'Blue Dog' Democrats ready to bark louder on Hill

[mmonk]

WASHINGTON - Conservative Democrats who've been a thorn in the side of liberal party leaders could grow into a major obstacle to Barack Obama's agenda if he is elected president.

-snip-


That could set up a roadblock for Obama, who has promised to broaden health insurance coverage, start a new round of public works projects and improve early childhood education, among other things - all initiatives that would require substantial government spending at a time of soaring deficits.

-snip-

The Blue Dogs' foray across the Capitol could add to their influence, particularly if Democrats capture the six or more Senate seats that many independent analysts and strategists believe are within their reach.


-snip=


http://www.newsobserver.com/1573/story/1275249.html



For some of us, we hold no illusions as to the difficulty ahead in still seeking Constitutional restoration, justice, and improvements in social justice issues and realize we will still be battling in the years to come even with an Obama victory.

[Romulox]

1. Many "New" Democrats are very similar to Old Republicans...

Reminds me of the "Stonecutters" episode of the Simpsons...

Maybe we don't wanna be Republicans any more...maybe we want to be "Blue Dogs"!

[mmonk]

2. That line is very succinct.

[liskddksil]

3. They need to get in line when it counts

or be primary challenged in 2010.

[Waiting For Everyman]

4. Repub lite doesn't cut it.

They can prepare to be Tinklenberg'ed, if they intend to get in the way.

Conservatism failed. Maybe they need a memo?

[ShortnFiery]

5. Blue Dog and New Democrats of today remind me of the Moderate Republicans of the 1970s.

I know that I'm dating myself, but what the hell. ;)

[mmonk]

6. I'm dated as well.

Yes, the Democrats have basically turned conservative with their votes on the hill. It just doesn't seem so since the Republicans have turned into some sort of rightwing dictatorship model and aren't conservative. The Conservatives in the Republican party have turned to Libertarianism instead of becoming Democrats due to the mythology the Democratic Party is liberal.

[PassingFair]

8. They just want to be on the side that's winning.

Maybe they will turn left when we have a solid majority.

Well....call me PollyAnna......

:eyes:

[mmonk]

9. The way I see it, if Obama has any legislative ideas we like,

we shoud stay or become organized in order to apply pressure on the "blue dogs".

[PassingFair]

11. Yup, if Hillary had won ....

the DLC would have had a toboggan ride down the hill.

With Obama, they will have to negotiate their way
around the trees and through the powder.

I HOPE Emanuel doesn't get Chief of Staff.
:puke:

[mmonk]

13. Having him as Chief of Staff may actually be a way Obama can

make a case to the "blue dogs".

[PassingFair]

15. Hopefully, the Blue Dogs will be in the position of having to make THEIR case.

And not the other way around.

I would eventually like to see every
IWR "yes voter" voted out.

...or feel compelled to confess that
they sold us out and are responsible,
in part, for the death of so many
Iraqis.

[Romulox]

7. Exactly! There used to be such a thing as a "Liberal Republican" before the fundies drove them out.

Now that the Liberal Republicans have seized considerable power in the Democratic Party under the mantle of "New" Democrats, true liberals and progressives have been largely marginalized.

Which is why we're talking about bailouts for day traders and tough luck for children in poverty...

[wyldwolf]

10. funny, they remind me of the Democrats circa 1932 - 1968

[Romulox]

23. Says the guy who is using the word "socialist" as an insult on another thread!

:rofl:

[wyldwolf]

24. really? Where? And what does one have to do with the other?

Your post shows a historical ignorance.

[ieoeja]

29. Which should remind you of moderate Republicans in the 1970s.

Your argument has always been that first we have to get elected before we can advance our agenda. Well, here we are about to control both the legislature and the executive, yet you are still arguing in favor of a Conservative agenda.

Why?

This reminds me of the Tony Rezko issue here in Illinois. Every single co-conspirator named in the Rezko trial was ... a Republican. Why were these people helping Rezko raise money for the Democratic governor? Simple: they didn't give a rat's ass about policy. They just wanted to enrich themselves.

[wyldwolf]

31. not at all. Harry Truman and JFK don't remind me of moderate Republicans in the 70s

I WISH moderate Republicans in the 70s were like that - but give me JFK-Truman Democrats any day.

Your argument has always been that first we have to get elected before we can advance our agenda. Well, here we are about to control both the legislature and the executive, yet you are still arguing in favor of a Conservative agenda.

