Free Republic

Acknowledging his amazement at the crowds gathered to debate health care at his town halls, Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Florida, faced three large gatherings on Monday with many questioners voicing skepticism about the proposals being debated in Washington. "Never have I had this attendance … that is a good thing," Boyd said as he started his third event of the day.

Sometimes it does make sense to throw the baby out with the bath water, at least that is what is being suggested by Allen Boyd, a "blue dog Democrat" from Florida. Actually the Idea was suggested by one of his constituents: When a questioner, Ray Evans, said he believed the President wants to do too much at once and asked whether Boyd would "be willing to scrap everything" and start over to do pursue reform more incrementally, the congressman responded: "I think that is an excellent idea … we may end up there." In a later interview with CNN, he...

A primary story of the health care debate has been the Blue Dog Democrats’ resistance to Barack Obama’s takeover of American health care. As a result of this show being put on by the Blue Dogs for their constituents, just about every media outlet has labeled the group and its 52 congressional members as “fiscally conservative.” A quick note to the journalism majors who are penning such words: Not everyone slightly to the right of the far left is “conservative.” You see, to the right of the far left, one might find an array of categories – from “leftist” to...

Politics is a team sport. People who do not realize that live on the fringes and generally are unsuccessful in getting anything done. There are often people on your team who you do not really appreciate for their character or policy priorities. But why the Blue Dog Democrats have bought onto the policies of the current House leadership is beyond me. My Democratic friends often confront me about my involvement in Republican politics. These people often focus on the issue of abortion since my leanings are somewhat different then most of the members of my party. I make clear to...

By Hastings Wyman Southern Political Report August 14, 2009 —The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has put all three Arkansas congressional seats held by Democrats on its target list for 2010. Most of this is based on the strength of John McCain’s strong victory here over Barack Obama in 2008 -- 58% to 38% statewide. But whether McCain’s strength, a result in part of still-smoldering resentment of Obama by some Hillary Clinton supporters, will translate into Republican congressional votes next year is problematic. For starters, none of the three Democratic incumbents has a history of close races. Indeed, none of...

The Talk Shows Sunday, August 16th, 2009 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Sens. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala.; J. James Rohack, president of the American Medical Association; John Rother, executive vice president for policy and strategy at AARP.MEET THE PRESS (NBC): FreedomWorks chairman and former Rep. Dick Armey, R-Texas; Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla.; former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D.; R. Bruce Josten, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.; Gov. Bill Ritter, D-Colo.FACE THE NATION (CBS): White House press secretary Robert Gibbs; former...

Health Bill Hinges On Blue Dogs' Vote But Few Bite So Far By DAVID HOGBERG AND SEAN HIGGINS August 14, 2009 Blue Dog Democrats are being chased by both sides in the health care debate. But the opposition may have the inside track, based on an IBD survey of these moderate-to-conservative House lawmakers. There are 256 Democrats in the House, 52 of whom are Blue Dogs. Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama, who's not a member of the pack, has said he won't support HR 3200 in its present form. That means Democrats need the support of at least 15 Blue...

AUGUST 14, 2009 Arkansas Rep. Ross Faces Restive Crowd on Health Care STEPHANIE SIMON ARKADELPHIA, Ark. -- Arkansas Democratic Rep. Mike Ross has been getting an earful on health care from his constituents for months – at the supermarket, at church, even when he's out deer hunting. More than 700 people crammed a university auditorium here Friday to continue that conversation. And it was a restive crowd, shouting at the congressman -- and often, at each other -- interrupting questions and drowning out speakers with jeers and boos. Mr. Ross, a former drugstore owner, has emerged as a key figure...

A new coalition on Thursday is launching $12 million in television ads to support President Barack Obama’s health-reform plan, in the opening wave of a planned tens of millions of dollars this fall. The new group, funded largely by the pharmaceutical industry, is called Americans for Stable Quality Care. It includes some odd bedfellows: the American Medical Association, FamiliesUSA, the Federation of American Hospitals, PhRMA and SEIU, the service employees’ union. The ads start airing at about 11 a.m. ET Thursday. The group is likely to be the biggest spender in support of health reform. The campaign will serve as...

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Cornish are on Cavuto. They are Dems who are angry at how Dingell and others are ramming ObamaCare down our throats. According to them, only SEIU/ACORN people were ushered into Dingell's town meeting. They had the first four rows reserved for Obama supporters. Non-supporters were crowded into the back of the room or blocked from entering. No anti-Obamacare signs were allowed. The four rows of union thugs made sure the cameras could not see anyone else or record what they were saying. Finally, when frustrated opponents in the back of the room tried to ask questions,...

