How Dare She!

Did anyone attend this fundraiser?

Please Join

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Senator Nan Rich

Commissioner Sally Heyman

for a reception honoring

Suzanne Kosmas

Candidate for Congress, FL-24

"She is considered the first legitimate challenger to Feeney, whom Democratic insiders see as vulnerable because of criticism targeting him as one of the "most corrupt" members of Congress." Daytona Beach News-Journal, October 11, 2007.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

6:30pm to 8:00 p.m.

Sheraton Airport Hotel

Windows Room

1825 Griffin Road

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

Host $4600 • Sponsor $1000 • Friend $500 • Supporter $100-250

(donations in any amount appreciated)

I'm glad I didn't, because really, it would appall me to violate long-standing tradition like this. I'm a big believer in habeas corpus, I despise the designated hitter rule, and after all, it's my people that Tevye sings about. So when DCCC Executive Director Brian Wolff says:

Brian Wolff, executive director of the DCCC, says the bloggers are making "much ado about nothing," noting that it's "customary" for members to remain neutral in races involving GOP members of their respective congressional delegations.

I have to wonder what Debbie Wasserman Schultz is thinking. Clearly she didn't get the message.

UPDATE: Just to be clear: Suzanne Kosmas (the candidate Debbie Wasserman Schultz raised money for) is a Democrat taking on incumbent Florida Republican Tom Feeney. But according to Brian Wolff, it's "customary" for incumbents not to assist challengers to members of their state's delegation.

•  What?? Are you telling me she actually

  helped an R fundraise for a campaign against a Dem?  Sorry, my head's spinning so hard I can't quite nail this down..that's not even possible, is it?  

  by sherlyle on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:39:37 AM PDT

  •  Kosmas is a D -nt-

    by discocarp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:43:39 AM PDT

    •  Kosmas Voted to Support George Bush and the War

      While Kosmas was a state rep she voted in favor of supporting George Bush and the war. Now that it is election time she comes out and says she does not support the war. Well what is it - John Kerry all over again - I voted for it before I voted against it????

      by cr345 on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 08:05:37 AM PDT

  •  No--

    Suzanne Kosmas is a Democrat...running against a Repub incumbent.

    The point is that DWS shows up for this fundraiser (a good thing) but then uses the excuse of "tradition" not to campaign for those other three Florida Democratic challengers.

    by JoeW on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:43:47 AM PDT

    •  Ah, got it. And thank you, Joe. n/t

      by sherlyle on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:46:25 AM PDT

      •  Update diary?

        Please update diary w/ (D) and (R)'s...

        Schultz (D)
        Rich (D)
        Heyman (D)
        Kosmas (D)

        It's a bit difficult for people unfamiliar with the topic to follow the argument...  And please check my (D)'s - that was just from a quick Google search.

        by jrchicago on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:52:43 AM PDT

        •  no shit.

          agreed.

          by agnostic on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:58:36 AM PDT

        •  Even for those who've been kinda following

          it's a confusingly written post, IMO.

          by renaissance grrrl on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:11:22 AM PDT

          •  I'm still confused

            So she's fundraising for a Democrat to take on the incumbent Republican.  Isn't that what we've been railing upon her to do anyway, given that she's on the Red-to-Blue program?

            I thought we'd be pleased that she's doing it, instead of being all snarky at the executive director guy.  Sure, he sounds like a tool, but the important thing is the fundraising.

            by RogueJim on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 09:07:31 AM PDT

            •  the Dem is in a Dem primary

              Dem vs. Dem. That's my take on it anyhow after scrolling down. But yeah, it's confusing.

              by drag0n on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 09:14:12 AM PDT

              •  Ohhh, my aching head. :)

                by RogueJim on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 09:40:45 AM PDT

              •  Wasserman takes sides in a Dem primary, but won't

                fundraise against Florida Republicans?  What a hypocritcal "bee-otch"

                by cks175 on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 10:23:25 AM PDT

                •  Why have political parties at all, then?

                  Brian Wolff... noting that it's "customary" for members to remain neutral in races involving GOP members of their respective congressional delegations.

                  :boggle:

                  Glad to find out who his true constituency is.

                  by Rabbithead on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 02:31:48 PM PDT

    •  It would

      surely help if this were in the diary.  I had to click through most of Kosmas web site to determine she's a Democrat.  Then I got the sarcasm in the diary.

      by Heart of the Rockies on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:49:52 AM PDT

      •  I know

        She sure doesn't make it apparent that she's a Dem, does she?

