Posted on 10/20/2011 4:12:34 PM PDT by Kaslin
Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif., announced his retirement from Congress this afternoon -- and he issued a scathing parting shot at President Obama's track record on his way out.
In a statement explaining his decision, Cardoza, a leader of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition, said he was "dismayed" by the administration's "failure to understand and effectively address the current housing foreclosure crisis."
"Home foreclosures are destroying communities and crushing our economy, and the Administration's inaction is infuriating," Cardoza said.
A former chairman of the moderate Blue Dog Caucus, Cardoza also bemoaned the increasing partisanship in Washington, and blamed the media for fueling the ideological divide in the country, not giving enough attention to moderates.
Cardoza is the sixth member -- all Democrats -- to announce plans to retire outright so far. He's also the third member of the Blue Dog Caucus to head for the exits -- joining fellow moderate Reps. Dan Boren, D-Okla., and Mike Ross, D-Ark.
The five-term congressman had become an increasingly-vocal critic of his own party's leadership in recent months, fueled by the skyrocketing unemployment in his Central Valley district. He's previously criticized the administration on its handling of the foreclosure crisis - but it's rare to see a departing congressman blast the president in an official statement.
Given his growing dissatisfaction with his party, Cardoza's departure didn't come as a surprise to Democrats, but his sharp criticism of Obama is bound to sting at the White House, which has already seeing many members of his own party, particularly those in battleground states and districts, keeping their distance.
Cardoza was also a thorn in the side of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.. Despite his previous posts in leadership (he was a DCCC co-chair in 2010), the two at times clashed, including during the negotiations over the health care law. He voted against Pelosi for Democratic leader earlier this year, supporting his more-moderate home-state colleague Rep. Jim Costa instead. In the fight for majority leader in 2007, Costa Cardoza publicly backed Rep. Steny Hoyer over Pelosi.
Nonetheless, the National Republican Congressional Committee had already targeted Cardoza in an ad campaign last month, and immediately seized on Cardoza's retirement as more evidence of a worsening political environment for Democratic moderates.
"After years of being one of Pelosi's top lieutenants, Dennis Cardoza has realized it will be impossible to continue to fool voters about his self-proclaimed Blue Dog label as the political environment worsens for Democrats between now and Election Day," said NRCC spokeswoman Joanna Burgos.
Redistricting also played a major role in his decision. Under the new map, Cardoza was facing the unpalatable option of challenging Costa in a Democratic primary, or running in the more-Republican 21st District where Democrats already landed a strong recruit in state senator Michael Rubio.
Cardoza's lackluster fundraising this past quarter had also raised retirement speculation; he raised just $23,000 during the past three months.
Big f—ing deal. Why didn’t you and your fellow travelers take on the communist muslim that is destroying our country while you were still in office?
The Menshevik denounces the Bolshevik.
Given the changing political climate, I would not be surprised that he is stepping down rather than risk an expensive defeat.
Uh-HUH! And, what did he do, as a member of the Blue Dogs, to try to bridge the growing partisan divide that his fellow Democrats are creating?
(crickets)
as far as I'm concerned, there are no good democrats...none....anyone who would align themselves with that filth are not good people...I say that as a former hard core democrat who went door to door for McGovern in my younger years....
Just what I was thinking - his new district is drawn in such a way that he wouldn’t get re-elected.
He can take parting shots all he wants. He still voted for obamacare. I guess it’s a lot easier to talk tough when you’re crawling out of the ring.
Well, welcome to the right side. Congrats on your awakening. We’re glad to have you!!!!
yep, he is 99% wuuusbait, now senators are afraid to speak openly without quitting first..at least he grew a pair of snow peas on his way out...
His action was infuriating, too.
You say inaction
And I say his action
We’re both infuriated
The difference is a fraction.
Inaction, his action
His action, inaction
Let’s call the whole thing off.
Daily Kos is gleeful that another Blue Dog is packing up and going home. The Caucus is likely to dip below 20 members after 2012.
Comrade!
You made this Kulak spew tea on his keyboard!
He lives in Maryland. He can stay there.
...and another gutless moderate leftist whimpers and whines his way into the dustbin of history.
Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif., announced his retirement from Congress this afternoon... said he was "dismayed" by the administration's "failure to understand and effectively address the current housing foreclosure crisis." ...A former chairman of the moderate Blue Dog Caucus, Cardoza also bemoaned the increasing partisanship in Washington, and blamed the media for fueling the ideological divide in the country, not giving enough attention to moderates... the third member of the Blue Dog Caucus to head for the exits -- joining fellow moderate Reps. Dan Boren, D-Okla., and Mike Ross, D-Ark... had become an increasingly-vocal critic of his own party's leadership in recent months, fueled by the skyrocketing unemployment in his Central Valley district... Cardoza [and Pelsoi] ... at times clashed, including during the negotiations over the health care law. He voted against Pelosi for Democratic leader earlier this year, supporting... Jim Costa instead... in 2007, Costa Cardoza publicly backed Rep. Steny Hoyer over Pelosi... Redistricting also played a major role in his decision.
So..the Stalinlike purging by the marxist dems in their own party has begun. It’s all setting up to be quite a year for Obama and the marxist left in this country. Hell...they even have Hugo Chavez;Iran;North Korea, The International Communists, The International Nazi Party,even AL QAEDA endorsed them and their OWS protestors today!
MMMM...MMMMM...MMMMM....BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!
They might vote Dim...locally because they know the person running. I live in a very rural area.
That said, I don't know why they don't change parties....I just think they registered Dim, like their parents before them.
But...I agree with you. Anyone who continues to vote Dim...is either totally ignorant, stupid, or a hard lined Marxist Socialist.
There's really no other way to call it.
Is he saying that Obie isn’t commie enough?
Racist.....
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