I'm not buying.

[mmonk]

Sorry but I'm not buying the premise that the democrats elected to congress that come from red states were elected because their constituents didn't want to bring the war to a close or to uphold the constitution if the bush administration ignored it or broke laws. They can argue that flawed reasoning until they are blue in the face. I still think they were elected out of a desire for change and correction.

[billyoc]

1. That's not what they're selling.

Some of these blue dogs come from very reactionary, xenophobic, racist districts. They are unwilling to give
their republican rivals any ammunition to paint them as soft on terror and/or immigration. That's what they're
selling, and BTW, if you don't live in that district they probably don't give a rat's ass whether you're buying
or not.

[mmonk]

4. And I don't give a rat's ass about them.

Tell me then why the republican opponent didn't win.

[H2O Man]

5. I respectfully disagree.

While you are correct that there are elected officials from "conservative" districts, I think that they are fronting for influences besides the voters. A case can be made that an elected official is supposed to represent the will of the voters, and a case can be made that the same elected official is supposed to take what she/he knows is the correct stance, even if that is at times unpopular. That leads me to the point where I disagree with you: in an era where the grass roots makes use of the internet, there is the ability to collect donations for candidates -- including in primaries -- from people who are not in a given district/state. This may not have resulted in a Howard Dean victory, or Joe Lieberman's being removed from office. But it is something that every politician in Washington DC is aware of.

[billyoc]

6. All of the netroots money in the world isn't going to get Ted Kennedy

elected to the town council in Red Rocks, UT, no matter what. Of course, these pols may be fronting for
all manner of nefarious corporate interests, but they still have to seal the deal on election day with
the rustics.

[mmonk]

7. Can you answer my question?

Why didn't the republican win?

[BOSSHOG]

2. Agreed

There is a small band of red state liberals trying to turn the course one vote at a time and our democratic elected officials have to walk a thin line to get elected or reelected. The right wing religious zealot hate machine comes out in force and its audience is incredibly ignorant and pliable. I've seen it in action. It would be incredibly amusing if it were not so damned effective. I did not want the war to start and want it to end yesterday. And nothing is more precious to me then the constitution. And it is the target of organized religion and the republican party. Please share a little love with your red state teammates.

[demnan]

3. Nor I

So remember that, Senator Webb.