Howard Dean, Joe Lieberman and Paul Hodes

Two Links (0.00 / 0)

Righting the System (+)

by: Aldon Hynes
Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 08:34:52 AM EST

( - promoted by Dean Barker)

A few weeks ago, I went to a pig roast in New Hampshire organized for bloggers to get to know Rep. Paul Hodes who is running for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire.  As part of the gathering, Rep. Hodes gave a variation of his stump speech, citing examples of people who have not been treated fairly and his efforts to intercede on their behalf.  At the end of each example, he would bring home the point by talking about how the system is upside down.  I wrote a little bit about this in my blog post Representative and Participatory Democracy. -snip

Representative and Participatory Democracy (+)

by: Aldon Hynes
Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 22:20:18 PM EDT

(It was great seeing you again, Aldon. - promoted by Dean Barker)

Today, we drove up to New Hampshire for a pig-roast with Representative Paul Hodes, who is running for U.S. Senate.  It was a special pig roast and jamfest, or perhaps a Hodes-down for bloggers.  We live in Connecticut where we have our own hotly contested U.S. Senate race going on, but I've got lots of good friends who are bloggers up in New Hampshire and I always enjoy heading up to talk democracy in the Granite State. -snip

 

"Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors." - John Dryden

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 18:28:44 PM UTC

Thanks for highlighting these (4.00 / 3)

Jack,

  Thanks for highlighting these links.  I have spoken with Rep. Hodes at various times, including while the House was deliberating on health care reform and at a pig roast where Rep. Hodes spoke with bloggers about his positions.

  Likewise, I've had both Sen. Lieberman and Gov. Dean over to my house to discuss issues.  Part of what I like about New Hampshire politics is the expectation that people spend time getting to know the candidates face to face, whether it be for U.S. Senate or for President.

  I'm glad that I've had the opportunity to speak to all three of these men so that I can say based on my first hand experience discussing issues with them that I support both Gov. Dean and Rep. Hodes in their views about fiscal responsibility and that I'll trade Sen. Lieberman for a Sen. Hodes any day of the week.

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by: Aldon Hynes @ Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 18:53:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Gladly (4.00 / 1)

I really liked this insight:

Well, in 2003, I worked hard supporting Gov. Dean in his Presidential bid and I continue to respect his commitment to health care and fiscal responsibility.  Yup.  Fiscal responsibility was an important part of his platform that too often gets lost in the discussion about his opposition to the war in Iraq and his commitment to health care reform.

In 2003, I was working hard to support...my family. I had always believed it was what I should do. But more and more it becomes clearer that keeping one's nose to the grindstone is paying off less and less. This is exactly what Hodes means when he says the system is "upside down."

What concerns me, Aldon, is "The Battle For The Middle."

I'm convinced that we need to remove the stigma associated to outreach to the center/center-right. Often, our friends see "expanding the tent" as "abandoning the base."

When solid Progressives start messaging right to broaden their appeal, they do so at their own peril. Sanctions await or, at least, are promised.

Color me befuddled.

"Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors." - John Dryden

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 19:23:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Reaching the Middle (4.00 / 1)

It seems to me that an important part of the battle for the middle should be a willingness to listen to all views and engage them.  Instead of being correct and trying to convince others that they are incorrect, it seems like there is value in understanding how others think, and trying to synthesize new ideas that maintain ones key views while presenting them in ways that others can also adopt.

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by: Aldon Hynes @ Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 19:29:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Add authenticity (0.00 / 0)

The cynics and conspiracy theorists undermine our political process by asserting hyper-skepticism at every turn. This is the politics of division.

The beauty of NH, that we both see, is the gift of activists to get a solid gander "under the hood." The retail nature of the NH politcal scene provides for access not widely known. In NH you can see if a pol is the real deal - authentic.

Using the "backbone" meme, the middle is less interested in purity as they are with resolve. This would help explain the potency of the "flip flopper" charge.

Paul Hodes is authentic.

"Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors." - John Dryden

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 19:58:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

A couple of points (4.00 / 1)

I'm in general agreement, but:

1. Laura's specific complaint was use of bailout funds, not fiscal responsibility per se.

2. On this:

Rep. Hodes may not be perfect, but he's sure a lot better than our junior Senator, or any of the choices that the people of New Hampshire currently have.

You might want to set the bar higher than that. :-!  Hodes does.

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by: JimC @ Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 20:01:00 PM UTC

The Clinch (4.00 / 1)

Jim,
Walk this one out for me, please:

Man, it's starting to look like Paul Hodes-the-Senate-candidate was the worst thing that ever happened to Paul Hodes-the-legislator.

What do you see?

"Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors." - John Dryden

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 20:45:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well, I would (4.00 / 1)

... since I did find that a bit hyperbolic. But "the writer" already walked it out.

I value Paul Hodes' overall voting record. But he was wrong on this one, and when he's wrong, he deserves the respect of hearing it.

Agree or disagree, that's an inarguable rationale for posting something.

 

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by: JimC @ Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 20:57:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

More like "walking away" (0.00 / 0)

Imho, Hodes tacking center is much more infuriating than a single vote, especially one that is consistent with a previous vote.

The beef is about messaging. Using rhetoric that couches progressive values in moderate terms is, apparently, taboo.

"Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors." - John Dryden

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 21:53:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes, I agree: (0.00 / 0)

1. Laura's specific complaint was use of bailout funds, not fiscal responsibility per se.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

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by: Dean Barker @ Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 23:19:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Right (4.00 / 4)

I think Paul would say, "You can't be socially responsible, without being fiscally responsible." I say this because I've heard him say it.


note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other

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by: JonnyBBad @ Fri Dec 18, 2009 at 00:23:58 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Mr Hynes! (0.00 / 0)

You say "[Hodes is] sure a lot better than our junior Senator, or any of the choices that the people of New Hampshire currently have."

Well no, Alden, he's not better than our junior senator, Jeanne Shaheen!

And the key word in your next phrase is "currently."
Again, As Katrina Lieberman, oh I meant Swett, can tell you , it's still early.  

No'm Sayn?

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by: BurtCohen @ Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 21:55:36 PM UTC

Here's the fundraising email: (0.00 / 0)

Dear XXX,

Like you, I am fed up and frustrated by our lack of health care progress in the Senate.

The public option is in serious peril, and anti-choice forces want even more restrictions on women's access to critical care.

This is our moment, and instead, we see politicians like Joe Lieberman bailing out insurance companies and watering down the bill.

I'll never back down from the fight. If you send me to the Senate, I will fight tooth and nail for the principles and ideals we believe in.

Winning next November means building a powerful grassroots network now. I need your help to reach my urgent fundraising goal before midnight tomorrow. It's the best way to show Joe Lieberman that New Hampshire wants real health care reform.

here to rush $5 or more to my campaign before midnight tomorrow. I'll never back down from the fight for what we believe in.

We don't need any more Joe Liebermans to slow us down. His antics will only delay reform and keep insurance companies in charge of our health care.

To achieve our goals, we need stronger voices in the Senate that will fight for the kind of change this country has voted for in the last two elections. It's not about the quantity of Senators anymore - it's about the quality.

I'm running for Senate because Americans deserve quality, affordable, portable health care. And I will always stand up to the big insurance companies and fight for you.

Right now, I need you to stand up for me. We need 53 more donors before midnight tomorrow to meet our last fundraising goal of the year.

I know we all believe in bringing real change to America. Make a contribution today and I will always make you proud.

Click here to rush $5 or more to my campaign before midnight tomorrow. I'll never back down from the fight for what we believe in.

I know how you feel right now. I feel it too.

But making America deliver on its promise has never been easy. Now is the time to redouble our efforts and keep on fighting.

I'm proud to be in this fight with you.

Sincerely,
Paul Hodes Signature
Paul Hodes

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

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by: Dean Barker @ Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 22:30:32 PM UTC

The words "feel," "believe" and "fight" appeal to (0.00 / 0)

conservative, self-centered people who are looking for someone to fight for them.  Those are the people Republicans have been relying on for an automatic/reflexive vote.  The letter is not addressed to independent activists who can't be persuaded by words anyway.

"fiscal responsibility" in my book means getting your money's worth.  The problem with spending money on Iraq and Afghanistan is that the American people don't even want those countries and the equipment being built to facilitate the "conquest" is junk.  The same problem is evident in the health care budget.  The American people don't want to be sick and most of the money is being spent on buildings and equipment and data collection devices that don't keep them from getting sick and often don't make them healthier when they are.  (More people die from prescribed drugs than from unregulated ones; most hospital admissions are re-admissions because the first time wasn't effective or actually made people sick (hospital contracted infections).
Hodes seems to be under the impression that fiscal responsibility is defined by WHO gets to use the money, not HOW it's used and WHAT'S being produced.  He should not be faulted.  It's what economists preach (private corporation is good; public corporation is bad).  

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by: hannah @ Fri Dec 18, 2009 at 11:29:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Trade Lieberman for Hodes? (0.00 / 0)

Oh, yeah - Joe moved to Manchester during the 2004 Presidential primary, where he landed in a nine-way tie for 67th position or something.

You guys must have enjoyed his absence.

Look, if you just stop sending the slimy worm to Congress, he'll leave anyhow. He doesn't like Connecticut, or New Hampshire.

How do we know? Because he said he does.

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by: elwood @ Fri Dec 18, 2009 at 00:00:55 AM UTC

Observation - (4.00 / 1)

Hodes was caught in the middle of an Obama screw-up. Here's the time-line, as I saw it:

1. Geithner announces he will shut down TARP and return the money by 12/31/2009.
2. Hodes introduces a bill to do just that.
3. The 'Ready-Shoot-Aim' team in charge of America's economy figures out the TARP funds can be re-allocated without slaughtering any animals to lay at Holy Joe's feet. They change their mind and decide to use the TARP remainder on stimulus.
4. Hodes, committed to the earlier play, Runs Long.

It looks foolish. But the ^*&^-up was at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

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by: elwood @ Fri Dec 18, 2009 at 00:11:23 AM UTC

Junior senator? (0.00 / 0)

No, that would only be the case if Powerball Judd had been a man of his word and accepted the Cabinet position, and if Bonnie Newman had then proceeded to vote with the rest of the Republicans. I'm inclined to think, based on past experience, that she would have been a far, far more 'gettable' vote than even Snowe or Collins... particularly if she did end up deciding she wanted to claim the seat in her own right, as then she might be paying attention to the Democratic turn New Hampshire has taken in the last five or six years. But with Gregg retiring and intent on finishing his term with an unsullied set of right-wing credentials, and with Ayotte more concerned about a primary than the general, there's nobody in the Republican party in New Hampshire right now who's worried about sanity.

Only the left protects anyone's rights.

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by: RealNRH @ Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 05:16:58 AM UTC