Mods: I make a honest proposal.

That we now institute a new a form amongst all the sub-catagories. One for Blue Dog Democrats and their discussions. I think it'd be fitting seeing as how their apart of this vast new majority of Democrats that got elected, and there are clearly a lot of people now that identify with the Blue Dog moderate like Democrat.

Anyone else feel me on this one?

got your master key?

if you want to address the mods, this isn't the proper venue.

are you a cop?

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

That is all.

It's an interesting idea, and yes, DU does have a strong liberal/progressive/grassroots bent. But what happens when one of the progressives (namely me) comes out in favor of gun rights? Would that make me a Blue Dog? (Some of my fellow DUers might argue it makes me a Republican in disguise...)

If you are center or even relatively a conservative Democrat you will get heat on this board and forum. Quite frankly I've seen, in several threads and certainly the Clinton fans get this, the heat that people give on this board to them. It's quite nasty and I think we've all probably seen it in one form or the other.

gun owner. I won't be accusin' ye, derb!

I have progressive ideas but, I am not into the fire and vitrol. the off with thier heads school. I have been around awhile and have experienced life and worked in gov. and social services. I know how things work and what's feasable. I may not want to storm the breeches and the hell with anyone who doesn't agree, but, as dems we are suppose to be the open minded ones who give validity to other people's ideas and thoughts. Not want them separated because they are not angry or vitrolic enough. I sometimes see that as being a republican. As dems we are suppose to be the ones who accept all ideas and walks of democrats and respect them.

I'm personally fairly radical on some issues, rather conservative (in the traditional sense) on others.

I still don't know what the OP was talking about, not really. Not a single person regularly posting in this forum is a "Blue Dog" Democrat. That's a coalition with declared members; it represents no specific trait or ideology, just general ideas that trend to the less radical Democratic ideas. If the OP wants a group for discussion of Blue Dogs or support for those who tend to agree with Blue Dogs that's one thing. However, "a new form amongst all the subcategories"? I again ask ...

What?

:rofl:

:toast:

:shrug:

Really I don't know.....

From Wikipedia:

Blue Dog Democrats are conservative to moderate Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives<1>. Blue Dogs are an actual coalition of like-minded Democrats organized as the Blue Dog Coalition, rather than just an expression such as "Yellow dog Democrat." The term is a reference to the "Blue Dog" paintings of Cajun artist George Rodrigue of Lafayette, Louisiana; the original members of the coalition would regularly meet in the offices of Louisiana representatives Billy Tauzin and Jimmy Hayes, both of whom had Rodrigue's paintings on their walls (and both of whom later switched to the Republican Party).

The Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1994 during the 104th Congress as a way for more conservative members from the Democratic party to have a unified voice. It currently has 35 members.<2> It considers itself a continuation of the socially conservative wing of the Democratic party made prominent during the presidencies of Lyndon Johnson and Harry S. Truman, whom many in the Blue-Dog movement consider to be the first two Blue Dog presidents.

The coalition was notably successful in a special election of February 2004 in Kentucky to fill a vacant seat in the House of Representatives. They were also successful in the November 2004 elections, when three of the five races in which a Democrat won a formerly Republican House seat were won by Blue Dog Democrats. Freshman Blue Dogs in the House are sometimes known as Blue Pups.

Often, the group will be instrumental in striking a balance between liberal and conservative ideas. Despite Blue Dogs' differing degrees of economic and social conservatism, they share a strong orientation toward fiscal responsibility, and as a rule work to promote positions within the House of Representatives which bridge the gap between the two extremes. Blue Dogs are an important swing vote on spending bills and, as a result, have gained an influence in Congress out of proportion to their small numbers. They are frequently sought after to broker compromises between the Democratic and Republican leadership.

Moderate to conservative Democrats that post on Democratic Underground that identify as being more a Blue Dog then a Yellow Dog. I'm not talking about the actual members that are apart of the Blue Dog caucus and you all know that damn well. Being a person here that, in my opinion, is not as far left as the rest of the people here I definetely do feel the heat(And see many people giving it to others) when you disagree with people on here and teeter to the center on some things. I'm proposing the idea of a moderate-conservative forum for Democrats that post on DU, I don't think it's so off base. :\

It's a big tent here and while we do have a tendency to get rather passionate and defensive over discussions, I don't see the need for a separate forum for dems of a different stripe. As with any major disagreement that's happened here in the past...this will pass.

You should see the circumcision discussions that's gone on here. Whew! I lost a little ass on a few of those. :)

That sounds rather interesting!

I for one am for circumsion. It can cause issues if your forced to get one later on in adult life.

I suspect we could see a lot of shifts in political alignment in the next year or two.

If Democrats play their cards right DUers may have to ready themselves for an influx of converts from across the spectrum. :-)

Screw ya--Blue dogs didn't win this. The Liberals/Populists did.
Get over it already will ya?

The Populists were moderate and the Liberals card is a joke.

:eyes:
What do you think of Howard Dean and his 50-state strategy?

I think it did wonders in the Second District of Kansas, my district, where the moderate Blue Dog Nancy Boyda beat a 5 term 10 year religious conservative incumbent. I think were off the same page here. I mean to say a great majority of these new Democrats that were elected that make our 31(Hopefully 32) majority are Blue Dogs. >_^

sadly enough, but Nancy is not listed as a member. I certainly hope she does not go down that dark path. Only nine of the newly elected are listed as Blue Dogs. To be too moderate in this day and age is a mistake, because the Republicans of today do not compromise, and to compromise with them will only aid the Republican cause and betray the Democratic voters who elected them.

Coulda sworn Nancy was a Blue Dog.

Truth be told I prefer us Yellow Dogs the best. :)

i think it is silliness. dems get a little power and time to destroy and divide.

one group be given a seperate forum?