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Competing in traditionally GOP strongholds, they campaign on fiscal discipline, gun rights and oil drilling. They may pose a problem to party leaders in Congress if they win.The prospects for big Democratic gains in the House, amplified by advances in the Senate and a White House victory, have spurred grave Republican warnings of a shift to the left that could bring increases in spending, taxes and regulation. But if anything, a number of potential Democratic newcomers have been running well to the right of their party's leader, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco). Competing in traditional GOP strongholds, many are...

Some of the other leading Democrats in Congress aren't ready to echo House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's suggestion that lawmakers might hold up funding for additional troops in Iraq. On CBS's ''Face the Nation'' today, Pelosi said Democrats won't cut off money for those troops already in Iraq -- but that President Bush would have to ''justify any additional resources.'' The comment comes as Bush puts the finishing touches on a plan that could put thousands of additional U.S. troops in Iraq in an effort to stem the sectarian violence. But Pelosi's second-in-command in the House Democratic leadership, Steny Hoyer, told...

Tango wants to wish all of my friends and family on FreeRepublic a Happy Blue Year!!

Artist George Rodrigue's latest work still features the blue dog he's famous for, but this time, the little dog usually seen in a more festive atmosphere is just trying to keep his head above water - like New Orleans.

Our Texas congressman, Charlie Stenholm (D) TX is a conservative democrat from the 17th congressional district in central Texas. He's a member of the blue dog democrats and his district is mostly made up of conservative republicans. This past election he won the election 51% to 48%, which is the closest race he's had in roughly 20+ years in congress. I think with the combination of a close election and the new Democratic leader in the House being such a liberal (Pelosi), that this might just be enough to get Charlie to switch party's. Charlie is not stupid, and realizes...

Tanner says Ford's candidacy could highlight views of fiscal conservatives By AMBER McDOWELL Associated Press Writer November 8, 2002 NASHVILLE, Tenn.- U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr.'s bid to become House minority leader could bring to the forefront the views of fiscally conservative Democrats, one of his Tennessee colleagues said Friday. "I expect Harold to articulate some of the positions I advocate, particularly fiscal responsibility and the steep federal debt being incurred by this generation and passed on to the next," U.S. Rep. John Tanner said Friday in a statement. "There was not enough discussion of fiscal responsibility during the past...