New Congress' Key Fights Could Be Dem-on-Dem

Party split ideologically, geographically on major issues

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Nov 25, 2008 10:22 AM CST

(Newser) – The Democrats have amassed so much power in Congress their internal conflicts may matter more than their fights with the GOP. In Politico, Martin Kady II takes a look at some likely intra-party fault lines:

Californians against rust-belters on the environment: “The Midwestern Democrats—Sherrod Brown, Evan Bayh, and the Michigan senators—are not going to let it go too far left,” says a Democratic Senate leadership aide.

Southerners against the rest of the party on labor: A bill making it easier to unionize has already passed the House, and was hung up by the filibuster in the Senate. Will Democratic senators from union-hostile Southern states help it pass?
Everyone against everyone on health care: “They’ve got problems from the left, caution from deficit hawks in the center and potential turf issues in the Senate." The left may not reconcile with an incremental plan, and centrists may not accept anything else.

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Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., center, accompanied by fellow Senate Democrats, listens to a reporter's question during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday,... (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Senate Majority Harry Reid of Nev., center, flanked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday,Nov.... (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Michigan Rep. John Dingell was unseated as House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman by liberal California Rep. Henry Waxman. (AP Photo)

Waxman, a liberal ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, will take over the chairmanship of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee when the next Congress convenes. (AP Photo)

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When you’re playing with live ammunition and you have to actually live with the consequences of the policy, it’s much, much tougher. - Michael Steel, spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner

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New Congress' Key Fights Could Be Dem-on-Dem