Record Anger At Congress

Per CNN. Americans are more angry at Congress than they've ever been. The dems fare slightly better than the republicons but only by about 11 points. Most surprisingly, usually voters feel it's the other representatives that are to blame rather than their own, but this time, 4 out of 10 would vote their members out, which is an unusually high number.

Hey Congress, can you hear us now?

See, all of those OTHER legislators are HORRIBLE, but MINE are WONDERFUL.

I gotta say, I like the MA delegation. No complaints!

and more people than ever say they are willing to vote their reps out. I know I'm ready to dump Schumer and am seriously giving 2nd thoughts to Nadler. It will depend on who runs against them. Bobby Kennedy jr. plans on running for NY Senate if Hill gets the nod. If she doesn't maybe he'll challenge Schumer.

that are problematic, but most of those are held by Republicans.

In the big scheme, the Democrats, even the conservative ones, are in better shape.

But how long has it been since this country has been in such terrible shape? Another winter, high heating bills, stagnant wages, all the money going out of the country may produce more 'mo' than before. I'm not saying it will, but I do think the country is getting angrier and in a 'throw the bums out' mood with each passing week.

Acid rain, rusty cars, cold, cold, COLD winters with snow up past yer ass, war without end, Amen, fear and hostility, Law and Order, the Enemies List, a sense that Democracy was dying.

It was the same deal in the fifties during the McCarthy era. Cold War, Enemies (this time the Russkies), Terrah--from the skies, duck and cover, the questioning of patriotism, the making of lists, the excoriation of anyone who went anywhere NEAR a commie, the whispers about people who looked 'funny'--and spies, spies and more spies....

This shit goes in cycles. I feel like the worst is over for this time, myself. We're on the downhill ride, over the hump.

I wish we'd go a bit longer in fucking up, though. I'm getting too old for this shit.

There, I said it.

:hi:

than a Progressive Democrat.

The Republicans and the DLC are paid by the same people.
A Progressive Democrat would break up their little money machine.


The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

through with the GOP that FUCKED up the country in the fuckin first place?

and where it matters, they haven't

They allowed the White House to ignore subpoenas. None of the rest of us are allowed to do that.

They did NOTHING to halt the war.

They refused to impeach ANYONE and there were so many to choose from.

They continue to let George get away with murder. And torture, let's not forget the torture.

They still tout ceremonial votes as having resonance, when they don't. ONLY ACTION is going to have resonance. Send the marshalls to Rove and Miers and drag them into Congress. CUT OFF THE WAR FUNDING, EVERY FUCKING DIME. Send SChip to Bush every single day.

Americans like brass balls and this Congress has only the little fake furry kind that dangle from rearview mirrors.

And while they dithered, our economy dropped dead.

.... couldn't have said it better.

Americans are ready for some bold POSITIVE action to negate the bold NEGATIVE action we're so accustomed to.

GRRR.

It was the old, tired explanation that it was the repubs fault for blocking the work the Dems are trying to do. I honestly don't think that is selling with the public anymore, the public sees issues important to bush and the republicans being passed quite easily ie the latest confirmation of Mukasey, the continued funding of the war, etc, with the help of the Democrats and nothing being done to help end the war and help the economy, aka holding the administration accountable, which are THE important issues to the public, imo.

on alot of issues



but definitely not when dealing with impeachment.

lol

For instance, the postage hikes target the small business people.

The old "book rate" is gone.

You can't order any stamps over the USPS any more - just expensive overnight priority.

But Congress did keep Time, Life and Warner happy - they mail in such volumes that they got discounts.

far too many dems have voted with the republicons, such as Feinstien and Schumer allowing Mukasey though. That argument only works if the dems all stand up and vote to bring about the change we've asked for. But as long as people like Landrieu and Nelson keep aiding and abetting...

I place this at the feet of the dem leadership in Congress. There are ways to marshall your troops and it doesn't seem as if they've found it, or have the will to enforce it. Also, there are interests contra to what the people want. interests best represented by Rahm Emmanuel's machinations.

"There are ways to marshall your troops", I agree wholeheartedly with that part of your statement, the question I have is this:

Is this happening because they can't do it or because they won't do it?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2244588

He suggests that the strategy has been to try and woo moderate republicons over to their side of the aisle by soft pedaling. He also suggests they've been bamboozled a number of times. Apparently Nancy Pelosi's office was shocked, shocked I say, when it received 200,000 emails furious about the FISA bill they passed. Still, they must be slow learners because their heads still seem stuck in their armpits.

I think they are so busy trying to keep their jobs they are not DOING their jobs, to paraphrase a line from the movie "American President".

They live in a rarefied atmosphere that is Washington where they re-enforce each others' position on what THEY think are the issues regardless of the realities outside of that rarified bubble they are in, imo.

to shake them? I confess I don't know. I would've thought 200,000 emails on one subject would've been an eye opener.

