Nancy Pelosi's Leadership Driving Blue Dog Democrats From House

As we learned during the Obamacare vote, there isn't any such thing as a 'blue dog' democrat. If Pelosi needed a vote, she got it.

Via Politico:

In 2010, Nancy Pelosi starred in $75 million worth of negative ads that helped Republicans win control of the House and wrest the speaker’s gavel from her.

Now, the relative handful of moderate Democrats left say the fear of a rerun helps explain why so many of their breed are headed for the exits and why others ignored the pleas of party leaders to make comeback bids in 2012.

Three of the four leaders of the moderate Democratic Blue Dog Coalition have announced that they will retire at the end of this year. The latest to leave is Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), who got a country butt-kicking when he ran against Pelosi for House Democratic leader after the last election.

The argument, made by several sources who called POLITICO without solicitation, goes like this: Even if a moderate can withstand a bad lot in redistricting, raise millions of dollars and overcome ads warning of a second Pelosi speakership, his voice will be ignored in the next Congress.

“What I think is really lost here is a lot of the retirements were preordained the minute Nancy Pelosi decided to run again for speaker,” one retiring centrist said in an interview last week.

Keep on reading…

Obama forced to beg for help from blue dogs he cost their jobs

President Obama twisted the arms of blue dog democrats to pass the Stimulus and Obamacare. Those votes cost up to 52 House democrats their jobs. With liberals revolting over his tax compromise, President Obama needs the blue dogs to bail him out again.

The Wall Street Journal reported:

President Barack Obama is looking to an unlikely quarter—lame-duck Democrats who lost partly because of him—to help quell a revolt by House Democrats opposed to his tax deal with Republicans.

Administration officials Friday continued to scramble to build support among the 52 Democrats defeated in November, a group that comprises a substantial number of conservatives and centrists from Republican-leaning districts who failed to withstand the anti-Obama wave of the midterm elections.

Many of these Democrats are already on record supporting an extension of existing tax rates for all taxpayers, but in recent days they have been eclipsed by an anti-Obama uproar from liberals who dominate the House Democratic Caucus. That puts the White House in a curious position of needing the support of lawmakers who lost their jobs in part because of the president.

Obama Prepares to Back the Bus Over Blue Dogs After November Election

President Obama embarked on a what seemed to be an insane strategy last year. Shortly after passing the Stimulus, he had his minions on the Hill, Reid and Pelosi, launch full throttle into two of the most controversial legislative issues ever to face Congress. The House passed Cap-and-Trade climate change legislation in June of 2009. The Senate failed to take up the bill because of lack of support among many Midwest Democratic Senators. Undeterred, President Obama had Pelosi start the process of ramming Health Care Reform through the House. After much twisting of 'Blue Dog' Democrats arms, the House passed HCR in early November. A lot of haggling and some thinly veiled bribing ensued and the Senate passed Health Care Reform under reconciliation in March and the House quickly affirmed the bill.

This strategy appears to have been wildly successful. Why would anyone call it insane? The only reason President Obama and the Democratic leadership were able to accomplish this was their almost 80 vote majority in the House and filibuster-proof 60 vote(including 2 Independents) majority in the Senate. Since these bills had virtually no Republican support, moderate Democrats from districts or states that voted for McCain in 2008 or have a large number of Republican or Conservative voters were needed. These are the so called 'Blue Dog' Democrats. The 'Blue Dogs' were forced to repeatedly throw themselves on their swords to pass legislation that was often very unpopular in their districts or states. Consequently, many of them won't be returning to Washington next year. President Obama will lose his large majorities in both the Senate and House. He may even lose control of one or both of those bodies. President Obama threw 'Blue Dog' democrats and his future majorities under the bus to pass Cap-and-Trade and Health Care Reform.

The pain Blue Dogs suffered due to Cap-and-Trade seems to have been wasted because it is still stalled in the Senate. Health Care Reform passed, but if President Obama had been willing to work with Republicans, he could have passed a Health Care Reform bill without destroying the careers of many moderate Democrats. The general concept of HCR was very popular last summer. A version of Obamacare light could have easily passed with some Republican support.