        I guess she knows her district.

        by JoeW on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:53:19 AM PDT

        •  pols don't do this for some reason

          for some reason, they almost never identify their party.

          they really need to wise up, people don't want to vote for republicans nowadays.

          by unterhausen on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:09:54 AM PDT

          •  I'd have serious misgivings

            about voting for someone who's afraid to list her party affiliation.

            by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:14:38 AM PDT

            •  Yeah,

              but she's obviously a far better choice than what's there already. I don't know the number, but I'll bet it's an R+ district. She wants people to vote for her, not a party they (however wrongheadedly) dislike.

              It doesn't bother me much.

              by JoeW on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:23:35 AM PDT

              •  Actually, no.

                Democrat Clint Curtis challenged Feeney in 2006 and is doing so again this election. The Dem establishment talks about Kosmas as if she's already the nominee; it's not the case.

                by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:28:13 AM PDT

                •  I get it

                  Obviously you know more about this than I do.

                  I was just comparing her to the incumbent, and guessing why she wouldn't plaster "Democrat" all over her website.

                  From here in New York, I'll take either of them over Feeney.

                  by JoeW on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:31:35 AM PDT

                  •  Well

                    it's my district and I've been supporting Clint since 2006. ;-)

                    But I will support the winner of the Dem primary, whoever it may be. Clint is a better candidate though, IMO. (Which should be obvious considering all my comments in this diary. Heh.)

                    by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:43:31 AM PDT

      •  The diary really would benefit

        from a final line rounding up the concept for us.

        Not everyone follows things so minutely as to be able to parse the meaning behind what is being said here.

        by Loquatrix on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:55:10 AM PDT

        •  Absolutely

          And as I started to read the comments, I realized how confusing it was to most readers.  I gave up because you can't have a good discussion unless everyone understands the topic at hand.

          by Heart of the Rockies on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:01:47 AM PDT

        •  This diary is only clear

          to the diarist...and perhaps a few others who have read up on every Congressional race in Florida.  Even those might be confused by the writing here, since, uh...it doesn't make much sense.

          I'm a big believer in habeas corpus, I despise the designated hitter rule, and after all, it's my people that Tevye sings about.

          Maybe this seems clever to someone, but I would really prefer a diary that actually communicates a coherent point.

          by Gray on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:05:48 AM PDT

      •  Kosmas? Isn't that the holiday

        right between Election Day and Thanksgiving?

        by BlueGenes on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:08:39 AM PDT

      •  You can also click through her site

        til the cows come home, and then go back out again, and you won't find an "Issues" page or even any scheduled calendar events she's attending. I guess she's going to depend on all her wealth and connections from her real estate business, and shills like DWS to raise money for her.

        There are a lot of environmentally sensitive areas in the FL-24 district (such as the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge discussed by Clint in his latest diary) and I'm very nervous about the possibility of a real estate developer winning that seat. We have terrible land use regulation here as it is. All we need is someone in Congress representing FL-24 who's beholden to the housing construction industry.

        by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:22:02 AM PDT

        •  Thanks for the added info

          I don't know the area, but I sure did pick up on the real estate developer part of her bio and thought hmmmm.  Maybe your concerns should be presented in a diary, if you feel so inclined.

          by Heart of the Rockies on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:32:31 AM PDT

          •  Good idea!

            Thanks, I'll work on one as soon as I get some time, hopefully no later than this weekend.

            by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:59:51 AM PDT

      •  People in her district know!

        Do you seriously think voters would see two candidates going at it in the General Election and think they're both Republicans? Especially since Kosmas lost to Feeney by 400 votes in their first match-up?

        by Enterik on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:54:26 AM PDT

        •  Kosmas has never challenged Feeney

          at least not for a U.S. Congressional seat.

          by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:58:59 AM PDT

          •  How embarassing...

            ...I was thinking of Jennings versus Buchanan. Thank you for the correction. The point still stands. Although with both Curtis and Jennings, the voters may very well remember that they were formerly Republicans.

            by Enterik on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 10:27:35 AM PDT

            •  LOL.

              It's okay. I didn't know Jennings used to be a Repub either. Although to be honest, I doubt many "average voters" have a clue.

              by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 10:59:27 AM PDT

    •  Not running against an incumbent yet

      There's a primary coming up in August. She's running against other dems right now.

      by discocarp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:53:34 AM PDT

    •  Thanks

      english is nice. Less cryptic is good. Less "insider-ish" lingo=much better.

      by plok on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:18:29 AM PDT

  •  Backwards

    Feeney is the R; Kosmas is the D challenger.  

    But I think it's in regards to the fact that she has "abstained" from the South FL races citing her need to stay neutral within her state, and then jumped into this one, violating her own stated policy.