This coming Tuesday, August 11th, Rep. Adam Schiff is conducting a Townhall to discuss the Obama Healthcare Plan. Get your questions ready! "Blue Dog" Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff is taking time out of his August recess to host a special Townhall on Healthcare Reform. Please join Congressman Schiff and the San Gabriel Valley Tea Party Coalition on Tuesday, August 11th from 7p to 8:30p at the Alhambra Civic Center Public Library for an extremely important discussion.

One of the so-called 'conservative, blue-dog' Democrats has been caught red-handed in a bare-faced lie concerning the healthcare bill a House committee approved just prior to the August recess. These guys must now be taking lessons from Nancy Pelosi, which is odd, given that Pelosi's approval numbers are dismal.

If House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were looking ahead—to the endgame on health care, and the election beyond—she’d be thinking hard on Walt Minnick. That she isn’t explains the Democratic Party’s growing woes. Rep. Minnick is one of Mrs. Pelosi’s “majority makers,” and a bit of a miracle at that. This is a guy who last year ousted an Idaho GOP incumbent by 4,000 votes. His district—rural, with a pinch of Boise—went 67% for George W. Bush in 2004, and 61% for John McCain. The last time Idaho sent a Democrat to Washington was the early 1990s. The time before that...

If House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were looking ahead—to the endgame on health care, and the election beyond—she’d be thinking hard on Walt Minnick. That she isn’t explains the Democratic Party’s growing woes. Rep. Minnick is one of Mrs. Pelosi’s “majority makers,” and a bit of a miracle at that. This is a guy who last year ousted an Idaho GOP incumbent by 4,000 votes. His district—rural, with a pinch of Boise—went 67% for George W. Bush in 2004, and 61% for John McCain. The last time Idaho sent a Democrat to Washington was the early 1990s. The time before...

Tonight Bright posted this on his "District Work Schedule" page: 8/6/09 MONTGOMERY, AL - Congressman Bright will be continuing his district work schedule and will be in the River Region on Friday, August 7th. Congressman Bright will be hosting a meet and greet event, as well as two "Congress on Your Corner" to listen to concerns and meet with constituents. That's it. These events are tomorrow. No times. No locations. I detect a new strategy: Have meetings with constituents...without the constituents!

here were no lobbyist-funded buses in the parking lot of Mardela Middle and High School on Tuesday evening, and the hundreds of Eastern Maryland residents who packed the school’s auditorium loudly refuted the notion that their anger over the Democrats’ health care reform plans is “manufactured.” “I went to school in this school,” a man named Bob told me. “I don't see anyone in this room that isn't from Mardela Springs right now.” “We’ve been quiet too long,” said a woman named Joan. They came to yell at their congressman, freshman Democratic Rep. Frank Kratovil, and they were surprised to...

KTHV-TV reports: The forum was led by democratic congressmen Mike Ross and Vic Snyder. They say health care costs are growing at twice the rate of inflation and health insurance will reach a point in the next 10 years were employees and employers won't be able to afford it, they say doing nothing isn't an option. Audience members accused them of supporting a government-backed health plan that would take away Americans' personal choice and freedom.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - An unruly Little Rock crowd heckled and shouted at two Arkansas Democratic congressmen Wednesday, accusing them of supporting a government-backed health plan that would take away Americans' personal choice and freedom. At one point, U.S. Rep. Mike Ross sat with his head in his hands while the crowd shouted. He and fellow Democratic Rep. Vic Snyder told audience members at a forum at Arkansas Children's Hospital that they wouldn't support a completely government-run, single-payer health insurance plan.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - An unruly Little Rock crowd heckled and shouted at two Arkansas Democratic congressmen Wednesday, accusing them of supporting a government-backed health plan that would take away Americans' personal choice and freedom. At one point, U.S. Rep. Mike Ross sat with his head in his hands while the crowd shouted. He and fellow Democratic Rep. Vic Snyder told audience members at a forum at Arkansas Children's Hospital that they wouldn't support a completely government-run, single-payer health insurance plan. "But that's what Obama wants!" an audience member shouted, leading to more heckling. Ross, who represents south Arkansas,...

Americans for Tax Reform, a non-partisan group opposed to all tax increases, did a bit of sleuthing through recent Federal Elections Commission (FEC) reports and found one indicating that just days before the 219-212 “cap-and-trade” national energy tax vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, nearly $50,000 in campaign contributions was passed from Democrat leaders to uncommitted Democrats -- apparently to solidify support for the bill. Democrat Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) distribued a total contribution of $28,000 among the following: Steve Driehaus, D-Ohio ($2,000); Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. ($2,000); Suzanne Kosmas, D-Fla. ($4,000); Betsy Markey, D-Colo. ($2,000); Carol Shea-Porter, D-N.H....