DU got what DU wanted, most blue dogs are gone. Are we happy now?

[krawhitham]

Just wondering

[Freddie Stubbs]

I wonder how many Blue Dog haters will volunteer to run for Congress to get back those seats

[dionysus]

1. because apparently here at DU, we're not happy unless you're unhappy.

[krispos42]

2. Half wanted

They weren't replaced with regular democrats.

However, in reality the balance of power between corporatists and populists hasn't changed much.

[killbotfactory]

3. They were the ones who stifled all steps taken to address the economy

How'd that work out for them?

[Renew Deal]

6. Not all steps

And the republicans will "stifle" far more.

[Skink]

4. Does this then pave the way for more progressive canidates?

[Uzybone]

10. Will progressives run? Running for office takes some work

not as easy as sitting back and complaining.

[Codeine]

5. I love it when the same people who tout Dean's 50 state strategy

rail against blue dogs -- blue dogs are part of winning those redder states, guys. The deep south ain't gonna send a liberal to Congress.

[Uzybone]

11. we have our own version of deluded people

[TZ]

13. What people tend to forget about the Blue Dogs

is that even though the voted with the Republicans sometimes, they averaged about 80% voting WITH the Dems. Don't know about you but I'd rather have that than someone who will never vote with the Dems.

[zipplewrath]

16. The problem

I have no prolem with a 50 state strategy that elects blue dogs. I have no problem with blue dogs advocating their positions. I have a problem when the actively work with the GOP to block the democratic majorities bills. Hold up the public option because you want to grandstand on your abortion position, sorry.

[Blue_Tires]

32. +1

[AndrewP]

20. Exactly

My district in Western Minnesota would rather burn down then to send a "liberal" to Congress. But Colin Peterson is a "Blue Dog" that has managed to be elected 11 times now.

If we play fantasy baseball, then we can get rid of Peterson for someone more Liberal. In the real world, that'll hand the seat over to the Republicans.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

23. Or better, that they railed against Rahm for doing the same thing (nt)

[Codeine]

27. Precisely. nt

[DJ13]

7. The Blue Dogs voted like Republicans, so the voters elected the real thing

Why are you surprised?

[Codeine]

12. That is the silliest, most facile analysis imaginable. nt

[treestar]

22. +1

If the voters prefer real Republicans to fake ones, they prefer Republicans. This is like an admission that the voters are not so progressive. Yet the progressives wield it as though they are winning some argument.

[TZ]

15. They voted with Democrats 80% of the time

Look it up. That doesn't sound like Republicans to me.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

24. Then explain Feingold. (nt)

[Better Today]

8. Half isn't most, and yes, now the Republican tactics can be blamed on

Republicans instead of Republicans-in-Dem colors.

[cyr330]

9. NOT happy to see Repigs. . .

But, I wasn't sorry to see Blanche Lincoln go. . . I felt like the blue dogs were so demoralizing to the base by preventing the Obama agenda from going forward-- not that the current crop of assholes will be an improvement.

So. . . am I happy? Not really. Do I think some of the blue dogs deserved the boot? Absolutely. However, not at the cost of the House majority.

[Lil Missy]

14. DU is barely a spit in the ocean in the big election picture. n/t

[niceypoo]

17. Yes

The Democrats 'lurch to the right' experiment has failed. Good riddance.

[Bad Thoughts]

18. 18/34 Who Voted Against HCR

Take it for what it's worth, but 18 of the 34 who voted against health care reform were either voted out, or who are leaving the House but could not pass their seat to a Democrat. Perhaps they were fully aware of their vulnerability. Perhaps their public disagreements in the press made voters question the D before their name and pick the better "conservative."

[OHdem10]

19. Yes, --I am sorry we lost the house. What were we gaining

with Blue Dogs. Many of them did not support Health Care
and voted with Republicans. They succeeded in making our
party look impotent.

Now, there are more progressive voices and this gives
us an opportunity to look less dysfunctional.

Activists should team up and try to find real Democrats to run
in these lost seats in 2012. Working on this would keep
the Image of a Living Democratic Party alive.

[Codeine]

21. If a moderate blue dog can't beat a repuke in a conservative district

why on Earth would you assume a "more progressive voice" can do it?

[PVnRT]

28. If they are going to side with the GOP on critical issues

then what on earth is the difference?

[Codeine]

29. One: They don't side with them all the time

and Two: Who controls a chamber determines leadership and agenda. Numbers matter FAR more than ideological purity.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

25. We lost the opportunity to even consider something like Health Care.

That's a pretty big fucking deal.

[woo me with science]

26. Oooh let's fight!

some more

[Militant_Left]

30. Removing the weak made us stronger.

Good riddance. We don't shed tears for them.

[butterfly77]

31. I am

:applause: :applause: :applause: Now lets watch and wait to see who are the new ones...

[HughMoran]

33. It turned out exactly as I've been saying all along.

We lost the Blue Dogs - yay! Oh, but we also lost the House gavel AND we lost progressive too because supporters could not be unified over the past 2 years. We got what we wanted - unhappiness.