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March 04, 2010 03:55 AM UTC

Senator Bennet's Reform Announcement

  • 91 Comments
  • by: botw

Senator Bennet is taking on some major, new issues to start an election year, and they are aimed right at his fellow Members.

This morning on the Senate floor, Senator Bennet announced his “Plan for Washington Reform.” Among other things, it would (a) ban Members of Congress from ever becoming lobbyists, (b) ban earmarks to private, for-profit companies, (c) require disclosure of earmark requests, (d) remove the health care subsidy for Members of Congress until health care reform passes, (e) freeze congressional pay until the economy shows 4 quarters of job growth, (f) reform filibuster rules to, among other things, require filibuster-ers to show up and vote, and (g) remove the ability to make an anonymous hold on a nomination.

Last night, Senator Bennet was interviewed on Rachel Maddow about health care and these reforms:

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91 thoughts on “Senator Bennet’s Reform Announcement”

  1. Seriously?  The one thing that you can always count on from Sen. Bennet is that you know where he stands (which in itself something new – see Sen. Bennet’s stance on single payer) before he actually makes a stand.  

    All you have to do is wait to see who is talking about am issue and within days Sen. Bennet has the exact same statement and claims it as his own and…does nothing about it!

    I just can’t wait until this plan passes and he will have to justify the $38,000 he received from Union Pacific.

    Also, I have heard rumors that some people on Pols have missed me the last few days.  I have an idea for botw, MADCO, raymond, caroman and peacemonger (wait, peacemonger you “think for yourself”-laughable) why don’t you all get together, get Dunstone or Hughes or whoever you talk to on speaker phone and coordinate your talking points and post under one name.  It will same a lot of time  

        1. How does that help?

          I get it, your frustrated. I can see the time on your post and I know what time zone you are in so I get that it’s late.

          But so what. Really? That’s the best you could do? Try harder or keep quiet.

          An apology is in order.


          1. I apologize.

            My language was boorish and stupid.

            And while I may sometimes be both, I need not have subjected you to it and will work hard to avoid it in the future.

            I look forward to you diary and engaging posts.

      2. Noticing Romanoff campaign workers’ sock puppets has become pretty easy. They are filled with hate and bitterness as they realize that they have a candidate that has burned his bridges and has no retreat from his crash and burn destiny.

        After he loses. he’s stated(to be fair, he stated if he loses) then he plans to move out of state, and out of the country to some very comfortable position with a NGO.

        He’ll leave the hard working people of Colorado to pick up the pieces.

    2. My language was boorish and stupid.

      And while I may sometimes be both, I need not have subjected you to it and will work hard to avoid it in the future.

      I look forward to you diary and engaging posts.

    1. That is all you got?  Wait I did not give enough time to get your talking points.

      Let me help you out.  Not one word of this happen prior to Bennet having a primary challenger.  It was the day after Andrew Romanoff gave interviews to Politico and The Hill and all of a sudden the knight in shinning armor comes in to same the day.  Please, this was as much as a political move as Sen. Bennet FOLLOWING Jared Polis with his letter.

        1. But I want someone who is a leader.  Michael Bennet has not proven that to me.  He follows others, has been misleading at times and has not answered hard questions.

          Three things that bother me:

          1 – Bennet and Romanoff clearly agree on just about everything.  However, Bennet has no record of leadership.

          2 – The money thing.  Bennet has taken money from corporations.

          3 – The Bennet staffers/volunteers posting.  They can deny it all they want but they work for Sen. Bennet in some capacity.  They have no interest in discussing issues and if someone stands up to them their response is “fuck you”.  Not the kind of people I want my Senator to be associated with.

          1. If you “honestly don’t know” whether your candidate’s position is different, then there is a problem.

            “Bennet has no record of leadership” reads out of the record everything the guy has done in high profile positions with the City of Denver and the Denver Public Schools, both of which have far more constituents than your candidate’s house district.  That is not a slight on your candidate; it’s a slight on your characterization of Senator Bennet’s substantial, past leadership positions.

            “The money thing.”  Are you equallly repulsed by the fact that your candidate had a leadership PAC until a few weeks ago?  I am not, but if you are going to be evenly remotely consistent about your positions, you should be.

