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Ta-Nehisi Coates Calls For Primary Of Tom Carper

Submitted for your consideration:

[Sen.] Tom Carper [D-DE] mouthing off from the comfortable environs of blue Delaware is a failure of Team Commie to be regarded as [a] serious political force. People who talk of primarying Obama need to pick smaller targets--and thus elicit bigger results.

Carper is up for reelection in 2012.

NOTE: I am not endorsing Coates' idea, just putting it out there for discussion.

Speaking for me only

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    Nothing about the subject (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 01:39:22 PM EST
    But I love that person's name..."Ta Nehisi Coates," a mixture of grand and ordinary.  They should be a poet.

    Yes - by all means primary Carper. (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by lyzurgyk on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 01:49:51 PM EST

    Any Democrat who thinks "the best jobs bill that can be passed is a comprehensive long-term deficit-reduction plan" doesn't deserve re-election.  Find a better candidate.

    But let's not forget who allowed deficit reduction a seat at the table of public opinion.    

    You mean these guys? (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by seabe on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 01:56:53 PM EST
    http://tiny.tw/8Xv

    [A]t the end of 2009, when Evan Bayh, Kent Conrad, Dianne Feinstein, Mark Warner and Joe Lieberman threatened to not increase the debt limit if they didn't get in place a fiscal commission that would recommend spending and entitlement cuts.


    Parent
    President Obama (5.00 / 4) (#4)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 01:58:26 PM EST
    had a hand in making deficit reduction big effing deal himself.

    The famous pivot.

    Parent

    Yes. He did. (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by sj on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 01:59:35 PM EST
    You left out some things. (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by lyzurgyk on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 02:18:06 PM EST

    The President could have stepped in at any time and shut that down. He could have told Conrad or Bayh to shut up and follow his lead. But this assumes that the President was against the whole idea of deficit reduction in the first place.

    "The President".  That's Obama.

    Parent

    Them too (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by ruffian on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 03:53:08 PM EST
    I don't know if Obama would like to be more liberal or not, but that group of senators plus a few others sure give him cover.

    Parent
    While Obama lead the charge beginning (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by MO Blue on Fri Sep 16, 2011 at 07:31:22 AM EST
    in 2007, he has received the help of many Democrat members of Congress, particularly Democratic Senators. Sen. Warner is once again spear heading a bipartisan group that is bound and determined to cut domestic and safety net programs and lower marginal tax rates for corporations and the higher brackets and are pressuring the Super Congress to shoot for Obama's Grand Bargain of $4 trillion.

    Democratic Senators in the Gang of 36:

    Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE)
    Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE)
    Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)
    Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)
    Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)
    Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
    Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
    Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)
    Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
    Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)
    Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL)
    Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR)
    Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
    Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT)
    Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO)
    Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)
    Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)  

    Republican Senators in the Gang of 36:

    Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
    Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
    Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC)
    Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
    Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN)
    Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK)
    Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS)
    Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN)
    Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
    Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID)
    Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
    Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
    Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
    Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE)
    Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)
    Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL)
    Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
    Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS)

    Source: Sen. Carper's Website since he is so proud of being part of screwing the average folks in his state.

    Please call and tell the Senators what you think of their plan to further redistribute government funds to the mega rich. My sweet Claire is up for reelection in 2012. Once again I will call and tell her office that I will work to defeat her if this results in cuts to the safety net programs.

    Parent

    Yesterday, I had this something-something (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Anne on Fri Sep 16, 2011 at 11:12:06 AM EST
    percolating in my head, and I couldn't quite make it come together.  I knew about Warner's efforts, I knew there were 30 members of Congress doing a presser to express their support for more deficit reduction, and I also read about Obama saying SS was "off the table."

    I did not, of course, believe Obama - he just cannot be trusted - but now I realize that, with so many mambers of Congress determined to put these things on the table, Obama is free to campaign as the sane, anti-Perry.  The One who will protect our retirees.

    Yeah, sure.  Does he think we've just forgotten what he said about SS before, during and after the campaign?  Does he think we don't remember what he's been saying all along?

    Does he think we don't remember how many of the positions he had during the 2008 campaign he has abandoned?

    Who in their freakin' right mind believes that Obama, if re-elected, will turn back attempts by the Congress and its many gangs to cut the safety net instead of, oh, I don't know, announcing sometime after the election that he will reluctantly, and with a heavy heart, step in to dot the I's and cross the t's of the fine work that was begun in 2011?

    He thinks we're stupid, gullible, and have the attention spans of the fruit flies that are annoyingly everywhere all of a sudden.  Sadly, some people are just that gullible, as we've seen.

    At this point, there isn't much beyond him telling me the sun rises in the east that I would be willing to believe without question.


    Parent

    I agree with your assessment (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by MO Blue on Fri Sep 16, 2011 at 11:54:13 AM EST
    That the above mentioned folks are carrying water for Obama so that he can make good on his commitment to cut the safety net programs.  

    I did not, of course, believe Obama - he just cannot be trusted - but now I realize that, with so many mambers of Congress determined to put these things on the table, Obama is free to campaign as the sane, anti-Perry.  The One who will protect our retirees.

    BTW, pay to play is alive and well among the Super Committee folks:

    Five Democrats and four Republicans from the Super Congress have lined up 21 fundraisers so far, including co-chair Senator Patty Murray, D-WA. Representative Jim Clyburn is the biggest fundraiser, in line to raise perhaps $1 million for his reelection. The Super Congressfolk say they are just doing their jobs, and will not be affected by the massive money they are raising.
    ...
    McClatchy reporters Rob Hotakainen and James Rosen say that no one is calling this corruption. The worst thing that the Beltway insiders, including those billing themselves as public advocates, will say is that this gives the unfortunate impression of corruption. Their solution is to ask these representatives of the people to suspend fund-raising until the work of the Super Committee is done. link


    Parent
    I'm wondering if you're alluding to (none / 0) (#7)
    by observed on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 02:05:32 PM EST
    Bill Clinton.
    Would you like to compare job creation statistics from his terms with the next two Presidents, combined?

