Woolsey Calls For Primaries Against Dems
It turns out that anti-war activists who want to take on the Democrats have an ally within the House Democrats themselves: Representative Lynn Woolsey of California.
The Hill reports that Woolsey approved of a suggestion that activists challenge incumbent Democrats in the primaries. "You folks should go after the Democrats," she said on a conference call last month, organized by the Network of Spiritual Progressives.
"I’d hate to lose the majority, but I’m telling you, if we don’t stand up to our responsibility, maybe that’s the lesson to be learned," Woolsey said.
Comments (20)
Daniel wrote on September 12, 2007 10:05 AM:I had always thought that the fact that this is a presidential year would force Democrats to be much more aggressive in Iraq policy, and I am disappointed that they have not, certainly.
www.campaigndiaries.com Daniel wrote on September 12, 2007 11:03 AM:And compare this to the from today that the base is being illogical and irrational in demanding Democrats to act. Fine, maybe Democrats can't actually pass anything -- but they could at least refuse to pass what Bush wants. No?
Daniel wrote on September 12, 2007 11:06 AM:Sorry, the link I was giving in my previous comment didn't work. Here it is again.
FreakyBeaky wrote on September 12, 2007 11:11 AM:I don't know whether to be encouraged that there are Democrats that want to get tougher on Iraq policy, or infuriated that some people are ready to throw in the towel after less than a year of a slim Democratic majority.
Iraq has been disappointing, but the oversight bit has been all right ...
FreakyBeaky @11:11
Oversight hearings have been okay, but:
Where are the subpoenas for all the witnesses that have blown off the committees?
Where are the contempt charges?
Why aren't they holding impeachement inquiries, to see if any of this stuff is at least as impeachable as a blowjob?
Are they going to do any more than just hold hearings and make speeches?
Are any of these people even hearing what's being said to them from out here?
Do they read their e-mails, or are those just straight into the recycle bin?
Maybe Karl Rove is right after all?
Isn't this internal war among Dems what he predicted or hoped?
If Democrats actually tried to do what we "thought" we elected them to do, even if they failed, they could claim credit for their efforts. However, folding their tents and slipping away into the night in the hopes that no one will notice, is NOT what we hired them to do! I really don't understand their reluctance to take on "Mr. 33%" when ALL the polls show that the Americans are opposed to the war and EXPECT(ed) the Dems to fight for the MAJORITY point of view!!
MC wrote on September 12, 2007 12:27 PM:Woolsey takes a brave stand and should be commended. All people are asking is for a little integrity. Its not too much to ask and one shouldn't have too but if one doesn't then whose responsibility is it when the Democrats continue to fail to live up to their expectations?
Daniel wrote on September 12, 2007 1:04 PM:Sorry, the link I was giving in my previous comment didn't work. Here it is again.
andy wrote on September 12, 2007 1:11 PM:Doesn't Joe Biden have a plan for withdraw? - Didn't previously know much about him, just recently looked into him and started to wonder why he isn't getting any support for his Presidential run. The other front runners don't seem to have any specific plan, so why would Congressional Dems?
Cinderella Ferret wrote on September 12, 2007 1:15 PM:Yea! The hell with it! Throw the bums out. Who gives a shit about appointing Supreme Court Justices. Aren't most of us sick and tired of all these civil liberties? Bring back Tom Delay and Newt Gingrich.
Sorry for getting so misty eyed over the good old days.
lambert strether wrote on September 12, 2007 1:23 PM:Cinderella:
Yea! The hell with it! Throw the bums out. Who gives a shit about appointing Supreme Court Justices.
I used to be exactly where you are, until the FISA betrayal send me round the bend. That was absolutely something only Bush wanted, and they passed it at midnight and blew town. So much for the fourth amendment.
Let's remember that the Dems didn't filibuster Scalito OR Roberts and SURPRISE! None of their assurances were any good, they're taking the court far right faster than we ever imagined, and they're young.
So, while I'd like to believe the Dems would nominate Larry Tribe, somehow... Na ga happen.
I'm starting to think that if the only thing they respond to is fear, then we just have to make them afraid. Woolsey is doing that. Good for her.
Cinderella Ferret wrote on September 12, 2007 1:49 PM:LS: Most Democrats are not afraid of a primary challenge from the left. They ARE deathly afraid of challenges from the right.
