Conservative 'Blue Dog' Democrats assert power

[oberliner]

WASHINGTON -- When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faced scorn from fellow Democrats during a recent closed-door meeting for not moving more aggressively on Iraq, it was conservative Blue Dogs -- her ideological opposites -- who rose to defend her.

The unlikely support reflected an emerging dynamic in the House, where the 43 right-of-center fiscal hawks, including Reps. Heath Shuler and Mike McIntyre of North Carolina, are increasingly asserting their power, working to moderate the policies and image of a party with a liberal base and leaders to match.

The coalition's name is a play on yellow dog Democrats, an epithet that came into being in the 1920s to describe party loyalists in the South who, it was said, would vote for a yellow dog if it ran on the Democratic ticket. Democrats who said their moderate to conservative views had been "choked blue" by the party's liberal flank started referring to themselves as blue dogs and formed their group after Republicans swept control of the House in 1994.

With Democrats in charge again, the Blue Dogs have played a key role in halting an emerging plan to place strict conditions on war funding. Their revolt helped beat back that proposal, by Pelosi ally John Murtha, D-Pa. Leaders are now considering a watered-down version.

http://www.heraldsun.com/state/6-826831.cfm

[Vincardog]

1. Let the Blue Dogs lie down with the RePigLickins we can get rid of them in the 2008 primaries.

[paulk]

3. your attitude is what creates "blue dog" Democrats

There are a lot of consevative and moderate people in this country, and not all of them are Republicans.

Believe it or not.

[Vincardog]

4. There are a lot of Republicans who want the Chimp and crew removed. Does that make Liberals?

[Ninja Jordan]

5. huh?

[madfloridian]

7. I am one of those conservative moderate people....they are not.

They are faux moderate conservatives who are trying to get us to be a one party country.

And the insults from many here when we point out they have damaged a large portion of America by the bankruptcy bill, but voting for the "torture" bill...what was it 25 out of the 42 who voted yes for torture.

When we point it out we get called names like we are idiots and fools.

[Forkboy]

8. your attitude is what creates "blue dog" Democrats

What's the inverse of that?

[paulk]

9. Greens?

IMG]

[Forkboy]

11. LMAO...that's a funny ass pic!

[Double T]

2. I have a lot of respect for the 'Blue Dogs', but this is NO time..........

for 'dilution' of counter-bushco legislation.

[madfloridian]

6. They get the attention because they have the money...the big money

interests like that group.

They get the media attention. You would think Steny Hoyer owned our party now.

[Dr Fate]

10. Great-just what we need-MORE conservatives. Conservatives have done the U.S. so well over the years.

I'm glad Democrats are following their stellar examples. ;)