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Specter Kills EFCA, for now
I think this is actually good news for Labor and the US in the long run. With the incessant criticism of the Obama Administration (primarily from the left), it will take an all out effort in the 2010 elections to try and win a few more seats in the Senate, including Specter's, and get major energy legislation and a carbon tax passed in 2011 (apparently the Dems have given up on it this year, which means goodbye next year as well).
Last week Labor said they'd back Specter if he voted for EFCA. He stiffed them instead. America does not need 6 more years of Specter.When Franken finally gets seated, we'll have 59 seats in the caucus of which only 51-52 are reliable. We'll need 3-4 more to convince the Evan Bayhs and Ben Fosters of this world that "Republican lite" is not the Democratic Party.
Last week Labor said they'd back Specter if he voted for EFCA. He stiffed them instead. America does not need 6 more years of Specter.When Franken finally gets seated, we'll have 59 seats in the caucus of which only 51-52 are reliable. We'll need 3-4 more to convince the Evan Bayhs and Ben Fosters of this world that "Republican lite" is not the Democratic Party.
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We need to pick at least one issue and force the Republicans to fillibuster. We're still a bunch of wimps afraid to act like the majority we are. We need to face them down on something and make them pay for opposing it. I don't know if this is the issue considering how inept the party has been at explaining it to the public but it's pathetic that with unemployment skyrocketing we don't have the guts to take on a labor issue.
March 24, 2009 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd add that this is a classic example of the "destructive centrism" that Krugmann wrote about awhile back. The centrists tell us that moderation wins the day. Well, no it does not. Centrism makes any real reform totally impossible.
March 24, 2009 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, Bluebell. Moderation is disaster right now. They tried that for eight years and look where it got us.
Dems have never been the party of sheep, but this is not the time to make such a drastic and public split. I would really like to know why the "moderates" feel it's so necessary to move away from Obama when a united front is crucial. What do they know that we don't?
March 24, 2009 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
What do they know that we don't? The list people paying them off. Wait till we get to "healthcare reform"!
March 24, 2009 6:52 PM | Reply | Permalink