We Apparently Have Dianne Feinstein's Attention

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Shane Goldmacher got someone at Dianne ~~Lieberman~~ Feinstein's office on the record about the anger in the Democratic grassroots over her continued efforts to undermine Democratic values in the Senate. The leadership of the CA Democratic Party chimed in, as well. See if you can spot the difference between the two statements.
Roger Salazar at the CDP:

"This party supports our Democratic senator and will continue to do so," said party communications director Roger Salazar. "Period."

Here's Scott Gerber for the Senator:

Scott Gerber, a Feinstein aide, defended the senator, saying she "has been an independent voice for California."

So one side says she's a Democratic senator and the CDP supports Democrats (no matter the policy or the principle, they just support Democrats, so shut up, grassroots!), while the other says she's an "independent voice for California."

Somebody better talk to somebody.

Then there's this howler:

"What people may not know is she was a strong leader in the fight against (now Supreme Court Justice Samuel) Alito and (Chief Justice John) Roberts," Gerber said, noting she opposed "more than a dozen" circuit court nominees from the Bush administration.

Hmm, I didn't know that! I guess that's why Alito and Roberts were never confirmed to the Supreme Court, in the face of all that "leadership." It must have been withering attacks like this that did the trick:

"Many of us are struggling with . . . what kind of a justice would you be, John Roberts," implored Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)

She voted against Roberts in committee, but made no loud effort to filibuster. And on Alito, she had this expression of leadership when it counted:

A Democrat who plans to vote against Samuel Alito sided on Sunday with a Republican colleague on the Senate Judiciary Committee in cautioning against a filibuster of the Supreme Court nominee.
"I do not see a likelihood of a filibuster," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. "This might be a man I disagree with, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't be on the court."
She said she will not vote to confirm the appeals court judge, based on his conservative record. But she acknowledged that nothing emerged during last week's hearings to justify any organized action by Democrats to stall the nomination.

Fight, Dianne, Fight!

She actually ended up voting against cloture, but only after it was apparent that the filibuster wouldn't hold and after she undermined it with prior comments.

Unfortunately, Mr. Gerber, the Great Gazoogle is my friend, and your claim that she was a "strong leader" against Roberts and Alito rings hollow.

If anything positive comes out of this, it's that DiFi recognizes that a whole lot of Californians are upset with her, and she can no longer run and hide from them. It may not change a lot, but it's a first step.

Posted November 14th, 2007 by Syndicated

in

Read original article
Login or register to post comments

Underdog congressional candidate needs your Help

by [courtesy of Blog for America]

I am Mike Carroll from Mansfield, Oh. I am a blue collar worker hoping to go from the shop floor to the House floor. My district- Oh-4, Is a traditionally "safe republican" district. We haven't elected a Dem since 1936. With your help I will change that this year. Starting with this DFA Grassroots All-Star 08 contest. Will you please vote for me and urge your friends to do likewise? Listen, I'm running a bare bones campaign and the exposure this will give me can put me on my way to Washington in Nov ( I'm unopposed in the primary). Also check out my website www.mikeforohio.com. Ok folks, go to http://democracyforamerica.com/gras and send me on my way to victory. I will appreciate one vote, or all three of your votes.

Thanks

Mike Carroll

Posted January 26th, 2008 by Syndicated

in

Read original article
Login or register to post comments

Who are these Grassroots All-Stars?

by Chris Healy [courtesy of Blog for America]

There are a lot of candidates for DFA's Grassroots All-Stars, which I'm taking as a very good sign! I don't know many of them though, and would appreciate others' insight to help figure out who I should investigate further.

Who do you recommend from this list of potential Grassroots All-Stars?

Thanks!

Posted January 14th, 2008 by Syndicated

in

Read original article
Login or register to post comments

Come to Environmental Action 2007 on Nov. 17

by Andrea Stander [courtesy of Blog for America]

This is a great opportunity to get some training and network with likeminded folks from around the state. I will be co-leading a workshop on grassroots fundraising with Ginny Callan from New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

Follow the links below for all the information and feel free to call or email me with any questions. The fee for this day-long conference (which includes lunch) is only $20 in advance, $25 at the door and there are discounts for 3 or more folks who are part of the same organization or group. So we could turn this into a CVTDFA outing and save money too!

Hope to see you there

Andrea
802-522-3284

Bergen Grassroots Endorsements

[courtesy of Blog for America]

Bergen Grassroots EndorsementsAs Election Day nears, we consider it appropriate to summarize the actions of your Steering Committee members with regard to endorsing candidates for County and State governments within our purview. That includes three candidates for the Bergen County Board of Freeholders and one Senator and two Assembly members in Legislative Districts 36, 37, 38 and 39. It was our judgment that there were two key questions for which we needed answers from these candidates because of our strong commitment to pay-to-play reform. We wrote to all 18 candidates on September 20, well in advance of Election Day. Here are the questions: â

Posted November 5th, 2007 by Syndicated

in