            The “postings.”  I, peacemonger, and others have posted substantive messages for a long time — longer than you have been registered.  I have also never said, even once, “fuck you” or anything even remotely similar.

          2. “they work for Sen. Bennet in some capacity.”

            I certainly don’t ascertain that.  But then again, since I challenge you and generally think your posts are crap that makes me–in your mind–a Bennet staffer?  There are some here who lean Andrew that everyone is glad to see post.  But most of the AR supporters on this site take your tact, and worse.  Read the JO diary on the rec list as an example.

              2. I would never out anyone, but I do ask that you hold yourself to the same standard that you are asking others to do.

                And no, I have never received a nickel from the Bennet campaign or anyone else associated with it.  I support him as Senator because I believe he is the best candidate for this race. I’ve said that since January 03, 2009 when my first blog pleaded, “Give the guy a chance”.  Since then, my hunch was confirmed many times over. He is an EXCELLENT SENATOR and I am proud to be in his district as a constituent.

                1. Seriously – I am giving you permission to out me right now.  

                  FYI – I don’t even need to out you – everyone already knows.

                  I never said you received any money from the campaign.  That is why you are such a good deal – you do the campaigns bidding and it does not cost them a thing!

                    1. I am enjoying the fact you guys think I am someone who I am not.  

                      Give it a shot – you will be wrong.  If you guys can figure it out – I will tip my hat and be gone forever.

                      Seriously – is it that hard to believe that someone finally stood up to you and you can’t handle it.

                      FYI – I also know who you are.

          3. Which candidate you are for?

            or

            whether the your candidate is against what bennet is for?

            (implying that you do support Romaonff)

            What would it take for Bennet to prove he is a leader?   If it’s going to take 8+ years of elected office- clearly you are unpersuadable in this cycle.

            Money- botw has the right question.

            I contacted the Bennet campaign last summer and offered my support.  I am not employed by the campaign. I’ve done some canvassing for caucus, but I used my own contact lists and script.

            What’s your role in the Romanoff campaign?

            This is as close as you’ve come to posting an explanaiton of why you are for Romanoff.  If you are. Would you elaborate?

      2. when I used to be a big Romanoff supporter and genuinely like him as a person. But when I come on Pols and see the lunatics working for Romanoff, I no longer feel sorry for him. The Andrew Romanoff we all used to know and love wouldn’t be running such a desperate, pitiful campaign.  

        1. At what point peacemonger did you EVER support Romanoff?

          According to you he just got settled in Colorado?  

          No one is buying it.  You are the most transparent puppet on here.  Also, if you are referring to me as a lunatic you better take a look in the mirror.  At least I have never stood up and spoken for my boss and then comes on here and does what you do.  

            1. I am not sure why all of you think I work for Romanoff.  Do you honestly think that if someone disagrees with you and does not support Bennet works for Romanoff?  

              If you are that cocky about this race you better get your egos in check.

              1. project much.  I have leaned Bennet but have been hoping that Andrew would do a better job of making his case.  People like you have pushed me solidly into the MB camp.  Good work.  

                1. That otoole challenges the idea he is working for Romanoff while he attacks anyone who posts something supportive of Bennet as a bought and paid for Bennet shill.

                  The similarities between Romanoff and Romanoff supporters are becoming clearer to me now.

                  2. Because it is about 20 on 1 right now I have become distracted from what I came here to do (which happens all the time because I love to make you guys livid) and that is talk about the issues which no one here wants to do so we will have this little sparing match.

                    You will post something and I will tell you why you are wrong and you will do the same.

                    I am interested in having a civil conversation if you want.  

                    You are someone I would actually engage in a civil discussion.  Sorry I am lumping you in with the others but it is hard not to.  

                    Name the topic and we can do our best to convince one another to change sides

                    1. You have not provided any substance on the topic of this diary.

                      Zero.

                      Please.  Become undistracted.  Let us know what you think about the SUBSTANCE of the proposal that is the subject of this diary.

                      Take the floor.  On substance.

