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January 01, 2010 07:01 PM UTC

Blue Dog Moon

  • 16 Comments
  • by: JO

“Colorado’s Rep. Betsy Markey joins Blue Dog Democrats.” Denver Post, Dec. 17. http://www.denverpost.com/ci_1…

Cold out last night. Still, worth the shivering to see that blue moon, to imagine sturdy farmers in Far, Far Western Kansas peering out at the same brillliant moon, listening to the howls of the First Concerto for Coyotes on the Steppes in D-minor by Betsy Markeehowzitz.

I’ve said before that we’re all philosophers, whether we acknowledge it or not. And exactly one fortnight before the last Blue Moon of the 00s, we learned that Betsy had made it official: she’s a blue dog now.

I mention philosophy because this announcement raises a profound question of, what? Metaphysics? Are Blue Dogs really Democrats? Or are they, well, Republicanines singin’ the ol’ Lil’ Guvment Blues?

Let’s kill the deficit, ‘cept when it means

Cuttin’ the subsidies for corn an’ beans

Gotta pay Big Ag a whole lot more,

‘Cause it’s gentlemen farmers whom we adore!

Subsi, Subsidize

Davey on the Wild Frontier!

Now, I can see an argument for keeping the Noble Nancy as Speaker, and therefore sending Republicans in Democrats’ clothing to Washington lest that vote be a squeaker. But liklihood is that in January 2011, whatever the change in party balance, Pelosi will prevail. And if members of her caucus aren’t going to vote for Democratic bills thereafter, as I gather the “blue dog” designation suggests they won’t, what’s the point in having them there?

Ah, you might ask, isn’t that better than having a Republican warming those seats? To which I reply: No. When a representative (or a $enator) votes in line with the R party, whose policies are uniformly backwards and lead to further crises like the one in which we now find ourselves as a nation, then I think it’s better that they be properly labeled: Republican. Truth in labeling, lest voters perceive that “it doesn’t matter, they’re all [crooks][dishonest]]looking out for their own interests].

IF we elect nominal Democrats and get Republican policies, what’s the difference?

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16 thoughts on “Blue Dog Moon”

  2. “…I mean, if you got a cat for one day, man – I mean, if you, say, say, if you want a cat for 365 days, right – You ain’t got him for 365 days, you got him for one day, man. Well I tell you that one day, man, better be your life, man. Because, you know, you can say, oh man, you can cry about the other 364, man, but you’re gonna lose that one day, man, and that’s all you’ve got. You gotta call that love, man. That’s what it is, man. If you got it today you don’t want it tomorrow, man, ’cause you don’t need it, ’cause as a matter of fact, as we discovered in the train, tomorrow never happens, man. It’s all the same fucking day, man.”

    ~  J. Joplin, 1967

    Measure time anyway you want.

    Measure political success any way you want.

    The world does what it does and your definitions, while still yours, are not defining.

    1. Rep. Salazar proudly labels himself a Blue Dog.  And yet I can recognize that Scott Tipton and/or Wayne Wolf would be much worse.  You don’t have to love ’em to vote for ’em.  

  4. But I still can do basic math.  Last I checked Markey votes with Dems almost 94% of the time so I’m not really sure how you can claim she “votes in line with the R party.”  I read some of your comments here and you had beef with Markey even before she was elected.  Fine.  But distorting her record in a public way is kind of asinine.  And harmful to the Party.

    And seriously…if you think it’s better to have Cory Gardner (who was Marilyn Musgrave’s campaign chairperson and who can’t even admit the President was born in the United States) in the CD-4 seat…you need to have your head examined.

    I’m sorry..but this is a dumb post.

    2. His message was to stay involved with movement political organizations. There are some progressive organizations that are doing some amazing work.

      I think we should stay involved and push a progressive agenda through movement political organizations regardless of who is in Washington.  

    3. forgiven and admired for being so reasonable.

      You tone is just so …even.

      I mean you did say the post was dumb, but you didn’t call it f***ing stoopid or ridiculous.  I aspire to your evenness.

    4. So, I can’t understand English. Sorry. I’m dumb. So help me.

      The Post story, which we both read before either (a) posting a diary or (b) calling someone else “dumb,” said:

      WASHINGTON – Rep. Betsy Markey on Wednesday became an official member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a 55-member group of conservative Democrats known for fiscal restraint and bucking party lines.

      Q. 1: What does “became an official member” mean? Anything new here? Did she do something, say something, that would indicate a change in behavior by joining the group? I guess I’m so dumb I don’t even know what the “news” in “newspaper” means.

      Q. 2: What does “bucking party lines” mean?

      The Blue Dogs often are pilloried by the left for voting against Democratic initiatives….

      Q. 3: “voting against Democratic initiatives…” What, 6% of the time? Does that mean that the other 94% comprise votes for Democratic initiatives, or does it mean that some major portion of that 94% are routine votes that have little to do with Democratic initiatives, pro or con?

      Markey has moved to solidify an image as a fiscal conservative – voting against health care reform and, on Wednesday, against a measure to raise the federal government’s debt ceiling.

