The fire dogs are very fluffy

They are indeed.

What are their names, PW? They are so gorgeous.

I”m saddened to see so many votes for folks with D+10 or better numbers.

I picked MY three based on LOW Dem+ numbers, thinking they NEEDED the support. I also picked my 3 based on their prog support checkmarks . . . minimum of at least the PO, if not all three issues.

Why waste people’s money on a Dem who has +10 numbers or better, when others are only +1 or even +5, and might really LOSE the seat?

I don’t get it.

Thanks Mz. Hamsher and FDL staff for doing this, and keeping us up to date . . . it made me think about hmmm, who DO I support and why . . . . forced me to make some decisions, and THAT alters where I’m coming from now . . . for instance, I now have a BIG radar up about MY rep and why she votes the way she does when she does . . . for instance, SAFE voting, when nothing’s at stake!

PINO’s (progs in name only) are of no more value to us than DINO’s, Bluedogs, or Conservadem’s, as far as CHANGING the status quo is regarded.

Support the REAL Progs, who NEED our help . . .

In fairness Grayson is in a very tough seat.

And Stupak got 5 votes! The same as my rep, Speier. Shocking.

I’d rather donate to an FDL fund that can be a dangled carrot (vs donations that were made to healthcare ‘heroes’ who sold their spines), and more agile WRT candidate need. I.e., Grayson is currently frontrunner here, but if he continues to be well-funded and comfortably ahead in polls of likely voters, would his place be deferred in favor of another quality candidate in a tighter race?

How do you keep those dogs so white? Do they ever get into the mud?

So they can become the next House Speaker Reps who raise money and donate it to fellow House members either move up through the House Leadership or pick who moves up through the House Leadership.
Granted our cash won’t compare to the amounts the Corporations can give but I’m thinking many Dems are going to lose this year. A vote on a new House Speaker is likely.
The Corporate Dem Message will be blamed for the Dems defeat if we have anything to say about it. Which means we might get someone in the House leadership this time.

They’re Penny and Petey, and they belong to the parents of a friend of mine. I think Petey’s the one looking straight into the camera, as Penny has the longer muzzle.

I wish keeping the Dogs Clean was my easiest job. And, yes, there is a political metaphor there.
I just got back from buying a couch slip cover ’cause my newest rescue puppy started eating the couch while I was at the gym. And, no, I didn’t buy it at Walmart. *g*

From what I understand, they love baths, which they get quite frequently!

I know what you mean. But as ThingsComeUndone noted, this is how we create power brokers among the progressive legislators. Steny Hoyer’s able to command the votes of freshmen reps because he’s been able to donate to their campaigns from his huge warchest. It’d be nice to see a few Fire Dogs out there with the ability (and of course will!) to protect fledgling progressive candidates in that way.

Grayson? Really?

Man is nothing but talk. Everytime it comes dowmn to it he falls into lockstep with the party. He’s not Kucinich but louder..he’s just louder.

And I was really hoping for a lot more votes for Eric Massa. One of only 2 Dems to not vote for the House health care bill that had no PO and the Stupak amendment.

Aww, are those Eskies (American Eskimo)? I had one when I was growing up. Best dog ever. So sweet and fun.

Ok I vote for Eric you made your case

I’m holding off on voting. I like learning more about the people before I vote, so I’m reading the comments with interest.

Agreed.

I have been a Speier fan since LONG ago when I lived in San Mateo, and interviewed her for her run on the County Board Of Supes! All in all I think I interviewed her three times over a few years as her political career began.

Her time in the House has been well spent in service to her constituents, on all issues. And I voted for her, from Supes to House, until I moved from The Bay Area.

She’s in high Dem+ district, and doesn’t need our help! Thank goodness!

Man I’d love to see her challenge Feinstein or Boxer in ’12, or whenever they are up for reelect . . *G*

Love you thoughts, thanks for sharing them with us.

American Eskimos!!!

“So they can become the next House Speaker Reps who raise money and donate it to fellow House members either move up through the House Leadership or pick who moves up through the House Leadership.”

IMHO you are WAY off the curve and out front of the FDL present effort, which is to provide support to House Dem’s up for ’10 seats, those House Dem’s who NEED the support, in low number D+ districts, who might LOSE their seats to an Independent or a Rethug who is DECIDEDLY less progressive than the Dem we are supporting.

Yer swinging for the fences at a pitch that hasn’t been delivered, while watching the present delivery with you bat on your shoulder as you get whiffed for strike three . . .

