Coalition of Moderate 'Blue Dog' Dems Shrinking Fast

Fox News ^ | 8/19/11

[Libloather]

Coalition of Moderate 'Blue Dog' Dems Shrinking Fast
Associated Press
Published August 19, 2011

WASHINGTON -- The Blue Dogs may be losing their bark. Despite polls showing a desire for more compromise in Washington, the political climate for moderate to conservative Democrats in the House has continued to deteriorate.

The 2010 election dropped the number of so-called Blue Dogs from 54 to 25. And the shrinking continues.

Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas will not seek re-election next year. Rep. Dan Boren of Oklahoma also plans to retire. Rep. Joe Donnelly of Indiana has opted to run for the Senate. Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina is reportedly being considered for the athletic director job at the University of Tennessee.

Other House members, such as Rep. Jim Matheson of Utah, face the prospect of running in less friendly congressional districts after their states complete redistricting. Rep. Jane Harman of California resigned earlier this year to run a think tank.

The early departures and the potential for more are feeding Republican hopes that they will win more of the country's swing districts in next year's elections and maintain their majority in the House. That also raises questions about whether the Blue Dogs as a group are in an extended decline as moderates from both parties disappear from Capitol Hill.

"The parties are becoming more polarized and that's unfortunate," Boren said. "The success of our political system weighs in the balance depending upon how many moderates, how many problem-solving pragmatists are going to be elected."

[Libloather]

That's a shame.

[okie01]

"The parties are becoming more polarized and that's unfortunate," Boren said. "The success of our political system weighs in the balance depending upon how many moderates, how many problem-solving pragmatists are going to be elected."

No, Congressman. "Problem-solving pragmatists" are of no use when your Democrat party is largely composed of rabid socialists who want to destroy the country.

Compromising with Democrats today means giving up your livlihood and your liberty. So, don't expect "compromise".

[Lazlo in PA]

I didn’t know there were any Blue Dogs left. Stretch made sure of that.

[Darkwolf377]

Despite polls showing a desire for more compromise in Washington

One of my core beliefs is that the desire for 'compromise' by the American people is a load of crap. What doesthat even mean--compromise as a concept? When you go to the supermarket for a loaf of bread and the cashier charges you $45, do people want to compromise and pay $20? Do we want to compromise when it comes to calling 911?

One of the people I've most wanted to slap in my lifetime was the girlyman who got up at the Clinton-Bush debate and said something like "Please, stop the namecalling!" What mealy-mouthed garbage. It's this exact same thing with this poll--why don't they poll Americans who 'want peace' or 'like nice things'?

Yet who actually brings in the votes to get someone on either side of the aisle elected? Over and over, it's uncompromising people like Barney Frank, Pelosi, and this last time out, the Tea Party people.

On election day, compromisers stay home, because they don't like conflict. They want to stay home and 'veg' with a bowl of chips and watch the freakin tube and hope everyone doesn't shout too loud. Forget substance, they just want people to be NICE so they can stay in their little cocoon where the nice TV people tell them who's good and who's bad, and the good ones are always 'compromising'.

Damn, what a nation of freakin babies. I wonder what the polls were like about 'compromiaw' back in the days of World War 2?

[skr]

The MSM loves to pretend that polarization is unprecedented. It’s merely reported more often in a 24/7 news cycle. which they didn’t have when polarization began...back around the time of the Declaration of Independence.

[scrabblehack]

Huckabee said this week when Carter was elected, only 25% of the country lived in landslide counties (where the winner won with a 20% margin). In ‘08 it was around 48%.

[jwalsh07]

When push came to shove they voted with the liberals every time. Good riddance.

[clearcarbon]

The conservatives have nearly compromised themselves out of their country.

[Irenic]

I’ve lost sight of any difference between parties— they do what they want and what pays them best.

I thought a representative meant just that— they’re average folk, take office and represent.

Horse-apples. They get in there and their income increases and increases. They are bought and paid for.

We send our pitiful, small, hard earned dollars to get them elected and how often do they listen and do what we sent them there for?

Tired, just damn tired of this suckers game.

[NTHockey]

Centrists are dying because, as they struggle to stay in the middle, the LIBs move further to the left. That forces the MODs to move leftward, just to stay in the middle. As they move leftward, the LIBs move further left, and so on and so on.

[VeniVidiVici]

Coalition of Moderate 'Blue Dog' Dems Shrinking Fast

Hmmmm. Gosh! I can't even begin to fathom why this is so!!

[trebb]

One of my core beliefs is that the desire for 'compromise' by the American people is a load of crap

I agree - what they really want is for the parties to work in concert FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY - not to keep "compromising" our way down the tubes.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I wonder what the polls were like about 'compromise' back in the days of World War 2?

Actually, there was a whole lot of politics going on during WWII.

The New Dealers' War:

FDR and the War Within World War II
by Thomas Fleming

Required reading.

[Son House]

I thought this is where a challenger for the Democrat nomination will come, someone who has voted against the Health care bill. But, it may be from someone not currently serving in government.

[Yardstick]

When push came to shove they voted with the liberals every time. Good riddance.

Exactly. This is a move towards clarity, which is a good thing.

[Yardstick]

Thanks for the recommendation. I just ordered a used copy for $2.

[central_va]

The 'Blue Dogs' turned out to be Nancy's good little lap dogs. What a joke; 2 oxymorons:

1. Moderate Muslim
2. Moderate Democrat

[depressed in 06]

Blue dogs should become RINOs and drink a little more TEA.

[tomkat]

Those espousing 'compromise' are cut from the same cloth as Neville Chamberlain .. the argument is ALWAYS framed as compromise = conservatives surrender ground leftward.

Everyone on our side needs to get this absolutely clear in their minds:

When dealing with the marxist scum that comprises the heart of the Democrat party > > Compromise = Slavery

Whether by the inch or the mile, the chains forged by their ilk are intended for the enslavement of YOU and yours, and their goal is the destruction of Our Republic.

They are enemies of the Constitution .. they are traitors inside the gates .. they are the cancer eating away this Nation's vitality .. and they MUST be stopped.

One way or another.

   

[ballplayer]

Its called a time to choose folks,This Bipartisan crap sandwich that has been a Sop to Morons for decades ,served only to give the elites in Washington the Go ahead to screw everyone in the Country,when the politicians are fighting among themselves nothing gets done and that is good,when they agree we all get screwed.
The Facade has been pulled down now and The Communists have become emboldened and are Just running roughshod over the Country,the Only choice for right Now from my Perspective is to get some Red Blooded AMERICANS elected,not some Ivy Leaguse Theorists and Attorneys,just Common sense America Loving people to Majorities and if that takes One Party rule for awhile, fine, as long as they put the Constitution back in Vogue. Of course the Enemy at this point in time, the Democrat Party, which has been taken over by anti American Radicals would like to gain back control of all branches of Government and finish the total destruction, Better Known as the Fundemental Transformation of the United States Of America.
Time to Chooose Folks