January 11, 2019

"Maybe it’s the aunt or uncle you didn’t want to invite to the wedding," but Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez "is part of the family."

Said Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), quoted in "Exasperated Democrats try to rein in Ocasio-Cortez/The effort is part carrot, part stick. But it's far from clear the anti-establishment political novice can be made to play ball" (Politico):
Critics inside the [House Democratic Caucus] felt she didn't deserve [the seat she sought on the Ways and Means Committee], given her lack of professional experience on tax issues and her status as a freshman.

“It totally pissed off everyone,” said one senior House Democratic lawmaker of the campaign. “You don’t get picked for committees by who your grass-roots [supporters] are.”...

“The chances that the Democratic caucus will stand by and watch its chair get attack[ed] and people piling on him — by Democrats! — is so obscene that I think you’ll find one of the strongest reactions that could possibly be anticipated,” [said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo)].

“It’s one thing” for outside activists to go after Democratic incumbents, [said Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.)]. “It’s another thing when you’re in this institution and you’ve got to work to get things done.”
From a more progressive angle:  "PROGRESSIVES FOUGHT FOR KEY COMMITTEE SPOTS, BUT CENTRIST NEW DEMS CAME OUT ON TOP" (Intercept):
The good news for progressives in the House is that nothing matters — not this congressional cycle, anyway. As long as the Senate is run by Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and the White House is occupied by Donald Trump, a Green New Deal has bigger obstacles than New Dems. But the structures being put into place today will shape the terms of legislative activity in 2021, when it may start to matter if Democrats take back the White House. The onus will be on outside activists to monitor the legislative behavior of the dual-loyalty members of the committees.
ADDED: "Dual-loyalty" refers to membership in the New Democrat Coalition (a centrist group) plus membership in either the Congressional Progressive Caucus or the Blue Dog Caucus (a "Wall Street-friendly group").

By the way, why is it called "the New Democrat Coalition"? I thought Democrats were offended by the use of "Democrat" as the adjective instead of "Democratic." (That is, don't say "Democrat Party," say "Democratic Party.")

AND: One answer to my last question might be that it's not that the coalition is democratic but that it's a coalition of Democrats, but it's just as true that the party is not democratic — it's a party of Democrats.

48 comments:

Ralph L said...

Looks like they'd want her as a lightning rod making them look smart and sane.

gilbar said...

The good news for progressives in the House is that nothing matters

i figure that's why there's all the socialist posing now. The powers that be know it's just posing. If and when the demos have a position of power; they'll get down the the thing that are (and always have been) important to the democratic party: supporting the ultra rich

stevew said...

This backlash (sort of a overly harsh description) from centrist and established Dems has been building. I think back to DiFi's endorsement of Biden and how she characterized it as being an early indicator of the pushback. The mainstream and established Republican congress members took similar action toward those freshly elected Tea Partiers. I think Justin Amash is the only one left, and while he's still a bit of an outsider he has aligned himself more with the mainstream positions.

rehajm said...

The leftie raisins don't care for young whippersnappers who won't wait their turn.

rhhardin said...

Sometimes at Burger King you find yourself at a table next to teenaged girls, but unlike committee members you're free to move to a more distant table rather than listen to them.

peacelovewoodstock said...

There are two kinds of "progressives" - those who are naive, uninformed, and clueless about the evils of socialism, and those who would use those useful idiots as stepping stones in their drive for power and control over others.

I'm not yet sure which category AOC falls into, I suspect the first, which is a sort of back handed compliment I suppose.

gspencer said...

"given her lack of professional experience on tax issues"

"Whadda yous guys talkin' about? I filed 1040-EZ plenty of times!"

rehajm said...

Is there still a Blue Dog Caucus? I thought they died out years ago...

robother said...

The Overton window at work. Soon, it will be accepted by all that its the "Demonrat Party".

Big Mike said...

(That is, don't say "Democrat Party," say "Democratic Party.")

