I spent some time in Gene Taylor’s district (at Keesler AFB) during my military career. Taylor was, for many years, the most conservative Democrat in the House. Unfortunately, he thought his own popularity could trump party affiliation. Mr. Taylor was wrong, and that’s why he’s now a former Congressman.
I’m not an insider by any means, but I know a few folks in the GOP establishment in Mississippi. Republicans approached Taylor on multiple occasions about switching parties, with the promise that he wouldn’t lose his seniority for committee assignments, etc. Taylor always rejected the overtures, believing he could keep getting re-elected in his district.
If the Congressman had followed the example of Senator Richard Shelby in neighboring Alabama, he could have made the switch easily, and would have won re-election as a Republican with little effort.
Someone ought to change the name of the “Blue Dogs” to the “Dead Dogs.” And that raises another question: how many of the surviving Blue Dogs will try to change parties in the weeks ahead?
There is such a thing as "guilt by association." (And "corporate guilt.") It's called aiding and abetting...and being more a part of the problem than the solution.
“Someone ought to change the name of the “Blue Dogs” to the “Dead Dogs.””
We should start calling some current and past RINO’s, mad dogs. Trent and Pansy would head my list.