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demwing

(16,916 posts)

43. Electing Blue Dogs gives us the illusion of control

Fri Jul 6, 2012, 04:00 PM

Jul 2012

Last edited Fri Jul 6, 2012, 07:38 PM - Edit history (1)

we can technically control the House or Senate, but if we can't control our own pols, what good will that "Control" do us?

Control in name only is an illusion, a room of smoke and mirrors.

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"DCCC Chairman Steve Israel is spending gargantuan amounts of money ... on hopeless Blue Dogs" [View all] phantom power Jul 2012 OP

we need the blue dogs too bowens43 Jul 2012 #1

I reject the premise: they don't help us control the agenda. They undermine our agenda. phantom power Jul 2012 #2

And you're wrong-- the minority can only hinder the majority and never... TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #9

You're wrong. TheWraith Jul 2012 #26

90 out of 100? sendero Jul 2012 #73

I had to laugh too, try 10 to 20% max, in terms of a progressive agenda that rips away corporate stockholmer Jul 2012 #105

That's just wrong... SidDithers Jul 2012 #33

Like TB and The Wraith, you're wrong. Chan790 Jul 2012 #55

That's nice, but... TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #66

You've made some valid points. nt MADem Jul 2012 #79

Your thinking is bass-ackwards. Chan790 Jul 2012 #82

That's too bad because we agree on several key points... TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #87

Yes they do, thank you. It's not the 'numbers' that get things done, it's the sabrina 1 Jul 2012 #53

I'm glad someone gets it. n/t Chan790 Jul 2012 #83

"failure was evident in 2010 when people refused to elect Republicans calling themselves Democrats" Bolo Boffin Jul 2012 #94

as usual, you are spot on! stockholmer Jul 2012 #104

Your words are like music to my ears. Gregorian Jul 2012 #109

We need net 25 seats for Pelosi to replace Boehner. Why is it EITHER/OR? ProgressiveEconomist Jul 2012 #84

You are soo wrong. It's not "all about numbers", it's about principles. Are you willing to give up rhett o rick Jul 2012 #5

How you gonna get your high&mighty principles in place when you're in the minority? TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #8

You either have principles or not. I am not willing to sell out my principles to some low life blue rhett o rick Jul 2012 #11

But you'll let the country go to hell for your principles, eh? Thanks a lot. TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #14

Those without principles are no better than republicans. nm rhett o rick Jul 2012 #17

let's just merge with Republicans a2liberal Jul 2012 #21

I agree. nm rhett o rick Jul 2012 #32

That right there Autumn Jul 2012 #60

+ 1,000,000,000... What You Said !!! WillyT Jul 2012 #68

good for you heaven05 Jul 2012 #24

But you'll still let a seat go to a teabagger if the Dem isn't good enough? That's not... TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #37

You are putting words in my mouth. An unprincipled Democrat is no better than a rhett o rick Jul 2012 #45

An unprincipled Democrat is WORSE than a repuke. bvar22 Jul 2012 #48

word up! frylock Jul 2012 #59

What you said. nm rhett o rick Jul 2012 #76

Considering that there are only 4 Democrats (all from very red districts)... TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #65

You wallow in the mire with your faux-democrats. Our tent is way tooo big. rhett o rick Jul 2012 #75

Since you haven't answered the question... TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #77

Nice try. You try to make me the enemy. I also work very hard to elect Democrats. rhett o rick Jul 2012 #90

An unprincipled Dem will vote with the Dems when party discipline is enforced. MADem Jul 2012 #80

I understand that it is necessary to vote "lesser of evils" although it makes me sick. rhett o rick Jul 2012 #91

No argument from me. There are lots of paths to funding. MADem Jul 2012 #93

the country is already going to hell, with YOUR principles.. frylock Jul 2012 #58

The GOP is technically the minority party DJ13 Jul 2012 #42

The Issa vote didn't matter creeksneakers2 Jul 2012 #88

Horsepucky. 99Forever Jul 2012 #6

Screw that! white_wolf Jul 2012 #12

I agree Maineman Jul 2012 #25

Numbers mean everything though when it comes to committee and sub-committee coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #97

For the purposes of taking the majority, a bluedog and a progressive are the same quakerboy Jul 2012 #18

Where are these throngs of "progressive minded dems" running in conservative districts? Tarheel_Dem Jul 2012 #41

Why fight for a conservative district when there are so many moderate districts that would be easier quakerboy Jul 2012 #69

"from solid liberal to a mix" = total and utter bullshit eridani Jul 2012 #72

Excuse me. The point is he lost. I, personally, was pulling for Kaptur. Tarheel_Dem Jul 2012 #92

The point is that his district was in no sense less liberal eridani Jul 2012 #96

You're the one who posited that Kaptur is every bit as liberal as Kooch. Tarheel_Dem Jul 2012 #115

As far as progressive positions, Kucinich has the edge eridani Jul 2012 #117

I'm "walking back" nothing. Kooch lost. Many of his supporters called Kaptur a DINO. Tarheel_Dem Jul 2012 #118

It was her district in which the contest took place. If she had been eridani Jul 2012 #119

