Mediaboss Marketing

AMES, Iowa Thirteen Iowa Democrats wearily took their seats here this weekend and discussed among themselves the source of their angst: Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Im utterly tired, tired of the Clintons and the whole establishment, said Carol Brannon, 71, a retired nurse.

Anne Kinzel, 57, a former health-care lawyer, nodded sympathetically.

The hacks think Hillary is entitled to be president, Kinzel said. I think she is one of those people who has lost the sense of why they are in politics.

As Clinton prepares to launch her all-but-certain 2016 campaign, the former secretary of state remains a favorite of a vast majority of Democrats and the front-runner for the partys presidential nomination. Still, there is unease among progressives about her largely uncontested ascent.

Seeking an alternative to the juggernaut, this restless Sunday gathering at the Ames public library and others like it are popping up around the country all part of an effort to draft populist Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) into the race, in spite of her insistence that she will not be a candidate.

The grass-roots movement is being coordinated by Run Warren Run, a joint project of MoveOn.org and Democracy for America, two national groups that promote liberal causes and connect activists. In recent months, they have signed up about 250,000 supporters.

Over the course of the hour-long meeting, it was clear the frustrations of the attendees here were driven not only by Clinton but also by President Obama.

Eight years after Obama first drew enormous crowds in Iowa on his way to the White House, these Democrats feel disappointed by his presidency and what they described as his lackluster attempts to champion economic populism.

In Warren, they sense theyve found a fighter and a refreshing departure from the way Obama and Clinton have addressed the rising gap between the rich and poor.

See original here:
Democrats suffering from Clinton fatigue say theyre ready for Warren

Jewish Democrats in Congress are lining up to attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus address to Congress next month.

More than half of the 27 Jewish Democrats in the House and Senatesurveyedby The Hill saytheyll attend the speech.

Only two Jewish lawmakers, so far, say theyll skip it: Sens. Brian Schatz

(D-Hawaii) and Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont who caucuses with the Democrats.

Several Jewish members have expressed reservations about Netanyahus March 3 address, arguing it was inappropriate for the visit to be organized by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) without input from the White House.

Im deeply troubled that politics has been injected into this enduring relationship that has always been above politics, but I plan to go, said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).

The Israeli government has been courting Jewish Democrats in an attempt to defuse the fallout. Six prominent Jewish House Democratsmetwith Israeli Ambassador RonDermer last week to complain about the way the invitation to speak was handled.

That meeting in Rep. Steve Israels (D-N.Y.) office was attended by fellow Democratic Reps. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), Sandy Levin (Mich.), Jan Schakowsky (Ill.), Ted Deutch (Fla.) and Nita Lowey (N.Y.).

Schatz and Sanders argue Netanyahus visit two weeks before the March 17 Israeli elections will be too politicized to merit their appearances.

I am disappointed in the Republican leaderships invitation of Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress with the apparent purpose of undermining President Obamas foreign policy prerogatives, Schatz said in a statement to The Hill on Tuesday. I will not be attending Prime Minister Netanyahus speech because it does more harm than good to the bipartisan U.S.-Israel alliance.

See more here:
Netanyahu speech has Jewish Democrats lining up

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

The opening gambit by Senate Democrats on a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security gives a strong signal about how the party intends to handle its position as the minority on the Senate floor.

The strategy of using fundamental floor procedures to block action on controversial immigration pieces in the bill (HR 240) carries political risks in the near term, however, and big questions over what will be a long congressional term of votes.

For the DHS bill, it has meant keeping united lawmakers who span the caucus political spectrum. Democrats will be challenged to keep that coalition together as Republicans try to peel some of the ranks away and bring forward legislation in areas such as health care that present tough choices for members.

The process is going to vary from bill to bill, said Sen. Angus King, the Maine independent who caucuses with the Democrats. It depends on what the issues are. I just dont think a budget bill is the proper place to legislate policy.

The blockade on the DHS bill is a shift from the strategy the Democrats undertook last month with the first major bill before the Senate, the measure (S 1) mandating completion of the Keystone XL. While a majority of Democrats opposed the bill, they debated amendments and ultimately helped pass the bill.

Its no funbeing in the minority, and I hope it ends soon, but as long as were in the minority, I think we should try to be constructive, Sen. Richard J. Durbin, the No. 2 in Democratic leadership, said at the time.

But Democrats changed up for the DHS bill. Tied to the measure are provisions that would block or roll back President Barack Obamas executive actions on immigration and restrict his ability to take further actions in the future.

Even as Republicans offered alternative proposals to minimize the impact on immigration policy, Democrats balked. Democratic leaders likened any attempt to tie DHS funding to immigration riders to hostage taking.

People need to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, said New Mexico Democrat Martin Heinrich, who helped pull the chamber together this week for a bipartisan lunch. There are times were going to throw down and fight and that should not keep us from working with people when theres constructive common ground. On this issue we have some very substantial differences, clearly.

Visit link:
Senate Democrats' Unity Strategy Will Face Tough Tests

The week ahead: Whats in store for Congress / Democrats, Barack Obama, Keystone
The week ahead: What #39;s in store for Congress Luke Russert checks in with NBC White House correspondent Chris Jansing to get an update on the President #39;s sche...

By: MSNBC News

See the rest here:
The week ahead: Whats in store for Congress / Democrats, Barack Obama, Keystone - Video

Loretta Lynch is unflappable at Senate hearing / Democrats
Loretta Lynch is unflappable at Senate hearing Chris Hayes looks at the first Obama cabinet nominee to go before the Senate since Republicans took control in...

By: MSNBC News

Read the original:
Loretta Lynch is unflappable at Senate hearing / Democrats - Video