Liberal Blogger Desires to Purge the Democratic Party

[Frodo]

While Republicans rejoice.....

Liberal blogger targets 'Bush Dog' Dems

By: Josh Kraushaar
Aug 24, 2007 05:46 AM EST

A leading liberal blogger has declared political war against centrist Democrats – the latest move in an intensifying show of dissatisfaction with the Democratic Congress by the once-friendly blogosphere.

Matt Stoller, who blogs at the well-trafficked OpenLeft.com, has compiled a list of 38 House “Blue Dog” Democrats who have voted with Republicans on key legislation, and called on the activist community to put pressure on them – and perhaps challenge them in primaries – if they fail to shape up.

“Some of these members may need to face a primary challenge, and it's useful for potential primary challengers to know that there is criticism of these members,” wrote Stoller, who refers to the 38 Democrats as “Bush Dogs.”

Stoller said he would give the Democratic Congress a near-failing grade so far. He is particularly upset with Democrats who joined Republicans in supporting legislation expanding the administration’s surveillance capabilities and for not pushing hard enough for a time-certain Iraq withdrawal.

“They are going to be very methodical in this first stage,” said Conn Carroll, author of the Hotline’s Blogometer, of the Netroots. “I’d be very surprised if they end up targeting more than two or three people on the list. But just by identifying people, they’re able to move a lot of these Democrats to the left.”

Stoller’s criticism reflects growing dissatisfaction from within the Democratic base with their party’s performance. The latest Gallup poll gives Congress an 18 percent approval rating, matching an all-time low.

[Lief 🗽]

To be fair, I have no idea who they think they're representing. Unless you're a representative in Utah, Idaho or Wyoming, your constituents dislike Bush and want us out of Iraq.

[Verily]

There are some, such as Al Wynn and Bill Jefferson, who really do very poorly represent their districts and win reelection merely due to the party label. In those places, such movements are perfectly reasonable.

Overall, I don't see why this is a controversial stance; everyone wants to elect representatives that best represent their views. Sometimes they will succeed, and sometimes they will not.

Anything else is mere pro-incumbent bias.

[Rob]

Most of the Blue Dogs are right-wing, so this is a good idea. These losers will vote against stem-cell research but support Bush's wiretapping program- what's the point of having them in the caucus?

[Boris]

Not that this blogger has any particular relevance, but I think it's kinda funny how he assumes the Democratic Party is a party of liberalism. After getting their asses handed to them during the 1980s, the Democratic Party has adopted a platform of centrism and has never really claimed to be anything else (and having done reasonably well since then, winning three out of the last four Presidential Elections).

Also, some of the 'targets'' are odd. Lampson? The guy is going to be outed by a Republican in November 2008, anyway.

[Rob]

the Democratic Party has adopted a platform of centrism and has never really claimed to be anything else

the Blue Dogs aren't "centrist"

[Boris]

the Democratic Party has adopted a platform of centrism and has never really claimed to be anything else

the Blue Dogs aren't "centrist"

meh, that depends upon perspective and how we define the term, doesn't it? but seriously, did these bloggers really expect something different when they rejoiced at the victories of some of these reps in 2006? C'mon. Politicians of all ideologies care far more about toeing a line that makes themselves 'acceptable' in the eyes of their constituents rather than ending U.S. involvement in Iraq or ensuring that the executive branch adheres to the constitution.

[Ebowed]

Blue Dogs aren't even centrist.  They actively support a radical conservative agenda.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Yup a radical agenda based on the premise that both government and individuals should be held responsible for their actions.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

The dems should purge their socialists, liberals and blue dogs.

[Jaggerjack]

LOL. We need our centrists/blue dogs.

[7,052,770]

Primary challenge against Gene Taylor....LOL!  We could have another Roger Wicker-style hard conservative idiot in that seat, or we could a moderate like Gene Taylor.  Those are the choices.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

The dems should become the party of big business, social liberals and libertarians.

[Person Man]

The dems should become the party of big business, social liberals and libertarians.

I have thought of that, too. I think primary challenges would be good. I'd say there are about 30 Fox News Dems that I really don't like. If we could nudge 8 to the base and take out 4 of them in the primary, we should have a working liberal majority in the house, especially if we pick up a seat or two and work closer with the remaining about dozen to 20 gypsy moth republicans.

I think we are fine in the senate, there are only 3 dems that are really problems, Lieberman,  Casey and Ben Nelson,  the rest of the "blue dogs" are just mavericks, can be frustrating, but I regularly are fine with them. The GOP has 3 problem senators as well, Snow, Collins and Specter. We have 100% net loyalty in the senate, but only about 92 or 93% net loyalty in the house. We really have to solidify the house, or risk the growth of a reactionary coalition in the house, even if we keep the house (which there is about a 95% that we will keep each house and about a 85% chance of keeping both)

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

We should try to bring over social moderate/fiscal con, gypsy moth republicans, western(non utah) republicans and the rockefeller republicans.

[Person Man]

We should try to bring over social moderate/fiscal con, gypsy moth republicans, western(non utah or idaho) republicans and the rockefeller republicans.

Yeah.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

We really need a new red scare to break the left in this country. By 'left' I mean the far left social democrats. Think Harry The Great or Speed of Sound.

[Person Man]

What about a White Scare against the social reactionaries?

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

What about a White Scare against the social reactionaries?

You mean a black scare against the reactionaries. Black is the color of fascism/nazism. We'd easily get a black scare if we get a republican in power after 2008 and the economy goes south leading to an army coup(Fox news has reported that a majority of army personnel would rather end the bush presidency than stay in Iraq). Basically we'd have a few million fundies and club for growth types skipping for Argentina, Chile and South Africa, another few million not quick enough to flee ending up behind razor wire and the rest of the cons keeping their heads down and muttering into their beer but not doing anything political for their own safety.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

The warmongering Bush dogs need to go.  They are why I don't have a Democratic avatar and am no longer giving my hard earned money to the Democrats.  They are hurting America, and their party. Too many Congressional Democrats seem to care more what Bush thinks than what 60% of this country thinks.

BTW, the term Blue Dogs came from some paintings that 2 of the founding members of the Blue Dog organization back in 1994 had. Those 2 switched to the Republican party. Why can't the rest of the Blue Dogs, so that we can defeat them now that the Republican brand = sh**t?

[Person Man]

I think we do need a black and red (a blood) scare as soon as possible. We MUST save America or we will be the ones that are skipping for Canada, Italy, Britian, New Zeeland, France, Germany, Sweeden or Japan, if we have big diplomas (MA/MS,MD,JD,PhD) or those of that  are considered "undesirable wetbacks" will end up behind razor wires and in medical labortories, or keeping our heads and muttering into our beer but not doing anything to save our safety,values or welfare.

[Ebowed]

or we could a moderate like Gene Taylor.

I'm sorry, what is 'moderate' about Gene Taylor?  The fact that he pretends to be a Democrat?

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

Join the greens already Elbowed.

[7,052,770]

or we could a moderate like Gene Taylor.

I'm sorry, what is 'moderate' about Gene Taylor?  The fact that he pretends to be a Democrat?

any Republican who held the seat would be an Inhofe-style.  At least Taylor votes for a few progressive ideals.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

The dems should disown the socialists like Harry/Speed of Sound.