Al "Franken warns that GOP Congress would bring 'truly dangerous agenda'"

[Clio the Leo]

Let me suggest that if you're the type that NEEDS SOMEONE ELSE to fire you up, and you're NOT getting that from the President, then get it from John Boehner and Darryl Issa.

Franken warns that GOP Congress would bring 'truly dangerous agenda'

By Bridget Johnson - 07/25/10 09:48 AM ET
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), addressing a convention of liberal bloggers and activists Saturday evening, implored the left to fight to stay in power in the midterm elections.

"If Republicans take back Congress they'll implement a truly dangerous agenda," Franken told the Netroots Nation gathering in Las Vegas. "Everything is on the table from repealing healthcare reform to privatizing Social Security."

Franken singled out two Republican Senate nominees: Rand Paul in Kentucky, for his questioning of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and Sharron Angle in Nevada, "who can't stop bringing up the prospect of armed revolt."
Franken warned the liberals that Joe Barton, who apologized to BP CEO Tony Hayward in an oil spill hearing, would become chairman of the Energy committee should Republicans take back control of the House, and said "Darrell Issa is promising to double his staff and embark on a witch-hunt in the hopes of bringing down the Obama administration." Being in the majority, Democrats currently have twice as many staff as Republicans on the Oversight Committee.

<snip>

Franken said he understood frustration among the left as not all agenda items were being pushed with the vigor they'd like, but told the activists "no matter how frustrated you are, you can't check out now."

"We have seen what happens when Republicans take control of Congress with a Democratic president and it ain't pretty," the senator said.

Franken said the country was "teetering on the brink of a double-dip recession" and criticized Republicans for eschewing the idea of another stimulus package. "They hide behind big talk about deficits as if deficits suddenly appeared at noon on Jan. 20, 2009," he said.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/110753-franken-tells-liberal-convention-that-gop-congress-would-bring-truly-dangerous-agenda

[HughBeaumont]

1. True. We still need a better menu down here.

I think Franken himself knows this.

[T Wolf]

2. I have no doubt about Sen. Franken's good intentions. BUt does he think that

returning the same group of DINOs to office will produce anything other than a continuation of business as usual?

Most in Congress are not there for us, but only for themselves and those who pay them via campaign contributions. They will not change.

Obama and his cohorts in Congress took the best opportunity for progress and flushed it down the crapper.

But we are supposed to reward them with more time to sell out more of the disappearing liberal agenda? That plan does not work for me.

We ALL fell for the con job. They played us perfectly.

[geek tragedy]

3. Michael Steele thanks you for your efforts on his behalf. nt

[KingFlorez]

5. I'm sure the Republicans will move the liberal agenda forward

If you believe supporting Republicans will somehow make a liberal agenda appear, you know nothing about how things work.

[HughMoran]

6. I guess a Republican Congress will suit your needs better then

Boner and McTurtle thank you from the bottom of their black hearts.

[Clio the Leo]

8. It seems ONE more thread on the matter is in order....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x389448

[still_one]

9. Problem is that the Democrats are not a homogeneous group. The repukes are

much more homogeneous.

You talk about a "liberal" agenda, which I whole-heartedly support, however, it is becoming more clear that the Democratic party does not all subscribe to that philosophy, and the country as a whole has unfortunately shifted more to the right. When you have a significant number of people who agree with the anti-Contistutional activities in Az, you know the country is in deep trouble

The major problem is that if people do not have health issues, or believe they won't have to worry about "proving" they are citizens, won't care about healthcare reform or if due process is violated. However, the moment they are PERSONALLY affected, then they become advocates, but of course then it is too late.

[DCBob]

10. Ask him what he thinks.

I suspect he will repeat what he said.

[T Wolf]

11. Sen. Franken wants us to send "more Senators like Sherrod and Sheldon and Tom and Jeff and Bernie."

I go along with that.

So, what good does it do to send back Senators like Ben and Mary and the rest of the GOP-enablers and ConservaDems? These creeps will not support liberal bills, so replacing a no vote on health care reform from a Blue Dog with a no vote from a puke will have no effect.

As long as these DINOs continue to get our support, dollars and votes, things will not change. Why some refuse to see that lesson is beyond me.

NEW "Democrats" are needed - not the same old roster of GOP-wannabes.

[still_one]

4. OK, fine, and what is Tim Kaine doing to fire up the base? What did he do in Mass?

Yes, the Democrats have some terrific advocates/fighters such as Franken, Feingold, Dean, Sanders(who isn't even a Democrat), and others. However, they also have a significant number who don't want to rock the boat, or those who are Democrats in name only, and actually have a philosophy which is more aligned with a republican agenda

republicans exclude people from their party who don't walk lock in step, Democrats do not, and that is both the strength and weakness of the Democrats

It is way past due that the Obama administration stops worrying about "offending" the republicans

[young_at_heart]

7. This message needs to be SHOUTED from the rooftops!

The GOP are very effective at hammering away on themes, (such as "We're proud to be the party of no"). The same should be true for Democrats---keep saying Franken's theme over and over and over----because it's very true!!