Lieberman, blue dogs and an idle thought...

ulysses

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Mon Jun-23-08 05:49 PM
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Lieberman, blue dogs and an idle thought...

Just read an article on Lieberman in which he waxed enthusiastic about being "free" as an independent. So, I'm wondering - what are the chances that, depending on how the House elections turn out, a gaggle of Blue Dogs and DLCers could switch parties or go independent if they feel that the party's been taken over by progressive extremists, as Lieberman evidently feels?

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lurky

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Mon Jun-23-08 06:02 PM
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1. Hmmm... They usually like to be on the winning team.

Switching to the minority party means that they lose out on committee chairmanships, lose power, etc. I remember when the Dems lost big in 1994, a few of the blue dogs switched parties right afterwards, presumably so they could hang onto their personal fiefdoms. Assuming the dems win big, I'm guessing they will stay where the money and power are.

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PATRICK

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Mon Jun-23-08 06:06 PM
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2. Both parties

would see this as a threat although the GOP might hide behind the "independent" tag with their greater capacity for deceit. An independent can be cut off by party organizations, excluded from influence in Congress and a host of other things that even afflict a genuine third party. One or two is all that the system seems to tolerate. Most independents depend on being seen as actual independents against their closest party proclivity. The sycophants we are talking about are not Ron Paul or Bernie Sanders but establishment poodles beholden to special interests and party intrigue.

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