Bayh & Shaheen

Exactly. n/t (4.00 / 3)

2012 starts today.

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by: Ray Buckley @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 10:34:39 AM CDT

I'm on board. (4.00 / 3)

I believed you the first time.

Whack-a-mole, anyone?

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 11:04:15 AM CDT

Apologies (4.00 / 2)

for redundancy.  Adding that I've recently learned that the Socratic method of making a point is quite ineffectual on these forums. :>)  Better to state the obvious than to make subtle reference.

Also, Senator Reid is trying to deflect some of the criticism aimed at Bayh, et al.  These guys know that the Democratic electoral prospects are tied to Obama's success.  

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by: j cicirelli @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 13:09:51 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Betterer (4.00 / 3)

Your instinct to go full diary was right on.

You seem to have the knack.

Blog On!


Whack-a-mole, anyone?

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 13:43:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Great analysis n/t (4.00 / 2)

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 12:16:48 PM CDT

Not sure (4.00 / 1)

the criticism these folks are taking in Democratic circles reduces, rather than increases, their individual influence

That's the gamble. The polite version is, no such thing as bad publicity. The less polite version is, getting attention from David Broder and getting on TV.

It's good to know that both of New Hampshire's senators are posturing, one on each side. (And let me say, before you do, that Massachusetts senators are by no means camera-shy.)

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by: JimC @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 13:45:08 PM CDT

Thanks for a thoughtful analysis - (4.00 / 2)

I hope you are correct. But here's why I am less sanguine. Regarding:

• ...they have cast a shadow over the true obstructionists in this process, starving them of media attention.

  
  Wouldn't it be pretty to think so? Quick check: Google News results for Judd Gregg: 4622 items. Jeanne Shaheen: 272 items. That's not scientific, but it's consistent with my STRONG impression that the obstructionists are in no way being starved.

• Every interview where Shaheen reminds the public that we need to be smart about our  public investments, is an interview that Gregg doesn't get to give saying that Obama is destroying our country.

  
  Again, the numbers say that isn't true. But does it even make sense? The conservatives will lose no space in conservative media from Fox to the Washington Times to the Union Leader. In neutral media - another topic - Does pablum about centrism displace Gregg or displace Obama?

• What is the motivation?

  
  The concern is: their motivation is to win over conservative voters, while assuming progressive voters have nowhere else to go.

• It is my belief that this group is designed to show the public that Obama and the Senate are operating in good faith and service to the American people.  Bayh and his colleagues may not be working in concert with Obama, but they are a help not a hindrance.  The "loyal opposition party" tipped their hand when not a single Republican House member voted for $400 billion in tax cuts.

  
  Well stated. If that clear statement had come from our Senator, this discussion wouldn't be happening.

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by: elwood @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 18:35:55 PM CDT

One Not-So-Minor Caveat (4.00 / 1)

Wouldn't it be pretty to think so? Quick check: Google News results for Judd Gregg: 4622 items. Jeanne Shaheen: 272 items. That's not scientific, but it's consistent with my STRONG impression that the obstructionists are in no way being starved.

If Jeanne Shaheen had dominated multiple media cycles by accepting a Cabinet appointment -- and then turning it down -- I'm betting those numbers would be considerably closer.  Either way, I hardly think it reflects your intended contrast.

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by: Dartmouth Dem @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 19:45:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Try another, then. (0.00 / 0)

That was a quick attempt at a metric. Got another member of the Bayh strike team to measure against another conservative media darling? How are they doing?

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by: elwood @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 19:47:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Who's REALLY Not Starving (4.00 / 2)

Evan Bayh - 1305 items
Tom Coburn - 689 items

Of course, both of these numbers pale in comparison to. . .

Britney Spears - 12042 items

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by: Dartmouth Dem @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 19:53:18 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Still don't understand what they have done wrong... (0.00 / 0)

"here's why I am less sanguine"

I'm not optimistic, simply commenting on the facts...and, thus far, this group has done nothing to impede the President's plan.  Harry Reid, himself a supporter of Obama's budget, has indicated that Bayh and the other Senators have been helpful.

The Google news results are misleading, at best, and Google Trends show a slightly different picture, with upticks in late March for both Bayh and Shaheen.  The truth is that this story is just beginning to get attention.  But I'll concede the point and say, they're making a dent.  BTW, and not for nothing, I think it will take a lot more than Gregg and Bayh and his gang to suck the air out of Obama's media balloon.

"their motivation is to win over conservative voters"

I find this non-persuasive, and remain convinced the group is designed to provide an alternative to the Republican obstructionists.  I hope I'm right...I'm not sanguine about it.  If wrong, and it won't be the first time, I'll be the first to grab my pitchfork.

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by: j cicirelli @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 21:00:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Bayh, Bayh Love. Bayh, Bayh Happiness (4.00 / 2)

Hello emptiness.
I feel like I could cry.

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by: elwood @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 19:45:30 PM CDT

Bayh, Bayh, Miss American Pie... (4.00 / 1)

Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry!

Only the left protects anyone's rights.

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by: RealNRH @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 19:57:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I may be late in the game to post this... (0.00 / 0)

but do people know that MoveOn is targeting Shaheen and Blue Dog Dems in their latest campaign? MoveOn is pressuring Blue Dog Dems (including Shaheen) to support Obama's economic initiatives. I don't think I've seen anyone blog about here... yet. Here's the link just in case.

http://pol.moveon.org/budget10/ads.html?rc=homepage  

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 20:20:43 PM CDT

A Bit Confused (4.00 / 1)

MoveOn.org Political Action has released radio ads asking key Democratic members of the House and Senate to support President Obama's budget.

Since when was Jeanne Shaheen opposed to President Obama's budget?

We would be far better off if MoveOn -- whose organizing director is a fellow Dartmouth '95 -- would spend money pressuring obstructionist Republicans, not constructive Democrats.

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by: Dartmouth Dem @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 21:08:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

This is bizarre... (4.00 / 2)

DD another agreement? Yahoo!

This didn't make sense at all. I disagree that she should be characterized with the likes of Pryor, Landrieu, Bayh, and others. It's not accurate and even if it were true, she's not going to hold the line on Obama's budget. Herb Kohl is on the list too, which I also thought was odd.

This campaign is not well thought out. Reminds me of a PIRG study/campaign....  filled with errors, sloppy research, and cherry-picking.  

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 21:20:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]