Don't the Blue Dogs realize that if they undermine Obama they will have no coattails next time?

Exactly how stupid are they really?

but we DON'T see the blue dog bastards compromising with Obama.

So WHICH is the more FUCKING STUPID?

What is even probably worse is that we have the illusion of control.

If you can't use your so-called "control" to pass important legislation, then you really don't control much of anything do you?

when the opposition regains power.

Kinda like we "control" the Senate?

for a vote.

Whether a party has the votes to pass a bill of course depends upon other things including how each congress-person's constituents fell about a particular bill.

House votes, but the part about whether a vote passes is debatable. From what we are seeing now in our party, it is ever more apparent that constituents have a weaker voice in legislation than the heavy contributors who pay big bucks for access and support of their concerns.

So, what I'm saying is that the control exerted by the Democratic party is subservient to the demands of the party's financial benefactors.

couldn't they, oh I don't know actually explain to their constituents why these supposed liberal policies are actually good for them? I take it these people have town hall meetings with voters. Is it so hard to do what Obama does and talk to them like grown ups and show them how these stupid ass right wing policies have hurt this country?

I sure as hell don't understand why these right wing or center right politicins seem to have very little confidence in the policies that have helped this nation time and time again.

...is elected by ticket-splitters. They voted McCain for President, and for their local D representative.

Coat-tails aren't what put them in, and they're not what keeps them there.

Just stating the facts.

NT!

It is much easier for a Democrat to win in an R+5 district than an R+20 district. While many blue dogs come from Red districts, many of those districts were substantially less red in 2008 than they were in 2004. If Obama is successful then they will continue to be substantially less red or may even become even more less red.

If Obama wanted to, he could tell the Blue Dogs "Vote my way or your DCCC or DSCC money will go to someone else!

Thats just not the case. Obama didn't just invite the blue dogs to the table, but also the Republicans and Health Insurers

There is no way, for example, for Charlie Melancon to reconcile with his district if he went along with Obama's climate change bill. None. He votes for it, his ass is grass. The bulk of the industry in his district either currently produces electricity, petrochemical, or chemical products. There is no way for him to vote for that bill and then come back here and explain to everyone why he did it without getting the boot in the next election. It doesn't matter how good his intentions are, the fact of the matter is that the people he represents do not want it.

Here's a hint: if representatives vote with their national party, then they are representing the interests of the party and NOT the people who elected them to office.