Just because these people are Democrats does not mean that they deserve their positions. If they can't live up to their Oath, they do not belong in office. Unlike the Republicans who almost always stand by their members regardless of what they have done, Democrats must not follow the Republican standard. If our members are not pulling their weight, they must go, Plain and simple. Our elected officials work for us and regardless of their party affiliation, if they are not voting in our best interests, they must be voted out. No one should be safe because of his or her party affiliation. You work for us or you don't have a seat in Congress. That is how it should be. That is how we can make it. In summary "Don't Vote Democrat, Just Because They Are A Democrat". Research them find out how they voted and how they intend to vote. Not all Democrats are created equal, don't make the mistake of voting the wrong one in.
I know I posted the site that has this, but for those who don't have the time to "click on stuff" here it is. The whole list of Democrats that need to go. Actual page is Here
1. Incumbent Bush Democrats who deserve primary challenges
Below is a list of Democrats who voted wrong on one or more crucial votes. Some are hard-core "Bush Democrats" while others simply join them from time to time.
By publishing this list, we hope to accomplish several goals:
- Persuade these Democrats to stop voting with Bush so we don't have to challenge them in a primary. Democrats who reverse their bad votes and genuinely embrace progressive positions will be
crossed off our list - Encourage progressive Democrats to run primaries against those who keep voting with Bush
This list began after 59 Bush Democrats voted against the McGovern Amendment on 5/10/2007 on the first key vote to end the war. Those 59 Bush Democrats voted for an endless occupation of Iraq despite overwhelming opposition from Democrats, Independents, and even many Republicans. The list has been modified since then to take account of other key votes since the original Iraq War vote on 10/10/02.
Key to Column Headings:
"B/R" ranks each district on a "Blue/Red" scale where 1=Strong Blue, 2=Leans Blue, 3=Tossup, 4=Leans Red, 5=Solid Red. In theory there is less "risk" in challenging an incumbent in a Blue district than a Red one, because the seat should stay Democratic regardless of who wins the primary. But each district and each race is unique, so that general theory may or may not apply.
"Incumbent" links to a page for each incumbent where you can discuss progressive Democrats who could challenge them in a primary, and other topics related to local political organizing.
"B/N" identifies Members who join the "Bluedog" (B) or "New Democrat/DLC" (N) caucuses. "Bluedogs" claim to support "fiscal responsibility," but these Bluedogs support a war that has already wasted an incredible $434 billion and driven budget deficits to record levels. "New Democrats/DLC" claim to support "national security" but the Iraq War has severely damaged our armed forces, undermined military recruitment, increased global terrorism, and alienated our allies. Those who play a leadership role with either group earn an asterisk (*).
"BDI" is the "Bush Democrat Index" which ranks all Democrats on their overall voting support for George Bush and the Republicans. It is the reverse of the Progressive Punch Index.
"Votes" identifies key votes where these Members voted wrong:
- ?: (Not in office when vote occurred)
- A: Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq on 10/10/02 (bad=support)
- B: Bankruptcy Bill on 5/14/05 (bad=support)
- M: Military Commissions Act on 9/27/06 (bad=support)
- I: Iraq Supplemental McGovern Amendment to end the war by 4/08 on 5/10/07 (bad=oppose)
- R: Andrews Amendment to block Iraq/Afghan funds for military strike on Iran on 5/16/07 (bad=oppose)
- X: Iraq Supplemental with unenforceable timetable on 7/12/07 (bad=oppose any timetable)
- W: Warantless Wiretapping on 8/4/07 (bad=support)
- C: Bi-Partisan Compact on Iraq to oppose any funding cuts 9/26/07 (bad=support)
- P: "Protect America Act" letter co-signer 2/08 (P voted against Democratic alternative 3/14/08)
"Primary Nominees" lists people whose names have been mentioned. If they are running and have a web site we link to their site. If we consider them priority candidates (whether or not they are running) we make them bold.