                    2. Its not up to us to make you be relevant and not a jerk.  You don’t make me livid.  Fascinated, like watching a train wreck, and a little sad, for you.  And amused at the sheer idiocy of you posts.  So fascinated, sad and amused.  But not livid.  You don’t register enough on my scale of worth to be mad.  

                    3. I propose a structure something like:

                      I Support Candidate X, here’s why:

                      Several postive statements about yor preferred candidate.

                      And if it’s relevant- why you oppose Candidate Y.

                      You’ve never done it  (that is talk about the issues)  until now and then only to co-opt a different post.

                      How “civil” do you want to be?

                      BICora recently posted something all positve about Bennet and challenged others to do the same for him or any other candidate. You showed up to insult me and other Bennet supporters.

                      Peacemonger did something similar, though indicated she would wait to post her own positive list – and you have ripped on her mercilessly.

                    8. Are you outing peacemonger’s gender, MADCO?

                      I don’t remember a post outing herself.

                      How do you know for sure she is a she?

              2. “At least I have never stood up and spoken for my boss and then comes on here and does what you do.  ”

                What boss?

                I’m self employed and have been for several years. If I referred to “my boss” I would be implying I work for someone.  

          2. You keep attacking peacemonger, without evidence.

            I was a constituent of Romanoff’s.  I was a supporter of Romanoff’s.  I raised money for Romanoff.  I raised money for candidates Romanoff told me to raise money for.  I sung his praises, in public, with a bunch of people in the room.

            I am a Bennet supporter who does not need to be lectured about whether I supported Romanoff.  I did.  For years.  I support Bennet now.  I am terribly, terribly disappointed in Romanoff for the actions he has taken.  Despite that, I refuse to believe that he would ever support the kind of tactics and nonsubstantive, ad hominem posts you put up.  He has not served himself well, but you are serving him worse.

            1. I am not lecturing you about whether you support Romanoff.  What is the most disappointing about Bennet supporters is that they think he is entitled to the position.  The last time I checked not one of us cast one vote for him.

              I for one think the primary is a good thing.  It is what democracy is about.  You are giving people the choice.  It incites discussion and makes the candidates sharper.

              If you are so confident in the good Senator’s ability then it will show and he will win.  Support him in anyway possible with all of your passion.  

              Romanoff supporters will do the same.  At the end the cream will rise to the top and we should decide who that is  

              1. I also don’t think that someone who got elected to a statehouse seat in a safe Front Range district is entitled.  I think candidates have to earn their votes, and I think that Bennet has generally done a good job.  I am not quite the believer/supporter that some here are, but I felt like Andrew had to show me why I should dump Bennet, who is doing a fine job I think, better than Udall in my mind, and Andrew has failed to do that.  That was the bar I set for me voting AR a long time ago, as my posts have shown.  Andrew has not done that and several of his supporters have done enough of a disservice with their servile posts on this site that it has finally put me solidly in Bennet’s camp.  

              2. I do not believe, and I have never once said, that Bennet is entitled to the position.

                Exactly as many people have voted for Bennet as Senator as have voted for Ropmanoff as Senator.  That we can agree on.

              3. No one is entitled to a Senate seat.

                I don’t think Michael Bennet is entitled to  it.

                I don’t think Andrew Romanoff is entitled to  it.

                We may not agree on other things.

              4. Granted, he had an argument for appointment.

                If he had been then he would have openly accepted the repsdient;s endrosement.

                Neverthelss,  so did Rep.Perlmutter, Mayor Hickenlooper, and Rep.Salazar.

                It is the ROmanoff campaign that has been repeatedly claiming entitlement.

                The Latin community was not pleased that Sen Salazar wasn’t replaced by his brother.

                The bottom line is Sen Bennet is doing a fine job and deserves to contimue serving based upon performance.

          3. Call the campaign and ask. Ask Michael himself.

            2) I meant Andrew settled down from lots of traveling all over the world.  I think you told me that personally a few months ago (off-line) didn’t you?  

            3) I didn’t call any one person a lunatic. The lunacy is here on Pols for everyone to see. It’s been going on for months.