‘Ah say, keep you EYE on the BALL, sohn, EYEBALL! Get it? That’s a joke, sohn . . . . that boy ain’t right in the head.”

/Leghorn voice

As I replied to TCU, 12 steps way too out in front to be considered for the present sitch of voting for who needs support for ’10 . . . .

Love the pic of the fluffy pups!

*G*

I worry about Grayson, too.

And Massa was one of my votes, considering his checkmarks and his D+ number.

A vital one we can’t afford to lose!!!!!

Thanks for the comment.

PINOs — I love it.

I really like that you’re considering all these things when you’re voting. That makes it a huge success.

On the plus side, however, Grayson’s seat is considered one of the very most vulnerable. We were operating under the assumption that the rate of swing would make anything outside D+10 safe, but it’s looking more like seats up to D+15 or 18 could be at risk (though that could change). In the mean time I’m happy that the top 3 are all D+10 or less.

But I really encourage you to write a diary on the Seminal about your choices and explain why you made the ones you did. I think people would find that very helpful.

Hmmm. There’s a limit to how much a PAC can donate to a candidate. But we were thinking of something we might be able to do for say the top 3 candidates in R leaning districts. That’s a thought.

The PINO was spur of the moment stream of con thought . . . *G*

Thanks for your comment, ma’am.

I stand corrected on the votes at hand for D+10 or MORE, thanks for mentioning that, I should have looked up their D+ numbers before I made the comment.

Suggestion, your update sheet? Add a column for the D+ numbers of the candidates?

I’m still not so sure about Grayson, he worries me, frankly.

As someone above suggested, he’s no Kuch, he’s just louder by far, good kabuki.

I DO have a diary up about ‘No Big Whoop’ and at the end, drift off to the point you suggest, where I detail in one paragraph why I voted the way I did . . .

And let me say, your effort with this voting is what forced me to really think about where I’d throw support at.

Hard core deliberation, all the way, show me the proof of prog, and the need number wise.

I’m GREATLY saddened that progs or any Dem’s in +10 seats might still be looking at losses . . . brutal reality, I guess, considering what the phreakin Dem’s have DONE for the general masses since ’06 . . . (I consider they’ve done really very little but appease the corporate feudalists).

Again, thanks for all you and your staff does . . . most well informed site with the most informed readers and commenters of all IMHO . . .

Yay, two of my votes are in the top three (Grijalva, D+6 and Kucinich D+8). I like the idea of rewarding those who have already shown guts and leadership and are willing to go out and talk about it in the MSM. Grayson certainly fits that bill as well, although I think he’s in a position to get broader support than some of the others on the list and consequently may not need as much help.

Mary Jo Kilroy is one I voted for, partly because I like her stands on issues, generally, and partly because she’s in a tough district. She had hard-won victory; now, Ohio has lost even more jobs and people are in the mood to vote out whoever’s in. She just got there and I think she could do a lot of good.
http://kilroy.house.gov/press-all.shtml

Folks I really like what Grayson stands for on many issues. But he is clearly a PEP (progressive except for Palestine) He voted to condemn the Goldstone Report.

How many times do we need to hear that the lop-sided U.S. policies in complete favor of Israel no matter what they do is one of the big reasons why people from that part of the world are willing to blow themselves up to take out Americans.

Now these lop-sided policies have been in gear for a long time. The last President to challenge Israel by demanding that they open up to nuclear inspections was President Kennedy. He also wanted the predecessor to AIPAC to sign up under the FARA (foreign agents registration act).

Grayson is a strong supporter of Israel no matter what they do. Including being willing to condemn the honorable Judge Goldstones report on what took place in the Gaza last year. This is a critical issue.

Rep Kucinich and Rep Grijava voted no on the resolution to condemn the Goldstone Report. Rep Frank also voted to condemn that report.

Please think about this critical issue and whether you want to support Reps who support Israel no matter what they do. Think about this and vote for Kucinich, Grivalja

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll838.xml

BILL TITLE: Calling on the President and the Secretary of State to oppose unequivocally any endorsement or further consideration of the “Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict” in multilateral fora

These Reps were the brave 36 on that resolution
Baird
Baldwin
Blumenauer
Boustany
Capps
Carson (IN)
Clarke
Clay
Davis (KY)
Dingell
Doggett
Edwards (MD)
Ellison
Filner
Grijalva
Hinchey
Johnson, E. B.
Kilpatrick (MI)
Kucinich
Lee (CA)
Lynch
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
Miller, George
Moran (VA)
Olver
Pastor (AZ)
Paul
Price (NC)
Rahall
Snyder
Stark
Waters
Watt
Woolsey

While your at it call or email your Reps and ask them to read the Goldstone Report and to invite Judge Goldstone to the hill to discuss his findings

Kaptur and Delahunt voted “present” on the Goldstone Report.