      Q. 4: What did it mean to vote against raising the debt ceiling? Meaningless gesture to gain votes? Or did she really mean “raise taxes”? Help me, ’cause I’m dumb. Did she vote against agriculture subsidies in order to keep the deficit down? Did she campaign in the House to reduce military spending? Did she vote in favor of Congress adopting a more modest health care insurance plan? Is that what “voting against health care reform” meant? To trim Congressional salaries to the average salary earned in their respective districts? Does it mean she’s a blue dog, only she isn’t?

      Markey was accepted as a Blue Dog by unanimous vote after a months-long process that included interviews by the coalition’s members and an examination of her voting record.

      Q. 5: God, it’s horrible to be dumb, to imagine that announcements like “I’m joining the Blue Dogs, gang; it’s official!” are some sort of hollow, meaningless campaign gestures meant to make a candidate appear as something they’re not–not really! “I’m a blue dog, only I vote like a Democrat 94% of the time! So no one need worry. My announcement means nothing! Portends nothing for the future!” Is that what it means to be a “blue dog”? Shorter version of Q.5: Why bother to join the blue dogs? Should liberal Democrats yawn and say, “Doesn’t mean anything, JO, only you’re too dumb to see it!” No wonder newspaper circulation is falling; “news” stories mean nothing, portend nothing; just cheap dead fish wrap.

      She joins Rep. John Salazar of Manassa as Coloradans in the coalition.

      Q.6.: Does that make everything better? If Li’l Bro does it, it’s okay by us! We’re all Democrats, even if we’re not! Am I too dumb to see that?

      Q. 7 (extra credit): In 2008, several residents of CD-2 went next door to Longmont, and possibly further afield, to campaign for Markey. So, Ace, are you pretty sure that in 2010 those same Democrats will pile into their Volvos and Subarus and race eastward to push doorbells on behalf of the newest Blue Dog? Can’t wait to help a blue dog! Heeeere, pooch!

      2. In 2010 if Cory Gardner  is the R nominee and the residents of neighboring CD-2 decide Markey would be better  Representative, yes.

        If, however, they conclude that because she’s not more faithfully and progressively liberal that CD4 might as well have Gardner, no, they’ll stay home.

        Yes, I was unable to answer Q1-6.

      3. point for point…but I realized that that would actually be “dumb.”  I’m not sure from where your quixotic anger stems (and truly…and I am not saying this to add snark…some of what you wrote above simply does not make sense) so I am going to step away from emotion and try something crazy and turn to reason.

        From what I can gather from what you wrote above, you disagree with the argument that Markey is a “real” Democrat because, while she votes with the Party the VAST majority of the time, the 6% of the time that she does vote against the Party represent the votes that make one a “real” Democrat.  Really?  This is truly what you are positing here?  Who is the judge and jury about what votes count for being a Democrat and what votes don’t?  You?  God…I hope not.

        And…eee gads!  Fiscal discipline??!!  How terrible??!!  Well we should throw her to the wolves!

        And never mind that she represents a Conservative district.  Apparently, according to you, she should tell her constituents to take a hike and let them know she is taking the advice of a blog poster who does not even live in CD-4 and start just voting the straight Party line in hopes maybe you will deem her a fit enough Democrat for your support.

        I don’t usually bother engaging such small reasoning as what I read above.  The only reason I did this time is because I think people like you are dangerous…Democrat or Republican.  You preach some purist hogwash about what people can come into the Party and what people should be kicked out.  And you yell and scream like a child who doesn’t get their way all the time.  And in the process, you add to the vitriol that permeates our public discourse.

        Do I think the people who come from out of district will be back to help Betsy this year?  Yes…I do.  Because the majority of people appreciate a Representative who has their own mind and who does not accept dogma (any dogma…no matter where it comes from) as some sort of scripture that should be followed at all costs.

        I can think of a thousand good reasons why Markey would cast some of the votes she did.  It says something about your thought process that you apparently cannot even think of one.

        The only piece of advice I can offer you is this…there are some very smart people who blog here.  David Thielen, redstateblue, JeffcoBlue, Madco…you might take the time to read some of what they write…at the very least, you should have the common decency to back up the spurious claims you make about public officials here with sound reason and fact.  Approaching it from a purely selfish angle, you should not enter a battle of wits unarmed.  Because that does, in fact, make you look dumb.

      4. We have no future prospects at this time for job creation.  And the multinational corporations continue the technology drain through outsourcing to foreign countries.  How many technology employees have been laid off from high paying jobs only to realize they will never be able to be employed in that field again? Instead of getting to the business of taking care of our middle class these politicians are in the pockets of big business and continue to vote against the middle class and what would be in the best interest of our country.  

        I am disappointed that more Americans don’t realize that the continued march down the conservative gravy train for big business path will take us all down in a way we haven’t seen since the Great Depression.  Big businesses will suffer as well as the filthy rich.  When we finally wake up America we will be a third world country unable to recover.  I feel sad for our country right now and sad that the majority of bloggers on a progressive website don’t get it. It’s counterproductive that we focus our attacks on those who are trying to sound the alarm vs. talking about the issues.  

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