NY Times: Half of incoming Democratic freshmen planning on joining the New Democrat Coalition

[wyldwolf]

About half the incoming Democratic freshmen are already planning on joining the New Democrat Coalition — a generally centrist group that emphasizes economic competitiveness and national security issues. They include Ed Perlmutter of Colorado, a former state senator who had a legislative reputation for working with Republicans; Michael A. Arcuri of upstate New York, a seasoned district attorney; and Tim Mahoney, the Florida businessman who won the seat that the Republican representative Mark Foley resigned because of the Congressional page scandal.

Other Democrats in the group intend to enlist with the Blue Dog Coalition, a more conservative group viewed as having a more rural outlook and a focus on balancing the budget.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/us/politics/09cong.html?_r=1&ei=5094&en=21fd9be66d7df098&hp=&ex=1163048400&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1163186994-ykuQ+wO6r7uQ/dg0ogn+dA&oref=slogin

Not bad for an organization that was to be made radioactive and has been declared "irrelevant" by the great political minds of DU.

[kestrel91316]

1. So where the heck's the group that's gonna look after our

civil rights and support peace and care about the poor and old and sick???

[wyldwolf]

2. that would be them... unless, of course...

..you can provide some evidence to the contrary?

[cybildisobedience]

4. it sounds as if it's half conservative Dems, half centrist

Unless I read it wrong --
where's the progressive wing?

[kestrel91316]

12. Well IMHO the description made BOTH groups sound like

different variations of Republican Lite, with nary a mention of social justice issues.

I'm ASKING THE QUESTION here, it's not MY job to provide evidence.

[wyldwolf]

14. Did I not answer the question? Why, yes I did.

[Dr Fate]

19. I doubt a majority will support civil rights for gay folks- but I hope to be pleasantly suprised.

Marriage being a civil right, of course.

At the very least I would prefer they just not adress it all as opposed to agreeing with the far, Religious right on that one.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. So now we know who to thank for the new majority

[bbgrunt]

5. so is the "new democratic coalition" the same as the DLC?

....and how many are joining the progressive caucus?

[wyldwolf]

yes... and to answer your other question...

if almost half are joing the DLC, and 9 or joing the Blue Dogs...

[LiviaOlivia]

8. I consider them corporatists

and the same as the DLC.

from wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Democrat_Coalition

New Democrat Coalition is an organization within the United States Congress. It is made up of 20 Democratic Senate members and 40 Democratic members of the House of Representatives who claim moderate and pro-business stances.

The group was founded in 1997 by Representatives Cal Dooley (California), Jim Moran (Virginia) and Tim Roemer (Indiana) as a congressional affiliate of the avowedly centrist Democratic Leadership Council, whose members, including former President Bill Clinton, call themselves "New Democrats." As of February 2005, the House New Democrats are chaired by Representative Ellen Tauscher (California), with Representatives Artur Davis (Alabama) and Ron Kind (Wisconsin) serving as co-chairs. Representative Adam Smith (politician) (Washington) serves as chair of the group's political action committee.

The Senate New Democrats were founded in 2000 by Senators Evan Bayh (Indiana), Bob Graham (Florida), Mary Landrieu (Louisiana), Joe Lieberman (Connecticut) and Blanche Lincoln (Arkansas).

The NDC has worked to craft and pass legislation, including Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) for the People's Republic of China, fast track Trade Promotion Authority, digital signatures, and H-1B visa reform and continues to work on matters such as privacy, broadband, expanding e-learning opportunities and making government more accessible and efficient through the use of technology. Many in the party's left wing criticize the group, however, for their alleged lack of focus on social justice and the poor, the party's traditional base.

[HereSince1628]

6. Congratulations DLC...you still have your oar in the water

[Dr Fate]

7. Does this mean we can call DLC types "conservative" without getting our posts deleted?

Or at least "more conservative?"

;)

I kid- I kid- But seriously- I'm sure we can agree that DEMS need conservative (not far right wingers, but old-time conservatives) who can work with the few sane Republicans that exist on centrist & moderate issues...

I have no problem with old fashioned conservatives working with everyone else- I think it is what a sizable portion of former Republican & moderate voters who just put us in power expect.

[Mass]

9. I saw something earlier saying the progressive caucus was going to be the largest.

I guess we will have to wait and see who is right.

[TayTay]

11. Gee, let's check and see where

Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter, to name two, end up.

I bet it's not in the anti-labor, anti-fair trade wing of the Party.

