More on the Retreat

by Chris Bowers, Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 01:57:57 AM EST

The situation is worse than even I imagined, and the term "retreat" is looking more and more appropriate. For starters, here is the agenda. Check out this topic:
Social Security Reform I: The Coming Fiscal Crisis (Liberty Room, 5th Fl.)
Here's something else that I found interesting:
**10. RUSS ROBERTS, professor of economics and J. Fish and Lillian F. Smith Distinguished Scholar at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University: "Social Security can be fixed with some adjustments within the current system, and the fears about privatization are greatly exaggerated. The real reason to favor or oppose privatization is philosophical, not financial. Who should be responsible for my retirement? Should it be me or the government? This is where the real political battle will be waged. There will be lots of sound and fury about rates of return, trust funds, tax rates and savings rates. But, ultimately, the philosophical issue will come into play."
Worst of all, Kargo X produced the following list of Democratic Chiefs of Staff who attended the 2004 Mercatus Center retreat (PDF file):
  • Lisa Baranello, Dep. Chief of Staff, Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY)
  • Peter Chandler, Chief of Staff, Rep. Michael Michaud (D-ME)
  • Michael Collins, Chief of Staff, Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
  • Lionel Collins, Jr., Chief of Staff, Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA)
  • Robert Decheine, Chief of Staff, Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ)
  • Patricia Delgado, Admin. Asst. (the old name for CoS), Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
  • Perry Finney Brody, Chief of Staff, Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-TX)
  • David Flanders, Legislative Director, Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA)
  • Robert Foust, Senior Policy Advisor, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)
  • John Haseley, Chief of Staff, Rep. Ted Strickland (D-OH)
  • Cookab Hashemi, Dep. Chief of Staff, Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO)
  • Clyde Henderson, Subcommittee Staff Director, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY)
  • Rita Jaramillo, Chief of Staff, Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX)
  • Melissa Koloszar, Chief of Staff, Rep. James Moran (D-VA)
  • Jason Marino, Sr. Health & Social Policy Advisor, Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV)
  • Cynthia Martin, Legislative Director/Counsel, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
  • Susan McAvoy, Admin. Asst., Rep. Martin Frost (D-TX)
  • Terri McCullough, Chief of Staff, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
  • Maria Robles Meier, Executive Director, Congressional Hispanic Caucus
  • Jeff Mendelsohn, Chief of Staff, Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX)
  • Neil Naraine, Legislative Fellow, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
  • Julie Nickson, Admin. Asst., Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
  • Gail Ravnitzky, Chief of Staff, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
  • Michael Rious, Sr. Legislative Asst., Rep. Al Wynn (D-MD)
  • Drey Samuelson, Chief of Staff, Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD)
  • Scott Schloegel, Chief of Staff, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI)
  • Lisa Sherman, Chief of Staff, Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA)
  • Lisa Venus, Counsel, Democratic Budget Committee
  • Larry Walker, Legislative Director, Rep. Major Owens (D-NY)
  • Jennifer Walsh, Admin. Asst., Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA)
  • Monique Clendinen Watson, Chief of Staff, Del. Donna Christensen (D-VI)
  • Rachel Redington Werner, Dep. Chief of Staff, Rep. Jim Turner (D-TX)
  • Stanley White, Chief of Staff, Rep. Robert Brady (D-PA)
  • Patrice Willoughby, Chief of Staff, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH)
34--that is nearly 15% of all Democratic CoS. Clearly, there is no relationship between ideology and the ability to recognize that you are in the matrix. Also, remember that freeing fellow Democrats from the matrix is better than being angry at them for being in the matrix.

Pass these along.




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brilliant work! (none / 0)

The fact that we're unraveling how deep the right-wing machine has infiltrated our ranks is just fantastic and scary at the same time.  I only shudder at the thought of what other think tanks have dug themselves into the Democratic establishment, seeing as how this one dug even into the staff of our House leader.
by hotshotxi on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 02:45:16 AM EST

Dr. Timothy Roemer a presenter (none / 0)

Intelligence Reform: Unanswered Questions (Plaza I&II, 3 rd Fl.)  Dr. Timothy Roemer, Distinguished Scholar, Mercatus Center at George Mason University and Member, 9/11 Commission
--
Interpret this for me, is this guy seriously in the running for DNC chair?
by Jeany on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 03:27:11 AM EST

Re: Dr. Timothy Roemer a presenter (none / 0)

yep! and our Congressional leaders (Reid & Pelosi)encouraged him! amazing, isn't it!  

The DLC is trying to stop Dean on several fronts...they will not give up without a fight!  Beware of Roemer, Rosenberg, Frost, and Fowler... they all have ties to the DLC. The DLC have just thrown lots of "not-Dean" candidates out there to see which ones stick!

