Blue Dog Coalition Elects Five New Members

[wyldwolf]

Carney, D-Dimock Township, and four others have been elected to the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of 47 members of Congress – all Democrats – whose goal is to represent the center of the House of Representatives and appeal to the mainstream values of the American public.

“I am honored to join such a well-respected group of members of Congress who put fiscal conservatism first,” Carney said Thursday. “The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States. Being a member of this coalition is truly an honor and will help me better serve the needs of the people of Northeast and Central Pennsylvania.”

Carney was elected to the coalition along with representatives Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona; Bart Gordon, Tennessee; Nick Lampson, Texas, and Zack Space, Ohio. Two other Pennsylvania congressmen – Tim Holden of St. Clair and Patrick Murphy of Philadelphia – are Blue Dogs.

According to Carney spokeswoman Rebecca Gale, membership in the Blue Dog Coalition is extremely limited. During the coalition’s annual retreat, the members implemented a membership cap that is equal to 20 percent of the Democratic caucus, or 47, she said.

Gale said the cap, which can fluctuate with each new Congress, was set to ensure the Blue Dogs remain a cohesive and effective group and that the membership will remain an influential and moderate voice within the caucus for fiscal responsibility and strong national defense.

These are the 47 Democratic congressmen who are members of the Blue Dog Coalition:

Mike Arcuri, N.Y.; Joe Baca, Calif; John Barrow, Ga.; Melissa Bean, Ill.; Marion Berry, Ariz; Sanford Bishop, Ga.; Dan Boren, Okla.; Leonard Boswell, Iowa; Allen Boyd, Fla.; Dennis Cardoza, Calif.; Christopher Carney, Pa.; Ben Chandler, Ky.; Jim Cooper, Tenn; Jim Costa, Calif.; Bud Cramer, Ala.; Lincoln Davis, Tenn.; Joe Donnelly, Ind.; Brad Ellsworth, Ind.; Kirsten Gillibrand, N.Y.; Gabrielle Giffords, Ariz.; Bart Gordon, Tenn.; Jane Harman, Calif.; Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, S.D.; Baron Hill, Ind.; Tim Holden, Pa.; Nick Lampson, Texas; Mike McIntyre, N.C.; Tim Mahoney, Fla.; Jim Marshall, Ga.; Jim Matheson, Utah; Charles Melancon, La.; Mike Machaud, Maine; Dennis Moore, Kansas; Patrick Murphy, Pa.; Collin Peterson, Minn.; Earl Pomeroy, N.D.; Mike Ross, Ariz.; John Salazar, Colo.; Loretta Sanchez, Calif.; Adam Schiff, Calif.; David Scott, Ga.; Heath Shuler, N.C.; Zack Space, Ohio; John Tanner, Tenn.; Gene Taylor, Miss.; Mike Thompson, Calif.; Charles Wilson, Ohio.

http://www.timesleader.com/news/20070615_15-CARNEY_ART.html

[ShortnFiery]

1. Odes of Joy

My LIBERAL Democratic Sheepdog is just a howlin' with delight at the prospect of such good company.
However, he claims "dibbs" on marking places in The Rose Garden.

Woof! ;) :hi:

[wyldwolf]

2. are you sure the "progressive" dog isn't a poodle?

[Apollo11]

3. Those Blue Dogs sure do love to bark, don't they?

On the one hand they claim to be a "moderate voice" representing "the center" and "mainstream values".

On the other hand they will only let 47 members of the House join their little club.

It sounds to me like the preppy kids in a badly-written high-school movie.

Are they saying that 80% of Democrats in Congress are not good enough to join the Blue Dog Coalition?

Are they saying that 80% of Democrats in Congress are out of touch with "mainstream values"?

Are they saying that 80% of Democrats in Congress are too far to the left?

Sorry - but to me it just looks cliquey, divisive and ultimately counterproductive.

We need our members of Congress to unite - not divide up into little factions.

[wyldwolf]

4. LOL! So, do you think the PC would allow Ellen Tauscher in? Or would the CBC let Heath Shuler join?

Amazing how the finger wagging only happens in regards to centrists. Preach your bit to the members of DU who brag about the Progressive Caucus.

[dionysus]

5. who gives a shit about a few punk-ass DINOs?

[wyldwolf]

6. We're not discussing the Progressive Caucus. Why bring them up?

[madfloridian]

7. I listed all but Carney way back in November. They were new then.

So they are not actually adding 5 new ones, they are adding one more to the ones they added in November.

They have access to the president, they are all very important. They have an undue influence on our congress.

I do not consider it something I would brag about, acting just like Republicans in most areas.

Here is a list I posted last November....of all the new Blue Dogs and New Dems with asterisk by the ones who are in both groups pumping up numbers.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/701

put an * by the names who are in both groups. As you can see with the duplication there is not really a huge growth in either.

New members of House Dem Coalition.
Gabby Giffords (AZ-8)
- Michael Arcuri (NY-24)*
- Ed Perlmutter (CO-07)
- Joe Courtney (CT-02)
- Ron Klein (FL-22)
- Tim Mahoney (FL-16)*
- Joe Sestak (PA-07)
- Heath Shuler (NC-11)*
- Bruce Braley (IA-01)
- Chris Carney (PA-10)
- Nick Lampson (TX-22)
- Jason Altmire (PA-04)
- Kristin Gillibrand (NY-20)*
- Baron Hill (IN-09)
- Chris Murphy (CT-5)
- Patrick Murphy (PA-8)} *

New Blue Dogs...

Heath Schuler*
Tim Mahoney*
Patrick Murphy *
Kristin Gillibrand*
Brad Ellsworth
Joe Donelly
Michael Arcuri*
Charlie Wilson

Not surprised to see Mahoney in both groups since he was a Republican when Rahm and our state chair drafted him to run against Democrats. He only changed parties after he was handpicked by them to run.

Amd Heath Shuler almost ran as a Republican before he ran as a Democrat whom Rahm called every day and nagged him to run.