Prominent leftist bloggers Matt Stoller and Chris Bowers are compiling dossiers on Democratic members of Congress they consider insufficiently "progressive," as Joe Tobacco notes at Cadillac Tight:
We want to put a stop to the embrace of conservative values among House Democrats, and make sure that when Democrats are elected, they act like Democrats.Twenty-six out of thirty-eight (68%) of these targeted Democrats are from Southern or Southeastern regions, which makes sense, since it's primarily Blue Dogs we're talking about here. That makes this another netroots war against regions of the country that elect these Democrats precisely because they are Blue Dogs. It's obvious when you read netroots diaries that there is a lot of disdain for and rage against Democratic voters who don't identify with the progressive movement, and efforts like this one by Stoller and Bowers (Northeastern liberals both) only serve to highlight that disdain and rage. Rather than "punishing" the Blue Dogs, the New Democrats, or the voters who elect them, the Democratic party is likely to be punished itself at the polls if this effort becomes associated with the party, rather than the progressives.
Read it all at the link above. At least the nutroots' ideological cousins, the Communists, had the common sense to take and consolidate their power before conducting purges in the ranks.
By putting the moderate and moderate-conservative Democratic congressmen on the spot, the left will force them to either swerve left, putting them at odds with the constituencies which elected them, or to risk a loss of support from the national institutions and organizations controlled by the left. In either case, they will become more vulnerable to Republicans in general elections.
At a time when the national GOP seems rudderless, it's nice to be able to rely on the other side for some much-needed electoral assistance.
Thanks to Instapundit for pointing out this story
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Congress, Crazy Talk, Democrats
Tags: congress, Democrat, election, leftist
Comments (7)
"At least the nutroots' ide... (Below threshold)1. Posted by HughS | August 22, 2007 9:28 PM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
"At least the nutroots' ideological cousins, the Communists, had the common sense to take and consolidate their power before conducting purges in the ranks."
I'm sensing a lockstep nature in nutroots blog posts (trolls) that manifests a thought process a mile wide and inch deep. There seems to be no historical depth in their opinions and process.
Republicans flirted with this in the late eighties and early nineties with disastrous results.
As you say, the rudderless Republicans need any help they can get.
1. Posted by HughS | August 22, 2007 9:28 PM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on August 22, 2007 21:28
2. Posted by kim | August 22, 2007 10:53 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
I sense it too. I think it is the influence of money. Some of these are smart enough to know how corrupt they sound. What would justify that kind of cynicism?
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2. Posted by kim | August 22, 2007 10:53 PM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on August 22, 2007 22:53
3. Posted by HughS | August 23, 2007 12:08 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Kim
"Some of these are smart enough to know how corrupt they sound."
I'm not seeing that. I see a vacuum. Some opinions are truly astounding: they don't demonstrate a certain historical knowledge of figures in the great ideological debate.
For example: Walter Duranty, Hiss, Chambers, and Welch, on the Hewitt blog regarding Communism. Hayek, Von Mises and Friedman on Economic and Fiscal policy.
Frankly, the whole argument is encapsulated: Bush is a liar and a crook; Rove is the mastermind; Iraq is a failure no matter what happens in the next year; we spy on our citizens; etc etc.
One would think that such mind numbing polemic would exhaust itself for lack of substance. But the drumbeat sounds daily.
3. Posted by HughS | August 23, 2007 12:08 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on August 23, 2007 00:08
4. Posted by bryanD | August 23, 2007 1:39 AM | Score: -3 (7 votes cast)
"For example: Walter Duranty, Hiss, Chambers, and Welch..."-hughs
Joseph Welch? (I know it isn't Robert Welch :-))
What did Welch do?
(Get your facts straight, which means: don't take Baby Hughie Hewitt's "facts" "straight".)
The dentist?
The junior lawyer?
Past or present tense?
I know Baby Hughie hates the regrettable past. He's changed so, himself.
4. Posted by bryanD | August 23, 2007 1:39 AM |
Score: -3 (7 votes cast)
Posted on August 23, 2007 01:39
5. Posted by kim | August 23, 2007 6:53 AM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Hey bD, google Venona.
Hugh, I'm talking about the good ones, the ones with the historical perspective. The inelegant use of rhetoric betrays their cynicism.
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5. Posted by kim | August 23, 2007 6:53 AM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on August 23, 2007 06:53
6. Posted by langtry | August 23, 2007 9:11 AM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Just the other day, Jim, I was reading an article in the Chicago Sun-Times about how Democrats are courting Rep. Melissa Bean for clues on how to win in traditionally Republican districts. Her advice?
Be Centrist. Lean towards the more conservative side of issues, and vote accordingly. Work in cooperation with colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
Pretty radical, huh? And exactly the opposite of what jacka**es Matt Stollers and Chris Bowers are agitating for. Those two shoudl face facts: Leftist ideological purity may be satisfyingly self-indulgent, but it doesn't win elections.
6. Posted by langtry | August 23, 2007 9:11 AM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on August 23, 2007 09:11
7. Posted by HughS | August 23, 2007 9:37 AM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
bryanD
The comment was about a lack of historical perspective and knowledge. What did Welch do? He devastated Joe McCarthy....among other things.
I've got my facts staright bryan, you just can't read.
7. Posted by HughS | August 23, 2007 9:37 AM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on August 23, 2007 09:37