or at least that is how I read this from The Hill.
For the Blue Dogs, their robust fundraising bolsters a viable political center in an ever more partisan Congress.
“There’s a group of Democrats who aren’t going to give their voting card to either leadership,” Tanner told The Hill in July.
Now isn't that nice? We are expected to vote for them, but they don't promise loyalty. BTW I think this is the main group that got the bankruptcy bill through.
http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/092606/news4.html"A number of prime Democratic pick-up opportunities involve conservative candidates the Blue Dogs have endorsed, making it nearly certain that the coalition will expand in the next Congress, perhaps dramatically. The Blue Dogs have endorsed former Reps. Ken Lucas (D-Ky.) and Baron Hill (D-Ind.), as well as Democratic challengers Brad Ellsworth (Ind.), Mike Weaver (Ky.), Heath Shuler (N.C.), Maxine Moul (Neb.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), John Cranley (Ohio) and Phil Kellam (Va.). In open seats, they are backing Christine Jennings (Fla.) and Charlie Wilson (Ohio).
Blue Dogs already constitute nearly one fifth of the 201 House Democrats, but they are outnumbered by the Congressional Progressive Caucus (64), the Congressional Black Caucus (43), and the New Democrats (42).
Some of those caucuses are likely to grow as well. The CBC has endorsed candidates Keith Ellison (Minn.), Angie Paccione (Colo.) and Les Miller (Fla.). The 11-member Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is backing candidates Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) and Mazie Hirono (Hawaii) through its work with the Asian American Action Fund."
I think this is the group who wants Steny Hoyer to take Pelosi's place. Correct me if I am wrong on that.
Interesting names on the list.
(On edit: I changed the party loyalty in the subject line to "leadership" as the article says. I am very confused how they mean it, and I don't want usual suspects to say I am being unfair. They could mean party, but they could mean party "leadership", as they do not support Pelosi. Shs is having to walk a fine line right because of that.)