Posted on 11/15/2010 5:22:06 PM PST by Indy Pendance
Nancy Pelosi is getting the first test of her might under the new Democratic reality as she scrambles to extinguish a rebellion against her power to appoint lieutenants to top party posts.
Realizing they don’t have the votes to knock the defeated speaker from the top perch in party leadership, moderate Blue Dog Democrats have set their sights a little lower, targeting liberal Pelosi enforcers George Miller (D-Calif.), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), all of whom hold influential jobs because Pelosi has installed them.
Pelosi has already faced down challenges to her authority from a diverse set of lawmakers who have called on her, in public and private conversations, to step aside. But this new effort to purge her best friends from the Democratic leadership will test the extent to which she still controls all the levers of party power.
The effort is being led by Reps. Dan Boren of Oklahoma and Larry Kissell of North Carolina, moderates who have asked Pelosi to step down as leader of the party after the Nov. 2 election wipeout. In addition, a pair of liberals, Reps. Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, are pushing to postpone leadership elections, and dozens of Democrats have publicly or privately expressed reluctance to keep the California Democrat atop the leadership ladder.
For now, behind closed doors, Pelosi and her allies sound somewhat dismissive.
Miller referred to some dissenters as “irrelevant” during a leadership meeting Monday, DeLauro called them “mischief-makers,” and Pelosi characterized them as “irritants,” according to Democratic insiders.
Pelosi aides say they didn’t hear some of the terms described by other sources — flatly denying that Pelosi said “irritants” — and contend that the dissent will abate a bit after lawmakers have a chance to vent their frustrations at a Tuesday caucus meeting. The speaker’s one-on-one conversations since the election have been positive, they say.
And a new round of interaction will give Pelosi another chance to “show that she and the other [leaders] are listening to the concerns of other members,” said one Pelosi aide, who acknowledged that it will take time for some frustrations to subside.
The other side, armed with a stack of amendments to caucus rules aimed at undermining Miller, DeLauro and Slaughter specifically, is fired up. Votes on the amendments would be seen as proxies for faith in Pelosi’s governing team. There is a separate effort that would create open elections for five positions that are currently filled by appointment and two new posts.
One amendment would provide for the election of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman — which is the means Republicans use to select the head of their party campaign arm.
Three others would do the same for the posts of top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, assistant to the Democratic leader and co-chairmen of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. Slaughter is currently chairwoman of the Rules Committee, and Miller and DeLauro co-chair Steering and Policy.
A final amendment would create two new co-chairmanships at Steering and Policy to expand representation at the Democratic leadership table.
Attendees at Monday’s leadership meeting said it was clear Pelosi was looking for a way to stop the rebellion in its tracks. Whether that’s attempted by force of votes, fear of intimidation or quiet co-option remains to be seen.
Pelosi’s aides and other Democratic leadership sources say it’s not yet clear whether she might be open to some change that loosens her grip on power.
But one thing is very clear, they say: She won’t satisfy an angry mob by sacrificing loyalists like Miller and DeLauro.
“The speaker is committed to having her most trusted lieutenants at the table,” said a senior Democratic aide. “But she recognized the need for some changes.”
Some rank-and-file lawmakers are unhappy with the extent to which Pelosi can unilaterally reward and punish members by giving or withholding choice committee assignments and the influence that appointed deputies Miller and DeLauro exert as co-chairmen of the committee in charge of making those assignments.
The effort to tweak the rules and give rank-and-file Democrats more say over influential posts in the caucus reflects frustration over the fact that the Democratic leadership team will remain largely intact despite the Nov. 2 drubbing.
“People woke up the day after the election as afraid of Nancy Pelosi as they were the Monday before. And they shouldn’t be,” said one senior Democratic aide whose own remaining fear of retribution caused her to seek anonymity.
These caucus rules dominated an unusually long and somewhat scattered leadership meeting — a gathering described to POLITICO by some who were present as well as sources who were briefed on the conversation.
Several sources said it’s still not entirely clear what the contours of Majority Whip Jim Clyburn’s new job will be as the No. 3 Democrat. Pelosi wants the Democratic Caucus to create the position of assistant leader between the existing posts of minority whip and caucus chairman for the South Carolina Democrat. There is currently an unranked Democratic leadership job, appointed by the speaker, called “assistant to the leader.” That’s held by Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, who is running to be the ranking Democrat on the Budget Committee.
“It’s a mess,” one Democratic leadership aide said of the scramble to organize for the next Congress.
If all goes as planned for the elected Democratic leadership team, the caucus will give each member another two-year term Wednesday: Pelosi as minority leader, Maryland’s Steny Hoyer as minority whip, Clyburn as assistant leader, Connecticut’s John Larson as caucus chairman and California’s Xavier Becerra as caucus vice chairman.
Pelosi, who faces a challenge for the minority leader job from conservative Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), is the only member of the leadership team who has opposition at this point.
Please keep her. It’s good to know that there are women out there as corrupt, stupid, and inept as the Dung Beetle in Chief.
It’s really hard to fathom that she really believes this crap. She is cold and cruel and calculating. Thank God she’s 70 and not much longer on this earth.