    And whew, I need a deep breath after that run-on sentence.

    by dewberry on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:45:34 AM PDT

    •  Just don't get her thinking on this at all.

      Does she really feel she's in a club of some kind, that there's just way more difference between "nonmembers" than there are between members, regardless of Party?  Good grief, they'll use her for as long as she's useful, and then they'll turn on her so fast she'll be in Albuquerque before she knows she's been booted out.  Her good buddy R's know the difference, alright.  

      by sherlyle on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:51:27 AM PDT

    •  This district is not in So Fla

      it's in Central FL.  I guess that she's okay w/ helping challengers to incumbent Goopers if the CD is N of Lake Okeechobee.  

      Funny thing is, she broke that rule against Clay Shaw, whose district is in Broward, in 2006.  I'm curious as to whether she ever supported Mahoney against Foley.  Given her track record, she probably jumped on the Mahoney bandwagon as soon as Foley's e-mails were disclosed.

      Truth is, W-S is scared to death of challenging the current Exile Community power structure in Miami-Dade, as is Kendrick Meek.  He has a D+35 CD, and she has a D+18 CD that's mostly in Broward, but they're still afraid of the Exile Boogeyman.

      She needs to be dumped from Red to Blue ASAP.

      by RFK Lives on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:01:32 AM PDT

      •  The Exile Community

        Martinez and Garcia are Cuban exiles, too. Their outlooks are a tad different from the Republicans (ain't that the point?), but it's not as if she could be percieved as "anti-Cuban" or something for supporting her fellw Democrats.

        A lot of Cuban exiles are closer to Garcia and Martinez politically than to the Goopers, especially on such issues as travel access to Cuba.

        by AdmiralNaismith on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:25:32 AM PDT

        •  W-S is still trapped in the hardline mindset

          as is the prez candidate whom she supports.  Neither of them seem to realize that they don't have to stick w/ the hardline approach to Cuba anymore.

          by RFK Lives on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:55:40 AM PDT

      •  No kidding!

        Ft. Lauderdale is like 200+ miles from the FL-24 district, which extends roughly from Titusville to Daytona Beach on the east coast and then west to Oviedo (an Orlando suburb).

        by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:34:28 AM PDT

      •  Sectarian Politics and more...

        In 2004, she won her first challenge 70 to 30, was unopposed in 2006 and has no viable opponent in 2008, so calling her district D+18 is a bit of an understatement.

        However, there may be sectarian reasons for her failure to act on behalf of South Florida Democratic challengers.

        *Debbie wasserman Schultz (DWS) supports Hillary Rodham Clinton (HRC)
        *HRC is a member of the Democratic Leadership Council(DLC)
        *The DLC vies for power with the splinter faction New Democrat Network(NDN) for influence within the Democratic Party(DP)
        *Joe Garcia (JG) runs the NDN Hispanic project and wrested control of the Miami-Dade DP
        *JG has been of help to Barack Obama in Florida
        *HRC and BO are competitors for DP presidential nomination

        Thus DWS will let JG twist in the wind because he cleaves to a different DP sect that is opposing the HRC candidacy which she co-chairs.

        So, it doesn't really matter if Joe Garcia is an anti-Castro Cuban expatriot, although his soft line on travel and remittances are at odds with the hardline of her GOP-freindly donors and US-Cuba Democracy Caucus. There is more than meets the eye.

        I sense that DWS is carefully managing her brand and it's finances. While Joe Garcia represents a fine candidate, if he loses then DWS has burned three friends she has to work with for nothing. That would diminish her brand effectiveness as a giant killer and nettle the only possible source of opposition from her district, the hardline anti-Castro community, and the gloves would be off as far as her friends would be concerned. Anti-castro hardline top donors such as FloSun Inc and Greenberg Traurig LLP would probably invest elsewhere. So why not play it safe? Sooner or later, this bee will fly out of the bonnet, and her constituents that vote for her regardless won't ever get stung.

        by Enterik on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 09:27:05 AM PDT

        •  Mostly agree, except that district opposition

          shouldn't be a concern.  The R's picking up this seat is almost impossible.  A primary challenge by a Cuban-American would be daunting at best.

          The CD is centered in S Broward, and the portion that sticks down into M-D is not very Latin.  Aventura, the biggest M-D population concentration in her CD, has the same demographic as her Broward constituentcy.  

          W-S appears to want to play on a bigger stage.  She perceived that the way to do so was to simultaneously endorse HRC, be a Pelosi favorite, and appease power brokers like GT and Flo-Sun back home.  She's now finding it increasingly difficult to manage that juggling act.

          by RFK Lives on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 10:31:51 AM PDT

  •  Kosmas is a D, BUT...

