The "Heroic" Blue Dog Myth

self | 11/7/09 | LS

[LS]

A new myth has arisen in the wake of last night's vote that a handful of "blue dog" Democrats from red districts were really in a position to stop Obamacare.

More than TWO MONTHS ago, I wrote a piece here called "What if they don't care?" and reposted here as "Grim Thought" (http://www.patriotshistoryusa.com/blog/grim-thought/)

Sadly, I was right. They didn't care. The entire choreography from August until last night was based on two tactical approaches: 1) "soften" the language just enough to get it by the public (NOT some "blue dogs") so that it did not appear as horrible as it is. This was 100% successful, as the AMA and AARPies all came on board; and 2) figure out which of the blue dogs would have to eat the bullet. It was only a numbers game. There were about 40-45 in really endangered positions, and thus at worst, only 5-10 would really have to be bribed or cajoled.

The final count was four, plus one idiot Republican (you can always find at least one fool on our side). The past two months have been about these two tactical maneuvers, and the last week was about figuring out which of some 45 endangered "blue dogs" would fall on their sword.

NONE of them are "heroes," because those who "voted against" Obamacare were merely released by Pelosi to do so---but they ALL voted for Pelosi and the Dem leadership to do what they did. In my eyes, they are no different than the Nationalist Party in Germany in 1932, which did not "vote" for Hitler, but didn't oppose him.

As for the five? They have been promised an all-out Dem blitz in the next election, and should they lose their seats, they have been promised gubment jobs in the administration. To quote Abe Karitz in the film "Tucker: The Man and His Dream," "You never had a chance."

[xsmommy]

my husband has been saying the same thing as you said here, all along. the blue dogs will be taken care of, one way or another.

[ez]

Wow, read my previous post...freaky, but I think it happens a lot around here.

[niteowl77]

The missing Hillary! PUMAs in '08 were sufficient warning that the Blue Dog Democrats of last night were were nothing more than sucker bait. This was a particularly hard lesson, but some conservatives are so stubborn in the face of facts that only beating beaten to a pulp twice gets their attention.

If the myths of Blue Dog tractability and Newt Gingrich's viability have finally been laid to rest this year, then there are two less stumbling blocks in the way. Better late than never, I suppose.

Mr. niteowl77

[thethirddegree]

My rep is a blue dog that voted against the bill. I’m still going to work to throw his @ss out of office next year.

[umgud]

If there was a moderate dem who was pro-life, pro-gun, fiscally conservative, running agaist a true RINO, I’d still never vote for the dem. Every dem member either adds to their majority or allows them to have one.

Never, ever vote dem under any circumstance.

[uncbob]

If Bush and the GOP hadn’t screwed up in 2006 there wouldn’t be any so called Blue Dogs

WE had a GOP President and a GOP congress and look how that turned out

[KeyLargo]

There are NO CONSERVATIVE DemoRATS. We need to stop fooling ourselves and believing such nonsense now.

[Paige]

Those that voted for them. If they have Democrat attached to their ticket, they are Left wingers.

[uncbob]

This was a particularly hard lesson, but some conservatives are so stubborn in the face of facts that only beating beaten to a pulp twice gets their attention.

Ain't the conservatives that are the problem --they didn't vote for these boobs in 2006 ---It was ordinary GOP voters that were poed at Bush and had NO IDEA how congress and the committee system works

[Timeout]

Does anyone have a list of the “so called” Blue Dogs who voted yes?

[XenaLee]

With all “due” respect....Uncle....

I didn’t get the government I deserve, nor the one I voted for. I got the communist government that I voted AGAINST.

Get your facts straight and stuff that “always”.

[LS]

Amen bro.

[LS]

Don’t kid yourself. A Republican House and Senate never even would have introduced such an abomination of a bill, and you damn well know it. STOP BLAMING BUSH.

[niteowl77]

Ain't the conservatives that are the problem --they didn't vote for these boobs in 2006 ---It was ordinary GOP voters that were poed at Bush and had NO IDEA how congress and the committee system works

I thought about putting quotation marks around the word "conservatives," but I tend to do that when talking only about Republicans. I know too many people who hate the GOP and consider themselves conservative, and who believe(d) fervently in patriotic PUMAs and star-spangled Blue Dogs. Maybe I should have said that the problem is gullibles who desperately bought - and spread - the kind of shinola that made them feel all warm and fuzzy.

Mr. niteowl77

[LS]

Absolutely right---but you know what? Jefferson "grew the government." Adams "grew the government." Jackson "grew the government." I cannot find ANY administration for ANY period of time (save two brief "panics" or depressions) where government spending substantially fell or the power of government relatively didn't increase. So that's also a red herring.

The simple fact is---and anyone who doesn't realize this now is a fool---a GOP House and Senate never ever would have introduced this abominable bill.

[LS]

Amen. Sad, but sickeningly true.

[LS]

Yep. A RINO you can always threaten with losing a seat. A Dem will only respond to party, first, last, and always.

[LS]

Yes, it’s on NRO under the blog “Doctor, Doctor.”

[uncbob]

Learn to read

I am Blaming Bush and the GOP congress for losing in 2006 and 2008

[LS]

You’re right. Apologies. And I will blame Bush for introducing such junk as “prescription drug coverage” and high deficits that enabled the Dems to win. So you got that right.