Posted on 11/15/2006 1:14:21 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Conservative Democrats seek larger role
By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer 24 minutes ago
For a dozen years, the Democratic conservatives known as Blue Dogs have been baying at the moon, ignored by Republicans and tolerated by their more liberal Democratic colleagues. Now, these House lawmakers say that is about to change.
Republicans "did not lose their seats to liberal Democrats" in last weeks elections, said Rep. Mike Ross (news, bio, voting record), D-Ark. "Republicans lost their seats to Blue Dog Democrats."
"We'll have a lot to say about what passes and what doesn't" when the 110th Congress convenes in January with Democrats in control for the first time in 12 years, said Ross, new communications director for the caucus.
With the addition of nine newly elected freshmen, the Blue Dogs claim 44 members, nearly 20 percent of the incoming Democratic majority. They will be led by Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla., and include Rep. Collin Peterson (news, bio, voting record), D-Minn., in line to become the next Agriculture Committee chairman.
The Blue Dogs were formed in 1994 after Republicans swept the long-entrenched Democrats from power. They tend to be social conservatives on such issues as abortion. But their big issue is fiscal discipline — balancing the budget and reducing the federal debt.
Many in the group are from the South, and the group took its name from the old adage that southerners would vote for yellow dog if he were on the Democratic ballot. A blue dog, they decided, was a moderate or conservative "choked blue" by the Democrats in the years leading up to 1994.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
LOL! They will vote the radical leftist pelosi line.
There's always hope.
Hate to say it Mike, but here's what'll happen to you:
Pelosi will push you in the closet;
Let you out when she needs your vote;
Instruct you on how to vote;
Remove you from your committee position if you do differently then she wants.
She's already doing that, i.e. Jane Harmon.
This will go nowhere, dudes.
There is a party purge underway of any democrat to the left of Stalin by DailyKos, George Soros and MoveOn.Org.
"Even though I think it's total crap, I'll vote for it and pass it because that's what Nancy wants," Murtha told the Blue Dogs,
Yep...back of the bus time for them. They got elected, have to vote for the leadership, and that's that.
"We'll have a lot to say about what passes and what doesn't" when the 110th Congress convenes in January with Democrats in control for the first time in 12 years, said Ross, new communications director for the caucus.
...you'll say what Mama Pelosi tells you to say! Now go lie down, remove the circuitry from your head and let it rest. Then wait for further instructions.
If they want a larger role, and they are truly conservative, then there is a simple solution... Instead of voting for Nancy as Speaker, join with the GOP in voting for Pence.
The Dems don't have too many votes to spare. 6 crossovers would do it.
Now we'll see what these "conservative" Democrats are really made of.
I'm sure the more than 80% are quaking in their boots. It was easy to declare how pure and principled they were while the party was a minority. Let's see how things work when party loyalty comes first.
They'll use them like they use the black voters...just when they need them - otherwise they don't count for anything.
We'll see how much moxie these blue-dogs have!! They could team up with the Pubs and give Pelosi fits!!
Rotsa Ruck.
I really do think they will team up the GOP and get some stuff passed, just as happened during Reagan's tenure.
1. They can have one.
2. If they exist.
3. But first, they'll have to join the GOP.
They're freshmen fer pete's sake. They either vote with the entrenched of radicals like Conyers and Rangel and Reid or they don't get no walkin' around money.
(I can't believe I'm agreeing with you! For once..)
Pinging you because our boy Collin Peterson is mentioned in the article.
Nothing to see here folks. Here's how it works...The "Blue-Dogs" vote against certain items like raising taxes, illegal alien amnesty etc. Thier votes are recorded and thier constituency is impressed! "Golly! Heath did what I hoped he would do! Heath's my man!" Heath (Shuler as an example) comes back to NC a hero! "I tried folks, I really did"! "YEAH HEATH!!!" "AT LEAST YOU TRIED!" "VOTE FOR HEATH AGAIN...AND AGAIN!!!" In the meantime the lib agenda gets through on the backs of SF/NY/MASS libs that were expected to vote against America. Get it!?
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