Democrats Stab MoveOn in the Back

Memo to Democrats: you control the Congress. That means you can decide what bills come to the floor for votes--and what don't. So why, in a week where Republicans blocked the restoration of habeas corpus, voting rights for DC and adequate rest time for our troops between deployments, did you allow Republicans the opportunity to score a cheap PR stunt by approving a resolution condemning a week-old newspaper ad by Moveon.org--on the same day Republicans once again voted to keep indefinitely continuing the Iraq war?!

It boggles the mind. I have no idea what Harry Reid was thinking. Does he think that by repudiating Moveon.org suddenly Fox News will like him? That Ann Coulter will take back all those nasty things she said? That Republicans will stop trying to blame the Democrats for losing this war?

MoveOn has been one of the most effective and persistent voices pushing for progressive change inside the Democratic Party. They helped elect politicians like Jon Tester in Montana and Jim Webb in Virginia, who today stabbed the group in the back. MoveOn didn't start this war. George Bush did. And General Petraeus is keeping it going. They've only been in the majority for nine months, but you'd think by now Democratic leaders in Congress would be able to comprehend the obvious.

Comments (38)

1. Seriously, Mr Berman....you more than John Nichols seems to "get it".

   While he was concentrating on Bush "getting nutty" over that, he glossed over the REAL problem. That fact that 26 Democrats soaked their pants at the idea that they'd be "painted as anti-military" for not denouncing an ad by an advocacy book.

   Even Hillary succumbed on CNN (FRANKGRITS of course thought it was "professionally handled").

   Posted by Mask at 09/20/2007 @ 10:02pm

2. Sorry, sub "group" for "book"...brain fart.

   Posted by Mask at 09/20/2007 @ 10:03pm

3. yeah...the "betray us", ironically enough, comes from the folks they helped elect, for moveon.org...

   meet the new bosses...marginally less compromised than the old bosses...

   screw the presidential election...50 foot compromised queenie has been picked and shall ascend to the throne. she shall wear the purple...foxnews (murdoch) is cool with it, most of the randian demigods are cool with it, and...

   50 foot queenie is cool with it...

   but perhaps its time, in terms of legislative voting strategy, for all schmuks to vote for the one they dont recognize on the ballot. pick the one least likely to win and vote thusly. apparantly...

   WHEN U VOTE FOR SOMEONE BASED ON WHAT THEY SAY, ASSUME THEY WILL ACT IN THE INTEREST OF THEIR CORPORATE DONORS NO MATTER WHAT.

   ie...vote for your cat, or for the vegetarian party candidate, or for abraxas the demiurge, lord of this corrupt and corrupting world...

   hell, enough to make one consider the possibilities of benevolent fascism...a thousand tyrants or one?

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 09/20/2007 @ 10:18pm

4. Posted by IBBLEBLIBBLE 09/20/2007 @ 10:18pm

   I've found my candidate [cthulhu.org].

   And yes, you no longer have to vote for the LESSER of two evils!

   Posted by Mask at 09/20/2007 @ 10:40pm

5. Posted by MASK 09/20/2007 @ 10:40pm

   i've said it before, there's always these guys. they worship fdr, who was the demiurge...

   realalternative [geocities.com]

   they look like nice folks on their pics section too...

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 09/20/2007 @ 10:47pm

6. i think they got it all figured out...

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 09/20/2007 @ 10:49pm

7. Posted by FRANKGRITS 09/20/2007 @ 10:42pm

   FRANK, I assume since you're here, Hillary voted "no" on the condemnation resolution in the Senate, right?

   Posted by Mask at 09/20/2007 @ 10:53pm

8. frank is one of the most truly decent folks who post here.

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 09/20/2007 @ 10:55pm

9. ooooh...since politics sucks...

   THE usc gamecocks gonna beat lsu this weekend! steve spurrior is god (not abraxus the demiurge)

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 09/20/2007 @ 10:57pm

10. It's somewhat obvious that Petraeus' appearance before Congress was nothing more than a repetition of the previous week's Republican talking points. This combined with his deliberate misrepresentation of how the "surge" is somehow responsible for the "success" in Anbar makes him less than a credible figure.

