sellin’ that slush for Uncle Ralphie since 2000 and Al Gore is certainly too classy to pass responsibility off for a loss but WE out here who hafta continue to make voting decisions in the future have the responsibility to learn from the defeats of the past so as not to buy into the charletons and snake-oil salesmen in future elections…the numbers don’t lie, if Nader had released his folks or told them in Florida that that election was too close to protest by voting for him, Gore would have won. And, further, that’s what the obsolete, broken-down political opportunist told everyone he wanned his folks to do and he knew he could swing Florida and he didn’t do it.

]]> By: Bluetoe2 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873095 Bluetoe2 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:21:43 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/04/04/making-sense-of-chris-van-hollens-criticism-of-progressive-activists-fighting-for-obamas-agenda/#comment-1873095 <p>Back off???? If progressive groups do anything they should turn up the heat even more. Out with the Blue Dogs once and for all!</p> Back off???? If progressive groups do anything they should turn up the heat even more. Out with the Blue Dogs once and for all!

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