Wednesday, November 03, 2010

So... How DID All Those Anti-Pelosi "Democrats" Make Out Yesterday? Dead Dogs

>


Let's revisit the post from yesterday about the Blue Dogs and other conservatives who threw Pelosi-- and the Democratic brand-- under the bus to try to save their own asses. The question was, "did it help any of them?" Well, every single challenger who came out with idiotic statements like, "I'll support Allen Boyd for Speaker" (grotesquely corrupt Alabama lobbyist Steve Raby), was defeated. The three most aggressively anti-Pelosi Blue Dogs, Bobby Bright (AL), Jim Marshall (GA) and Gene Taylor (MS), were defeated. Blue Dogs Mike McIntyre (NC) and Jason Altmire (PA) managed to survive the slaughter. More than half the Blue Dogs were defeated or retired. Only 47% of them, a number which will go down when Jim Costa's (CA-20) likely loss is announced later today) were reelected. Contrast that to the 95% of the Congressional Progressive Caucus members who were reelected.

And among the Democratic incumbents who wanted it both ways and said they might vote against Pelosi, losers included Walt Minnick (Blue Dog-ID), Bill Foster (IL), Baron Hill (Blue Dog-IN), Frank Kratovil (Blue Dog-MD), Travis Childers (Blue Dog-MS), Ike Skelton (MO), Mike McMahon (NY), Scott Murphy (NY), Zack Space (Blue Dog-OH), Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (Blue Dog-SD), and Chet Edwards (TX). Jim Matheson (Blue Dog-UT), Mark Critz (PA), Pete DeFazio (OR), Heath Shuler (Blue Dog-NC), Joe Donnelly (Blue Dog-IN), John Barrow (Blue Dog-GA) and Mike Ross (Blue Dog-AR) managed to hang on, barely. It certainly wouldn't surprise me to see some of this lot, plus Dan Boren, jump the fence and become Republicans soon. Can't happen soon enough.

And while we're revisitin', let's take a first look at how savvy Jon Vogel and John Lapp were in spending the $65,279,406.73 they directed towards I.E.s. this cycle. Keep in mind that they spent virtually nothing to help progressive stalwarts who might have been saved like Alan Grayson, Carol Shea-Porter, and Mary Jo Kilroy. Instead, these are the races they spent over a million dollars each on:

Chad Causey (Blue Dog-AR)- $1,771,176.95- LOST
Denny Heck (WA)- $1,747,599.58- LOST
Dan Seals (IL)- $1,746,828.70- LOST
Larry Kissell (NC)- $1,705,392.71- WON
Gerald Connolly (VA)- $1,602,785.32- WON
Frank Kratovil (Blue Dog-MD)- $1,514,468.48- LOST
Zack Space (Blue Dog-OH)- $1,512,696.39- LOST
John Boccieri (OH)- $1,449,104.74- LOST
Bill Keating (MA)- $1,433,411.49- WON
Joe Garcia (FL)- $1,422,238.20- LOST
Bobby Bright (Blue Dog-AL)- $1,411,243.95- LOST
Dina Titus (NV)- $1,382,353.12- LOST
Mark Schauer (MI)- $1,377,652.69- LOST
Baron Hill (Blue Dog-IN)- $1,376,746.34- LOST
Gary McDowell (MI)- $1,319,440.14- LOST
Colleen Hanabusa (HI)- $1,304,253.42- WON
Debbie Halvorsom (IL)- $1,303,014.50- LOST
Mike Oliverio (WV)- $1,264,731.94- LOST
Ike Skelton (MO)- $1,256,818.68- LOST
Kurt Schrader (Blue Dog-OR)- $1,247,472.30- WON
John Salazar (Blue Dog-CO)- $1,192,722.15- LOST
John Spratt (SC)- $1,124,025.67- LOST
Harry Mitchell (Blue Dog-AZ)- $1,089,932.74- LOST
Phil Hare (IL)- $1,067,804.37- LOST
Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ)- $1,056,844.12- LOST
Jerry McNerney (CA)- $1,031,192.02-
Julie Lassa (WI)- $1,027,637.45- LOST
Mike Arcuri (Blue Dog-NY)- $1,008,038.47- LOST

We'll be back to talk about how and why these funds were allocated soon; just getting all the facts together first.

Labels: ,

8 Comments:

At 3:59 PM, Anonymous Russ Ketter said...

How about the folks who doled out the money to the damn dead dogs, get dunned out of the party as well. Who would miss these simps.

 
At 4:55 PM, Blogger Barbara said...

The dems who tried to "distance" themselves from the democratic votes deserved to get booted. No loss there.

 
At 5:33 PM, Blogger Chris in Seattle said...

That's why I refused to give a dime to the DCCC or DNC. I wanted my money going to REAL Dems.

 
At 6:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

But we lost Feingold and Perriello, trade any five to have those back.

 
At 10:10 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm surprised you put Pete DeFazio in the list of "barely survived" implying he sympathizes with the BD's. Care to share?

I can confirm, however, that he's been critical of the House leadership, but only because they haven't been progressive enough (I think). He appears weekly on the Portland progressive radio station (620 KPOJ), and really wanted more and better stimulous a la Paul Krugman, e.g., infrastructure not tax breaks, etc.

 
At 12:16 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Your article presents a complete mis-characterization of Oregon Democrats. Congratulations!

 
At 12:26 PM, Blogger Nell said...

Commenting to second the question from Anonymous above. I'm sure Pete DeFazio may have said something at some point that any of us could find fault with, but I would be thrilled if most of the Dems in Congress voted like Pete DeFazio

 
At 12:42 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Some of these guys are in very Conservative districts that are marginal for Democrats. John Salazar (CO-03) for instance represents mostly rural Western CO -- a district that is not a lot more liberal than Kansas. A Democrat has no business winning that seat at all and wouldn't except due to scandal. Betsy Markey (CO-04) is even more so. Both lost.

I have no problem with electing some conservatives to these districts rather than Republicans, but there must be greater party discipline imposed. If they are going to receive large sums of party money -- they have to vote when the party needs them.

The problem comes when Blue-dogs start trying to run things in the House -- undermining Democrats' positions on issues and supporting Republican talking points. They can't do that. You don't see "moderate" Republicans undermining the Republican conservative brand or they get run out of the party and primaried.

We need greater party loyalty imposed on these members.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home