[BootinUp]

10. *rimshot*

Its an important point though.

[sandnsea]

13. Centrist like this??

Jon Tester's platform:

Supporting renewable and alternative energy sources (biofuels, bitches!)
Raising automobile mileage
Pro-choice
Protecting public lands
Country of origin labels for food imports
Affordable health care
Enforcing immigration laws for immigrants and employers
gun rights
A plan to end the war in Iraq
Increasing the minimum wage
Repealing the Patriot Act
Changing Medicare D to allow price negotiation with drug companies
No to social security privatization
Pro stem cell research
Middle class tax relief

http://atrios.blogspot.com/

People who ran to get something done will bolt from the 'centrist' wing if they keep going down their corporatist path. We aren't going to get 'free' health care, but these folks also aren't going to put up with stupid donut holes and pharmaceutical give-aways either.

[Dr Fate]

18. Exactly- so long as we are talking "centrist" and not "to the right" I am fine.

I feel a little weird that some people dont want to acknowledge that all these centrist candidates would have gotten nowhere w/o ALL DEMS, including many lefties, busting their butts and raising money and awareness, GOTV, etc.

"Bush rage" was once a "far left" concept- but now everyone is feeling it.

I think it is dangerous to suggest that progressives are not needed and vice versa.

Progressives did most the boots-on-the-ground work, and certainly many centrists that the DEM Activists helped to get elected will need to work with Republicans to get things done.

Centrist citizens do VOTE- but they dont do much campaigning or election work that I have ever seen. We need both.

[Elidor]

15. Score one for Oasis

Oh, wait...that's the other DLC guy.

[lcordero2]

16. hmmmmm...

It doesn't fair too well.

Poor people elect them and then they decide to carry the water of rich people. Looks like the Republicans are going to take the House again in 2008.

[ProSense]

17. "Ms. Shea-Porter, with no help from the party,

pulled off one of the upsets of the night in defeating Jeb Bradley."

Wow, no help!

Kerry http://blog.johnkerry.com/2006/10/winning_the_house_carol_shea_porter_in_new_hampshire.html">helped!

[wyldwolf]

20. Figure is actually over half of new House-elects: 15

Locally, 10th District Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Solano, and 7th District Rep. George Miller, D-Solano, both incumbents, won decisive victories in constituencies that include parts of other counties in addition to Solano.

Tauscher's camp released a statement Wednesday noting that the ranks of the New Democrat Coalition, which the congresswoman chairs, are expected to grow from 47 to 62 members.

http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_4630044

[angstlessk]

21. Seems the Democratic party mimmics a Parlament..whereas

the republicans are more like a dictatorship!

[Dr Fate]

22. That is my take as well- I want to emphasise that we are a coalition..

..and I think we can point out that fact w/o suggesting that one faction of the coalition can do without another. (Isee both left & right DUers doing this)

I would prefer it if more discussions were about how we are a coalition- rather than someone on the left or the right suggesting that "they" won it all by themselves.

[flpoljunkie]

23. Looks like the author and Rosenberg are looking mighty hard for trouble that may well not exist.

“How are Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi going to forge consensus on Iraq and on a budget?” Mr. Rosenberg asked. “Where are we going to end up on these two vital things, given the extraordinary diversity of this new Democratic majority?”

<>“We are the most diversified caucus in the world and we think that is the great strength of the Democratic Party,” said Representative John B. Larson of Connecticut, chairman of the Democratic caucus.

<>The stands some new Democratic senators take could pose difficulties for their own party. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, who beat Senator Rick Santorum, is an ardent opponent of abortion; Jon Tester, the Montana farmer with a trademark flattop who claimed victory over Senator Conrad Burns, could also emerge as a maverick.

(Guess what, the Dems control the agenda now, and divisive abortion wedge issues, like partial birth abortion, won't be coming up. And I am not worried about John Tester, are you?)

Mr. Reid played down possible divisions, saying that Senate Democrats have shown they can overcome ideological differences. “We have widely varying political philosophies within this team,” he said. “And what we’ve done is we’ve used these team members with their strengths, and we’re going to continue to do that.” (Do they not all stand for economic fairness--and is that not at the core of our party's principles?)

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/us/politics/09cong.html?_r=1&ei=5094&en=21fd9be66d7df098&hp=&ex=1163048400&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1163186994-ykuQ+wO6r7uQ/dg0ogn+dA&oref=slogin

[Dr Fate]

24. I agree- I detect a vaugue motive of division in all of this.

n/t