One quibble. Tom & Sheldon are most definitely NOT moderates. They are right wing asswaffles who need more than censure. They need to be expelled from the democratic party.

Agreed. If the Democratic Party can't cull it's weakest and/or most treacherous members, there's no room to move forward.

You don't expel anyone from a party. If they say they're a Democrat, they're a Democrat, and they can get elected as a Democrat. All the Dems can do is not give him any money when he runs again. Tom knows that.

Tom and Sheldon should not be allowed to refer to themselves as Democrats because they are not. They are backstabbing traitors is what they are!

Rodney Tom is an open liar and a self-aggrandizing psychopath. If he had an ounce of integrity he would resign in shame.

Whoa, dude. We know you're frustrated, but, like, take it down a notch. Jeez.

What's the over-under on the state GOP running Tom against DelBene in 2014?

Didn't the entire Democrat Party betray each and every American by raising the payroll tax by $1000 to $3000 for the poorest of households while promising to "tax the rich" and "keep taxes down for those making less than $250,000".

Didn't every Democrat break his promise on the issues that matters to 67% percent of the people...budget and taxes?

Wow, so "progressives" can pack a town hall meeting just like the Tea Party can. We see how well it worked for the Tea Party.

@9 First of all it was a *holiday* on an already regressive tax. Second, yes, Democrats are hypocrites and liars (who want to subvert the social safety net by passing tax holidays, mind you) but it sure doesn't make the moronic alternative you advocate one bit better.

#11, #12

So since the Bush Tax cuts were a temporary roll back, you are saying that Democrats would have preferred to let them all expire and make the absolute number of tax dollars on even the lowest income households increase?

You can't have it both ways. You can't claim that 47% don't pay taxes then turn around and make arguments that we've increased taxes on people that don't pay taxes.

When the PTH was announced, it was clear they would let it expire, thus giving you your fucking talking point (I argue this was by design).

The Bush tax rates were a reduction in marginal rates! They have been around for almost 11 years and have always had a sunset provision. Now a great deal of them are PERMANENT thanks to fucking Democrats.

But...what part of "hypocrites" don't you understand?

I would've liked them to all expire. Along with the top marginal rates go to pre-Reagan levels. Also raise the cap on SS.

You know, all the things that neither party wants to touch.

#14

So, you admit that this was all about raising taxes on the productive people without cutting all the subsidies for the top feeders?

I don't know WA laws. Is a recall possible? Anybody know?

Hey, guy, I'm not a Democrat. I don't need to admit anything because I am not defending them. Republicans AND Democrats want to reduce the deficit in a depression. We can safely conclude that nobody there cares for the working class.

If anyone cared about the working class or the economy, they'd realize the best way to boost the economy is to increase aggregate demand, which is: a) government spending much greater than is happening now. It is by far the biggest multiplier effect in depressed economy and b) yes, reduced taxes on income DURING downcycle to be increased during periods of growth!

So, please don't take that as an endorsement of the TeaPublican "every tax is bad forever" nonsense you're pilfering.

#17

Who is labeling whom?

I merely suggested that what I have been saying all along in SLOG is true...that this was never about "taxes on the rich".

It's clear that the rich don't ever pay these taxes anyway! Geithener proved it and Romney proved it. The later was in what...a 35 percent bracket and paid 17%! So what difference does a higher tax rate mean to the top feeders!

In fact, they get more out of the system then they put in in subsidies, so of course they want the middle class paying as much as possible into tax revenue. The Democrat is the servant of the the aristocrat -- who wants to own a lot of outdated things and be paid through taxes. Think Nottingham.

Obama served these aristocrats at the expense of the middle class.

@10--That wasn't a town hall meeting, and it was not particularly "packed" with anyone--it was a regular meeting of the 48th District Democratic Party organization. One might expect them to take a dim view of Tom's actions.

No doubt that further erosion of the political process will occur during this election cycle. No doubt that Sheldon has the support of most of the voting public in his district, I'm not sure the switch hitter can make that claim. They can fight the Democratic Party leadership all they want . In the meantime, Americans are more productive than ever but it's at the expense of Labor. Corporate profits are up 22% accross the board but no one seems to be able to get a job. Wake up people, the banks, insurance companies and right wing politicians are screwing everyone in the name of limited government. Limited government should not mean bad government. These two politicians are still obligated to work for the betterment of all citizens. Corporations are not people.

No doubt that further erosion of the political process will occur during this election cycle. No doubt that Sheldon has the support of most of the voting public in his district, I'm not sure the switch hitter can make that claim. They can fight the Democratic Party leadership all they want . In the meantime, Americans are more productive than ever but it's at the expense of Labor. Corporate profits are up 22% accross the board but no one seems to be able to get a job. Wake up people, the banks, insurance companies and right wing politicians are screwing everyone in the name of limited government. Limited government should not mean bad government. These two politicians are still obligated to work for the betterment of all citizens. Corporations are not people. We need healthcare, a safety net and reasonable taxation. We don't need strict rule makers that don't negotiate and take no prisoners.