for someone who was a history major

[AlanCranston]

I feel that a lot of people on left leaning websites have a selective memory. While it is true that democrats had huge majorities in mid-century america, a lot of them weren't really democrats. A lot of them were republicans with a D next to their name like Olin Teague, Omar Burleson, Bob Sikes, Bill Poage etc. I have with me a 1974 almanac of american politics. It shows the ratings for congressman by the ADA (Americans for Democratic Action) and the ACA (precursor to the ACU). While the republicans were generally conservative and the democrats were generally liberal; there were plenty of republicans in Maryland, Massachusetts, California with high ratings by the ADA, but plenty of democrats in Texas Georgia Alabama etc with high ACA ratings. For all the talk about the lack of party unity, there is quite a bit more party unity than there was back then. For all the disdain for people like Heath Schuler or Mike Ross, while they may be conservative democrats, they are a lot better than the Larry McDonalds Kent Hances or Phil Gramms that used to infect our party.

[Zoeisright]

1. There have always been Blue Dog Democrats.

And left-leaning repukes. The difference is, now all repukes are batshit-crazy right wing loonies.

[AlanCranston]

3. the difference is that most of

the conservative democrat districts are now represented by conservative republicans and most of the liberal republican districts are now represented by liberal democrats. The parties have sorted themselves out

Bob Sikes district is now represented by Jeff Miller. Most of the area in Omar Burleson's district is split up between Mac Thornberry, K Michael Conaway, and Randy Nawguhbower's district. Bill Poage's district is split up between John Carter and Bill Flores district. Olin Teague's district is split up between Flores and Joe Barton's district.

Likewise, the same is true for all the liberal republican districts

[Cant trust em]

2. You could look at the old southern democrats as a key example.

I think its just really hard to compare eras.