| Dist | B/R | Incumbent | B/N | BDI | Votes | Primary Nominees |
| AL-5 | 4 | Bud Cramer [retiring in 08] | B | 2 | ABMIRWCP | |
| AR-2 | 1 | Vic Snyder | N | 49 | IXW | |
| AR-4 | 1 | Mike Ross | B* | 26 | ABMIWCP | |
| AZ-5 | 4 | Harry Mitchell | b | 59 | ?IRW | |
| AZ-8 | 3 | Gabrielle Giffords | B | 79 | ?I | Jeff Latas |
| CA-18 | 3 | Dennis Cardoza | B | 46 | ?BI | |
| CA-20 | 2 | Jim Costa | B | 50 | ?BIWC | |
| CA-28 | 1 | Howard Berman | 117 | AI | Rep. Cindy Montanez Rep. Lloyd Levine Mike Stettler | |
| CO-2 | 1 | Mark Udall | 109 | I | ||
| CO-3 | 4 | John Salazar | B | 56 | ?BMIRW | |
| FL-2 | 4 | Allen Boyd | B* | 6 | ABMIRWCP | Rep. Al Lawson |
| FL-16 | 4 | Tim Mahoney | B | 63 | ?IR | |
| GA-2 | 1 | Sanford Bishop | B | 27 | ABMIR | |
| GA-8 | 5 | Jim Marshall | B | 9 | ?MIRXW | Robert Nowak Jack Ellis George Carswell |
| GA-12 | 1 | John Barrow | BN | 12 | ?MIRXWP | Regina Thomas 7/15 |
| GA-13 | 1 | David Scott | BN | 52 | ?BMIR | |
| IA-3 | 3 | Leonard Boswell | B | 20 | ABMIWP | |
| IL-3 | 1 | Daniel Lipinski | 76 | IW | ||
| IL-8 | 4 | Melissa Bean | BN | 37 | ?BMIRWP | |
| IN-2 | 3 | Joe Donnelly | B | 29 | ?IRW | |
| IN-8 | 4 | Brad Ellsworth | B | 30 | ?IXWP | |
| IN-9 | 4 | Baron Hill | B | 32 | A?IW | Gretchen Clearwater 5/6 |
| KS-2 | 4 | Nancy Boyda | b | 88 | ?I | |
| KS-3 | 3 | Dennis Moore | BN* | 47 | ABMICP | |
| KY-6 | 3 | Ben Chandler | BN | 55 | ?BMIW | Sen. Ernesto Scorsone |
| LA-3 | 3 | Charlie Melancon | BN | 15 | ?BMIRWP | |
| MD-2 | 1 | Dutch Ruppersberger | 68 | ?BI | ||
| MD-4 | 1 | 94 | AB | Donna Edwards | ||
| MD-5 | 1 | Steny Hoyer | * | 83 | ABI | Paul Pinsky |
| MN-7 | 4 | Collin Peterson | B | 3 | ABMIW | |
| MO-4 | 5 | Ike Skelton | 5 | ABI | ||
| MS-4 | 5 | Gene Taylor | B | 1 | ABMIXWC | |
| NC-2 | 2 | Bob Etheridge | N | 48 | ABMIW | |
| NC-7 | 3 | Mike McIntyre | BN | 7 | ABMIW | |
| NC-11 | 3 | Heath Shuler | B | 23 | ?IRWP | Sen. Martin Luther Nesbitt Rep. Susan C Fisher Rep. Ray Rapp |
| ND-0 | 4 | Earl Pomeroy | B | 33 | ABMIWP | |
| NV-1 | 1 | Shelley Berkley | N | 67 | AIR | |
| OH-6 | 3 | Charles Wilson | B | 140 | ?IW | |
| OH-18 | 4 | Zack Space | B | 57 | ?IRWP | |
| OK-2 | 4 | Dan Boren | B | 4 | ?BMIRXWCP | |
| PA-4 | 3 | Jason Altmire | 25 | ?IRW | ||
| PA-10 | 5 | Chris Carney | B | 43 | ?IRXWP | |
| PA-13 | 1 | Allyson Schwartz | N | 145 | ?BIR | Chuck Pennacchio |
| PA-17 | 5 | Tim Holden | B | 11 | ABMIRXP | Sen. Michael O'Pake |
| SD-0 | 4 | Stephanie Herseth Sandlin | BN* | 36 | ?BMIRWC | |
| TN-4 | 3 | Lincoln Davis | B | 13 | ?BMIWCP | |
| TN-5 | 1 | Jim Cooper | B | 24 | ?BIWP | |
| TN-6 | 4 | Bart Gordon | B | 18 | ABMIW | |
| TN-8 | 1 | John Tanner | B | 8 | ABMIRWCP | |
| TX-9 | 1 | Al Green | 167 | ?BI | Rep. Alma Allen Rep. Hubert Vo | |
| TX-17 | 5 | Chet Edwards | 17 | ABMIW | ||
| TX-22 | 5 | Nick Lampson | B | 34 | A?IRWC | |
| TX-23 | 3 | Ciro Rodriguez | 75 | ?IW | ||
| TX-27 | 2 | Solomon Ortiz | 14 | BI | Juan Garcia | |
| TX-28 | 1 | Henry Cuellar | bN | 19 | ?BMIRW | |
| TX-29 | 1 | Gene Green | 43 | AI | Sen. Mario V. Gallegos | |
| UT-2 | 5 | Jim Matheson | B | 10 | ABMIXWCP | Mayor Rocky Anderson |
| VA-9 | 5 | Rick Boucher | 38 | ABI | ||
| WI-3 | 2 | Ron Kind | N* | 66 | ABI |
2. Republican districts and open seats where progressive Democrats are running against Bush Democrats
