Hound those Blue Dogs out of this town

Even if so many more liberal Dems weren't doing so well around the country, I wouldn't be shedding any tears over the demise of the Blue Dogs:

An unsympathetic look at the numbers shows the Blue Dogs could suffer further losses. If Roll Call’s race ratings bear out — that is, if all races leaning Democratic swing that way and vice versa — the group is looking at a ceiling of 19 members.

That is only true if the party wins all of its Tossup races. If it loses those, membership could dwindle to as few as 14 members to start the 113th Congress.

I've said forever, get rid of the whole lot of them. All they do is dilute the Democratic brand. They vote with GOPers all too often and give them "bi-partisan" cover for horrible bills. Let the GOP own their own crappy policy. And if you think I'm overstating that, well here's their former leader, who is now a lobbyist:

“They are going to shrink in size dramatically, but so will the margin of the majority. So proportionately they can and should remain important.”

That is a familiar refrain for many Members and aides tied to the group. If House Republicans remain in the majority but their margin slims, they say, it will be Blue Dogs who help Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) push compromise legislation out of the House.

In other words, the remaining secure ones see themselves as power brokers, to help Boehner get the governing done. Or as I call it, attention whoring by selling out to the GOP when the price is right. Might hurt to get rid of them in the short run, but this is one area when I've long believed it would lead to a stronger Democratic party over time. Maybe even in my lifetime. [George Rodrigue painting via pawfun.com]