It’s no surprise when a Southern Democrat in a GOP-leaning seat – someone like Parker Griffith – runs like a scalded dog from Nancy Pelosi. Indeed, if Democrats hold a narrow edge in the House after the 2010 elections – a genuine possibility – they will nervously count the Blue Dogs to see how many will withhold votes from Pelosi.
But it should be surprising that even Democrats in California are trying to distance themselves from her:
Rep. Dennis Cardoza said Tuesday that he’s pushing the Obama administration to emphasize job creation, especially in the San Joaquin Valley where the unemployment rate in some areas is at Great Depression-era levels.
“Really, what we need now is jobs. We need people to be put back to work,” said Cardoza, D-Merced. “Twenty percent unemployment is not a sustainable situation…”
Cardoza, along with House Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, spent an hour with The Modesto Bee and Merced Sun-Star editorial boards discussing the decision not to hold town hall meetings, health care reform, the economy and America’s two wars…
Hoyer’s visit highlights Cardoza’s pull in Washington at a time when he’s facing critics at home. It’s also notable that he didn’t invite Pelosi, who could have tarnished his reputation as a Blue Dog, a fiscally conservative Democrat.
Cardoza’s district lies within the San Francisco market – where Pelosi has been universally known for decades. She is one of the most powerful Speakers in recent memory – known for her ability to deliver for her friends. If Cardoza would rather appear with her obscure lieutenant – from Maryland, of all places – it says a lot about her reputation in Merced.
Further, it sounds as if you can put Cardoza down as another ‘no’ on the Obama agenda – at least if he knows what’s good for him. After all, a man smart enough to keep his distance from Pelosi seems likely to be smart enough to stay away from the job-killing bills she’s pushing.
Moe Lane
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Dan Spencer
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Ha Ha - this statement takes the cake!!
izoneguy (Diary) Wednesday, August 26th at 11:51AM EST (link)Ha Ha – this statement takes the cake!!
“Rep. Dennis Cardoza said Tuesday that he’s pushing the Obama administration to emphasize job creation, especially in the San Joaquin Valley where the unemployment rate in some areas is at Great Depression-era levels.”
???
Don’t these bozos know what Obama is? He is a hater of the capitalist system. He is a poster boy for the Marxist movement. No private entity job creation will take place while Obama is president.
Well except maybe for those makers of anti-Obama swag.
The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.
A Democrat who makes sense
Spartan4Life (Diary) Wednesday, August 26th at 2:53PM EST (link)Unfortunately, like the other phonies that call themselves conservative democrats, he won’t have the balls to stand up to Nurse Nancy.
He is absolutely right, though. The most pressing issue in America is jobs. How many additional people would have healthcare insurance if they had a frigging job? How much more consumer spending would there be if more people were working? What would happen to the deficit if more people were paying taxes? This is so easy.
You are also, right, though, that this administration is hostile to business. Everything they have pushed since coming to office has killed jobs, not created them.
repeal AB 32 CA cap and trade bill of which
dsmurf (Diary) Wednesday, August 26th at 12:32PM EST (link)the Federal Cap and Trade bill is a carbon copy of and presto you have jobs returning to the Golden State.
So really where are those precious, priceless Green jobs that AB 32 creates?
LOL getting rid of Pelosi in California. Too many liberals who are gluttons for punishment and joblessness there.
What Was Cardoza's Justification for Not Having Town Halls?!
IJB Wednesday, August 26th at 12:32PM EST (link)That doesn’t sound to me like a “No” vote on Obamacare to me!
If Cardoza was a “No” vote. he wouldn’t be afraid of having some town halls.
I wouldn't read too much into this...
Vannek Wednesday, August 26th at 1:01PM EST (link)I don’t think there’s any significance to Pelosi not attending. If you Google “Hoyer Cardoza” you’ll find that Cardoza has a closer working relationship with Hoyer.
The major cause of unemployment in Cardoza’s district is the collapse of the housing market. Folks from the Bay Area had been moving to the Central Valley in droves because the houses and cost of living were cheaper. That migration has stalled and the construction industry has collapsed.
As a resident of the SF Bay Area, I would like to caution you: Pelosi will be around for a long time (although maybe not as Speaker). Her constituents in the City of San Francisco share her world view and will keep re-electing her no matter what anyone else thinks. It will be easier to get rid of Boxer because she does need Statewide support.
Actually, Pelosi Could Be Defeated, But Only By Someone to Her *Left*
IJB Wednesday, August 26th at 1:59PM EST (link)For example, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (he’s currently running for Governor) could probably give Pelosi a run for her money, especially if he tried to outflank her to the Left.
But Pelosi’s district is a special case, and holds no relevance to the general national trend.
Possibly, but...
Vannek Wednesday, August 26th at 2:18PM EST (link)Newsom might be able to beat his Auntie, but I doubt it. Her Party connnections, power base, and financial resources are too deep. Although when she gets ready to retire, I wouldn’t put it past her to leave in mid-term so that she can appoint Newsom to her seat (e.g., the way Ron Dellums retired and coronated Barbara Lee).
Nancy is the heir to the Burton machine
civil truth (Diary) Wednesday, August 26th at 2:38PM EST (link)She has a lock on Democratic money and names and now can reward them with the influence of her Speakership. The SF Dems are not going to cut down the money tree and abandon her pork. She’s tacked enough to the left to neutralize the discontents there, while not alienating her more centrist (relatively speaking, by California coast standards) business support.
So she’ll stay until it’s time to retire or unless a better opening arises. And I don’t see her stepping aside for Newsom, their relationship (if any) has no analogy to Ron Dellum and Barbara Lee, who worked for Dellums for years.
The greatest evil…is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern. -C.S. Lewis
http://www.gmsplace.com/
No delusions of beating Pelosi.
noufa Wednesday, August 26th at 6:18PM EST (link)But it would be great to see her lose support in her backyard. And it CAN happen in the 18th & 11th CD. Both districts are about even in voter registration.
You know Bay Area residents despise the Central Valley. Pelosi will bite her tongue when they elect Democrats. But once they elect Republicans, she’ll step on some toes. That could result in a Trent Lott-style shakeup.
Hoyer gains a lot of leverage if he can blame Pelosi for shrinking the tent. If Hoyer’s close with Cardoza, he’ll probably play that card.
“Obama is not a centrist. He was never centrist. He is a uniter. He does reach across the aisle. But he always do so in pursuit of progressive ends.”
-Jonathan Stein of Mother Jones 1/31/08
Have you seen my congressman?
bsmith2 Wednesday, August 26th at 4:26PM EST (link)There was a recent article in The Hill pontificating Cardoza’s role as a “go between” the supposed “blue dogs” and Pelosi. He wants to be a political insider, the “go to” guy. To do this he will latch onto any person in political leadership to leverage what he really wants. Also, this guy’s a pussy…he didn’t even show up in our district during the summer recess (as far as I know). The last thing he will do is to vote against any legislation that will compromise his ability to be a back room dealer (thus voting for the porkulus, cap and trade, and he will vote for the health bill)…he needs the votes from the union and Hispanics to keep him in office.