Pups, if yer still reading thru this thread, here’s my diary About My Rep And FDL Voting At The End.

Thanks for the info, Leen. I haven’t paid enough attention to the Goldstone thing. My third vote was for Doggett, based on the fact that he had three checks, was D+6, and Texas needs every progressive it can get. Glad to see he was brave in voting against condemning the Goldstone report.

Wow, that’s a great diary.

I haven’t done anything on the Polis/Pingree effort after coming to the same conclusion. Safe districts, no chance of ever having to step up and actually do it.

We should be paying close attention to how our Reps vote on I/P resolutions, their willingness to condemn the honorable Judge Goldstone’s report on thr Gaza and if they are pushing for more sanctions on Iran based on unsubstantiated claims.

There are many unsubstantiated claims in the Iran Sanctions ACT
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RS20871.pdf

Iran sanctions bill update: full speed ahead

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/01/19/iran_sanctions_bill_update_full_speed_ahead

Only 12 voted against new sanctions on Iran, 3 of them Republicans. 412 voted in favor.
http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2009/12/15/only-12-house-members-vote-against-iran-sanctions/

Here is the honor roll who voted against:
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
John Conyers (D-MI)
John Duncan (R-TN)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Gwen Moore (D-WI)
Ron Paul (R-TX)
Pete Stark (D-CA)

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO VOTE FOR PEOPLE WHO CONDEMNED THE GOLDSTONE REPORT AND ALSO VOTED FOR ANOTHER INFLAMMATORY AND UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS IN THE IRAN SANCTIONS ACT

Dennis Kucinich is the man. A progressive on all counts. Give Kucinich the money. He is the real deal

Hardball full of bullshit right now about the inevitability of Governor Hoeven in ND.

Just sayin’.

Thank you ma’am . . .

The present I/P issues coming to the light of day should be of GREAT concern to us all.

Imagine not being ABLE to have an FDL, and not being able to voice the HUGE range of opinions FirePups have, much less ALL internet bloggers and readers/commenters have?

Imagine, your emails being used against you as dissent against the country’s interest, and being labeled a terrorist? And being disappeared?

Not that far fetched, once the corps get ahold of internet access and usage, as regulation is dissolved.

We have 10% unemployment and we are the party in power so we will get the blame if we don’t lose the House it would be a miracle. When the Party in power in the House loses an election the Dems will have a chance to vote for a new minority leader.
Chances are the Dems +5 and over might survive if any Dems + 1 survives it will be because the GOPers blew it.
We have much better odds getting our person in the House leadership than we do of saving the Dems + 1 right now.
All my analysts rests on 10% unemployment if we can get that number to 7% your ideas very well might work.

I didn’t see Lieberman on the list?

Reps only I believe it is. He’s still in the Senate for a couple more years, until he decides to join Dodd in retirement rather than defeat.

The best but most vulnerable, and the most needed where they are, are: Bright of AL, Grayson of FL, Hall and Massa of NY, Edwards of TX, Shea-Porter of NH.
(Edwards had a brilliant performance at the CBO hearing recently.)

Don’t worry, Obama’s been saving his behind personally for over a year now.
;[

weiner and barney?

look – I’ve already got a 40-50++ hour a week job, I don’t recall specifics – but weiner changed stripes on the HCRap, and hasn’t barney’s been too far on wall street’s side?

things are so bad that I am NO longer willing to overlook … 3 or more things which make me ill.

I’ve been watching murray’s and cantwells shitty votes for the last 9 months or so – they join different subsets of chris dodd / kerry fucking sell outs so they NEVER look, individually, completely bad.

other than grayson, in my busy world, I wouldn’t give a shit if they all got in a row boat and headed off into an nice Atlantic Ocean Cat 5 hurricane – the world would NOT be worse off with fewer sell outs selling us out.

rmm.

How does Heath Shuler (a bible-thumping Republican masquerading as a Democrat) from NC get 11 votes, while David Price (a brave liberal who stands with Dennis Kucinich on just about everything) from NC gets only 4 votes?

Are some of you guys nuts? Come on, let’s be sensible about this.

Happy to see Kucinich up there. Go Dennis!

Aha! That’s what she called them. Thanks!

Yes, they are! I couldn’t remember the name.