    Unfortunately, MoveOn elected to turn this somewhat complex issue into a bumper sticker moment whose content doesn't rank beyond the vindictive chatter in an elementary school playground.

    On the bright side, MoveOn's message was more coherent than that screaming harpy from Code Pink who interrupted the Surge hearings. That's reassuring.

    Sorry, but one of the things I pride myself on is having the ability to think below the surface. The deeper the argument goes, the more likely I'll be interested. This is why I don't watch Bill O'Reilly or any of the other screaming heads in the media.

    And you know what? If political discourse is going to degenerate to the right wing mouthpieces v. the left wing mouthpieces, maybe it's time for the cool people to cut out and leave them at it.

    Anywhere, (but the) USA is looking better all the time.

    Give me something meaningful before it's too late.

    Posted by jahlen at 09/20/2007 @ 11:12pm

11. Posted by ZERO 09/20/2007 @ 10:02pm

    well zeroed in.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/21/2007 @ 12:14am

12. Sorry, sub "group" for "book"...brain fart.

    Posted by MASK 09/20/2007 @ 10:03pm

    actually, a manual isn't a bad idea

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/21/2007 @ 12:15am

13. meet the new bosses...marginally less compromised than the old bosses...

    by MASK

    Happy George wasn't old, but he was a man.

    He lived in the sand at the Crawfordy Ranch

    The kids would all sing, he would take the wrong key,

    So they rode on his head in their furry donkey.

    The kids couldn't hurt George,

    We tried, tried, tried.

    He dropped things on our backs,

    He lied, lied, lied, lied, lied.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/21/2007 @ 12:21am

14. I'm tired.

    Posted by FRANKGRITS 09/20/2007 @ 10:42pm

    You deserve a break today

    So get up and get away

    To McDonald's

    So get up and get away

    To McDonald's

    McDonald's

    McDonald's

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/21/2007 @ 12:23am

15. Posted by IBBLEBLIBBLE 09/20/2007 @ 10:47pm

    thank you. thank you. thank you. thank you. thank you. thank you.

    to whit:

    MYSTERIOUS STATUE FOUND IN STATUE OF STALIN

    Vladlen Dagonovich Nyarlatin, one of our most investigative Satanic Reds Comrades, recently visited the Soviet Union. He wanted to get information from the KGB Archives for a website wholly unrelated to Satanic Reds.

    During his research, they closed the archives for a day because they wanted to bust up and remove an old statue of Stalin.

    To his utter astonishment and surprise, he noticed an unearthly green glow from the interior of the hollowed statue. With astute perception, only present in the highest Adepts in our organization, he quickly surmised that the glow was coming from an object of some kind. He reached inside and felt a tingling sensation in his hand as he picked up the strange object.

    He beheld the object with utter shock and cosmic horror as Its eyes bore into his own.

    Of course, Comrade Nyarlatin was thoroughly familiar with the object, being an Adept in the REALLY hidden mysteries of the spoon and mint, which secrets are only known to the Supreme Magi of the Vadyan Mysteries. The object, pictures below, might be familiar to those who understand the True and Horrific secrets of the Old Ones. However, this is not what shocked and horrified Comrade Nyarlatin. It was, instead, the HIEROGLYPHS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STATUE.

    BEHOLD!

    frankenpoo, that is for ¡¡¡you!!!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/21/2007 @ 12:29am

16. Unfortunately, MoveOn elected to turn this somewhat complex issue into a bumper sticker moment

    By JALEN

    good point.

    at least people read bumper stickers.................

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/21/2007 @ 12:32am

17. "Democrats Stab MoveOn in the Back

    Ari Berman |

    Why did Democrats allow the GOP to score a cheap PR stunt against MoveOn, on the same day that Republicans once again voted to keep indefinitely continuing the Iraq war?! "

    Actually, the head line was received through out America as..

    "Moveon.shit Stabs America in the Back...Again."

    These people do wonders for the conservative movement.

    Posted by john maasch at 09/21/2007 @ 01:53am

18. These people do wonders for the conservative movement.

    Posted by JOHN MAASCH 09/21/2007 @ 01:53am

    how ironic............