    If you look on her "campaign" website, she goes out of her way to NEVER mention that she is running as a Democrat or for the Democratic party.  There is not One. Single. Mention.  She does say she is a "fiscal conservative".  Check it out. Look around.  THIS is a Democratic nominee???

    by reef the dog on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:47:29 AM PDT

    •  Agreed

      I clicked through most of her web site before I hit endorsements and concluded she was a Democrat.

      by Heart of the Rockies on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:50:39 AM PDT

      •  I did the same thing

        Not mentioned anywhere except under endorsements.

        Otherwise, this statement from the press release announcing her candidacy is the only thing that addresseses political persuasion (with my emphasis):

        "I will be an independent and effective voice for working families, children, and seniors in this district, and ensure that their interests - not the special interests - are represented in Congress. This is the time for change in Washington, and I will work towards building consensus rather than engaging in lock-step partisan politics."

        Maybe she is a good candidate but there's nothing there that inspires party loyalty for me--if anything, she seems to be trying to distance herself from identification as a Democrat.  I hate it when that happens...and it happens too often in FL.

        by sawgrass727 on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:14:34 AM PDT

        •  Just occurred to me

          Political ads in Florida have to note party affliation...even for nonpartisan elections. (FL can have some crazy laws.)

          Her web site may be violating that law (106.143 (1)(a))

          Amazing....she's been elected four times already to the state legislature so she--or at least her staff--should know better.  

          by sawgrass727 on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:25:50 AM PDT

          •  For state campaigns only

            Federal campaigns follow federal rules.

            "Paid for by [name of committee]" in a box is the federal requirement.

            "Political advertisement paid for and approved by [candidate name], [party name], for [position sought]" is the state requirement.

            by Michael Calderin on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:45:41 AM PDT

            •  Okay thanks.

              I've been at that detailed level with state campaigns, not federal.  Chalk up a bit of new knowledge--I learn at least one thing every day here!

              by sawgrass727 on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 11:27:35 AM PDT

    •  No it isn't

      There is a primary coming up in August. Kosmas isn't the nominee yet.

      by discocarp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:54:20 AM PDT

      •  Ah, thanks. Just a nominee.

        by reef the dog on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:55:44 AM PDT

      •  In that case does Wasserman-S have a challenger?

        by reef the dog on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:56:15 AM PDT

        •  Don't think so

          but FL-24 is my district, Debbie's isn't.

          by discocarp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:57:36 AM PDT

  •  Hmm..what's the word

    Hypo...
    Hypo..
    Hippopotamus?

    by gladkov on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:04:29 AM PDT

    •  Lemme help

      Hippocampus?
      Hippodrome?
      Hypochondriac?

      Dang, this is hard.  What is that word?

      by ogre on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 09:00:50 AM PDT

  •  Because of Joe Lieberman,

    people now have to ask.

    by AdmiralNaismith on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:19:30 AM PDT

•  Take. Her. Out.

  We're going to have lots of new Democrats in Congress - I'd suggest ever single Democrat in her district vote for her Republican opponent. We'll arrange a nice caucus to stand over her district and make sure they're taken care of for rendering this service of Congresscritter training.

  by Stranded Wind on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:39:39 AM PDT

  •  Uh, you are beginning to sound like her

    A primary challenge (next cycle) would be the appropriate countermeasure.

    by MarkInSanFran on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:42:23 AM PDT

  •  Oh please

    How is voting Republican ever a good thing for our party?

    That kind of talk gets us nowhere.

    by kimoconnor on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:46:14 AM PDT

  •  Cross over voting

    is usually a negative act.  We need to put pressure on her or primary her.  Not vote for a Republican opponent.

    by Heart of the Rockies on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:52:05 AM PDT

  •  No no no no no.

    We want her to do the jobs she does well. She's a fine Member of Congress. She's just not up to handling the demands of the Red-to-Blue program.

    She wants to work her way up the leadership ladder in the Democratic Caucus, and that's just fine. All she has to do is perform the tasks she takes on.

    That appears to be a problem for her, though.

    So we're perfectly happy to have her as a hard-working member of the rank-and-file.

    by Kagro X on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 09:11:35 AM PDT

•  lol, David

  It must be hard for DWS to remember what she believes in from day to day.

  by JoeW on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:39:41 AM PDT

•  Does Wasserman-Schultz have a challenger?

  Is it too late to turn her district blue again?

  by reef the dog on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:40:03 AM PDT

  •  Quit it.