Well, that is true, we do have to get elected to set the agenda, but I believe you're mistaken as to what the Democratic agenda is if you believe I'm arguing for a conservative one.

[genna]

12. Did anyone else NOTICE that Obama seems to indicate he can handle difference?

What is right?

I will sell it to them...

Them could be any number of people:

Republicans...
moderate
conservatives

Democrats...
blue dog
DLC
liberals


The nation at large...
haters
atheists
zealots
the extreme religious right


Why fear for the fights of tomorrow? We are still in this current one today.

[mmonk]

14. You confuse fear with determination. Best to prepare the battlefields of tomorrow.

[PassingFair]

17. Nice little grouping you have there:

The nation at large...
haters
atheists
zealots
the extreme religious right


:eyes:

[stray cat]

16. I suspect Obama will work with blue dog dems and I believe in checks and balances

we wouldn't be in this mess if republicans in congress and the senate put American's first and questioned and challenged Bush instead of filling their own pocket books. I don't personally want a bunch of yes woman and yes men running our government.

[PassingFair]

18. Not just republicans.

A LOT of democrats enabled the criminal.

[wyldwolf]

19. Looking Ahead, Obama Builds Ties With 'Blue Dogs'

Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas is not likely to bring Barack Obama many votes on Nov. 4. Neither is Rep. John Tanner of Tennessee or Rep. Allen Boyd, a farmer from the Florida Panhandle.

But the three could play a big role in the success or failure of the next president, one reason Obama took a break from campaigning last week to call each of them, among the leaders of the "Blue Dog Coalition," a group of conservative-leaning Democrats who are committed to balancing the federal budget. The group's 49 members already wield significant power in the House, and their ranks are expected to expand in the next Congress.

"He said he planned to be the next president and he wanted to work with us," Ross said in recounting his conversation with Obama before the House approved a $700 billion economic rescue package. "He also recognized that we had the numbers to block or clear" legislation coming from the White House if he is elected.

Jason Furman, Obama's economic policy adviser, has held his own extensive talks with Blue Dog Democrats and said Obama would seek to establish "a government unified around the concept of fiscal discipline and centered around the pay-go rule. Insisting on paying for things will lead to better economic policy."

Senior Democrats on Capitol Hill see Obama's early relationship-building as evidence that he is determined to take office with a legislative plan in place.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/13/AR2008101302377.html

[mmonk]

20. Good article.

[Peace Patriot]

21. I call them the "Gary Condit Democrats." I'm surprised they resurrected that unsavory

term, "Blue Dog." Condit was the head "Blue Dog" in the 2001 Congress, who was one of only ten Democrats who voted for Bush-Cheney's first tax cut for the rich--two days after his youngest mistress went missing.

He also proposed placing the Ten Commandments in all public buildings.

Oh, and it's interesting, too, that the one hole in his published schedule, for the day Chandra Levy disappeared, began with a meeting with Dick Cheney. Condit's schedule was public knowledge as of the end of June of that year, and no one--not the FBI, nor the DC police, and certainly not the slavish corporate 'news' monopoly hairdos--ever asked Cheney or his aides about that meeting, not even to inquire if it, in fact, took place, nor any of its details (according to a Newsweek story planted by Cheney aides in August).

The term "Blue Dogs" therefore makes me think of decaying corpses and putrid hypocrites. They would be wise to call themselves by some other color. And what is this thing with "dogs"? They go around sniffing each other butts, do they? Or is that they are the Corpo/Fascists' "best friend"?

We really need to looking into our vote counting system, you know--these machines with the 'TRADE SECRET' code--cuz it has other uses besides keeping Bush-Cheney in office long past their expiration date.

[wyldwolf]

22. ressurected the term? The were formed in 1994

[stillcool]

25. so much could happen...

I think I'll worry about winning the election for now.

[No Elephants]

26. Another thing that "could" maybe, possibly, who knows become a problem for Obama. Please.

[mmonk]

30. Have been to many Americans.

[knixphan]

27. I just moved into an area repped by a blue dog

Gonna send her a letter on the 4th:

'You get this vote, but if your track record ends up 'repub lite', I'll do everything to back a progressive in the next primary.'

[PBS Poll-435]

28. Harman?

[knixphan]

32. yep-

[redqueen]

33. ...

:thumbsup:

HR 676 has co-sponsors from hell to breakfast. Pass the damn thing already.

[Runcible Spoon]

34. "liberal party leaders"??!! Umm...where?

where do these magnificent mystical creatures reside because from where I'm standing, the Blue Dogs are already in charge.