As President Obama pressed ahead with his liberal agenda, the economy continued to head south. Team Obama told us unemployment would not go over 8% if the Stimulus wasn't passed. Unemployment actually approached 10% even with the Stimulus. Voters demanded Congress focus more on jobs. President Obama ignored this demand and pressed his controversial initiatives. Why did President Obama waste the careers of so many Democrats for a stalled climate change bill and Health Care Reform that could have been passed in a different version? President Obama has shown a lack of willingness to compromise his liberal ideology, but few think he is politically insane.

Obama's strategy only makes sense if his plan all along was to cost many of the 'Blue Dogs' their jobs. The stage has been set for Cap-and-Trade and President Obama is now setting the stage for Immigration Reform. How can so many moderate Democrats losing their seats help pass these controversial bills? There will be a large block of lame-duck 'Blue Dogs' in Congress after November 2, 2010. Getting their votes for these unpopular bills would be almost impossible if they knew they would have to face reelection again soon. Without that constrain, the Democratic leadership can appeal to their party loyalty and, with luck, get enough moderate Democrats in the House and Senate to pass Cap-and-Trade and Immigration Reform in a lame-duck session after the November election. Scott Brown's capture of the Kennedy Senate seat complicated the plan, but that could not have been foreseen last summer. After throwing 'Blue Dogs' under the bus the first time, President Obama now plans to back it up over their corpses.

Five Blue Dogs Who Flipped From No to Yes on ObamaCare Among Most Vulnerable Incumbents

The 'Blue Dogs' who changed their votes from no to yes made the differece and allowed Obamacare to pass. Their constituents may make them pay the price this November.

The Politico reported:

They were the difference makers on health care reform: House Democrats who flipped from opposing the plan to supporting it, delivering a win on President Barack Obama’s signature domestic issue.

Now, they are also among the Democrats’ most vulnerable incumbents, and none is building a reelection message around their famous vote.

Anti-Bluedog Billboard In Florida

A new Florida billboard reminds voters a vote for a bluedog lapdog is a vote for Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Lapdog.net.


Rep. Allen Boyd is the "lapdog" referred to on the billboard.

Water for Obamacare votes?

In what may be another backroom deal, two 'Blue Dog' Democrats from the Central Valley of California have affirmed their support for Obamacare. Water is rationed in California and the San Joaquin Valley have had their water turned off in order to protect a tiny fish called the delta smelt. This devastated the farming in the area and led to 41% unemployment in some areas of San Joaquin Valley. President Obama has been ignoring this travesty of justice. Now that votes are needed for Obamacare, the water allocation for this area has been increased and ,suddenly, two 'Blue Dog' Democrats have cleared up their indecision and moved into the 'yes' category. They even let the two new Obamacare supporting Congressmen help make the announcement of increased water allocation. This smells like vote buying.

Is this Another Backroom Deal to Force Obama’s Bill Down the American People’s Throats?

As a vote approaches on Obama and Pelosi’s government takeover of healthcare, Code Red is now considering two supposedly “undecided” California Democrats, Dennis Cardoza and Jim Costa, to now be “yes” votes.

The U.S. Department of Interior announced yesterday that it is increasing water allocations for the Central Valley of California, a region that depends on these water allocations to support local agriculture and jobs. The region has recently been starved for water and as a result unemployment has soared. Not surprisingly, Cardoza and Costa had a hand in the announcement:

“Typically, Reclamation would release the March allocation update around March 22nd, but moved up the announcement at the urging of Senators Feinstein and Boxer, and Congressmen Costa and Cardoza.”(“Interior Announces Increased Water Supply Allocations in California,” U.S. Department of Interior news release, 3/16/10)

Obama Tells Blue Dogs to Heel or He won't Campaign for Them

President Obama is demanding 'Blue Dog' Democrats become 'Lap Dogs.' President Obama is threatening to not campaign or fund raise for any Democrat that votes against his plan to takeover Americans health care. It doesn't matter if they voted for the pork laden stimulus or Cap and Tax. President Obama has become a one issue President. Most 'Blue Dog' Democrats would be better off if Obama never enters their district this fall, but they will miss the fund-raising. 'Blue Dog' Democrats should change their party affiliation to Independent. Most of them would be better off in a three way race anyway.

The President will refuse to make fund-raising visits during November elections to any district whose representative has not backed the bill.

A one-night presidential appearance can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds which would otherwise take months to accumulate through cold-calling by campaign volunteers.

Mr Obama's threat came as the year-long debate over his signature domestic policy entered its final week.

