Boll weevil Democrats: precursors to the Blue Dogs?

[Ardent15]

Nonetheless, a bloc of conservative Democrats, mostly Southerners, remained in the United States Congress throughout the 1970s and 1980s (Conservative Coalition). These included Democratic House members as conservative as Larry McDonald, who was also a leader in the John Birch Society. During the administration of Ronald Reagan, the term "boll weevils" was applied to this bloc of conservative Democrats, who consistently voted in favor of tax cuts, increases in military spending, and deregulation favored by the Reagan administration.

"Boll weevils" was sometimes used as a political epithet by Democratic Party leaders, implying that the boll weevils were unreliable on key votes or not team players.

Most of the boll weevils eventually retired from office, or in the case of some such as Senators Phil Gramm and Richard Shelby, switched parties and joined the Republicans.


<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boll_weevil_Democrats>

Hmmmm...voted with Republicans more than progressives, favored deregulation and tax cuts, as well as expansions in the military-industrial complex, and generally opposed progressive policies?

They may not be as concentrated in the South today, but the boll weevils are still among us. They just go by more innocent names like "Blue Dogs."

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Sam Nunn was as useful to Ronnie Ray-Guns as a dem as he is now.

Nancy didn't do to bad for Shrub ,it's their Votes that Denote them.

[Ardent15]

3. Agreed. Democrats are afriad to be Democrats.

This should be the party of FDR, not the party of Sam Nunn and Bill Clinton.

[orpupilofnature57]

5. You said Bill not me ,not that there aren't a few common bonds. But

I agree FDR, JFK ,RFK Hell be more like Theodore Roosevelt.

[OHdem10]

2. Wse tolerated them because early on, they stood with Dems on

the cultural issues, i.e., Abortion.

Now they are often Pro-life and even on cultural issues
vote with Republicans.

They try to brag about being fiscal conservatives. Yes, as
long as it does not hurt their masters. Business.

I am having a hard time determining exactly what makes them
Democrats.

[Ardent15]

4. Well, they're Democrats In Name Only. There's a good reason they're called boll weevils

They destroy us from the inside.

[orpupilofnature57]

6. Insipid little Critters.

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