Howard Dean still speaks for me!
by lezlie on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 03:38:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dr. Timothy Roemer a presenter (none / 0)

"our Congressional leaders (Reid & Pelosi)encouraged him!"

This is not accurate.  They have both made it clear that they do not have a favored candidate.

-- Seeing the Forest
by davej on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 01:02:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Reid, Pelosi backing Tim Roemer (none / 0)

CNN said otherwise.  Do you have an alternate citation showing the report below was inaccurate?


CNN Inside Politics

Sources: Reid, Pelosi backing Roemer for DNC chair
From Steve Turnham
CNN Washington Bureau

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 Posted: 5:57 PM EST (2257 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Amid strong competition over who will lead the party as the next Democratic National Committee chairman, former Indiana congressman and 9/11 commission member Tim Roemer has emerged as a possible new candidate.

He has the strong backing of Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, senior party sources told CNN Tuesday.


by Curt Matlock on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 01:40:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dr. Timothy Roemer a presenter (none / 0)

Lezlie writes: " Beware of Roemer, Rosenberg, Frost, and Fowler... they all have ties to the DLC. The DLC have just thrown lots of "not-Dean" candidates out there to see which ones stick!"
That's just not so. The DLC did not throw a bunch of candidates out there. The guys running are the guys who wanted to run. Dean has ties to the DLC as well. His years as governor in Vermont are a model of DLC-style governance, and he regularly interacted with the very DLC guys you decry. I don't think there are many leading, living Democratic leaders who haven't tangled with the DLC. It's been the intellectual and policy bedrock for the Democratic party for more than 15 yrs.

That shouldn't change the way you think about Dean or the Democratic party. In fact, the thing I wonder is, what do many of the Deansters think is going to happen when Dean gets the DNC? To my mind, Dean being able to take the DNC symbolizes the DC faction's loss of a grip on power over the party, and that there's an intellectual and a power vacuum.

 I don't think Dean's willingness to keep on Terry's staff is compromise. I think it's because Dean doesn't have any ideas for whom to replace them with.  It's a braindead, bankrupt party. Its last gasp from the New Deal was in 2004, when just about every leader in the party suffered a political death.

seeing dean at the center for the party for me is just a sign of how weak it is... Don't get me wrong. I like Dean. But the party is up for grabs, and the DC crew doesn't know what to do. There's a lot more tailspinning on the way.

by janfrel on Mon Jan 31, 2005 at 08:35:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

"trust, but verify" (none / 0)

I would hope that all the CoSs were doing opposition research... a real possibility ...but it never hurts to check. I would hate to believe any, but some especially, of these Reps would fall for this.  Let's find out more!
Howard Dean still speaks for me!
by lezlie on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 03:31:06 AM EST

They should go (none / 0)

Rmember the old saying:

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

by Hughsterg on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 09:56:46 AM EST

Great way to gauge who we should... (none / 0)

target as possible pick up seats in the congress. Josh Marshal has compiled a very handy resource giving a rundown of each congressional district by numbers of Social Security recipients, percentages of the voting age population, etc.

by Erik on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 10:01:48 AM EST

But what do you mean by 'retreat'? (none / 0)

If it is like those in my field, it's really just an excuse to relax and get away from our responsibilities.

Sure we have 'presentations' and 'training' at retreats, but let's be honest- A retreat is really just an excused to go to a nice hotel and get drunk on the company's dime, and we spend our time during those 'presentations' eyeing the room to search for people we want to drink and have sex with later that night.

Or maybe it's just me....

but good job pointing out the contradictory philosophies of the host of that retreat.

by Sam Loomis on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 10:03:33 AM EST

Re: But what do you mean by 'retreat'? (none / 0)

I tend to think that since probably no one outside of Washington tends to know Chief of Staff really well (with the exception of maybe the biggest donors in your state or district) it is probably true that these CoS just like the idea of a little getaway where they can meet "like-minded souls" for rest and "ahem" relaxation.

The other possibility is that Pelosi and other really liberal folk sent their CoS to get the straight dope and save themselves the agony of having to ask a Fainthearted Faction staffer what was being said. If asked, I'd go to this policy version of a time-share informational meeting for the latter reason...or even the first one...if I knew the hotter GOP CoS would be in attendance.

by risenmessiah on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 10:50:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: But what do you mean by 'retreat'? (none / 0)

That's a reason to send a couple of spies; not a reason to send so many people. The whole point of these things is that you go for the rest and relaxation, but get exposed to the sponsors' propaganda. That's why we have to resist them. (And, eventually, set up some of our own.)
by accommodatingly on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 11:04:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: But what do you mean by 'retreat'? (none / 0)

Yes and no...some of the staffers hope to get laid....some hope to get the straight dirt...and some just want a free weekend in Philadelphia. Congressmen, especially in the House don't talk to each other as much as you think. Look at the committee assignments...it probably explains a lot.
by risenmessiah on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 05:26:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: But what do you mean by 'retreat'? (none / 0)

Well, that's much of the point.  All expenses paid, including your entire family.  Then, warm and snug in that atmosphere of gratitude, come the presentations.  You are surrounded by the converted.  Everyone in the room snickers each time the speaker makes a joke about those old-fashioned lefties who the State to be responsible for everyone...

