AOC snubbed for Energy and Commerce, committee spot goes to Kathleen Rice instead

[Sorenroy]

I had this issue when I first heard about the DCCC doing this and continue to have it now: challenging incumbents should not be met by blacklisting by the powers that be. The Democratic establishment - and I don't mean that in the derogatory sense - literally the established Democrats, seem to be in a position of wanting to have their cake and eat it too. Even as in one hand they do everything they can to block third parties and often initiatives for ranked-ballots and other pro-democracy moves they, in the other hand, oppose the use of primaries to challenge unwanted representatives. It puts people in a weird spot: they might not want to vote for third party candidates in the general election, but if they're not allowed to participate in the primaries, where do the Democrats expect them to go? It is an entrenchment of power by those who have already established themselves and a way for them to not just pull the ladder up behind them, but rather to sever anyone else's ability to follow them, even on their own merits.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

I would also like to point out that the Steering Committee vote was pretty lopsided and I highly doubt Cuellar or any other single individual's grievances were the deciding factor.  This seems more like something that happened for a variety of reasons. 

Btw, for those who insist that being a team player gets you nothing; AOC endorsed Jerry Nadler when he faced a left-wing primary challenge in 2020.  Guess which top Democrat publicly backed AOC over Kathleen Rice for this committee slot?  Jerry Nadler.  I don't mean this in a patronizing way or anything, that's kinda how this stuff works.  Should it be that transactional?  In a perfect world, obviously not. 

That said, politics is what it is and you can't have things both ways.  Either you're a team player (and bite the bullet instead of airing your grievances on twitter whenever you don't get your way) and the rising tide lifts your boat along with everyone else's...or you have the freedom to do whatever you want whenever you want, but you also risk going home empty-handed when prizes are being distributed.  Beyond which, as others have noted, Rice simply has a lot more leverage than AOC at the moment.

On a different note, another poster lamented the fact that many #RoseTwitter types were more concerned about a symbolic vote on M4A than whether AOC got a key committee slot and I think that speaks to a deeper issue that has been a major problem for the Berniecrat-wing since 2016: once you get past the highest-profile positions or shiniest policy buzzwords, many seem to be somewhere between apathetic and proudly contemptuous regarding the use of institutional levers of power. 

I get that in a more insurgent movement, folks may like to think of themselves as being above relying on such things and prefer the idea of relying solely on grassroots activism.  However, ever since Ellison lost his DNC bid, the Berniecratic movement has seemed to be largely uninterested in putting in the work to gradually acquire control of the institutional levers of power like key congressional committee slots, important but lower-profile positions in Biden's administration, top staff positions at groups like the DSCC (especially positions focusing on candidate recruitment), etc.  As a result, this resistance to trying to essentially turn the establishment against itself has forced Berniecrats to fight with one hand tied behind their backs.

[Buffalo Mayor Young Kim]

I would also like to point out that the Steering Committee vote was pretty lopsided and I highly doubt Cuellar or any other single individual's grievances were the deciding factor.  This seems more like something that happened for a variety of reasons. 

Btw, for those who insist that being a team player gets you nothing; AOC endorsed Jerry Nadler when he faced a left-wing primary challenge in 2020.  Guess which top Democrat publicly backed AOC over Kathleen Rice for this committee slot?  Jerry Nadler.  I don't mean this in a patronizing way or anything, that's kinda how this stuff works.  Should it be that transactional?  In a perfect world, obviously not. 

That said, politics is what it is and you can't have things both ways.  Either you're a team player (and bite the bullet instead of airing your grievances on twitter whenever you don't get your way) and the rising tide lifts your boat along with everyone else's...or you have the freedom to do whatever you want whenever you want, but you also risk going home empty-handed when prizes are being distributed.  Beyond which, as others have noted, Rice simply has a lot more leverage than AOC at the moment.

On a different note, another poster lamented the fact that many #RoseTwitter types were more concerned about a symbolic vote on M4A than whether AOC got a key committee slot and I think that speaks to a deeper issue that has been a major problem for the Berniecrat-wing since 2016: once you get past the highest-profile positions or shiniest policy buzzwords, many seem to be somewhere between apathetic and proudly contemptuous regarding the use of institutional levers of power. 

I get that in a more insurgent movement, folks may like to think of themselves as being above relying on such things and prefer the idea of relying solely on grassroots activism.  However, ever since Ellison lost his DNC bid, the Berniecratic movement has seemed to be largely uninterested in putting in the work to gradually acquire control of the institutional levers of power like key congressional committee slots, important but lower-profile positions in Biden's administration, top staff positions at groups like the DSCC (especially positions focusing on candidate recruitment), etc.  As a result, this resistance to trying to essentially turn the establishment against itself has forced Berniecrats to fight with one hand tied behind their backs.

