US Poll Results

[Ramo]

Hoyer wants to create a Dem version of the K-Street Project. For that reason alone, I'll take Murtha. But as I said in the other thread, both are horrible choices...

[DanS]

The thing about the K Street Project was that it was only started about 6 years into GOP rule, and was meant to rectify a very strong tilt on K Street to Dems, even though the GOP was in power.

The Dems have no such situation to rectify and have had no opportunity to demonstrate any staying power besides.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Ramo
I don't really see much ideological difference between the DLC and the left-wing blogosphere, actually. They're both vaguely libertarian; it's just that the DLC is big on national security (and therefore small on civil libertarianism) and generally is to the right across the board. Basically, Kossacks et al. typically come from the professional class, which is currently experiencing a proletarianizing process (Ruy Tuxeria has written some interesting things about this), while the DLC reflects the concerns of this class two or three decades ago. So we see a general shift to the left, particularly on economics, and a big emphasis on process. But I think the degree to which they're protectionists is over-stated. Mostly, it seems to me, we see the demand to use trade policy as a bludgeon to increase other countries' labor and environmental protections rather than a Buchananite-type demand to insulate us from the rest of the world. As would be reflected by a class analysis.

What Kossacks seem to like about Webb are his style, credentials, and viability rather than strong ideological similarities. I think if Miller had Webb's resume, he would've been supported by this community. Remember that they were big on Kaine last year, and he's more similar to Miller than Webb.

last first.

I dont recall a primary fight over Kaine. And i dont recall a national focus by the kossacks on Kaine, like there was on Webb. The economic concerns of the professional class vary dramatically by occupation and region. AFAICT the Kossacks arent all programmers threatened by Bangalore, theyre liberals in the same class as the rank and file Clintonists, who were never keen on Clintonist ideology.

Yeah, they dont like to admit to being protectionist,and so talk about inserting clauses into trade deals that everyone knows wont be accepted by our negotiating partners. And they then make coalitions with labor and industry groups who really DONT want low cost competition (oh, theyd be fine with free trade with central america, as long as central america had an average wage level as high as that of the US. I trust you know enough economics not to take that seriously as a "free trade" position)

Ive read a bit of Kos, and from what I can tell they are INTENSELY hostile to the DLC. To Hillary, as we all know. To Biden (they say its about the bankruptcy bill - but hell the mans from Delaware, they seem perfectly ok with giving Dean a local out on dairy price supports) AFAIK even to Evan Bayh. Oh yeah, they were snuggling up to Warner. Of course Warner had hired an associate of Kos, and was snuggling up to them, and not being a Senator never had to vote on Iraq. (And even so, I think they were looking at Warner as a possible last gasp stop Hillary possibility)

"his style, credentials, and viability "

His style gives me the willies. Jacksonian tough guy. Born fighting. Cartoon about big nosed Miller. Hatred for neocons. Support not only from Gen Zinni, but from strongly anti-Israel Gen Hoar. Color me paranoid, if you will.

Credentials - Built up the Navy to fight the awesome, frightening Soviet fleet. Makes Rumsfeld look positively insightful as a grand strategist, by comparison. Viability - like i said, even with Macaca, confed flags, Tunisian Jews cooking pork, and Allen just generally self destructing, he got 50% of the vote.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Ramo

IIUC Jewish donors in general are still a big part of the Dem donor base (not that there arent GOP Jews) and have esp favored the Clintons. Of course the Kossacks dont say anything about the Jews, but I cant divorce this fact from the Kossack attack on Dem donors. Esp given the Kossack views on ME policy.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Ramo
Hoyer wants to create a Dem version of the K-Street Project.

cite?

[lord of the mark]

BTW, this is a huge day for the D'Allesandro dynasty of Baltimore.

[KrazyHorse]

Just Pelosi or something else too?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Just Pelosi or something else too?

Id say thats enough, no? From a base in Little Italy, dominating one wardin East Baltimore, to leadership of the peoples house of the grand Republic of the West is a feather in their caps just a tad bigger than the mayoralty of Baltimore.

[reismark]

Montana officially called for Tester. His margin of victory is not open to an automatic recount.

Virginia is now all that remains.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Are the lawyers prepped?

[Nubclear]

Bush is giving a little conference right now...he's generally whining about the results.

I love how he's using the adjective "Democrat" instead of the more proper "Democratic" when describing things

[Admiral]

The recount in Virginia won't really change anything. Virginia used electronic voting machines, so there is no ability to physically count the ballots. Last year, in the AG race, there was a recount, which swung all of 17 votes. This isn't Florida, and this isn't 2000, and even massive media attention won't be able to change this race into something its not. What it will cover is the extent of voter intimidation and suppression (which the FBI is currently looking into) that occurred yesterday (fake "your polling place has moved" letters/phonecalls). The fact of the matter is the next Senator from Virginia is Jim Webb, and the de facto Senate Majority Leader is Harry Reid. Its time to get our governing on.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I thought someone said that his area of Virginia had paper ballots.

[Ramo]

lotm:

Here's part of a Washington Monthly profile of Hoyer:

The spate of recent lobbying scandals revealed a system in which corporate interests enjoy an unprecedented degree of control over the legislative process. Indeed, the influence of corporate money on legislation is the single biggest obstacle to achieving a broad array of progressive policy goals—from universal health care, to a fairer tax code, to curbing global warming.

That’s why Democrats need leaders who are willing to play aggressively by the current rules of the game — but who seek to change those rules once in power. The enthusiasm with which Hoyer has raised money from K Street, his resistance to serious lobbying reform, and his general comfort with the Washington establishment all imply a politician with little interest in systemic change. Indeed, Hoyer’s contention that the problem lies not with lobbying practices as a whole, but rather with individual corrupt members of Congress, suggests he genuinely sees little need for such change.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2006/0611.roth.html

I doubt that he'd push as far as DeLay did in terms of creating a pay-to-play system, but it's still way too close for comfort.

[Admiral]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
I thought someone said that his area of Virginia had paper ballots.

I thought that the state upgraded all of the paper balloting precincts after 2000 in Florida. But I could be wrong.