A thought on challenging Blue Dogs

[argonaut]

I think the thing people tend to forget is that Blue Dog Democrats get elected in spite of being Democrats, not because of it. Supporting liberal challengers to Blue Dogs is like the Republicans supporting conservative challengers against the Olympia Snowe & Susan Collins of Maine. Like Blue Dogs, they get elected in spite of being Republicans, not because of it. I'm well aware that the Blue Dogs can by a royal pain in the ass, but, honestly, would you prefer a conservative Democrat or an even more conservative Republican in the House? A liberal Democrat just isn't going to win in Blue Dog country.

Big tent, guys, big tent.

[DontTreadOnMe]

1. I am not following the logic

So if you VOTE Republican, why does it matter if you have a D or an R after your name.

Is your argument that the Blue Dogs "sometimes" vote for D issues, but on the big ones they always vote R... and that is OK with you.

I say keep the pressure on. Expose them for what they are -- hypocrites.

Keep efforts to educate the red states, turn them to blue states. Elect Democrats that you can count on. Don't settle for less.

[argonaut]

2. Yeah, that's pretty much it.

It's a lesser of two evils kinda thing- I don't like it, you don't like it, but it's better than the alternative.

[salguine]

5. Constantly settling for the lesser of two evils only means that the choices just

continue to get shittier and shittier with each passing year. And at the end of the day, you're still stuck with evil.

[ProSense]

3. "but, honestly, would you prefer a conservative Democrat " What?

Blue dogs are conservative Dems.

If they vote against a public option, they should all be primaried.

[argonaut]

6. You misread my post.

...would you prefer a conservative Democrat or an even more conservative Republican in the House?

[ProSense]

8. I see, but this argument still fails.

See McCasskill-Talent, Casey-Santorum, Hagan-Dole.

Sure none of these Democrats are liberals, but framing the choice as either a blue dog or a more conservative Republican implies that Democrats shouldn't have even bothered challenging incumbent Republicans who appeared to be popular.

A Democrat in office can show leadership and move his/her constituents more in line with Democratic values.

In the health care debate, what on earth does being conservative have to do with providing affordable health care to all Americans?

You can bet that across America there are Republicans who support serious health reform, and given the number of people who expressed support for a public option, they are among its supporters too.

[jody]

4. If 40 members of the Blue Dog Coalition lose their seats to Repubs, then Dems lose the House. n/t

[argonaut]

7. Precisely.

If we primary Blue Dogs and win, we've given victory to the G.O.P.

[ProSense]

9. Not if 20 of them lost their seat.

Target these assholes if they thing they and the insurance companies are more important than true health care reform.

[jody]

10. Agree but if 40 or more lose then Dems lose the House. IMO Obama/Pelosi will not take that risk. n/t

[baldguy]

11. There's a reason Blue Dogs are called DINOs