It doesn't take long.

-- Seeing the Forest
by davej on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 01:37:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What a maroon (none / 0)

"There will be lots of sound and fury about rates of return, trust funds, tax rates and savings rates. But, ultimately, the philosophical issue will come into play."

No ultimately the 2006 midterms come into play.

These guys spend way too much time reading seminar papers from other academics who spent way too much time with The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged when they were undergrads.

If we sell "It ain't broke", most Americans response will be "alrighty then, I'll stop worrying". That third rail is out there. The fact that Katherine Harris has joined Josh's Conscience Caucus should tell you something. That pitter patter you hear in the background? That is the rats jumping off this sinking ship.

PollKatz: Bush Approval in 15 polls
by Bruce Webb on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 11:26:04 AM EST

Just checking in (none / 0)

I just arrived at the DNC Regional in Sacramento. I wanted to check the range of the wireless connection. My name didn't make it on to the breakfast list, so I may have just saved $25. Attendance looks very good and everything is suitably disorganized. More later.
by Gary Boatwright on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 11:43:22 AM EST

Re: Just checking in (none / 0)

I just met Matt Stoller working the Rosenberg table. No sign of a Dean table or Roemer table. I'm going to see if I can print out kargo x's list and circulate it just to see what reaction it receives.
by Gary Boatwright on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 12:00:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

A Retreat is the Perfect Description (none / 0)

Roemer and Shrum and the DLC have been teaching Dems how to retreat for years.

That's all they know, retreat, retreat, retreat.

by Alan S on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 12:22:28 PM EST

Pressure,Petition,Admonish Chiefs for ' Retreat' (none / 0)

It has become clear that the right wing has SEDUCED key Chiefs of Staff to attend the Mercatur Retreat. ROEMER HAS DONE THEIR BIDDING, and this sneak attack on democrats should not go unnoticed. Bloggers should quickly use the moment, and use our power to arrange an easy-to-click petition that objects strongly to: their Senators, the Chiefs,and all Democratic Committes of leadership. DEMOCRATS and all liberals will continue to get rolled over unless we immediately respond with strength, and make it easy for thousands to object to this corrupt attemt to "turn" Democrats.   WHEN WE GET A PETITION EVERBODY CAN ACCESS, we will have begun to "turn" things our way.   THIS CANNOT STAND!!
by morris1030 on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 01:44:55 PM EST

Why so many progressives and Hispanics? (none / 0)

I looked at this list and wondered why so MANY progressive dem legislators supported having their CoSs go to the meeting? For example, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga), Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Rep. Major Owens (D-NY), Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY or Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND).  It is weird...Kent Conrad has been fighting against privatization.

I'm also somewhat troubled by the presence of Maria Robles Meier, Executive Director, Congressional Hispanic Caucus - when you consider that Patricia Delgado, Admin. Asst. (the old name for CoS), Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Rita Jaramillo, Chief of Staff, Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Jeff Mendelsohn, Chief of Staff, Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX) and Perry Finney Brody, Chief of Staff Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) - will be there as well.

by NYPocho on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 02:17:17 PM EST

this is ridiculous (none / 0)

It seems to me that part of being an effective staff person is exposing yourself to a range of ideas, both progressive and conservative.  If you don't do that, you're operating in an ideological vacuum, and if there's an argument for that, I 'd like someone to enlighten me about it.  

Should pressure be applied to staffers not to read The National Review or watch Fox News?  Objecting to what someone says is one thing, but objecting to the fact that someone has the temerity to attend a conference--with which they might totally disagree with everything that is said--smacks of the sort of extreme right-wing discipline that I thought our side (rightfully) disdained.

by progressive3 on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 03:21:21 PM EST

Re: this is ridiculous (none / 0)

i tend to agree--as long as they know the facts ahead of time.

why isn't a liberal think tank holding a retreat like this?

by aiko on Sat Jan 22, 2005 at 03:45:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You can take (none / 0)

Peter Chandler, Cong. Michaud's CoS off the list. Got an email this morning and he will not be attending.
by philinMaine on Tue Jan 25, 2005 at 01:28:23 PM EST


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