| Dist | B/R | Incumbent | Progressive | Bush Democrat | Notes |
| CO-04 | 4 | Marilyn Musgrave (R) | Angie Paccione | Betsy Markey | Musgrave is an outspoken GOP homophobe and Paccione nearly beat her in 2006. Markey is a former Republican backed by Bush Democrat Ken Salazar. |
| IL-14 | 4 | Dennis Hastert (R) - retiring | John Laesch | Bill Foster | |
| OH-02 | 4 | Jean Schmidt (R) | Victoria Wulsin | Steve Black | "Mean Jean" Schmidt is infamous for her vicious attack on the patriotism of former Marine John Murtha (D-PA). Wulsin nearly beat Schmidt in 2006. Black is a Republican running as a Democrat. |
| WA-08 | 3 | Dave Reichert (R) | Darcy Burner | Rodney Tom | Burner lost to Reichert by only 3% in 2006 after running an outstanding netroots campaign. Tom served two terms as a Republican state representative before switching parties and winning a State Senate seat. Despite his switch, Tom "brags about his Republican past and has a considerable record of financially supporting Republicans and voting for their issues in Olympia." |
3. Progressive Democratic incumbents who are being challenged by Bush Democrats
| Dist | B/R | Progressive | Bush Democrat | Notes |
| OH-10 | 1 | Dennis Kucinich | Rosemary Palmer | Kucinich has led the battle against the Iraq War since Bush rolled out his "marketing plan" of pre-war lies in September 2002. Now Palmer is attacking Kucinich because he doesn't support her incoherent "floating timetable for withdrawal." |
| TN-09 | 1 | Steve Cohen | Nikki Tinker | Cohen is an outstanding progressive Freshman who won Harold Ford Jr.'s open seat in 2006 by beating cousin Joe Ford Jr. in the Democratic primary and brother Jake Ford in the general election. Religious right ministers want to defeat Cohen because he supported the Hate Crimes Bill H.R. 1592 and they are likely to support Nikki Tinker, Harold Ford Jr.'s former campaign manager, who came in 2nd to Cohen in the 2006 Democratic primary. |
4 comments:
Bill Foster has a lot of spending requests. It's interesting to see him on your list.
Any notes on John Laesch?
John Laesch is helping to get Dems elected in Illinois.
Bill Foster is voting for 100 yrs. in Iraq. (6/19/08)
It's not what you spend, it's what you spend it on.
Foster's the best congressman self-funding and Rahm can buy.
God save the 14th.
Your rating of Md 2 as a strong Blue district is all wrong. Dutch Ruppersberger is the first Democratic Congressman in over 20 years. His predecessor, Bob Erhlich, went on to be Maryland's Governor in 2002 with a huge win in the 2nd (a district by the way which rejected Kathleen Kennedy Townsend for Congress in a rout eight years earlier) In 2006 despite the 2nd being "Erhlich country" Dutch campaigned for and helped Democrat Martin O'Malley defeat Erhlich and make him the only incumbent governor to lose in 2006. Little wonder he had no primary challengers from the left and surprisingly only token general opposition in November 0f 2008. You should be happy that a Dutch ruppersberger got this district to elect a democrat. Let me tell you, after him the bench strength is all Republican.( including former governor Erhlich). This district is really a 4
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