An Important Message for Blue Dog Democrats

Here is an important message for Blue Dog Democrats from Samuel Adams.

"If you love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."

-Samuel Adams

Any bill costing trillions of dollars and significantly increasing government control over one sixth of the U.S. economy is a threat to our liberty.

"The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases."

-Thomas Jefferson

Any Blue Dog Democrats who supports this abomination of a health care reform bill will be sent packing this fall by the voters of their district.

Nancy Pelosi Insists Democrats Will Maintain Control of House in 2010 Election (video)

Apparently, Nancy Pelosi is willing to throw 'Blue Dogs' under the bus to nationalize health care. This will undoubtedly be a great comfort to all those unemployed Democratic legislators from red states.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged her colleagues to back a major overhaul of U.S. health care even if it threatens their political careers, a call to arms that underscores the issue's massive role in this election year.

Lawmakers sometimes must enact policies that, even if unpopular at the moment,will help the public, Pelosi said in an interview being broadcast Sunday the ABC News program "This Week." "We're not here just to self-perpetuate our service in Congress," she said. "We're here to do the job for the American people."

Of course, Pelosi's seat in ultra-liberal San Francisco is safe. Liberal Queen Nancy Pelosi thinks, with her current 54 vote majority, she can maintain control of the House even if 'Blue Dog' Democrats take a thrashing this fall.

Candy Crowley asks House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about the possibility of Democrats losing seats in the mid-term election.


How noble of Nancy Pelosi to so willingly sacrifice someone else's job to further her agenda.

Blue Dog Battle: Blanche Lincoln Rips Ben Nelson for ObamaCare kickback

Senator Blanche Lincoln is probably just angry she was too stupid to demand a kickback. Now, she is ripping Ben Nelson for the 'cornhusker kickback.' If it was so wrong, why did she vote for it? .

Blue Dogs May Be Ready To Roll Over And Become Lap Dogs For Obamacare

Are blue dogs getting ready to show their true color? The Hill is reporting many of them may be ready to flip their vote and help pass Obamacare.

Centrist, Blue Dog Democrats are likely to favor the Senate's healthcare bill if it comes up for a vote, one of their members said Wednesday.

Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), a Blue Dog who voted against the House's healthcare bill in November, said that he and many other centrist Democrats would flip their votes to support the Senate bill if it came up for a vote in the House.

House Health Care Vote May Be delayed Due To Trouble Neutering Blue Dogs

Nancy Pelosi is having trouble neutering enough blue dog Democrats to pass Pelosicare. The White house is in overdrive trying to strong-arm enough moderate and conservative democrats to pass the House version of Obamacare. The Democratic leadership in the House is now backing off their plan for a Saturday vote. Hoyer is trying to balme Republicans, but Democrats have 40 votes more than they need to pass the bill if they could get all their party members support. They shouldn't need a single Republican vote.

From FOX News:

With House Democratic leaders admitting Friday they don't have enough votes to pass their health care legislation, President Obama unleased a full-court press on lawmakers sitting on the fence.

House Democratic Leaders Want Saturday Vote On Health Care Reform Bill

Currently, Nancy Pelosi does not have the 218 votes she needs to pass Pelosicare. Sho hopes to whip enough blue dogs into lap dogs by this weekend. The House Democrats are hoping for a Saturday vote on their over $1 trillion health care reform bill.

The WSJ reported:

WASHINGTON -- House Democratic leaders are pushing for a Saturday vote on their sweeping health-care bill, but they are struggling to win over shaky rank-and-file members who could hold up its passage.

Tonight's Election Will Strengthen Blue Dogs?

A top blue dog, Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA), discusses the effect of today's election on blue dogs with Neil Cavuto.

From FOX Business:

Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA) on the possibility of the Blue Dogs gaining strength after elections.

Dem on Election's Effect on Blue Dogs (video)

Nancy Pelosi to Blue Dogs: Sit, Blue Dog, sit! Don't Make me Neuter You.

Nancy Pelosi is insisting on a health care bill that includes the public option. Pelosi also backed away from a July deal with Blue Dog Democrats to not base public option payments on the Medicare reimbursement rate. The Blue Dog coalition is reluctant to support a health care plan that includes a full blown public option.

The Hill reported:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday shot down a healthcare compromise that has been viewed as the best chance for getting a bipartisan bill through the Senate.