    Parent
    Well (5.00 / 5) (#6)
    by sj on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 02:02:32 PM EST
    I'm endorsing it.  Heck at this point I'm thinking that nearly all of them should be primaried.  Every time.  The arrogance and complacency is America's enemy.

    Me too (5.00 / 3) (#14)
    by ruffian on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 03:48:15 PM EST
    They ought to be able to defend their record to members of their own party.

    Parent
    Why not both? (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Robot Porter on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 02:27:36 PM EST
    Primary Carper and Obama.

    Oppose Carper's ridiculous statement and Obama's ridiculous "jobs" plan.

    IMO primaries against 99% (5.00 / 4) (#11)
    by MO Blue on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 02:38:15 PM EST
    of the people in D.C. from Obama on down would be in order. Might be able to find 1% that deserved to keep their job.

    Parent
    1% on a good day! (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by Robot Porter on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 02:43:53 PM EST
    Most days it's somewhat less than that.

    Parent
    Obama will not be primaried (none / 0) (#33)
    by BackFromOhio on Sun Sep 18, 2011 at 03:34:33 PM EST
    Simple reason, IMO, is that the clear front runner for such an action is Hilary Clinton, who will not primary the President.  On the other hand, the President's re-election chances are dismal. He has a 36% approval rating in New York State, 35% in New Jersey, and those are major Blue States.  The recent polling also shows he has lost the majority of Latino voters, the independents, and his backing among African-Americans dropped from 77% or so to 53% last time I looked.  So, how are the 26 Dem Senators who are up for re-election in 2012 going to survive on such coat tails?  What will they and House members also up for re-election do to protect themselves?  Or are they still convinced that somehow things will change?  

    Parent
    Isn't (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by lentinel on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 04:30:31 PM EST
    it insane, absolutely insane, that at this late date Obama would propose a "jobs" plan that is in fact so ridiculous.

    It is pathetic.

    We are pathetic.

    I'm sorry for us.

    I would personally like to be the one to open the door for Obama to walk through on his way to early retirement.

    Parent

    If Obama is primaried (none / 0) (#20)
    by AngryBlackGuy on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 08:32:44 PM EST
    I wouldn't like it but would understand.

    What I wouldn't understand is if the primary was used to justify not supporting him later if he beat the challenger.

    I have a feeling that many here still would not.

    Parent

    I have a feeling that the subjunctive (none / 0) (#22)
    by observed on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 09:15:02 PM EST
    is not a happy tense for you.

    Parent
    Because rallying around the primary winner (none / 0) (#25)
    by sj on Fri Sep 16, 2011 at 09:55:55 AM EST
    has worked so well for us as a nation.

    Amiright?

    Parent

    I couldn't vote (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by lentinel on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 04:27:38 PM EST
    for any of the republicans who have announced so far.

    I couldn't possibly vote for Obama.

    I might possibly vote for a third party candidate should one announce with whom I could identify.

    I would definitely vote for a challenger to Obama who is a democrat and speaks like one.

    Reading blogls would be so much (none / 0) (#8)
    by oculus on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 02:10:03 PM EST
    easire w/o the linkage.  Team Commie.  Flying while brownish.  And on and on.  

    Totally Agree (none / 0) (#13)
    by mmc9431 on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 03:11:56 PM EST
    There's absolutely zero chance of Obama facing a primary challenge. It would be better to use the energy and resourves to go after the sheep that are following him blindly to the slaughter.

    Be a H.E.R.O. (none / 0) (#18)
    by NYShooter on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 06:32:17 PM EST
    An idea that everyone can get behind...

    (Heave every Representative out)

    Democrat....Republican....Throw them ALL out.

    C'mon America, we can do it, let's start all over again.


    I love it - I am a H.E.R.O. (none / 0) (#23)
    by Bornagaindem on Fri Sep 16, 2011 at 05:17:52 AM EST
    it is the only way that they are going to get the message that we are done with this.

    Parent
    Go ahead... (none / 0) (#19)
    by diogenes on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 07:07:51 PM EST
    Run a left liberal instead of Carper.  If the GOP nominates Mike Castle instead of a Tea Party candidate then the Republicans will be that much closer to controlling the Senate.  You forget that Delaware's senate seat would have been in play if Castle had been the 2010 nominee.

    The (none / 0) (#21)
    by Rojas on Thu Sep 15, 2011 at 09:14:41 PM EST
    comfortable environs of blue Delaware
    Sweet, blue, blue, blue Delaware The Mecca for the multinational rip offs. There are no rules if you're from Delaware....
    Why Delaware is almost as blue as Main Street, whoops, I mean Wall Street...
    Jesus, you people are pathetic.

    Oooooh! Schism! Just what the Wall Street Gang (none / 0) (#31)
    by jawbone on Sat Sep 17, 2011 at 07:40:16 PM EST
    Banksters figured would happen if any Dem stood up to Obama's Neolibbing, Corporatist favoring ways.

    Yup. That Gang Banksters were brilliant in their choice of the anti-Hillary and their rep to protect them from what needed to be done to control Big Gang Banksters.

    Ironic that it's Carper doing so.... (none / 0) (#32)
    by jawbone on Sat Sep 17, 2011 at 07:40:48 PM EST