Reply #5: As a BD myself that's a bit biased

[dmallind]

In that it assumes the moderates have to move to be in step rather than the ultra-progressives moving, but a minor quibble nonetheless.

Frankly I wouldn't worry about it. Most of Pelosi's stated agenda is actually quite centrist. Balanced budgets (PAYG spending, cutting Medicare costs by negotiating prices etc, moderate high-income tax increases) are a core Blue Dog priority for a start, and there's no move towards anything that would be economically unpalatable to the center-left such as massive increases in spending or ridiculous tax increases that would be detrimental to economic growth. On the social side Blue Dogs are much more likely to go with progressives than conservatives anyway. There ARE a minority of very socially conservative Dems in the new Congress such as Shuler but they will have little influence and are not enough to tip the balance to the right on social issues even if they, very surprsingly, voted in lockstep with the Reps. There's not likely to be much of a problem unless the Dem leadership economic policy moves too far toward things which would hurt the economy.


As to how - there is much to be said for the promise or threat of committee assignments, consideration of bills supported by recalcitrant members and, sadly but honestly, decisions on district-specific spending.