There are no “blue dogs”. They are all commie rats. Its just some are more commie than others. Remember, it was these rats that foisted obamadeath upon us.
It is pure delight to watch them eat their own. I hope they keep her in a high profile position.....just to remind us just how commie all these rat basturds are.
And yet the morons in the LameStreamMedia continue to tell us that it's the Republicans that are in trouble! LOL!
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR MARXISTS IN US GOVERNMENT
From http://soquelbythecreek.blogspot.com/2010/08/socialists-in-united-states-congress.html
The following members of Congress are Marxists and terrorist coddlers who have rebranded themselves as “Progressives” in an
attempt to hide their agenda
Nancy Pelosi was one of the original members of the “Congressional Progressive Caucus” and only left when she was named
Minority Leader.
She is now Speaker of the House and 2 heartbeats away from President of the United States.
The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) was established in 1991 by five members of the United States House of
Representatives: Representatives Ron Dellums (D-CA), Lane Evans (D-IL), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and
Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Then-Representative Bernie Sanders was the convener and first. The founding members were concerned about the economic
hardship imposed by the deepening recession, the growing inequality brought about by the timidity of the Democratic Party
response at the time.
Additional House representatives joined soon, including Major Owens (D-NY), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), David Bonior (D-MI), Bob
Filner (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Patsy Mink (D-HI),
George Miller (D-CA), Pete Stark (D-CA), John Olver (D-MA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
All members are members of the Democratic Party or caucus with the Democratic Party. There are currently 82 total declared
Progressives including 79 voting Representatives, 2 non-voting Delegates, and 1 Senator.
Using information from the Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org), I separated the members of the Congressional
Progressive Caucus into four groups, based on a subjective review of his or her major contributors. Where appropriate, there
is a link to an associated video highlight of the Congressman’s/women’s sheer brilliance.
[YES] = Most top campaign contributors are public-employee or labor unions
[MOSTLY] = Many top campaign contributors are public-employee or labor unions
[MIXED] = Some top campaign contributors are public-employee or labor unions, but some are not
[NO] = Few top campaign contributors are public-employee or labor unions
Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (as of 2-JUN-2010)
Co-Chairs
Hon. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) [YES]
Hon. Lynn Woolsey (CA-06) [YES]
Vice Chairs
Hon. Diane Watson (CA-33) [YES]
Hon. Keith Ellison (MN-05) [YES]
Hon. Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18) [YES]
* (VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: “Was it the Korean War or the Vietnam War? I get confused”)
Hon. Mazie Hirono (HI-02) [MIXED]
Hon. Dennis Kucinich (OH-10) [YES]
Hon. Donna F. Edwards (MD-04) [MIXED]
Hon. Alan Grayson (FL-08) [YES]
Senate Members
Hon. Roland Burris (IL) [NO]
Hon. Bernie Sanders (VT) [YES]
Hon. Tom Udall (NM) [YES]
House Members
Hon. Tammy Baldwin (WI-02) [MOSTLY]
Hon. Xavier Becerra (CA-31) [YES]
Hon. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) [YES]
Hon. Robert Brady (PA-01) [YES]
Hon. Corrine Brown (FL-03) [MOSTLY]
* (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: “Rank has its privledges”)
Hon. Michael Capuano (MA-08) [MIXED]
Hon. André Carson (IN-07) [MOSTLY]
Hon. Donna Christensen (VI-AL) [NO]
Hon. Judy Chu (CA-32) [MOSTLY]
Hon. Yvette Clarke (NY-11) [YES]
Hon. William “Lacy” Clay (MO-01) [YES]
Hon. Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) [MIXED]
Hon. Steve Cohen (TN-09) [MIXED]
Hon. John Conyers (MI-14) [YES]
* (VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: “Read the bill”)
Hon. Elijah Cummings (MD-07) [YES]
Hon. Danny Davis (IL-07) [YES]
Hon. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) [YES]
Hon. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) [MOSTLY]
Hon. Sam Farr (CA-17) [YES]
Hon. Chaka Fattah (PA-02) [YES]
Hon. Bob Filner (CA-51) [YES]
* (VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: “I’m a Congressman. I demand special treatment.”)