Kathleen Rice literally refused to endorse Pelosi for speaker. And Henry Cuellar fundraiser for Republicans and gets a seat on appropriations.

And exactly what did Sylvia Garcia do to piss everyone off?

Why is it that the left flank has to accommodate the establishment and the right flank gets whatever the  they want, no matter what?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Obviously agree with Clarko95 and brucejoel.

What's wrong with Kathleen Rice? Seems like a genric Democrat to me? Or is there something bad about her?

I don't think AOC and Rice would be in the same party in most countries.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

I would also like to point out that the Steering Committee vote was pretty lopsided and I highly doubt Cuellar or any other single individual's grievances were the deciding factor.  This seems more like something that happened for a variety of reasons. 

Btw, for those who insist that being a team player gets you nothing; AOC endorsed Jerry Nadler when he faced a left-wing primary challenge in 2020.  Guess which top Democrat publicly backed AOC over Kathleen Rice for this committee slot?  Jerry Nadler.  I don't mean this in a patronizing way or anything, that's kinda how this stuff works.  Should it be that transactional?  In a perfect world, obviously not. 

That said, politics is what it is and you can't have things both ways.  Either you're a team player (and bite the bullet instead of airing your grievances on twitter whenever you don't get your way) and the rising tide lifts your boat along with everyone else's...or you have the freedom to do whatever you want whenever you want, but you also risk going home empty-handed when prizes are being distributed.  Beyond which, as others have noted, Rice simply has a lot more leverage than AOC at the moment.

On a different note, another poster lamented the fact that many #RoseTwitter types were more concerned about a symbolic vote on M4A than whether AOC got a key committee slot and I think that speaks to a deeper issue that has been a major problem for the Berniecrat-wing since 2016: once you get past the highest-profile positions or shiniest policy buzzwords, many seem to be somewhere between apathetic and proudly contemptuous regarding the use of institutional levers of power. 

I get that in a more insurgent movement, folks may like to think of themselves as being above relying on such things and prefer the idea of relying solely on grassroots activism.  However, ever since Ellison lost his DNC bid, the Berniecratic movement has seemed to be largely uninterested in putting in the work to gradually acquire control of the institutional levers of power like key congressional committee slots, important but lower-profile positions in Biden's administration, top staff positions at groups like the DSCC (especially positions focusing on candidate recruitment), etc.  As a result, this resistance to trying to essentially turn the establishment against itself has forced Berniecrats to fight with one hand tied behind their backs.

Kathleen Rice literally refused to endorse Pelosi for speaker. And Henry Cuellar fundraiser for Republicans and gets a seat on appropriations.

And exactly what did Sylvia Garcia do to piss everyone off?

Why is it that the left flank has to accommodate the establishment and the right flank gets whatever the  they want, no matter what?

- I hate Henry Cuellar as much as the next Dem; I wanted Cisneros to win   I think he already had his committee assignment when he did that though.

- Right, and Rice was punished by being denied a seat on Judiciary two years ago even though she had been considered a lock for it and everyone knew it was her first choice.  Now Pelosi needs her vote and thus, Rice has leverage.  AOC does not b/c she’d hate the alternatives even more than Pelosi (whereas Rice would probably be fine with Hoyer or Jeffries or even someone farther to the right).

- It’s not like AOC is constantly being snubbed.  She got her first choice committee assignment (Oversight) two years ago at a time when that was a very high-profile and in-demand slot. 

- Not everything is left vs. right (just look at Markey’s Senate primary for proof of this).  There was only room for one TX Dem and Fletcher got picked.  It’s not like Fletcher is a DINO or Garcia is a progressive icon.  Most things aren’t the establishment going “hmm...how can we screw progressives.”  I don’t even think ideology had anything to do with Rice getting that committee slot instead of AOC.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I love how AOC gets called not a team player when she promises to vote for Pelosi, while Rice doesn't promise to vote for Pelosi and doesn't get called a team player.

[Devout Centrist]

I love how AOC gets called not a team player when she promises to vote for Pelosi, while Rice doesn't promise to vote for Pelosi and doesn't get called a team player.

I mean, neither should be voting for Pelosi. It's absolutely criminal that we're stuck with this sclerotic leadership for another four years, two years in Pelosi's case.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

I love how AOC gets called not a team player when she promises to vote for Pelosi, while Rice doesn't promise to vote for Pelosi and doesn't get called a team player.

Silence, Republican

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I love how AOC gets called not a team player when she promises to vote for Pelosi, while Rice doesn't promise to vote for Pelosi and doesn't get called a team player.

Silence, Republican

You proved my point there.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

I love how AOC gets called not a team player when she promises to vote for Pelosi, while Rice doesn't promise to vote for Pelosi and doesn't get called a team player.

Silence, Republican

You proved my point there.

Tough talk from a Trump supporter

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

This is the first good thing our vodka embalmed Speaker has done.