Mmmmmkay? Tarheel_Dem Jul 2012 #120

Having grown up in a swing district, I know for a fact that this was simply untrue. ieoeja Jul 2012 #19

What good does it do to have numbers if your damn blue dogs wont vote with you? nm rhett o rick Jul 2012 #34

Name a progressive bill the Blue Dogs helped pass? sabrina 1 Jul 2012 #51

Name one we would have passed without having blue dogs vote for Dem leaders DeltaLitProf Jul 2012 #95

Agreed. Without the numbers, the Republicans control the agenda. GarroHorus Jul 2012 #56

No, conservative Democrats will be the death of progressivism. Chan790 Jul 2012 #85

That's about the most ridiculous thing I've ever read GarroHorus Jul 2012 #99

Who said ideological purity... Chan790 Jul 2012 #101

"the teabaggers say about the Republican Party" bvar22 Jul 2012 #107

so, you want an extreme left Democratic Party? GarroHorus Jul 2012 #108

So, you are quite happy with the 20 year slide to the Right? bvar22 Jul 2012 #110

It is the extreme left that is most responsible for the 20 year slide to the right. GarroHorus Jul 2012 #112

Karl? Is that you? phantom power Jul 2012 #113

Who is this "Extreme Left" of which you speak? bvar22 Jul 2012 #114

To control the agenda... ljm2002 Jul 2012 #103

I got a call from the DCCC this morning. AngryOldDem Jul 2012 #3

You can help and bypass the DCCC. silverweb Jul 2012 #39

This was Rahm Emmanuel's Blue Dog strategy, as well. leveymg Jul 2012 #4

You got the names of these 17, or are we supposed to take this on faith... TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #7

The 17 Democrats who sided with the GOP to hold Holder in contempt are: phantom power Jul 2012 #10

Figgered Hochul would be on that list... TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #13

Is there a seat quakerboy Jul 2012 #20

Go find such a place. Democrats of all stripes are being targeted by big money. and my own rep... TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #23

2 off the top quakerboy Jul 2012 #71

Yes, there is! silverweb Jul 2012 #38

That is the case with John Barrow, as well. GoCubsGo Jul 2012 #29

@#@%$$$$ Baby Ben Chandler!!!! lostnote12 Jul 2012 #15

Is it better to have a teabagger win the seat rather than a Dem who doesn't pass the purity tests? Chan790 Jul 2012 #86

And, once again, with feeling... TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #89

I would rather loose Congress than elect or reelect a bunch of rethugs calling themselves blue dogs bigdarryl Jul 2012 #16

Exactly sendero Jul 2012 #74

Hey DCCC! What we really DON'T need are BlueDogs, didn't you learn that Lionessa Jul 2012 #22

second heaven05 Jul 2012 #28

Third. nm rhett o rick Jul 2012 #36

Really? kctim Jul 2012 #49

Walt Minnick, look his record up. Lionessa Jul 2012 #50

That would be Minnick the Unitarian? kctim Jul 2012 #54

That's what wiki says for sure. I'm looking for the source I read back in 2010 when he Lionessa Jul 2012 #57

And if you follow the source it's what the Washington Post and Open Congress.org say mythology Jul 2012 #61

You bring up an excellent point... TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #63

Walt Minnick, who voted for the DREAM Act that the Republicans hate so much? RFKHumphreyObama Jul 2012 #81

I give to individual candidates wryter2000 Jul 2012 #27

Please consider Dr. Ami Bera. silverweb Jul 2012 #40

Emily's list. efhmc Jul 2012 #30

I just called the DCCC Omaha Steve Jul 2012 #31

Ami Bera vs Dan "Nastyman" Lungren silverweb Jul 2012 #35

Electing Blue Dogs gives us the illusion of control demwing Jul 2012 #43

Party leadership consists of moderate republicans. They moved in with their financial backing Egalitarian Thug Jul 2012 #44

Blue Dog Democrats are better than Republicans AJTheMan Jul 2012 #46

I read yesterday that huge donations came to the dccc specifically for blue dogs. SleeplessinSoCal Jul 2012 #47

So you want moderate Democrats kctim Jul 2012 #52

If you are voting against liberals and TeaPubliKlans are tolerable enough TheKentuckian Jul 2012 #62

Moderate is about policy, not Party kctim Jul 2012 #121

DuRec! bvar22 Jul 2012 #64

K & R !!! WillyT Jul 2012 #67

corporatism happens upi402 Jul 2012 #70

And this is why I never donate to the DCCC, DSCC, DNC or even the state party any more dflprincess Jul 2012 #78

A relevant note on WA-01 eridani Jul 2012 #98

So, while supporting unions you link to an article saying that union leaders don't... TreasonousBastard Jul 2012 #111

The big money candidate in WA-01 is also a big fan of expanding h1b visas eridani Jul 2012 #116

It is amusing to see the same posters who claim they are THE supporters of the administration Bluenorthwest Jul 2012 #100

It's worth asking them... Chan790 Jul 2012 #102

ever get the feeling you've been cheated?!? stockholmer Jul 2012 #106