    I don't like what Debbie is doing in her role as Red-to-Blue chairwoman.  But she is an excellent congresswoman, and would pose a great threat to Mel Martinez in two years.  She just shouldn't be chair of Red-to-Blue.

    by jim bow on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:48:11 AM PDT

    •  She's off to a bad start

      If she intends to run for state office she better stop pissing off big chunk's of Florida's dems. Like say, all the ones in the districts she won't fight for.

      by discocarp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:58:58 AM PDT

      •  Ding Ding Ding!

        We have a winner!!! You're spot on!  She'll get nowhere with me with this kind of crap.

        by TampaCPA on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 09:24:18 AM PDT

    •  Why would you want to "promote" her to the Senate

      Her conduct as Red-To-Blue chair is basically disgraceful as she's abandoned principle to placate her Republican cohorts inside the Beltway.

      And for that you suggest she would make a good Senator?

      Better to run a progressive to take her out, and then promote a more worthy candidate to run against Martinez.

      by cks175 on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 10:34:50 AM PDT

•  This is not snarky enough....but good try.

  ...she didn't get the message.

  by ezdidit on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:40:32 AM PDT

•  If I were talented, I'd change the sign

  on the wall.

  by bumblebums on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:41:33 AM PDT

•  And this is a PRIMARY

  So Debbie is fundraising for a primary against other dems, but won't for a general election against reps.

  Insanity.

  by discocarp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:41:34 AM PDT

•  Seriously, you guys. Her name I recognize,

  the others are unfamiliar.  Is she really badmouthing the Dem candidate and fundraising for R's??  

  by sherlyle on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:42:14 AM PDT

  •  Kosmas is a D -nt-

    by discocarp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:43:50 AM PDT

  •  ditto - please explain

    the cast of characters. I know who DWS is, but have never heard of any of these other people.

    by anotherdemocrat on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:44:01 AM PDT

•  Clearly she has no regard for tradition

  Tevye would be disappointed

  by proudprogressiveCA on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:42:30 AM PDT

•  I love the jab

  at Clint Curtis too, i.e., Kosmas is the first "legitimate" challenger. That's so cute! Heh. If the DCCC had given Clint some assistance then, there'd have been a legitimate challenger to Feeney 2 years ago and he might have been defeated.

  Clint's ActBlue page

  by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:43:12 AM PDT

  •  h/t to Clint

    for trying to take down Feeney when nobody else would look twice at our district.

    by discocarp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:05:31 AM PDT

    •  Did you know

      Kosmas has refused repeated requests from Clint for a debate? Honestly, if she's afraid to talk to "Crazy Clint Curtis," how will she ever stand up against Feeney?

      Then again, Feeney also refused to debate Curtis in 2006. Maybe Tom and Suzanne have a lot more in common than we're aware of....

      by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:11:17 AM PDT

      •  She hasn't answered my emails either

        Clint's campaign did (quickly).

        by discocarp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:14:01 AM PDT

  •  Sorry pattyp, I did not see your post, thanks

    for posting the link to Clint's ActBlue page.

    by Russ Jarmusch on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:11:37 AM PDT

•  The DH is awesome

  Who enjoys watching Pitchers strike out all the time anyway?  It's like watching T-ball.

  Oh and it's always great watching a great pitcher get injured trying to bat.  

  by Scientician on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:43:54 AM PDT

•  Suzanne Kosmas .. is a democrat

  She is endorsed by the DCCC

  http://www.kosmasforcongress.com/

  by Freedom Fry on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:44:04 AM PDT

•  Hypocrisy...

  ...as well as stupidity, has no party affiliation...

  by Ken in MN on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:45:13 AM PDT

•  This sort of behavior

  ...seems so contradictory to party goals that I just can't stop myself from wondering.....

  What must they have on her? Why else draw the ire of your own party/constituents?

  This is just past any prayer of making sense.

  by zzyzx on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:45:26 AM PDT

  •  Okay, I'm officially confused.

    I hope you'll understand if I don't thank you.

    by zzyzx on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:48:46 AM PDT

    •  Clearly you haven't been following the

      DWS saga that unfolded over the past couple of weeks. Click on her name in the tags and you'll understand.

      by maralenenok on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:16:11 AM PDT

      •  I have, but...

        re-reading the story made me think that I'd missed something major- the Diarist didn't quite spell out the offense, and I suspect I mis-interpereted the meaning.

        BTW, love your sig line- I opened my show with that song a few weeks back. 'The Future' also has a bit too much to say about where we're heading.

        by zzyzx on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:55:16 AM PDT

•  Also, is it common

  to hold a fundraiser in a city that's 250 miles away from the district in which the candidate will be running? That seems odd, but what do I know.

  by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:47:20 AM PDT

•  Wow

  Debbie, Debbie...

  Put your public posturing ducks in a row, girl.

