It appears that Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill (D) will be doing her part to keep the Overton Window right where it has been for the last eight years:
Senator Evan Bayh’s (D-Indiana) press release:
March 18, 2009
Moderate Senate Dems Launch New Group to Shape Public Policy
15 Democrats unite to pursue pragmatic solutions to nation’s problemsWASHINGTON – A diverse group of 15 Senate Democrats today announced the formation of a new moderate coalition that will meet regularly to shape public policy. The group’s goal is to work with the Senate leadership and the new administration to craft common-sense solutions to urgent national problems.
The Moderate Dems Working Group will meet every other Tuesday before the Democratic Caucus lunch to discuss legislative strategies and ideas. The Moderate Dems held their second meeting Tuesday to focus on the upcoming budget negotiations and the importance of passing a fiscally responsible spending plan in the Senate.
Leading the new group are Democratic Senators Evan Bayh of Indiana, Tom Carper of Delaware and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. Both Senators Bayh and Carper were successful governors before coming to the Senate. Senators Lincoln and Carper bring bicameral experience to the group as former members of the House of Representatives. All three leaders are honorary co-chairs of Third Way, a progressive Democratic policy group, and Senators Bayh and Carper have led the centrist Democratic Leadership Council.
At the working group meeting, Senator Bayh acknowledged that such a large group was unlikely to agree on all major issues before the Senate. Yet the Moderate Dems are joined by a shared commitment to pursue pragmatic, fiscally sustainable policies across a range of issues, such as deficit containment, health care reform, the housing crisis, educational reform, energy policy and climate change.
In addition to Senators Bayh, Carper and Lincoln, others joining the group are Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet of Colorado, Mark Begich of Alaska, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Bill Nelson of Florida, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and Mark Warner of Virginia.
“We have a wonderful opportunity to break gridlock in Washington and accomplish big things for the American people, but we also have a responsibility to pursue sensible solutions that will work,” Bayh said. “Our group seeks to work collaboratively with the Obama administration and Senate leadership to make sure legislation is crafted in a practical way that will solve people’s problems. It’s going to take all of us working together in the Senate to get the 60 votes necessary to deliver the change the American people deserve.”
“The number of moderate Democrats has grown substantially in the past two Congresses – and in America. We can play a constructive role in helping our leadership and the Obama administration get things done in this new Congress,” Senator Carper said. “Now, more than ever, the Senate needs to put ideology aside, to find common ground on legislation, and to deliver results for the American people.”
“Arkansans are pragmatic and expect results from their leaders in Congress,” Senator Lincoln said. “I’m proud to play a constructive role as we work with the administration and Senate leadership to help reach consensus on important issues and serve as a voice for fiscal responsibility.”
Of the working group’s formation, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, “If we are going to deliver the change Americans demanded and move our country forward, it will require the courage to get past our political differences and get to work. Established organizations like Third Way and new ventures like this group offer us a new opportunity to get things done, and I support every effort that puts real solutions above political posturing.”
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Joe Lieberman? I remember reading about a subcommittee chair somewhere. That could explain a lot.
Mary Landrieu?:
Mary Landrieu, the stupidest Democrat in the Senate
by kos
Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 11:10:04 AM PDTLandrieu, however, said Democrats should not assume the worst of Republicans. She argued Democrats should give the other side a chance to come to the table and work toward a bipartisan deal.
[emphasis in original]
Yep, let’s keep that “Overton Window” right where it’s been.
why Claire spent so much time campaigning for Obama and telling all of us that we should vote for him because he was the man to get us out of this mess. And now she wants to be an a group that creates a circular firing squad within the Democratic party that threatens what he wants and needs to accomplish.
If Obama is as smart as I think he is, he’ll play her and the rest of these guys. If he needs a 20 trillion dollar bill, he’ll know now to ask for 25 trillion. Then Claire can cry and moan and it will get down to $20 million. She’ll tout her great fiscal sense but we’ll know she’s just an idiot who got played. And she’ll be beholden to Obama for even more because he’s giving HER what she wants – she’s not giving him what he wants.
Look what pushing that “Overton Window” did from Jim Talent’s perspective during the 2006 campaign:
We don’t need Caire Mccaskill to push in the same direction. Jim Talent lost in 2006, remember?