Hon. Barney Frank (MA-04) [MIXED] Lots of financial institutions
* (VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: “Statements on Fannie and Freddie just before the collapse”)
Hon. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) [MIXED]
Hon. Luis Gutierrez (IL-04) [YES]
Hon. John Hall (NY-19) [MIXED]
Hon. Phil Hare (IL-17) [YES]
* (VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: “I don’t care about the Constitution”)
Hon. Alcee Hastings (FL-23) [MOSTLY]
Hon. Maurice Hinchey (NY-22) [YES]
Hon. Michael Honda (CA-15) [YES]
Hon. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL-02) [MIXED]
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30) [MOSTLY]
Hon. Hank Johnson (GA-04) [YES]
* (VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: “Guam might tip over and capsize”)
Hon. Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) [YES]
Hon. Carolyn Kilpatrick (MI-13) [MIXED]
Hon. Barbara Lee (CA-09) [YES]
Hon. John Lewis (GA-05) [YES]
Hon. David Loebsack (IA-02) [YES]
Hon. Ben R. Lujan (NM-3) [MIXED]
Hon. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) [MIXED]
Hon. Ed Markey (MA-07) [NO]
Hon. Jim McDermott (WA-07) [MIXED]
Hon. James McGovern (MA-03) [YES]
Hon. George Miller (CA-07) [YES]
Hon. Gwen Moore (WI-04) [YES]
Hon. Jim Moran (VA-08) [NO]
Hon. Jerrold Nadler (NY-08) [MOSTLY]
Hon. Eleanor Holmes-Norton (DC-All) [YES]
Hon. John Olver (MA-01) [YES]
Hon. Frank Pallone (NJ-06) [YES]
Hon. Ed Pastor (AZ-04) [YES]
Hon. Donald Payne (NJ-10) [YES]
Hon. Chellie Pingree (ME-01) [MIXED]
Hon. Jared Polis (CO-02) [NO]
Hon. Charles Rangel (NY-15) [MIXED]
Hon. Laura Richardson (CA-37) [YES]
Hon. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) [YES]
Hon. Bobby Rush (IL-01) [YES]
Hon. Linda Sánchez (CA-39) [YES]
Hon. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) [YES]
Hon. José Serrano (NY-16) [YES]
Hon. Louise Slaughter (NY-28) [YES]
Hon. Pete Stark (CA-13) [MOSTLY]
* (VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: “On the national debt, which is a sign of wealth(?)”)
* (VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: “Demonstrating his inate charm with a voter”)
* (VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: “On the limits of federal power - at 2:50”)
Hon. Bennie Thompson (MS-02) [YES]
Hon. John Tierney (MA-06) [YES]
Hon. Nydia Velazquez (NY-12) [YES]
Hon. Maxine Waters (CA-35) [YES]
* (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: “Socializing, Nationalizing — so what’s the difference?”)
* (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: “On Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac”)
Hon. Mel Watt (NC-12) [MIXED]
Hon. Henry Waxman (CA-30) [MOSTLY]
* (VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: “Demonstrating his renowned understanding of the issues”
Hon. Peter Welch (VT-AL) [MIXED]
Posted by Soquel by the Creek at 4:54 PM
Labels: campaign financing, Congressional Progressive Caucus, CPC, Democratic Socialists of America, DSA
0 comments:
[edit] Former members
* Sherrod Brown (OH-13) - Elected to Senate
* Julia Carson (IN-07) - Died in December 2007
* Lane Evans (IL-17) - Retired from Congress
* Cynthia McKinney (GA-4) - Lost Congressional seat to current caucus member Hank Johnson
* Major Owens (NY-11) - Retired from Congress
* Nancy Pelosi (CA-8) - Left Caucus when Elected House Minority Leader
* Hilda Solis (CA-32) - Became Secretary of Labor in 2009
* Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH-11) - Died in 2008
* Tom Udall (NM Senate)
* Paul Wellstone (MN Senate) - Died in plane crash in 2002
MICHAEL STEELE AND HIS COUNTRY CLUB BUDDIES KILLED EFFORTS TO REBRAND THE DEMOCRATS AS THE DEMOCRAT SOCIALIST PARY.
4 WORDS FOR STEELE; ON YOUR BIKE SUCKER
Steele is against a resolution renaming the Democratic Party.’
RNC showdown over ‘socialist’ resolution may be avoided
Posted: May 20th, 2009 06:00 AM ET
From CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby
Steele is against a resolution renaming the Democratic Party.’
OXON HILL, Maryland (CNN) — Members of the Republican National Committee appear to have reached a compromise that would let GOP leaders avoid a possible dispute over a controversial resolution that calls on Democrats to re-name their party the “Democrat Socialist party.”
Steele has come out against the resolution, calling it “not an appropriate way to express our views on the issues of the day.” One of Steele’s allies on the committee, Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer(THE CROOK WHO IS NOW DOING TIME FOR EMBEZZLEMENT), told CNN the resolution is “stupid” and “ridiculous.”
However, New Jersey committeeman David Norcross, one of the sponsors of the resolution, told CNN the language is being massaged so that Steele and others on the committee will be more receptive.
“The language is being changed so that the proposers and chairman Steele are on the same page,” Norcross said.
He said that as of Tuesday afternoon, the chairman of the RNC Standing Committee on Resolutions had changed the language to “condemn the Democrats’ march to socialism” instead of “talking about the ‘Democrat Socialist’ party.”
The change was made, Norcross said, so that members “wouldn’t have to fight about it, and I think everybody agreed.”
Wisconsin GOP chairman Reince Priebus, another Steele ally, expressed confidence the proposal will be tweaked in the resolution committee, and that it should pass without issue.
One of the worst of all the leftists in Congress.
5.56mm
"You are seeing today an all out attempt to marshal the forces of the opposition, using not merely the communists, or their fellow travelers-the deluded liberals, the eggheads, and some of my good friends in both the Democratic and Republican Parties who can become heros over night in the eyes of the left-wing press if they will just join with the jackal pack"
You need to do some more to help our side......
Just look at your success in past election......
lol
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.