  She's really not behaving in an adult manner, and neither is Brian Whosis.

  by bumblebums on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:47:39 AM PDT

•  Hmm

  Apparently Feeney isn't the sort of right-wing Cuban of the Friends of Luis Posada Carriles type that DWS thinks should be immune from Democratic opposition.

  by ActivistGuy on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:49:08 AM PDT

•  Show Debbie what you think...see sig line

  and click to show the three Dems in South Florida some love!

  This reminds me of when the CA State Dem party wanted someone other than Jerry McNerney in 2006. Well with grassroots and netroots...it doesn't always work the way the 'party' wants! Woo Hoo...

  Click the sig line and donate!

  by SallyCat on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:50:57 AM PDT

•  It Doesn't Help....

  increase understanding of the Diary if it is not clear what the criticism within it is about.  I don't expect to be handheld as a relative newbie, and I actually know what the fuss about DWS is about, but if I don't know who the other people are nor where they are, it's kinda hard to parse....

  Just sayin'

  by DHinIA on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:56:27 AM PDT

  •  even true

    for us old-timers. I can't keep up with all of the races all over the country. Diary needs to be a bit less obtuse.

    by hopeful on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:01:31 AM PDT

  •  True! I suggest

    DWS! WTF?

    by gladkov on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:09:23 AM PDT

•  DWS needs to go down next primary campaign.

  any challengers down there going to take our money?

  by tnichlsn on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:59:05 AM PDT

  •  Oh BS. She's been great in congress.

    by Beelzebud on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:40:38 AM PDT

    •  maybe for her constituents, for the rest of

      US, not so much!

      by tnichlsn on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:51:10 AM PDT

      •  Based on what? Ever see her on CSpan?

        by Beelzebud on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 09:34:21 AM PDT

        •  

          based on 1 year of no supermajority/get very little accomplished House and Senate results. When we have 350+ house seats, she can play nice with her republican friends down there. Until then she needs to support democrats fighting to achieve those ends or step down from her position of leadership on this issue. Really quite simple. it's a partisan job and needs a partisan democrat employed there...

          by tnichlsn on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 10:20:17 AM PDT

        •  Good TV presence doesn't make up for poor leaders

          leadership

          by cks175 on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 10:41:55 AM PDT

•  Do your job or get out

  These people have to do their jobs or get the hell out and  let some one else do it.  S__t or get off the pot.

  by realtime on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 07:59:29 AM PDT

  •  Speaking of doing your job, this is OT

    but MSNBC reporting that Pentagon shipped intercontinental ballistic missile parts to Taiwan from a base in Wyoming, when they meant to send helicopter batteries.  Oops!
    Is ANYONE in this administration actually doing the jobs they're supposed to be doing?  Bueller??  
    Sorry about the OT stuff, just dizzy from rapid rabbit hole descent again.  

    by sherlyle on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:05:18 AM PDT

    •  Is ANYONE in this administration actually doing..

      ..the jobs they're supposed to be doing?

      Well unless you mean creating endless war, destroying our civil liberties, the economy and the country, that answer would be no

      by gladkov on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:08:15 AM PDT

  •  Just so you know

    The Schultz part is in relation to Schultz from Hogan's Heroes..I know nussink, I see nussink...

    by gladkov on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:06:06 AM PDT

•  You are grossly overstating the situation!

  The tradition clearly says: You cannot campaign against members of the Florida GOP with Hispanic last names. Or even worse: Hispanic members of the Florida GOP with a Finnish-sounding last name, that would be really bad!

  Also everybody keep an eye out for the new Fiddler on The Roof Remake, starring Brad Pitt as Tevye: Actually, Papa, It's not Motel I'm interested in but his sister, Jacquee...no, let me explain interested...

  by gladkov on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:01:45 AM PDT

•  Speaking of Fiddler on the Roof

  I keep wanting to write a sketch of Lieberman's grandmother Tseitel appearing to him in a dream, and telling him to endorse Obama, not McCain, the Laser Wolf of politics...

  by gladkov on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:03:40 AM PDT

•  Please remember that Feeney is an

  Abramoff crony that needs to be defeated. Kosmas is running against Clint Curtis in the primary. pattyp @ Florida Kossacks is involved with Curtis' campaign.  

  by Russ Jarmusch on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:09:09 AM PDT

  •  Feeney is as bad as they come -nt-

    by discocarp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:12:52 AM PDT

    •  We need to elect Dems that act like Dems

      It is not enough to elect Democrats. We need to elect Dems that act (and vote) like Dems.