They believe any threats from the base that they will not vote for them is empty and I think, when push comes to shove, they are right in that belief, what they don't seem to get is that the vote alone isn't all that is needed. The base may well vote for the Democrats but will not be energized to get the vote out, fund-raise, all those other things that go along with a big win.

The other group they are mistakenly counting on, the group that came through in 2006 to help give them the extra seats they received, the independents, may just stay home, they may not vote republican but doesn't guarantee their vote for Democrats either.

I believe the Democrats will get the White House but they WILL NOT get the super-majority they need to get the business done without obstruction by the republicans unless they start breathing the air the public breathes instead of the air in their bubble.

My contributions are now going directly to candidates. And last time round I spent hours on the Move-on phone banks calling for the likes of Ellsworth and Baron Hill. I called all the offices and have told them I will never do that again. I've also written Move-on who I suspect feels as burned as I do. FDL did well with their picks for the most part so some of my money will go to them.

They don't seem to know how to play hardball. When Clinton was president, the Congress refused to pass a budget that Clinton would sign. The Democrats should do likewise. Bush is not going compromise unless he fears that unless he does he will not get something he wants very much. This is elementary negotiation strategy. The Democrats in Congress prefer to whine and complain. They are not serious about getting anything done.

In addition, the Democrats in Congress have not yet recognized that the Republicans' basic beliefs about government and what it should and should not do arise from a very sick philosophy and from a very harmful economic theory. The Democrats are pragmatists, but they are dealing with ideologues. The ideologues are stubborn. Because they are so deeply convinced that their ideology (Chicago School economics and Ayn Rand philosophy) are so right, they cannot compromise. The Republicans believe that they must win at all cost. The Democrats have not figured out that they are just going to be played for fools again and again until they deal with the underlying ideological differences.

But the Democratic leadership brought this upon itself by abandoning its base -- a cardinal sin in politics.

Fucking imbeciles. It isn't really that hard.

I gues I am one of those four huh? I suspect this will grow

or a No Incumbents 2008 campaign.

and I suspect I'm not alone. Because another way of looking at it, is that 60% are satisfied with the job their congress critters are doing.

And really, if you had Pat Leahy, Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch representing you, would you want them voted out?

Yours Sucks.

This needs to be a bumper sticker.

:hi:

Welcome to DU, Sss1977!

:hi:

Welcome

and I bet we will not see action

I have a better idea, send money to DK... and VOTE for him... that will get their attention.... even if he starts getting more money will get their attention

I had written him about a month ago to state my feelings about his recent support for the "surge".



"I reached a conclusion that progress is being made in Iraq, that it would be a mistake to withdraw forces in large numbers immediately, and that we will bear a profound moral burden and strategic threat if our withdrawal resulted in genocide and destabilization of the region. Accordingly, I also believe it would be irresponsible to withhold funding at this time while we have so many troops on the ground in the area."

"Before closing, I want to emphasize two things. First, I have said often that I believe this invasion has been a terrible tragedy and I voted against authorizing it. But the task before us now is the task before us now, and we have to deal with that reality as realistically and responsibly as we can. Political posturing on either side or simplistic slogans will not serve us well in this difficult circumstance.

Second, I want to stress that, in opposing an immediate withdrawal, I am in no way suggesting we should have a large presence for the indefinite future in Iraq . I have voted in Congress against permanent bases, I have helped lead efforts to stop corruption, I have publicly stated that I believe the current Embassy plans, set now to be the largest in the entire world, are a mistake, and I have said repeatedly that we should work vigorously to address diplomatic and political solutions and to seek greater involvement from other nations and multinational institutions such as the United Nations. I also fully recognize that this mission is terribly expensive and, as a member of the House Budget Committee, I have argued since before this war began that we must pay for it now rather than passing the resulting debt on to our children.

To summarize, what I have stated is that given the current positive signs in parts of Iraq, aware that we must begin a gradual withdrawal sometime next year, and recognizing that there is a need for political progress, I believe it makes sense to maintain current levels of forces in Iraq through early next year, with perhaps some withdrawals beginning soon as security conditions permit. This should be followed by larger, gradual reductions in troop strength next year as Iraqi and, hopefully, multinational forces can fill in to sustain the security gains that have been made."

Brian Baird

His response is not going to change what I told him in my letter - that he can kiss my prior support and votes goodbye.

Georgie B.

And I hope he stays in congress a good long time

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Synar. I loved him then and I still love him now

I've tried various ways of moving Nelson (FL), but invariably his official response on matters like Iraq and Iran and so forth sounds like something regurgitated from the WH press secretary. Last time I told him not to count on this Independent's support in future. And I stopped wasting my time on Weldon a long time ago.

The DLC is making an effort to get rid of Dean and I wonder how much of the outrage about primaries in Fla. is real and how much is orchestrated

I think that citizens deserve far better than what congress is doing.