But your point is well taken. Many politicians are self-serving, gutless cowards and do respond to fear as one might expect.
um wrote on September 12, 2007 1:56 PM:Cinderella-
That sounds like a line right out of the DC Dem leadership handbook- if we fail to support them, the mean Republicans will ruin our country. But, surprise, the Dems' acquiesence to BushCo has had that very same effect (as Lambert noted w/r/t FISA & SCOTUS appointments).
Our fear of a GOP controlled Congress isn't reason enough to blindly follow this bunch of inept and cowardly Democrats.
Besides which, you seem to buy into the Beltway argument that if we primary incumbent Dems, then the result will be a GOP win. There is little reason to believe such an argument. Many of the so-called Bush Dogs represent districts that are not higher than +3 Rep, with some actually representing Blue districts.
So the question we have to answer is- do we base our political activity on our fears or on our hopes. I would suggest that the only proper choice is the latter.
um wrote on September 12, 2007 1:57 PM:Cinderella-
That sounds like a line right out of the DC Dem leadership handbook- if we fail to support them, the mean Republicans will ruin our country. But, surprise, the Dems' acquiesence to BushCo has had that very same effect (as Lambert noted w/r/t FISA & SCOTUS appointments).
Our fear of a GOP controlled Congress isn't reason enough to blindly follow this bunch of inept and cowardly Democrats.
Besides which, you seem to buy into the Beltway argument that if we primary incumbent Dems, then the result will be a GOP win. There is little reason to believe such an argument. Many of the so-called Bush Dogs represent districts that are not higher than +3 Rep, with some actually representing Blue districts.
So the question we have to answer is- do we base our political activity on our fears or on our hopes. I would suggest that the only proper choice is the latter.
GordonsGirl wrote on September 12, 2007 2:12 PM:The anti-war activists are missing the point. Though I'm as frustrated as most with the Democratic leaders handing so much over to Bush, they DO know that the votes simply aren't there.
Actions such as Woolsey proposes are misguided. They'll only serve to antagonize the GOP, giving them free ammunition against the Democratic nominees for the White House and Congress. What Woolsey should be proposing is that solid Democrats challenge REPUBLICAN seats in Congress. Otherwise, we'll only end up worse than we are already.
DickTater wrote on September 12, 2007 2:38 PM:I am stunned at how little the Dem Majority has bought us.
Nowhere near the bang for the buck we rightfully expected. Losing the majority could hardly hurt us any more than NOT having it did. The stakes were higher, the window of opportunity was there, the ability to attain justice while the trail was hot, the evidence fresh, the criminals still in office and violating the public trust day in-day out....all wasted opportunity.
As Frank Burns said, I never bash any team I'm on.
but heck
Joe wrote on September 12, 2007 10:14 PM:"The votes aren't there"
Weird. The Dems control the House by more than one vote. The Dems have few Senate seats up for grabs in '08 actually, so she probably isn't really talking about the Senate. But, in fact, given a filibuster takes 41 votes, they have the votes there too. It takes the House and Senate to pass bills ... including war funding ... anyway.
With gerrymandering and natural Republican districts, there is a limit to the seats we can get there. And, we can expect a few more "Bush Dog" type seats. So, why not push the BDs? They arguably are more likely to come from districts where better Dems can be elected. And, since '08 will be a "get rid of the losers" (aka Republicans) year hopefully, many will not want to vote for Rs.
If you are not going to win, at least not make it so very easy for them to beat you and claim to be on your side. And, simply put, the people don't want war et. al. as much as the scarycats think. A good fight will not result in losing power.
I also share the doubts about oversight hearings. Useful ... definitely ... but only so much. But, Gonzo alone will be deemed enough for some people, so don't expect more.
Annie Haygood wrote on September 13, 2007 1:34 AM:I support Rep. Woolsey 100%. The Democrats are an absolutely monumental failure, totally and utterly complicit with the Republicans, especially the leadership. I support any effort to hold complicit Democrats ruthlessly accountable -- destroying their careers and ruining their reputations, making them suffer the bitter and humiliating fate reserved for the worst cowards and traitors. We must make them fear us, and to do that we must choose some of the worst offenders and make examples of them. If we can turn Steny Hoyer or Nancy Pelosi into a bloody carcass in the 2008 election, all of a sudden you'll see Democrats too terrified of their base to enable Bush any longer.
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