There’s been nothing “democratic” about that party for decades now.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Ralph L said...

Looks like they'd want her as a lightning rod making them look smart and sane.

That's all well and good when looking at a general election. But she is making them seem too reasonable, and that will hurt them in a primary.

rehajm said...

The challenge for Democrats is how do they stifle the little imp without extinguishing the sparks she creates for the rest of the wet rotting wood pile that is the party.

Tommy Duncan said...

The young Bolsheviks are too brash. The older Mensheviks believe that implementing communism in the US will take time. The number that die during the implementation will depend on which alternative the Democrats choose. The older crowd wants to minimize the deaths to ensure a large labor camp population that allows for attrition. The younger group wants purity of thought regardless of the size of the purge needed.

iowan2 said...

"given her lack of professional experience on tax issues"

She has an economic degree! She's credentialed. Demanding experience is nothing but misogyny wrapped in natavism./sarc

A democrat whining about experience is rich. Obama lacked any experience in anything relating to governing. He is still their hero.

Kevin said...

Fighting over who can impose their views on the rest?

How Progressive!

Darrell said...

I thought Satan took care of the details. AO-C will wind up where he wants her, where she'll do the most damage.

Rick said...

BUT CENTRIST NEW DEMS

Who?

Fernandinande said...

Exasperated Democrats try to rein in Ocasio-Cortez/The effort is part carrot, part stick.

Mixed metaphor! he cried in the wilderness, trying not to imagine reins of sticks and carrots.

mesquito said...

One of the funniest things I’ve ever read is Hendrick Hertzberg’s New Yorker denunciation of the use of “Democrat Party.” That’s what I call it now.

Shouting Thomas said...

I read Cortez's remarks yesterday about Republicans being uptight prudes who hate to see young people dance.

Another generation of kids invested in the notion that we old folks didn't get down. We lived thru the 60s, kid!

Hagar said...

The Democrat caucuses in Congress run strictly by seniority and freshman congress critters should be seen, but not heard.
AO-C will not get anything she wants until she learns to mind her manners and quietly goes to the rear of the line.

alanc709 said...

New Democrat as in pro-illegal immigrant, versus old democrat, as in pro-slavery

Bob Boyd said...

“You don’t get picked for committees by who your grass-roots [supporters] are.”...

You get picked for committees by how much money you raise. In other words, by who your big money supporters are.

Lloyd W. Robertson said...

The awkward aunt or uncle at Thanksgiving: Scott Adams has been saying for a while that AOC is the progressive Trump. Says what a lot of people want to say, while being told it is somehow not polite to say it; use of twitter with extreme message discipline and effectiveness.

I'm kind of hoping both mainstream Dems and mainstream Republicans are in trouble in 2020. The political scientist in me is interested in party re-alignment.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Shut her up, say The Party, we do this stuff incrementally, under cover of darkness and media lies.

Hagar said...

Oh, and freshmen representatives also need to learn etiquette and first kiss Pelosi's ring when they ask for assignments!

rightguy said...

OK, its time to lay odds on the big game: DC Swamp Critters vs the AOC Crazies. It will be a home game for the heavily favored Critters with playoff implications.

Seeing Red said...

New Democrat Coalition (a centrist group)

Who says they’re centrist?

Seeing Red said...

There are two kinds of "progressives" - those who are naive, uninformed, and clueless about the evils of socialism, and those who would use those useful idiots as stepping stones in their drive for power and control over others.


Useful idiots and true believers. Stalin.

wildswan said...

I hear O'Casional is going to tell Obama that his money from Netflix should be donated except for the first 10 million and that he has to pull down the wall around his house. "At some time you have enough money", she says, "and your wall is undermining our argument that walls don't work and are medieval." Skee-Haw

Big Mike said...

Being fined for not providing workman’s compensation coverage to your campaign staff is not indicative of a person who understands the details of American law. Not a good start for a freshman lawmaker like Ocasio-Cortez.