            4) I told Andrew in August, personally, I was a strong supporter of his and had been for years. I’d followed his career on television and in the newspaper and thought he did great work. I told him I would work for him if he ever ran for office again, thinking it was WAY too late for him to jump in to the race.  Two weeks later, in September, I told him personally, “With all due respect, I admire you and I will always think the world of you, but you are crazy to enter a race against an excellent Democratic US Senator. You jumped in way too late. Won’t you please reconsider?”  He laughed and said something to the effect of, “My friends think this is the perfect timing.”  I wished him well and told him I was sorry I would still be supporting Michael Bennet.  

            Half the Romanoff team are my friends or former friends (not my doing).  As furious as they seem that I decided to support  Michael Bennet, they know what I am saying is true.  I have a photo showing many of us standing together at the labor day picnic.

            5) I’m done jausting here.  

            Best wishes with your campaign. I mean that sincerely. I am off to make caucus calls, right after I respond to something BOTW asked me elsewhere. Give my best to Andrew, and may the best candidate win.

                1. Ok rule for the day… all of you go to your corner! Time out!

                  Andrew is going to lose, Sorry but he will.   I think they both lose to the republican and then we are screwed with nutball Norton or I eat mexican food so I like mexicans Buck.  

                  1. about the R victory?

                    Could you outline the reason for your convction in a separate diary?

                    My neighbors all say the same thing- but thay also were certain that Obama could not win Colorado. Most were equally certain Hilalry would be the D nominee.

                2. The personal attacks aren’t just limited to tool of Romanoff.

                  I corrected one his ardent supporters in pointing out that the Speaker did not practice law for the SPLC.  The Spekaer lists this job on his cites’ resume.

                  I’m not in the habit of posting my college sunmmer jobs on resumes to prove that I’m not a pro politician, but neverthelses, this correction (though fine with the ardent supporter) resulted in a  peroanal attack on me by the paid Romanoff staff member.

                  Romanoff condones these attacks, or is incompetent. I don’t believe that he is incompetent.

                  1. http://www.andrewromanoff.com/…

                    And- so he worked there?

                    Are they still claiming that he’s ever practiced law ever, anywhere?

                    I’m no lawyer, but I’m pretty sure that it’s illegal everywhere in the US to practice law without passing the bar.  Which I pointed out to a campaign staffer awhile back when she made the claim.

  4. Clearly you guys are taking a criticism of your boss a little personal.  

    I know (based on how bad you guys left Jared Polis out to dry at the Be The Change forum a few weeks ago-which did not make me happy) you have very limited talking points, but seriously tell me why I should vote for Michael Bennet instead of Andrew Romanoff.  Original thoughts would be appreciated

    2. 1. He supports the public option and he is rallying support in Washington to try to pass it.

      2. He supports reconciliation to pass health care reform.

      3. He is taking on some indefensible aspects of the current Senate rules, e.g. anonymous holds.

      4. He has also done numerous things that are both good policy and good for Colorado, e.g. the Arkansas-Fryingpan water conduit that has been kicking around for over 40 years, but never got funding approval in the Senate until last Fall, because of Senator Bennet.

      I answered your question.  Now, what about these positions do you or your candidate disagree with and why?

      1. The bottom line is not about the issues.  They are both Democrats.  Obama and Clinton did hardly disagreed on the issues.

        The issue is leadership and integrity.  Sen. Bennet has not received ONE vote from the people of Colorado.  With Washington in the state that it is in we need a person who will show true leadership and Sen. Bennet is a follower and when push comes to shove, I believe, will not stand up for me and tow the party line.

        As for integrity, I have a hard time trusting someone who worked for Philip Anschutz.

        2. He running a clean campaign and isn’t sugggesting that the entire US Senate is corrupt.

          He doesn’t run his own pac while running for high office.

          He didn’t back the Iraq war, like his opponent.

          He doesn’t praise some immigrants while persecuting others.

          Sen Bennet has plenty of integrity.

    3. http://www.coloradopols.com/di… Skip to the part that starts “I like Senator Bennet.

      And then read the next eight paragraphs.

      Why do you come here and hijack the thread topic when on that post I just linked, you had the chance to engage and instead went trolling for a fake opportunity to bash Bennet supporters?