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/21/2007 @ 02:03am

19. Well, Gore was great and he would make a great president, not neccesarilly Bubba's calibre, but still much musch beneficial to this country than any of Dubya or his father. But, of course, Al is no legal authority anymore. Look at his 2004 pick, Howard Dean, not even John Kerry, his co-combatant in the Vietnam war. Sorry, Al, Earth is great but I care more about ordinary compatriots. Read this.

    -------------

    Gore Backing Would Sway Some Democrats Thursday, September 20, 2007 6:25 PM WASHINGTON -- What would former Vice President Al Gore's endorsement mean for a Democratic presidential candidate? Most Democrats say absolutely nothing, but about a quarter say it would influence their vote _ though not necessarily for the hopeful he backs. More than two-thirds, or 69 percent, said Gore's endorsement would not influence their own decision about which candidate to support, according to a poll released Thursday by the Pew Research Center. Twenty-one percent said his endorsement would make them likelier to back that candidate. Another 7 percent said his endorsement would have the reverse affect and make them less likely to support that contender.

    Posted by Helen DAO at 09/21/2007 @ 03:50am

20. After hearing about circus act the senate just pulled, I'd have to say that at least half of this country has no representation. What kind of chicken shits do we have working for us in Washington. On one said, we have the chicken hawk tough guys (the republicans) who want to bomb just about every country on the planet and of course send other people's kids off to fight these wars because they don't like getting blood on their ivy league suits. Then the other side of the isle, we have the chicken shit cowards (the democrats) who don't stand for anything other than trying to be re-elected. They are so afraid to make a stand, they sit on their asses and let the minority party dictate what happens.

    I don't know if these idiots (the dems in charge of the senate and the house) can figure this out or not, but their lack of courage and lack of action may get them voted out of office. Trying to appease the middle of the road republicans will loose votes for them on their base. If this kind of crap continues, I think I might just sit out the next election entirely because all of the choices suck. I know I'm only one vote and all, but from what I see, almost everyone in D.C. is about big business, showmanship, covering their own ass and trying not to rock the boat. They all are more than happy to make sound bites before election time about what they stand for, but they don't stand for any of us when it really comes down to it.

    Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/21/2007 @ 06:53am

21. Doesn't this all show that Ralph Nader is right about the Dems? We voted them in back in November and I can't see a lick of difference between the way things are now and the way they would be if the GOP still controlled everything.

    There is a certain magazine that came out very strongly against the Nader run, thus helping to open the door for Dems to assume, rather than fight for, the support of the Left. The kind of Democrats we have now are the kind you get in such a situation. And I for one don't like that kind--the results speak for themselves. When the Dems know that the left-wing media will shoot down any left-wing political movement that threatens the status quo, we get the GOP-lite Party.

    Posted by BlueSpark at 09/21/2007 @ 07:44am

22. I think I might just sit out the next election entirely because all of the choices suck. I know I'm only one vote and all, but from what I see, almost everyone in D.C. is about big business, showmanship, covering their own ass and trying not to rock the boat. They all are more than happy to make sound bites before election time about what they stand for, but they don't stand for any of us when it really comes down to it.

    Posted by WOLFGANG1 09/21/2007 @ 06:53am

    maybe if they see that more than 43% of voters vote, they might pay a little (all right, teensy) more attention to the "ants" down below

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/21/2007 @ 08:13am

23. well there are TWO INDEPENDENTS (or so they call themselves) in your senate

    lieberman: well, nobody's fooled by that

    but then there is bernie sanders, senator from the VDR [Vermont Democratic Republic]. sure he votes with the democrats, but he was ELECTED as an independent.

    if captain picard can defeat the borg..........

    there is hope.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/21/2007 @ 08:20am

24. maybe if they see that more than 43% of voters vote, they might pay a little (all right, teensy) more attention to the "ants" down below

    Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 09/21/2007 @ 08:13am

    With the kind of representation we've been getting, those numbers may dip down to, hmm, let's see.....5% since their votes are only the ones that count anyway evidently. Unfortunately, it's not the votes they cast on election day, it's the votes they contribute in the form of dollars.

    Our country is and has been for sale to the highest bidders.

    Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/21/2007 @ 08:46am

25. If you doubt that our country is for sale to the highest bidder, just look at Dubai purchasing part of NASDAQ.

    I just wish that whatever kind of government we really have, these assholes would just be honest and tell us the truth. If they want to attack Iraq for oil, come out and say it, don't give us a bunch of crap that isn't true.

    If the government wants to help the wealthy and screw everyone else, why not just come out and say it. Eventually the lower income classes will figure it out anyway. But if you know the game you are playing in is rigged, then you at least have the choice in not playing the game. Telling us the game is rigged is the fair and balanced thing to do. At least then, they could save us the phony show we have to go through every election cycle and they could just go about their corrupt business as usual.

    Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/21/2007 @ 08:53am

26. Ari sounds surprised, shocked. Why?

    Posted by mtspence05 at 09/21/2007 @ 09:14am

27. Posted by WOLFGANG1 09/21/2007 @ 08:53am

    maybe y'all should stop paying taxes, pool your cash and hire a slick K-Street Lobbyist.

    then watch the progressive agenda be put in motion!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/21/2007 @ 09:42am

28. maybe y'all should stop paying taxes, pool your cash and hire a slick K-Street Lobbyist.

    then watch the progressive agenda be put in motion!

    Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 09/21/2007 @ 09:42am

    Nah, but moving to Canada is looking better every day. It would help if it was warmer there. Vancouver B.C. is the only major city I"ve seen there, but if I sure did like Vancouver.

    Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/21/2007 @ 10:23am

29. Posted by WOLFGANG1 09/21/2007 @ 10:23am

    where do you live? i can give you a climate comparison.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/21/2007 @ 10:25am

30. where do you live? i can give you a climate comparison.

    Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 09/21/2007 @ 10:25am

    Well, I can pretty much google any place and find out the climate there. But, Georgia is my present state of residence.

    Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/21/2007 @ 11:20am

31. Posted by WOLFGANG1 09/21/2007 @ 11:20am

    ooooh georgia. mmmmm. boiled peanuts. mmmmmm.

    i live in southern ontario. it's like georgia clime for 9 1/2 months a year. hot'n'humid.

    the snow used to come.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/21/2007 @ 11:28am

32. live in southern ontario. it's like georgia clime for 9 1/2 months a year. hot'n'humid.

    the snow used to come.

    Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 09/21/2007 @ 11:28am

    FROSTY, Thanks for the tip. I'll have to check Southern Ontario out. I can miss the boiled peanuts. Hot is alirght, but the humid part kicks my ass. I was born and raised in Montana and lived in Washington and California so this humidity thing is still hard to get used to and I've been down yonder for almost 6 years.

    Posted by Wolfgang1 at 09/21/2007 @ 11:58am

33. Posted by WOLFGANG1 09/21/2007 @ 11:58am

    off to the desert with ya [cachecreekvillage.com]

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/21/2007 @ 3:19pm

34. Maybe this is a sign the internet is making more of an impact, it is beginning to anger all the crooks and war mongers. I suppose they will try and destroy it as everything else that upholds the truth or has an opinion.

    Posted by Sinatra at 09/21/2007 @ 4:11pm

35. Bush pimped Petraeus. Petraeus knew better than to mix politics with military service but he did anyway to further his personal ambitions of becoming a Republican presidential nominee in 2012. Conduct unbecoming.

    Posted by innovator at 09/21/2007 @ 4:34pm

36. I made the same comment to Nancy Pelosi's office today. How does the GOP rush-order a Bullsh*t resolution that passes, while the Dems can't get a single taxpayer mandated bill past the reception desk?

    Posted by mr.moose at 09/21/2007 @ 7:49pm

37. Democrats Stab MoveOn in the Back? So what's new? What else can one possibly expect? It has nothing to do with reason or political process. We are in the way of far more powerful game played above our heads.

    Just recently, Dianne Feinstein's reply to any attempt at impeaching Bush is that it is "divisive". The thing one could infer is that "uniting" is her own agenda of a consolidated single party system. We may just as well be there. We weren't told yet.

    Posted by legal alien at 09/21/2007 @ 8:48pm

38. this threads done.

    moveon.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/23/2007 @ 01:41am