      DWS is terrible when it comes to doing anything important (like stopping the war, universal health care, 25% of new home owners in foreclosure or energy independence). She is a fluff. These are all the bills she has sponsoredor cosponsoredand none of them even make a passing attempt to deal with the major problems this country has today. We have to push forward a progressive agenda and do so forcefully. The Dem or Rep argument is useless unless we actually achieve results. Commending the Girl Scouts and paying tribute to individuals are things that a Representative should do but if that is all they do then they have failed their country and their constituents.

      Kosmas is the same type of empty candidate. In the house she did not sponsor or co-sponsor a single bill the first six years she was in Congress. One of the first things she did act on was her resolution in the Florida House saying that she "overwhelmingly supported Bush and the invasion of Iraq". These people have to grow some guts and stand up for what they believe. Last year I recieved over 70% of the Democratic and NPA's votes in the district 24.

      My feeling is that Kosmas' entry into this race will damage all the Democratic candidate because she has the same ethical issues as Feeney. It will be impossible to claim we are repulsed by Republican corruption and accepting of hers. When she was part of a two member panel to select a purchase art for the governmental body, she pushed for a donor of hers rather than reporting the conflict. Her donors price was over twice the budget specified by her duties.

      For our Republican readers, the proper response would have been to remove oneself from the decision. Her response was "she saw no conflict of interest in that decision". Having worked with Feeney, I can attest that such rationalization is exactly the same way he thinks.

      It is that type of corruption that make our taxes climb and our services dwindle.

      This will completely remove the Abramhoff, Bob Allen, Larry Craig advantage.

      To accept Democratic corruption while chastising Republican corruption make us hypocrites and will not sway the disenchanted NPA's and Repubs needed to win the district. When politicians, regardless of party, demonstrate that they cannot be trusted to act with integrity, they are not fit to hold public office and should never deserve our support.

      When they have a history of talking the talk and wearing the label but never delivering the results, we need to look for Progressive Dems to replace them.

      by ClintCurtis on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 12:49:32 PM PDT

      •  Spot on. n/t

        by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 01:02:26 PM PDT

  •  Thanks Russ!

    Here are some links for everyone:

    Clint Curtis for Congress (not as pretty as Kosmas' page, but at least it's clear Clint is a Dem and he actually has an Issues section, heh)

    Clint's blog

    Clint's ActBlue page

    My cat Clint, unofficial campaign mascot: ;-)

    

    by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:41:07 AM PDT

•  Debbie CAN'T campaign against Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

  if Debbie did that she wouldn't have a BBF to hang out at the mall with on the week-ends.

  by KnotIookin on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:17:35 AM PDT

•  Aw, C'mon.

  Debbie did something right. Let's encourage her to do similar fundraising for Annette Taddeo. Joe Garcia and Raul Martinez!

  She's showing she really is capable of campaigning against incumbent Florida Republicans. That's a step in the left direction.

  by AdmiralNaismith on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:21:28 AM PDT

•  Re: your update

  Kosmas still has to face Clint Curtis in the Dem primary. She's not yet the nominee for this race, despite the Dem establishment acting like she is.

  by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:30:56 AM PDT

•  HUH?

  This is about as ridiculous as it can get. Lets try and focus on issues that are important to most folks.

  by lylepink on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:36:56 AM PDT

  •  Agreed.

    I remember watching Shultz on C-Span many times railing against the Bush administration and the Iraq war.

    It seems like energy would be better focused trashing Republicans.

    by Beelzebud on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:39:23 AM PDT

    •  maybe you should emphasize that next time you

      see her!

      by tnichlsn on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:55:05 AM PDT

      •  Sorry for not joining the lynch mob.

        Next time I see her?   I don't even live in FL I'm just someone that actually pays attention and knows she's a good Democrat.

        by Beelzebud on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 09:35:43 AM PDT

  •  You think this isn't important?

    It's not important to you that the co-chair of the DCCC's Red-to-Blue program isn't up to the job?

    Flipping seats in Congress isn't important. Really.

    by Kagro X on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 09:18:12 AM PDT

•  This is one of the more stupid diaries I've seen

  So what's the point? Because DWS did not want to campaign against 3 Rapublicans (which is deplorable), we should find it ironic if she actually does campaign for other Democrats, or be less supportive of her and their efforts? This just doesn't make sense.

  by berkeleyguy on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 08:46:57 AM PDT

  •  Suboptimal offering...

    ...perhaps, but there were others you could read for more background.