Big Mike said...

I'm kind of hoping both mainstream Dems and mainstream Republicans are in trouble in 2020. The political scientist in me is interested in party re-alignment.

@Lloyd Robertson, Donald Trump told the country club Republicans to take a hike as he remakes his party into a party that supports small business owners and working men and women. If you believe Chuck-the-Moby (I don’t) the country club Republicans don’t like it one bit.

NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...

Hagar said...

AO-C will not get anything she wants until she learns to mind her manners and quietly goes to the rear of the line.

Until they start bribing her to get her to shut up. She may get a little then.

Leland said...

I'm happy AOC is her own woman. You go girl! You be you!

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

maybe someday they will change their symbol to a Rat, but for now it's the Donkey.

expect the asinine kicking and braying

FIDO said...

Back in 1968, the Mini Skirt Wearing Activists worked very hard to throw out standards they didn't like in a blatant power grab. Little girls should have the power to tell principals how they should be allowed to dress because 'women power'. Socialists and Anarchists should have the power to rule the party because 'wave of the future'. Black and White activists should be allowed to riot and occupy campus buildings because 'muh slavery'.

They threw out standards and norms hand over fist in unearned ways FOR DECADES.

Clinton and Obama both continued that trend, particularly Obama. The Left cheered.

Now AOC thinks her sexy dance video means she is OWED violating Democrat norms and standards in chair assignments.

Fuck you and the donkey you rode in on. You deserve this, Democrats.

Welcome to the Age of the Political THOT.

Unknown said...

> The young Bolsheviks are too brash. The older Mensheviks believe that implementing communism in the US will take time.

AOC, their Pol-Pot, wants a Year Zero - march into Phnom Penh and send the burguios to
"farms". That is the Green Leap Forward deal.

The older Dems want to continue the Ted Kennedy & Lyndon Johnson path by exploiting Democracy's inherent flaw - open the borders and wait a few decades for the new arrivals to demand Socialism. You see that with Newsom and De Blabio.

Even Mao tired of the intolerance of his Red Guard... Newsome (sanctuary state) and DeBasio (free health care for illegal aliens) show the way.

Don't worry, the Democrat Party will get to fascism wither way.

Michael Fitzgerald said...

FYI, Greg Meeks is one of the piece of shit black racists crying racism when W Bush was trying to rein in the GSO's that Barney Frank had corrupted. Not surprised at all to see scumbag bigots spending their entire lives grifting for the democrat party.

Unknown said...

The best way AOC is advancing the Commie Cause is using her social media army to enforce culture.

Political Correctness has replaced religion in culture - schools, movies, and peers tell us what we have to do and what we can't think. From the University of MO to Vice...

AOC is great at changing minds with a constant stream of "Republicans are closeted perverts" and "The rich are stealing your dreams!"

Ever wonder why a dreary German philosopher like Marx is so successful in Southeast Asia, China, and Central America?

Unknown said...

> The best way AOC is advancing the Commie Cause is using her social media army to enforce culture.

The kids want to be like her - changing the world through teen girl sass!

They don't want to be like Biden, Feinstein, or Pelose - the "moderates" (ha ha, look how the overton window jumped)

Anne in Rockwall, TX said...

She Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, but when Joe Lieberman said he hoped she wasn't the new face of the Democrat party, she tweeted:

"New party, who dis?"

I laughed out loud.

hombre said...

Finally, Republican-style cannibalism begins in the Democrat Party.

narciso said...

Lenin creates the new ruling class, the lure for the upper class.

YoungHegelian said...

"I don't belong to an organized political party. I'm a Democrat."

Will Rogers.

Seeing Red said...

For someone who harps on the environment, she wanted the money committee.

Bilwick said...

The stuff you read, directed to conservatives, and coming from Democrats and the "Vichy Republicans," about how it would be smart of lay off AOC, sounds very much like "concern trolling" to me.

tcrosse said...

AOC has a chance to be the first PILF.