Comments on: Lloyd Dogget Takes the Pledge — 11 Down, 29 to Go

By: yellowdog jim

yellowdog jim — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:19:38 +0000

Lloyd Doggett was at the top of Tom Delay’s hit list (right next to Martin Frost) when the republikans tried to re-district him out of his seat. Doggett was forced to run from a different (new) district when his district was gerrymandered from here to west Houston.
I have been blessed to be able to vote for Lloyd for every office he has ever run for. Despite the gerrymandering and change of districts he has remained my congressman to this day. They tried to bring in a carpetbagger to run against him. She ran under her Hispanic name to pander to our Spanish speaking voters, but it became known that she’d never used her Spanish surname before in her public life. She’d rented a house in my neighborhood to claim residency. And she was a hand picked “Bushy”. She moved out after her defeat. Nobody hears from her anymore. Kind of like Delay.
Lloyd Doggett is the best representative I’ve ever had and Not just because he’s the only one I can remember. (memory-recovered edit: Jake Pickle wasn’t a bad congressman.) Being a good politician from Texas is a miracle. It is a miracle that Llyod Doggett performs every day. Knowing that he is My representative and that we are of the same mind on the issues gives me the fortitude to endure the hell hole that is Texas politics and it gave me the strength to survive the Shrub cheneyBushco illegitimacy.
May All That Is Holy Bless Lloyd Doggett.

By: Phoenix Woman

Phoenix Woman — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:38:48 +0000

Keep Austin Weird!

By: McKinless

McKinless — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:07:06 +0000

Lloyd is a great member of Congress. He was also a great state senator and a great justice of the Texas Supreme Court. A man motivated by doing what’s right.

By: greenwarrior

greenwarrior — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:03:33 +0000

“Remember, he’s in frickin’ TEXAS. And he’s taking the pledge.”

he’s in austin, which isn’t really in texas.

By: greenwarrior

greenwarrior — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:00:31 +0000

austin, texas constituent here. doggett’s my rep i’m almost always happy to say. he’s never vulnerable and he’s always got plenty of campaign $. if you’ve got limited funds, norske, do save them for someone who is vulnerable.

By: OldFatGuy

OldFatGuy — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:31:15 +0000

Well, I really am sticking to that part of the pledge (as well as my family), but I also won’t be posting asking others too. IMO it was (and is) a good idea, because I agree with sporkovat, they need an “or else” or otherwise the calls are just calls.

Look, after 8 years of Bush and Cheney trashing the Constitution and everything American stands for, I’m not ever going to “be” a Republican. But if the Democrats don’t act like anti-Republicans, and instead act like Republican (Lite), then IMO, there’s not enough of a difference there to really matter. Also, I believe by my pledge to vote for the R, it “doubles” the “or else”. Instead of just losing my vote, it costs Webb/Warner twice as much, as they lose my vote PLUS the R gains one.

I am sorry once again for ruffing feathers, and was quite a bit distressed at basically being called a Republican plant (not by you), but I do assure you my intentions were in the right spot.

I want health care reform THIS YEAR, with A STRONG PUBLIC OPTION.

Now, that said, I agree with sporkovat 1000% about the need for single payer. I just believe there are 4 possible things outcomes this year.
1) Single payer, fully government financed healthcare (my favorite)
2) Health care reform, with a strong public option (Obama’s idea)
3) A co-op (or cop out) that is really just the status quo with dressing.
4) Nothing.

Of those 4, I’ve felt 1 had 0 chance, 2 had the best chance, 3 and 4 were realistic alternatives to 2. So, because while 1 had 0 chance (basically because Obama threw it overboard from the start), that the best, and most realistic, way to get there was through 2, as it would be a “stepping stone”.

However, in recent days, it became clear to me that instead of 2 being likely, it was no looking more and more like 3 or 4. And IMO, if it’s 3 or 4 (no bill or a cop out bill), then that will delay by at least a generation real health care reform being done. Thus, it’s why I became alarmed, and why I contacted my Senators. And I’m not going to make a pledge and not live up to it.

Also, sporkovat, THANK YOU for that link to the Bill Moyers episode. I wish I knew how to copy it to a DVD and give it to my family. Leave it to PBS to be the only station that would carry such a thing. The rest of the media is entirely right wing owned and operated (despite their constant cries to the contrary). Excellent piece, and should be required viewing IMO. Thank you.

By: Phoenix Woman

Phoenix Woman — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:43:36 +0000

Remember, he’s in frickin’ TEXAS. And he’s taking the pledge.

By: tejanarusa

tejanarusa — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:39:13 +0000

Omg - love, love Doggett. I wish he were my representative - but in a district where Lamar Smith keeps getting re-elected, guess Lloyd wouldn’t have a chance.

I will send him a thank-you, since cash isn’t available right now.

And imagine, a congressman who encourages popular action to counterweigh the lobbyists.

btw, the clip on the Meek post - the ins. lobbyist on the steps- gaaaah. Talk about spouting the talking points. Hard to listen to. Yay NYCEve and Jane for continuing to keep calm, instead of busting him one for his lies. (Yes, I have a suppressed violent streak. It’s why I don’t do confrontation if I can help it.)

By: sporkovat

sporkovat — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:28:19 +0000

and your demands upon the (D) congresspeople are not backed up by a convincing ‘or else’ clause.

OldFatGuy came and announced that he had called his reps and included and ‘or else’ clause and he got a thumping for it.

nice to see he’s back, nice to see you extending a welcome.

and sincere, genuine appreciation to you and FDL for not utilizing >kick/ban the way some other Prog sites do - not that I have experienced it personally.

I’ll work on writing up my secret master plan - might take a week or two.

By: Jane Hamsher

Jane Hamsher — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:53:36 +0000

You’re not demanding anything of anyone who has any power to do anything, unless I’ve missed something.

Where’s your whip list? Who are you pressuring? What’s your strategy?