I am frustrated about what we have not been able to accomplish in Iraq. But I am not frustrated with the fact that we have tried. Last year we had 36 separate votes on IRaq and every one of them was a necessary vote. Keep in mind where we were last year. We were in the majority-- 51-49."
He goes on to discuss how, while Sen. Tim Johnson was sick, they were at 49, and Joe Lieberman votes with the Republicans every time on Iraq, so, he said,
"We were in the minority, 49 to 50 and we wer the 49. But we continued to work hard, and want everyone to recognize one of the heroes in all of this and that's a man named Chuck Hagel from Nebraska. Chuck Hagel gave up his career in politics for a higher principle, voting with us every time. And in the process, he was able, on various ocassions to bring in a number of other Republicans. We got up to 57 one time-- We needed three more. We could never do that.
Reid talked about how the Dems have brought back oversight to
The one thing we have to be careful is to not let the president entangle us in some long term relationship with Iraq. John McCain has said we should be there 50 or 100 years. Can you imagine that? But that's that they're saying. We believe that the status quo is not working. We believe that the Republicans are pushing for more of the same and we want to push for a change.
If you're sick of hearing about the 60 vote threshold, so am I. Focus on what's going on about the country. If elections were held today we would win in New Hampshire, we would win in Virginia, Colorado, in NM, we would win in VA, and I think you'll find out pretty soon we would win in Alaska."
He goes on to say that Mississippi looks good and that Kate Hagen will go on to beat Elizabeth Dole.
He tells us that pollster Greenberg (Greenberg Quinlan) says Dems will pick up as many as nine new seats, that that may be heavy but they WILL pick up four or five. THen, instead of needing nine or ten votes to beat the 60 vote threshold
He wraps up telling us, the progressive media,
I respect the work that you do-- don't always agree-- but respect it, and recognize that but for you, this country would be in much worse shape than it is today."
Senator Debby Stabenow told us that, as did many of the senators, that they're frustrated too, that there is a huge difference in philosophy, between the Democrats and the Republicans in the priorities that they bring to the table-- "the change we want." Stabenow told the audience,
We all know with the election of George W. Bush in 2000, that at point, for the first time in modern history, we had Republicans controlling the Whitehouse and the congress. And what that allowed us to see is the Republican governing philosophy--
Frankly, I've been a very tough critic of Harry Reid at times, and the 110th congress Dems as well. Meeting them face to face, hearing them speak, talking WITH them, puts a face to what had been, for the most part, one dimensional icons. Seeing their caring, their sincerity did make a difference for me. Hearing the argument that they hold different priorities than the right wingers in the senate DID reach me.
A series of senators spoke on energy, Iraq, Health Care, rights and liberties, and impeachment.
In a follow up call to one of the lead staffers of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee (DSOC,) I asked if their goals had been met. He replied that they were happy with the event, though what was most important was if we, the media were happy.
During the progressive media summit, I asked Chuck Schumer what it would look likeif this progressive media event were totally successful. He replied very generally, saying that he wanted to have more communication with us, more coverage.
I had intended to ask two questions. The second question I was going to ask was what he was doing at a progressive event, since he's been so involved in supporting and funding more conservative democrats running against progressives in primaries. But then, in answering my first question, Schumer said he'd been having conversatios with progressive media people. That was a positive sign. I decided to back off. The fact is, the DSCC, where Schumer is a leader, is funding some candidates in primaries. At least one candidate has received $100,000 from the DSCC. Why can't the DSCC allow the democratic process sort this stuff out. In 2006, some of the highest profile candidates Schumer and Rahm Emanuel picked lost their races.
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