    Obviously, the point is to raise awareness of these three good candidates running strong races where none existed previously. To highlight DWS deliberate hamstringing of their efforts by her failure to support. If she cannot be shamed into doing what others think is best for the democratic party, perhaps, enough indignation at her money grubbing power politics behavior may garner support for these candidates where none had existed, so as to prevent them from withering on the vine.

    by Enterik on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 10:23:37 AM PDT

    •  I kow the background

      I just don't like it when people use ridiculous things to degrade politicians that they don't like, for whatever reason (just so we are clear, in the past few months I have changed the channel every time DWS has appeared on tv, I can't stand her). The tone is the original diary suggests that going to the fundraiser for a Democratic candidate who happens to be supported by DWS is somehow wrong, because she, unjustifiably in my opinion, has refused to campaign for some other dems. That's just ridiculous. This is what we get from partisan hacks (of the stupidest kind) on the right, people like Rush and Laura Ingraham and Anne coulter and others.

      by berkeleyguy on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 12:19:21 PM PDT

      •  Still a disappointment...

        ...and a wee bit cowardly on DWS part, but at least they found a couple of other Florida races on the slate to justify her DCCC cochair, so it's not a rub :-/

        One has to wonder whether they knew she was so horribly compromised in South Florida when she was given the post in the first place?

        Despite, my unabashedly critical stance on her recent behavior, I still maintain a generally positive view of DWS, overall, with her hardline on Cuba being the main exception that may prove to be an albatross the DP has to wear for her reliable re-election (but only because she says so :-/)

        by Enterik on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 12:58:59 PM PDT

        •  I don't even share your positive view of her

          I mean the only reason she has gone on tv in the past year or so has been to either boost Clinton's presidential aspirations (which I have recently become very annoyed by) or talk about Cuba (where she is dead wrong) or our policy with regards to the middle east, where she moved to the Democratic position reluctantly and is not completely there yet wholeheartedly. Still, I find the criticism of her attendance in a fundraising for another Dem who is challenging an incumbent Rapublican ridiculous. I can see no logic in it, it is just rambling against a politician that one doesn't like, for something that she has done and one actually does like.

          by berkeleyguy on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 01:13:41 PM PDT

      •  It's not ridiculous

        to expect an elected official to do her job.

        by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 01:03:56 PM PDT

        •  yeah, but why are you confusing stuff

          She hasn't done her job on a different matter; why is she being criticized for attending a fundraiser for a dem, that's what escapes me.

          by berkeleyguy on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 01:07:46 PM PDT

          •  If you've read the front page diaries

            over the past week or so, then it would make sense to you. That's my recommendation.

            by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 01:13:41 PM PDT

            •  why do you assume I am ignorant about the issue

              that is just arrogant. My point, again, is on this particular issue she has done the right thing. She shouldn't be criticized for this. You want to get her out of office (an effort that I generally support), then go ahead and do just that, based on her performance on so many issues with which I think she has performed poorly (foreign policy, Cuba, her refusal to campaign for fellow dems, her stupid support of Clinton at the expense of bashing the all-but-assured democratic nominee, etc.), but why should we not attend the fundraising for a fellow dem?

              by berkeleyguy on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 01:17:58 PM PDT

              •  Because

                in FL-24, she's supporting one Dem candidate over another. So she has no problem campaigning for one Dem at the expense of another, she just can't manage to do the same when it's one Dem facing a Repub.

                I don't necessarily want to get rid of her, and I doubt many others here do either. We just want her to do her job as Chair of the Red-to-Blue program.

                by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 01:24:33 PM PDT

              •  BTW, I didn't assume you were ignorant.

                Rather, I assumed you were uninformed. It's pretty simple to figure out the sentiment of this diary to anyone who's read the numerous related front-page diaries that came before it.

                by pattyp on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 01:26:49 PM PDT

•  I get email... from the DCCC...

  under Madeleine K. Albright's name, asking for money.

  I reply.

  Dear Madeleine who will never even see this,

  Donate to the DCCC?  Are you joking?

  I donate to plenty of Democrats who are incumbents, and even moreso to those who aren't, who are challenging Republicans who vote against Democrats, who vote against SCHIP, against universal healthcare, and for open lesion of an occupation that we're calling a war.

  You have the records.  You see my money go to the DNC every month.  That's because Chairman Dean inspires me, both personally, but even more with his vision and action--50 state strategy, no district left safe and unchallenged for any Republican.  You see my money go to Barack Obama.  You see my money go to Ned Lamont, to Stephanie Herseth, to James Webb, to Gary Trauner, to... well, I need not list them all; there are a lot of them.

  So why am I not donating to the DCCC (or the DSCC, for that matter)?  My teenaged sons would sum it up this way, "You suck."  But that's too succinct and too brutal.  Let me explain.

  You're lukewarm.  You're tepid.  You have no vision (elect Democrats isn't a vision, it's merely an objective). &n