Pelosi (D-Calif.) rejected the idea of a “trigger” for a public option. That means that the government-run healthcare plan would be a fallback option, enacted only if other reforms didn’t make healthcare more accessible.

“I don't even want to talk about a trigger,” Pelosi said...

Liberal Watchdog Group Attacks Leading Blue Dog

The Liberal watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, has filed a complaint against Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., over the sale of his family owned pharmacy to USA Drug. The complaint alleges that the amount of the sale was greater than the assessed property value. Rep. Ross called the allegation a "bogus ... political stunt." He claims he sold an active business, not just a building. Rep. Ross said the $420,000 transaction reflected a 4 percent annual return on a $316,000 investment he made in 1998. Ross is the head of the Blue Dogs' health care task force and an opponent of the government-run option. Rep Ross has been called Obama's #1 obstacle to health care reform.

MSNBC reported:

The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington questioned in a complaint whether the $420,000 that USA Drug paid Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., for his family-owned Holly's Health Mart in Prescott was a fair price. The deal was first reported this week by the Web site ProPublica.

Documents show that, after the sale, the Nevada County assessor valued the property at $263,700. An appraiser hired by ProPublica valued it recently at $198,000.

Ross on Wednesday called the complaint a "bogus ... political stunt" and has said there was nothing improper about the sale. He said the $420,000 transaction reflected a 4 percent annual return on a $316,000 investment he made in 1998.

Liberals like Rachel Maddow are buzzing in excitement.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

GOP Chairman Michael Steele to Blue Dogs, don't "sit on Nancy Pelosi's lap" (video)

GOP Chairman Michael Steele tells "Blue Dogs" they can't "pretend to be a conservative Blue Dog here at home, then go to Washington and sit on Nancy Pelosi's lap."

Have Blue Dogs reached a Deal On ObamaCare?

According to this report on MSNBC, liberal Democratic leaders gave in to numerous Blue Dog demands.


MSNBC is reporting:

RALEIGH, N.C. - After weeks of turmoil, House Democrats reached a shaky peace with the party's rebellious rank-and-file conservatives Wednesday and cleared the way for a vote in September on sweeping U.S. health care legislation.

In the House, Democratic leaders gave in — at least temporarily — to numerous demands from rank-and-file rebels, so-called Blue Dogs from the conservative wing of the party who had been blocking the bill's passage in the last of three committees.

The House changes, which drew immediate opposition from liberals in the chamber, would reduce the federal subsidies designed to help lower-income families afford insurance, exempt additional businesses from a requirement to offer insurance to their workers and change the terms of a government insurance option.

Liberal “Social commentator” Nancy Giles wants to punch every Blue Dog Democrat in the nose

Liberals are getting testy since Blue Dog Democrats won't let Obama socialize our health care.

From NewsBusters:

“Social commentator” Nancy Giles appeared on the “Today Show” July 28 along with Dan Abrams and Willie Geist during Kathy Lee Gifford and Hota Kotb’s segment “News Flash.” The usually all small-talk segment got heated when it turned to health care.

Kotb posed the simple question “Do you guys think health care will pass…?” Abrams and Willie gave simple answers. Giles, however, got passionate.

“It better and I could punch every Blue Dog Democrat in the nose. And I’m a Democrat. I could punch them, I’m so annoyed. And I’m annoyed with Harry Reid. I better not find him in an elevator.”

Here is the video from the “Today Show” July 28

Fiscally conservative House Democrats may block health care reform

Map of Blue Dog districts.


The Blue Dog Coalition may block the Democrat's plan to raise taxes and spend over a trillion dollars, in the first ten years, on a health care reform plan that would actually raise costs. Currently, the Democrats pushing health care reform are very short of votes on the vital Energy and Commerce Committee.

From NASDAQ:

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., a leader of fiscally conservative House Democrats, said Wednesday a House plan to overhaul the U.S. health-care system is losing support and will be stuck in committee without changes.

"Last time I checked, it takes seven Democrats to stop a bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee," Ross told reporters after a House vote. "We had seven against it last Friday; we have 10 today."

Three House committees are slated to begin considering the $1 trillion-plus bill this week, but the Energy and Commerce looms as the biggest challenge. That's because it counts among its 36 Democratic members seven members of the Blue Dog Coalition, a fiscally conservative bloc that is opposing the House Democrats' effort.