Where do I vote against my congressman Tom Cole, and our two illustrious senators Jim Dimhoff and Dr. NO. Poor Oklahoma.

I’m surprised Delahunt is not further up on that list. He gave Addington a run for the money during a few of the OLC hearings. Delahunt was visibly pissed and asking hard driving questions

So Kucinich voted against the war, supports a public option, voted against the condemnation of the Goldstone Report and voted against the Iran sanctions act

Grayson who is a tough guy supports a public option voted yes to condemn the Goldstone Report and voted for the Iran sanctions act which is based on quite a few unsubstantiated claims.

Who would be quick to vote us into a confrontation with Iran? Grayson. Who is obviously unwilling to even consider the crimes committed by Israel in the Gaza last year? Grayson

Who should progressives who do not want another attack based on unsubstantiated claims about Iran and who want the crimes committed by Irael and the Palestinians really examined by our congress give money to?

Kucinich…Kucinich. consistent, truthful and wiling to tackle any issue with honesty. Any issue

The only explanation I can think of for Harry Mitchell (AZ-05) getting any votes at all is that those people have never tried to get a straight answer out of him, either that or he’s paying his staff to stuff the ballot box. He is the most incompetent pol, in a world of incompetent pols, that I’ve ever had the displeasure of being represented by. Hear that Harry? Fuck you!

So Kucinich voted against the war, supports a public option, voted against the condemnation of the Goldstone Report and voted against the Iran sanctions act

Grayson who is a tough guy supports a public option voted yes to condemn the Goldstone Report and voted for the Iran sanctions act which is based on quite a few unsubstantiated claims.

Who would be quick to vote us into a confrontation with Iran? Grayson. Who is obviously unwilling to even consider the crimes committed by Israel in the Gaza last year? Grayson

Who should progressives who do not want another attack based on unsubstantiated claims about Iran and who want the crimes committed by Irael and the Palestinians really examined by our congress give money to?

Kucinich…Kucinich. consistent, truthful and wiling to tackle any issue with honesty. Any issue

Indeed! Grayson talks a good game, but at the end of the day he’s just another DINO talking out both sides of his mouth. Kucinich walks the walk and he does it consistently.

“Talks a good game” and I agree with much of what he says about national affairs. But when you head into the foreign policy realm he, Barney Frank and far too many of our Reps fall right in line with the warmongers.

Really not sure how the community of FDL could even consider giving people money who support the actions of Israel no matter what they do, support Reps who are signing and putting together (Barney Frank) legislation that repeats and fuels unsubstantiated claims about Iran. Why would we do that as alleged progressives.

If we do not deal with the Israeli Palestinian conflict more fairly. Those desperate radicals who are willing to blow themselves up due to our ongoing support for Israel no matter what they do will continue to do everything they can to blow themselves up while trying to take out Americans. How many times do we need to hear this?

Alan Grayson, Barney Frank, Lieberman want us to continue to ignore this critical issue and look at the after effects of these policies not at the “core motivations”

Now I am by no means a pacifist but going after Iran when they have never threatened us and the alleged threats that the President of Iran has supposedly said….I have heard Alan Grayson, Barney Frank, Cheney, Lieberman, Rachel Maddow, Terri Gross, and many more repeat over and over again.

Alan Grayson leads a double life
http://mondoweiss.net/2009/12/gutsy-progressive-congressman-alan-grayson-leads-a-double-life.html

In an interview in March with the Philadelphia Jewish Voice, Grayson revealed two meetings he held the previous week with AIPAC Executive Director Howard Kohr. In the interview, Grayson explained how Kohr helped to “educate” him about Israel-related issues, then misquoted the Abba Eban line, “The Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.”

GRAYSON: I met with Howard Kohr, the head of AIPAC [American Israel Public Affairs Committee], twice last week.

PJV: And what was the gist of the conversation?

GRAYSON: The gist of the conversation was that Iran is a tremendous threat to Israel and needs to be stopped. And I agree with that.

PJV: And what about what is going on in the Gaza Strip; was there any conversation about that?

GRAYSON: Yes, we talked about that. I think what AIPAC often tries to do is to educate Members of Congress who frankly follow this a lot less closely than I do. In my case, I read Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post online four or five times a week, so I am pretty familiar with the circumstances and why the war took place. As a famous Israeli once said, the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
———————————————————————-

When are the so called progressives at this blog and elsewhere going to start standing up to the I lobby?

I would like to support those Reps who reflect my values across the board. Kucinich is that person. Rep Grijalva also reflects those values across the board

And Kucinich has been doing it for a long time while under pressure