[GAB-1955]

On the other hand, it's not bad for conservatives. The Democrats will vote together on procedural votes, but not on anything else, and the Republicans still have a solid core. If we can split the Democrat loonies from the solid Dem conservatives, then we will win more than we lose in this lame-duck Congress.

[paudio]

The scenario you mentioned was common in the late 1990s and early 2000s, I think. But later they didn't have many Blue Dog Democrats anymore, and having Condit as one of their leaders didn't help.

[Notwithstanding]

Any pro-life limited-government legislator is fine by me.

I consider my self GOP exclusively due to the pro-life plank in the platform.

If that were ever removed, I would consider myself an independent.

I am Catholic, Pro-life, Conservative and Republican, in that order.




Hat tip to Mike Pence, whose trademark slogan on his radio show was:

"I am Christian, Conservative and Republican, in that order".

[pawdoggie]

On the other hand, it's not bad for conservatives. The Democrats will vote together on procedural votes, but not on anything else, and the Republicans still have a solid core. If we can split the Democrat loonies from the solid Dem conservatives, then we will win more than we lose in this lame-duck Congress.

First of all, the "solid Dem conservatives" are virtually nonexistent. Go to the American Conservative Union's congressional ratings. You have to go to "Louisiana" (on the House Side) to find a Democrat who cracks a "lifetime" fifty percent. Living in the KC area, I'm familiar with two alleged "moderate to conservative" Democrats (Ike Skelton in Missouri, and Dennis Moore in Kansas) who don't hit a fifty percent rating. How is that possible? Because of the very "procedural votes" (and the committee votes) that you mention. The "moderate and conservative" Dems can move a bill to the floor without "officially" voting for it when the bill comes before the entire House for the proverbial "up or down" vote. Only rarely are the "CINO" and "MINO" Dems asked to vote in favor of liberal legislation, and even then only as many votes as may be needed are asked for. Frankly, when you look at the ACU ratings you realize that a "moderate" or "conservative" Democrat is a closeted Liberal.

[JCEccles]

Embittered old school leftists will control the key committee chairmanships. Committee chairmen control the legislative agenda.

The blue dogs are place holders to give the far left the control it has coveted for 12 years.

[Wonder Warthog]

"If we can split the Democrat loonies from the solid Dem conservatives, then we will win more than we lose in this lame-duck Congress."

If they were recruited by Rahm Emmanuel, they are NOT "solid Dem conservatives"--they are simply wolves wearing sheepskins.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Everyone is forgetting something here.

Values votes mean nothing whenan activist court overturns it. And now with Dems in charge, we can kiss that 5th Conservative justice goodbye for the next 20 years.

Blue dogs mean squat in the Senate.