Blue Dog Bull$hit

[SHRED]

"Blue Dog Coalition voted 32 to 3 in favor of the bill to limit access to bankruptcy protection (S 256)"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Dog_Democrats

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So much has been made of the "conservative" Democrats gains in Congress.

What does this mean for us Progressives?

[Totally Committed]

1. I tried to say this the other day...

maybe it was timing, or maybe it was my long-winded style, but it went nowhere. Hope you have more luck getting people to consider this, and maybe even discuss it.

TC

[SHRED]

2. I live in a CONservative area

I overheard some folks talking about how glad they were that so many conservative Dems were elected.

Maybe this will work but with voting records, like the one I posted, I don't like it.
Hopefully they can be overridden by Congresspersons that are willing to actually represent "we the people" instead of "we the corporates".

[acmejack]

3. Now we get rid of the republicans masquerading as democrats

Remember how many conveniently changed Parties, how many represent Republican values. How can they be Democrats if they don't stand for our values, I ask you? Just because they say they are?

The only reason a lot of these people are Democrats is because their opponent had already taken the Republican nomination!

[onenote]

15. and who will replace them? not other Democrats, probably

Take Tennessee, where three or four of the Democratic members of COngress are "blue dog" Democrats. You want to get rid of them. YOu want to kick Heath Shuler, for example, out the door. Do you really think that a significantly more progressive Democrat would win in these districts? Not a chance. What you'll end up with is repubs. Do that enough times, and its bye-bye Chairman Conyers and welcome back Chairman Sensenbrenner.

No thanks.

[lefthandedskyhook]

4. It means we must quickly let our congress know what we want.

The most important votes in any congress are the initial votes on seats of power within the two bodies. If progressives speak clearly and assertively in the coming weeks, more of our representatives will take up the progressive banner before those votes occur. This is a crucial time & the DLC knows it all too well.

There is every reason for optimism because some of the most senior people are progressives. In two years if we can increase our majority, the 'blue dogs' will become even less relevant.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Us "FDR Democrats" Need To Make A Better Case

The Blue Dog/Clinton/Republican "Democrats" now make up 80+% of the party. There are a few of us FDR Democrats out there - we need to make a better case to the voters so they can help themseles to regain peace and prosperity.

[lefthandedskyhook]

8. Not 80%

There are more progressives than you think. Many of them have been squelched in recent years, and some are sitting on the fence right now.

[MannyGoldstein]

9. How Many Can You Name?

Feingold, Conyers, Boxer, Waxman, maybe Kennedy, Maxine Waters, ... maybe a few others. It would be interesting to actually compile a list of those who voted against AUMF AND the "Patriot" acts AND the "Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005", and so forth.

[lefthandedskyhook]

12. Here's a starter list for the house

http://bernie.house.gov/website/leavesite.asp?url=http://cpc.lee.house.gov/

I believe that this list will grow if we play our cards correctly.

EDIT: click on 'caucus members'

[MannyGoldstein]

14. Very Interesting! Thanks!

Looks like a reasonable list.

[gully]

6. It means that you have reasonable people to appeal to now.

nt

[n2doc]

7. One big difference: We get to write the bills now

So Progressives get a chance to make bills and laws that don't punish people. The "blue dogs" will go along. We just can't let them set the agenda.

[stray cat]

10. Would you prefer more of the same?

Without the moderates the republicans would still hold all branches of government and the dems would be yelling from the sidelines. Its either a big tent or powerlessness - take your pick.

[lefthandedskyhook]

13. The big tent worked before and it can work again

Look at the house leadership tenure of Tip O'Neill. He enjoyed a big enough majority to be able to tell some party members that he simply didn't need their votes. We need that kind of majority again.

[onenote]

17. you don't get that bigger majority by replacing Dems with Dems

you get it by replacing repubs with Dems.

[lefthandedskyhook]

18. Bingo!

That's why our work is not over by any means.

[wyldwolf]

11. Blue Dogs picked up 9 new members Tuesday

[OHdem10]

16. Not so fast, Blue Dogs

The new Culturally Conservative but ecoomic progressive members
all ran on the Democratic--6for 06 "platform". Minimum Wage
Increase, Fixing Medicare (negoting drug prices directly)
I am sure you sa Rahm Emmanuel, Nancy Peolosi and Howard
Dean reciting these proposals over and over during the campaign.
You heard Webb in Va tell his group he became a Democrat
(served as Sec.Navy Regan Adm.) because the Republican Party
was lacking when it came to Social Justice Issues and representing
the Middle Class.

We all Republicans and Democrats and especially the Media
make one big mistake by saying in knee jerk fashion.
oh , he, she is a conservative. Take Guns, God, and Gays
off the table --there is a world of difference in Democratic
Policy and Republican Policy.

The Cultural Issues continue to be used as Wedges to divide
the country. Please do not get to angry at me but I am
a very commn sense practical person. I am also a practicing
Catholic--some could call me a Christian. I also believe
with every fibre in me in Separation of Church and State.
Right now there is an effort to put too much Religion in
State.

Having said that, from where I stand/ The Country is
too evenly divided for these Cutltural Issues to get so
much darn play. Every time the Fundies try to impose
one of their rules., The rest of us are going to rise
up against them. How about the EmbryonicStem Cell Research
In Missouri---supposeldy a real red state, with
Christian Values.

We will be much better off when Congress focuses on
issues which come up every day for the masses of
people in this country. Povery, Medicare Drug Bill
Reform, Health Care, etc.

With Parties at parity each side cancels the other
outon the Wedge Issues . Half of out country
does not vote, perhaps we need to expand the party
bringing Liberals home who gave up long ago.

We have to accept the fact that the country is
a Religious, or Spiritual Country. As our
party expands, we are going to have cutural
Conservatives. Finally, Stop and Think!\

If these conservative democrats agreed with
the Republican Party, they would be in the
Republican Party.

[lefthandedskyhook]

19. Good post n/t