The Campaign for America’s Future… and its enemies
In what I am convinced is a plot to make me reject Brink Lindsey’s efforts to get libertarians and liberals to kiss on the first date, I was sent the following press release: More than 100 leaders, speaking for dozens of progressive organizations, assembled today to organize a campaign to back major portions of the ...
In what I am convinced is a plot to make me reject Brink Lindsey's efforts to get libertarians and liberals to kiss on the first date, I was sent the following press release: More than 100 leaders, speaking for dozens of progressive organizations, assembled today to organize a campaign to back major portions of the House Democrats' early legislative agenda. The attending groups represent an expansion of a regular meeting of progressive leaders known as the "Tuesday Group." Organizers said support for key elements of the agenda represents a down payment on a more ambitious agenda for change promised by the new majority in Congress. More than 40 groups, led by Americans United, U.S.Action and the Campaign for America's Future, met to outline plans to press House and Senate members to vote for a minimum wage increase, negotiating for lower drug prices, student loan interest rate reductions, and a repeal of tax benefits for the oil and gas industry to pay for public investment in alternative energy sources. These agenda items are part of House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi's agenda for the first 100 legislative hours of the House next month. The groups devoted almost their entire meeting to building participation and momentum for the coalition effort, known as CAN - Change America Now. The campaign is growing as groups turn their post-election attention to moving an immediate agenda, which they see as a down payment on a larger agenda for creating an economy that works for working people. "Democrats ran the most populist elections in memory," said Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America's Future and a co-chair of today's Tuesday Group meeting. "We need to make sure the Democrats deliver on their promises, and that the 100 Hours Agenda is just the first step in creating an economy that works for working people. The 100 Hours Agenda gives Democrats a chance to show that we support positive policies for change, and we're not just against the Republican agenda." (emphasis added) I should add that I do think the Campaign for America's future is likely correct in its assertion that "Democrats ran the most populist elections in memory." For support, click on this Stan Greenberg analysis of the midterm exit polls, as well as Public Citizen's report, "Election 2006: No to Staying the Course on Trade."
In what I am convinced is a plot to make me reject Brink Lindsey’s efforts to get libertarians and liberals to kiss on the first date, I was sent the following press release:
More than 100 leaders, speaking for dozens of progressive organizations, assembled today to organize a campaign to back major portions of the House Democrats’ early legislative agenda. The attending groups represent an expansion of a regular meeting of progressive leaders known as the “Tuesday Group.” Organizers said support for key elements of the agenda represents a down payment on a more ambitious agenda for change promised by the new majority in Congress. More than 40 groups, led by Americans United, U.S.Action and the Campaign for America’s Future, met to outline plans to press House and Senate members to vote for a minimum wage increase, negotiating for lower drug prices, student loan interest rate reductions, and a repeal of tax benefits for the oil and gas industry to pay for public investment in alternative energy sources. These agenda items are part of House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi’s agenda for the first 100 legislative hours of the House next month. The groups devoted almost their entire meeting to building participation and momentum for the coalition effort, known as CAN – Change America Now. The campaign is growing as groups turn their post-election attention to moving an immediate agenda, which they see as a down payment on a larger agenda for creating an economy that works for working people. “Democrats ran the most populist elections in memory,” said Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future and a co-chair of today’s Tuesday Group meeting. “We need to make sure the Democrats deliver on their promises, and that the 100 Hours Agenda is just the first step in creating an economy that works for working people. The 100 Hours Agenda gives Democrats a chance to show that we support positive policies for change, and we’re not just against the Republican agenda.” (emphasis added)
I should add that I do think the Campaign for America’s future is likely correct in its assertion that “Democrats ran the most populist elections in memory.” For support, click on this Stan Greenberg analysis of the midterm exit polls, as well as Public Citizen’s report, “Election 2006: No to Staying the Course on Trade.”
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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