  5. of 2009 at scores of events all over the state. Andrew finally settled down and showed up in CO in September. Good of him to show up 9 months late and say these were all his ideas.

    Nothing you say will change the truth — Michael Bennet has done a DAMN FINE JOB as Senator and that makes you crazy.  I like and respect Andrew Romanoff — I don’t like or respect the way he has let his campaign tools act like lunatics on his behalf. I am embarrassed for him, and I wish he would stop to save his reputation for a future race in CO.

  6. Not a single poster here has said a single thing that suggests the substance of the Senator’s proposals — which is what this diary was about, folks — is bad.

    For me, that encapsulates this primary at this moment in time.

    1. you can go on the floor of the Senate and talk all you want.  The real issue is again leadership.  Sen. Bennet with all his letters, although it plays well with the constituents, really does nothing.  

      It is much like the message amendment he proposed on the healthcare bill.  He wasted the time of the Senate and then has the audacity to rail against holding up the Senate.  Talk about a hypocrite.  

      1. The proposal is:

        (a) ban Members of Congress from ever becoming lobbyists,

        (b) ban earmarks to private, for-profit companies,

        (c) require disclosure of earmark requests,

        (d) remove the health care subsidy for Members of Congress until health care reform passes,

        (e) freeze congressional pay until the economy shows 4 quarters of job growth,

        (f) reform filibuster rules to, among other things, require filibuster-ers to show up and vote, and

        (g) remove the ability to make an anonymous hold on a nomination.

        What about that, specifically, do you disagree with?

  7. I will say it again:

    Not a single poster here has said a single thing that suggests the substance of the Senator’s proposals — which is what this diary was about, folks — is bad.

    For me, that encapsulates this primary at this moment in time.

    1. neither does 99% of Democrats.  What is Sen. Bennet going to do about it?  Not one bill he has proposed has come to a vote.  He makes a lot of speeches and writes a lot of letters but he is following the herd.

      The way Washington is right now I want a leader who will ACTUALLY stand up and get something done.

      How is he a leader?

        1. NOT amendment had zero impact on anything.  According to his office it was a “message amendment” and in my opinion all that did was delay the debate – interesting now he is railing against people delaying legislation.  By the way – that is the only measure introduced by Sen. Bennet that has even been voted on  

          1. a first year Senator to introduce more legislation?

            Bills or amendments.

            Said another way, is it uncommon for a first year Senator to introduce only one amendment that gets voted upon?

          2. Sometimes legislation gets passed as an amendment to something else, as in a bill to amend ….

            Sometimes it is its own bill.

            Senator Bennet has sponsored or cosponsored numerous bills, and some have been amendments.

            Are you saying they were all useless?

            It looks like three were passed, though two were “Agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent” whatever that means.

            And all three* were amendments and one of those was an amendment to a concurrent resolution.

            S.AMDT.799 to S.CON.RES.13    agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

            S.AMDT.1457 to H.R.2892 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

            S.AMDT.2826 to H.R.3590 having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, the amendment was agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 100 – 0.

    2. but are unrealistic legislatively.

      Not that practicality and certainty should dictate or limit vision. I hope the Senate can do some of these things – while running the country and enacting the practical day to day stuff we need.

      1. I don’t think his proposals stand much of a chance but I am glad he put them out there.  It is past time time to reform Senate rules.

    3. The lobbying restrictions sound like a good thnig, but how do you enforce it? Don’t former US Senators have 1st Amendment speech rights?

      The technical stuff abouthow the Senate functions- holds, fillibusters, etc – I really don’t understand.

  8. Some of us have other responsibilities that are far more important than being on Pols at all hours of the night.

    I am looking forward to your “wisdom” and “insight”.  I will try to start a discussion but I know where it will go but I will give it a shot at be a legitimate discussion but with this crew I am sure I will need to bring my A game

    1. If it expresses support for issues or candidates in the positive (for one thnig instead of against another) I think you will be surprised where it will go.

      It’s the negative stuff here that gets so much energy and is so predictable.  

    1. until a good Jane “Ref C” Norton thread gets going. … Oh, wait, the conservative blogs have been all over that for months. She’s toast.

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