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Thursday, September 01, 2005

DLC Fuckup Endangers Evan Bayh's Presidential Bid

Posted by Bob Brigham

Former DLC Chair Evan Bayh is the man who spent four years acting cowardly by refusing to fire Al From even though From repeatedly harmed the Democratic Party by triangulating against mainstream Democrats. Under Bayh's DLC, they even enjoyed it. Now Senator Bayh wants to be President, yet for some unknown reason, he thinks the best way to make a name for himself is to make an ass of himself. From USA Today:

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee John Roberts will be introduced to the Senate Judiciary Committee next week by a centrist Democrat and a veteran Republican, an important symbolic boost for his confirmation prospects.

Sen. Evan Bayh, a Democrat who represents Roberts' home state of Indiana, and Sen. John Warner, a Virginia Republican, have agreed to appear with him when confirmation hearings begin Tuesday. [...]

But the presence of Bayh, a potential 2008 presidential contender, will underscore differences in the Democratic Party over the Roberts nomination. Liberals such as Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts have sharply criticized some of Roberts' positions.

Here's the thing, if Roberts is confirmed, he'll have two full years before the presidential race really heats up. Every bad decision John Roberts makes is going to be blamed on Evan Bayh. During that time, the blogosphere will double or triple in participation, so people will know about it. During that same period, the DLC will continue to lose relevance. Bayh's classic-DLC maneuver of providing bi-partisan cover for Bush does not inspire confidence in Bayh's decision making ability.

Posted at 11:01 AM in 2008 President - Democrats, Democrats, Supreme Court | Technorati

Comments

So you're going to crucify Bayh just because he decided to respect tradition and appear with Roberts? Before he has even said which way he would vote? How does showing courtesy make an ass of yourself? And why didn't you criticize senators like Wyden and Schumer for getting their pictures taken with Roberts? Didn't that provide "bi-partisan cover"?

"Here's the thing, if Roberts is confirmed, he'll have two full years before the presidential race really heats up. Every bad decision John Roberts makes is going to be blamed on Evan Bayh."

If you don't even know which way Bayh is going to vote, how can you blame Roberts on him? Or are you going to blame Roberts on Bayh even if he votes against him?

"Bayh's classic-DLC maneuver of providing bi-partisan cover for Bush does not inspire confidence in Bayh's decision making ability."

Don't pretend that you wouldn't slander Bayh given half a chance. You are just looking for an excuse.

Posted by: JRyan at September 1, 2005 11:36 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Go read about John Roberts, Democrats should want nothing to do with him. Bayh is setting the wrong tone, the newspapers should not be contrasting him with Democrats on the Judiciary. Bayh is screwing up, hopefully he'll get his act together so he isn't remembered as having screwrd up. This is not how you win the Democratic nomination. If Bayh supports Roberts, I won't have to look for excuses to attack Bayh, I'll have them with every decision for two years.

Posted by: Bob Brigham at September 1, 2005 11:48 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Bayh was just performing a common courtesy. Bayh will not deserve any support for his campaign if he votes for Roberts, but he hasn't done that yet. And after all, this is the guy that voted against Gonzalez and Rice. If he votes against Roberts, will you acknowledge that Bayh did the right thing, or will you just try and find something else to attack Bayh with?

Posted by: JRyan at September 1, 2005 12:00 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

It isn't just votes, it is posture. Bayh's DLC is responsible for this and he needs to stop providing bi-partisan cover. If Bayh has any brains at all he'll blast Roberts -- repeatedly -- when he introduces him.

This is a perfect opportunity for Bayh to step up and tell the American people the differences between Democrats and Republicans. For the sake of courtesy, he can introduce Roberts but for the sake of pragmatism he should use the opportunity to beat Roberts like a gong.

If that happens, I'll have plenty of nice things to say about Bayh. But right now I think he is a fuckup.

Posted by: Bob Brigham at September 1, 2005 12:06 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Another DLC apologist.

Even before this stupid move, Evan Bayh has as much chance being elected the Democratic nominee as Bob Brigham does being elected Pope.

No offense Bob.

After all, how well did DLC stooge Joe Lieberman do in 2004?

Bye, bye Bayh.

Posted by: jackbourassa at September 2, 2005 05:15 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Evan is introducing Roberts because Roberts has spent more time in Indiana growing up than Evan did and Evan is always eager to learn more about his adopted state. As the only son of a charismatic and beloved daddy senator, Evan's "democratic" tendencies are genetically not ideologically based. Raised in the suburbs of the imperial capital, he returned to the ancestral homeland to seek fame and fortune through politics. He achieved both. And the sources of his wealth should be looked into. He is only slightly more talented, but vastly more ambitious than his opponents have been. He also takes a lot of money from the Carlyle Group. His Achilles Heel is the letting of gaming contracts in Lake County to his then State Party Chairman Mike Pannos. Once can hope a rigorous investigation of this will occur.

Posted by: stevelaudig at September 2, 2005 01:34 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment