I wrote this about Nancy Boyda back in 2006. I was most impressed with her.

[madfloridian]

CQ Politics included Nancy Boyda of Kansas in their article about Blue Dogs not standing with the nominee. They were wrong in that she is apparently not a Blue Dog. She applied but was turned down.

If you are an elected Democratic official you do not distance yourself from your party for fear of losing. That has gone on since the late 80s, trying to be all things to all people. I was wrong to include her as a Blue Dog in my post about Democrats who will not endorse the nominee. However, she is wrong to say she will not be open to showing Obama around her district of Kansas.

IMHO any elected Democrat who says:

But Boyda probably won’t be escorting Obama around campus in the foreseeable future, and she says she may even skip the convention. “I’m going to stay focused on doing my job. The good people of Kansas are fine with that,’’ Boyda said.

CQ Politics

I don't care if she goes to convention. I care if she will not be seen with our nominee, Barack Obama.

Here is what I wrote in 2006. I was so impressed by her speech at a DNC meeting. We had donated to her campaign, and I felt good about it.

GWU put together a good summary of the DNC meeting, Boyda, Walz, and Dean.

"Congresswoman-elect Nancy Boyda (D), who upset five-term Rep. Jim Ryan (R) in Kansas' 2nd CD, likewise praised the "50 State Strategy." Boyda ran what she described as "a fairly traditional campaign" in 2004. She said that "the DNC was on the ground since August 2005" and lauded their approach as, "Hey why don't you guys tell us what you need." She said she decided to run again because that organization was already in place.

Out of her 2004 experience Boyda has some harsh words for consultants. "People are looking for authenticity, not a cookie cutter type campaign," she said. She and her husband Steve wrote all the text for three multi-page newspaper inserts; during the course of the campaign a total of 800,000 copies were distributed through about 50 newspapers in the district. Boyda also noted that, "First of all, I refused to go negative."

December 2, 2006--"We need to be the party that represents all Americans," DNC chairman Howard Dean stated at the regular meeting of the DNC's Executive Committee. He said that one of the Republicans' biggest mistakes has been focusing on a narrow base."

I very much respect the difficult job of being a Democrat in some states. Hell, it is not very easy being one here in our area.

However, if you are an elected Democratic officeholder, and you distance yourself from your party and the nominee for president at crucial times.....you should face consequences.

That is my opinion. It is not an attack. The Republicans were strong when they held Congress because they were not fearful of us. They stood together in strength.

[madfloridian]

1. More about her from 2006. She ran a great campaign.

That post of mine was part of a response I wrote to Time article

I found this in the comments from 2006. Boyda ran an amazing campaign.

"Her campaign fascinated me as I read about it. Wasn't she one of the ones who switched from Republican? Or did I just imagine I heard that.
Here is something from the blog comments at the NYT about her campaign...in response the blog I put in the OP.

"In this article Howard Dean mentions Nebraska and Idaho as states where President Bush was forced to spend his last weekend before 11/7, but let it be noted that Bush also felt compelled to visit Topeka, Kansas, on the Sunday evening of that same last weekend before flying back to the Crawford Ranch — to try to goose a flagging Jim Ryun over the finish line ahead of Nancy Boyda and her brilliant and lengthy issue-oriented newspaper inserts she called “Congressional Voter’s Guides.” It turns out that Dr. Dean’s 50-state strategy, combined with those three, monthly, 500,000-copy Voter’s Guides inserted into every newspaper in her District once a month in a weekend issue for the last three months, did the trick of making it Ryun’s Last Run. This combination would have produced the decade-long demise of Ryun WITH Bush cheer-leading (and Cheney’s) or WITHOUT Bush cheer-leading (and Cheney’s, who came to visit Kansas and Ryun the month before, but with his usual complete LACK of cheer!). Many thanks, Howard !!

— Posted by Owen de Long"

I hope she will continue an amazing job and stand with Obama, not run away.

[BlueCaliDem]

2. As always, wonderful post madfloridian. K&R. I agree that Dems...

... in republican-rich districts must stand strong. Although not immediately evident, repubs are people too and all people respect strength and abhor weakness or any show of "lack of strength".

These officials need to understand that although they don't want to endorse/escort/promote our presumptive nominee, that doesn't mean they need to advertise it either!

If elected a Democrat, act like one or just go repug. Seeing these so-called "Blue Dogs" makes me sick. They're the reason why the Democrats and the Democratic Party are consider "weak on defense" {translation: wimps} and a bunch of "make love not war" high and floating hippies.

Reps like Boyda facilitate this myth by their actions allowing repukes to point and whine "See?? You want to support that?

[damntexdem]

3. It's a real shame. But VP-candidate Sebelius can show Obama around ...

the entire state of Kansas. And maybe help a bit in some other states, such as Colorado and Missouri.

[MuseRider]

4. This does not make your

smears today any less bullshit.

Does a guy with family in the area really want to be shown around by someone else? He probably has little time to be with them as it is. Maybe she figured that, maybe she even talked to him about that. Maybe just maybe, lord forbid *getting weak kneed here*, she does not want to endorse him, maybe not now but later or maybe never. God forbid the woman have a mind of her own. God forbid the lockstep of the Republican Party not be what we aspire to now. We hated their lockstep so much, called them fascists because of it and brainless automatons hated them because it worked and killed our country so I know!!!! LET'S US DO IT GUYS! Great idea! We will lie and smear everyone who does not do exactly what we think they should do, round them up and get them in line or smear them everywhere we are allowed the space to write and do it without even bothering to look and see if it is true. You know, as I said before, we have worked damned hard in this state against all the nasty remarks made by Democrats who still to this day make those remarks. We are making huge progress. We do not need people who do not do their research smearing our representatives. This little post really does not make up for it because you still assume you know what she will and will not do or that you know the reason she is not doing what you think she should do.

Gee, I am sorry.....however.......nice try

[madfloridian]

5. She should not be afraid of being a Democrat.

If you find it unacceptable, so be it. You know I meant no smear, and you know she is wrong to avoid Obama.

[MuseRider]

6. God you make so many assumptions

how do you mind read so well?

Who the fuck said she was afraid to be a Democrat? You said it, only you. She, on the other hand ran and runs a fine race standing proudly with the Democrats here and never caving to all the Republican outrage and smear. I am certain that she can stand up to the smears of the Democrats as well.

No, I do not know you meant no smear because you are still doing it. No I do not think she is wrong. I am not a Democrat but I work my ass off for them and I can tell you the fact that she does or does not endorse Obama will make no difference. Again I ask, why the call for lockstep here? I thought only Republicans needed dependent non thinkers.

It feels very suffocating with all this talk. Rounded up and bunched together for a stand of unity like it or not? Boy, that is freedom and democracy 2008 I guess.

[madfloridian]

7. I am going to say..

good by for a while. I don't know how to make peace, and I am tired of being attacked.

[MuseRider]

9. LOL

always the victim. Have a nice day.

Next time look up the facts before you start tearing apart someone else's rep. You may not like the fact that they don't think/do/act/vote like everyone else but that does not make them any less a Democrat, in fact it makes them more of a Democrat.

[Ken Burch]

21. If you are a Democratic member of Congress, you are OBLIGATED to endorse the presidential ticket.

She doesn't need McCain loyalists to get elected anyway. The GOP is collapsing, even in Kansas.

[madfloridian]

34. I agree. They should feel obligated to do so.

thanks.

:hi:

[democracy1st]

37. man get off your dayum high horse like you're so darn hardcore

[madfloridian]

8. Are there many Dems refusing Democratic aid? "maintaining distance"

It is widespread? Am I wrong in thinking Democrats should not be afraid to be Democrats? I think of Tim Mahoney here, terrified of losing so he distances from Dems and gets attacked by Republicans for being a coward.

She has refused financial help from Democrats. Why?

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jun/05/boyda_stays_neutral_presidential_race/

"It’s part of Boyda’s ongoing plan to distance herself from the national party and maintain independence in her conservative-leaning district.'

"Last year, Boyda declined offers of campaign advice, strategy and fundraising support from national Democratic Party officials, despite being targeted by the GOP as one of the most vulnerable House members."

[MuseRider]

10. Because she LOST when she

used those nice offers that came with the caveat....now this means you will say this and you will not say that and she LOST.

She WON when she ran her own campaign with her own thoughts and ideas. She garnered the support of people who would never have voted for her, I was one of them, by being open to different ways of looking at things. She WON when she threw off all the crap that all that "support" left her with.

Yup, it pays to be able to think for yourself and separate yourself if that is what needs to be done. Is there any way you can possibly understand that?

[Mabus]

15. They wanted her to accept PAC money and she said "no"

Too many strings attached and too high a price. Her campaign was financed with grassroots money and not money from PACs. Plus, when the DCCC stepped in to "help" in 2004 they wanted her to get rid of her local staff and use their consultants. People who don't know anything about Kansas. The consultants wanted to use the same crap tactics that don't work and Boyda refused. She wanted her campaign to be staffed with Kansans. The DCCC didn't think we were up to the challenge.

It was a mutual divorce. And, frankly, I think we got the better end of the deal.

[madfloridian]

16. I don't like the DCCC much either. But Obama is the nominee.

I like her, I admire her, but she is wrong in not standing with the nominee.

[Mabus]

27. Back in 2004 I was a Dean delegate

I was elected after Dean bowed out of the race and I was the last Dean delegate elected in the US. I did not endorse or work for Kerry until after the convention because I wanted to make sure that some of what the good Doctor wanted was heard. It wasn't easy. There are still people who won't talk to me because I didn't jump on the Kerry bandwagon the moment his candidacy was inevitable. And I don't regret it. Not one moment of it.

When I got to the convention and the day came for Kerry to be officially nominated I turned my floor creditials over to my alternate who cast her/our vote for Kerry. In the meantime I was at the Paradise Cafe (or something like that) with the other Dean, Kucinich and Edwards supporters. After the convention, I held fundraisers, canvassed, I distributed Kerry signs that I had to pay for out of my own pocket, I walked the district, did voter registration and then worked on GOTV for the Democratic ticket. And when the time came, I voted for Kerry in the general election.

Sometimes, a person does what they feel is right. I don't feel bad about what I did or how I did it. I stuck to my personal beliefs and I worked for the Democratic party and all the Democratic nominees.

I had a lot of people who were upset that I didn't cast the vote for Kerry at the convention but they know that I supported him when it counted.

Boyda has her reasons for doing what she is doing. And I will not condemn her. The Democratic Party is a big tent and everyone has their own way of supporting it. I won't go along with singling out and condemning Democrats because they aren't jumping on board right away. I just can't. Nor am I trying to condemn you. All I'm just saying that unless Boyda comes out and says not to vote for Obama that we should let her do things in her own time.

[democracy1st]

39. thanks for not codemning Madfloridian,because there's quite a few of us that see this differently

[Mabus]

40. And I'm from Kansas and I don't like false allegations against Boyda

Of course I didn't condemn madfloridian, I condemned what she was doing. I condemned her use of false information to propagate an out and out lie. In return she has accused me of name calling and she says I attacked her. I'm glad to see that you realize that I wasn't attacking her personally (as she did me) but that I was disagreeing things she said. Not only did I disagree with what she said, I provided information to demonstrate how wrongs she was.

I'm a reasonable adult. I want accuracy and truth. Not repetition of GOP talking points. A madfloridian freely admitted, she could only find some of her information from rightwing websites. This is no surprise to me as either a Kansan or a Democrat since Boyda has a huge target on her back because she took one of their "safe" seats. Resorting to using rightwing talking points to injure the reputation of a Democrat who organized anti-war protests in 2003 and who won her seat with grassroots support in Kansas is wrong.

As it turns out, Boyda has endorsed Obama after he promised not to write-off Kansas as unwinnable. One of the reasons that I worked to help get Boyda elected is because of her commitment to Kansans. I think holding out until she was guaranteed that Kansas would not be overlooked was a good thing and she shouldn't be condemned for it.

[Mabus]

11. The Democrats were the ones that turned their backs on her

They supported her in her 2004 run and in return they asked her to back down her issues that she cared deeply about. When she decided to run in 2006 she decided that she would run as a Kansas Democrat and she won. Initially she talked to the DCCC and they wanted to run her campaign again. They were more than a little hesitate about it and then said they didn't want to spend the money because they tried to help her in 2004 and she didn't win. They suggested that she accept AIPAC money and then told her some other PACs they wanted her to use. She thought about it and then said "no". So, she turned her back on the DCCC and that made a huge difference in how she ran her campaign and why she won.

And, you know what's really funny? In 2006 the DCCC started running ads on behalf of Boyda, after it looked like she might win. The Boyda campaign had to ask them to stop. They eventually did but only after Boyda denounced the ads. After she won, Rahm tried to take credit for it. The whole thing was absurd. Boyda ran a grassroots campaign without the help of the DCCC, she did credit the DNC. I respect that about her. She knows who helped her win and who didn't. She's a lot savvier than people give her credit for being.

[madfloridian]

12. I just posted my tribute to her in 2006...you still think I am attacking.

I do not understand why you keep thinking I am. I admire her. She is wrong, though, not to stand with Obama.

What if our whole party did that? Distanced themselves.

I see you guys are royally going after me in another thread.

I guess no peace is possible.

[MuseRider]

14. Do you really think

people are too stupid to make up their own minds?

An endorsement is not needed to be a Democrat in fact it should never be required. Critical thinking should be welcomed, she knows what she is doing.

[Mabus]

19. Where in god's name in my post above did I say you were attacking Nancy?

Please quote it. I was explaining what actually happened during her campaign and why Nancy refused DCCC money and that she credited Dean's 50 State Strategy in helping her win.

Furthermore, I don't see how trying to bring facts to the table attacking you. I did not say anything about you. I talked about Boyda, her campaign and how the DCCC treated her. I did not mention you once.

Please, please, show me where I said anything about you in my post above? I must be losing my mind because I swear I didn't reference you once.

[MuseRider]

17. Thanks Mabus

As I said I am running around on the outside doing stuff and not privy to the inside stuff like you have been. How do you maintain sanity because I know you are all over the place. Thanks for this. I knew a good part of it but not the specifics or the who dids. I had forgotten about the ads. On reflection that is pretty funny.

[Mabus]

20. I remember the ads because I called Steve Boyda and asked him

They were out of character with the rest of the campaign and I wanted to know WTF was going on. Steve was really pissed about them and said they were calling the DCCC and asking them to stop. I also remember it because I had to explain what was going on to people that I had contact with throughout the state.

fwiw, my friends and I didn't work directly with the Boyda campaign. We never work directly with campaigns unless we're doing fundraisers. Then, we have to have some contact with them when we make arrangements to accommodate the candidate's schedule. We've always acted on our own and amongst our friends but never as an official arm of any candidate's campaign. That's changing with the filing of our own progressive PAC (for local elections only).

[MuseRider]

24. It is fun working the outside

isn't it? I am not sure I would do well inside, well I can't be anyway since I am not a Dem anymore.

Hey, it looks like I am on ignore. I don't know if you are but it looks like we can take over the thread!

[Mabus]

28. Considering I dont' play with with others

It is the only way I can play at all.

I don't know about being ignored. I don't pay attention to that stuff. I have never used that particular feature myself and I don't understand why others do.

LOL, I always takeover threads when I'm passionate about something. I can't help it. I guess it does explain why I ended up in law school though. I love arguing but I do know when to quit when I'm ahead and I have apologized for being wrong more than once. On this subject I will not back down. I don't know why we all have to line up and say "me too!" right away. I've never played that way and I never will. See my post elsewhere on this thread where I talk about being a Dean delegate and not endorsing Kerry until after the convention.

[MuseRider]

31. I knew right away

when I met you that we were much the same. :hug:

I read your post. I find it ridiculous that people would be mad at you for how you did things. I find that utterly astounding and frightening. What is it with wanting to be just like everyone else?

I have used ignore to get my blood pressure down but then I turn it off the next day. I do not think I have anyone on ignore but if I do they have their tombstone now because I never see them.

I have to run. If this is still going I will jump back in. You and I would make a very dangerous team. When you get back to Kansas........................

[Mabus]

35. Back at you

I really miss being in the heart of Kansas politics. I like to think that it is because of people like us, those who stand firm and do work on what we believe in, that have helped turn back the red tide in Kansas. People from outside don't have a clue about what we've accomplished or how we've done it. All they can do is make fun of us. They overlook the fact that we're taking our state back a little bit at at time. We have a Democratic governor, we've retaken a Congressional seat, we're giving Republicans a run for their money and yet they think we're backward. They have no clue.

I'm so glad to call you my friend, and dare I say, my comrade.

I also think it is funny that people from outside of Kansas are condemning Boyda more than those of us who live in or love Kansas. It just shows they don't understand what's going on or how thinks work in our state. Nor do they understand how much harder they are making things on the ground for those who are actually working within the state.

Since we moved a few months ago, I can't tell you how many people here in Maryland have turned their noses up at us because we're from Kansas. However, once they start hearing what we have to say and what we've learned from working there, their minds are changing. We have a lot of hard knocks but we don't give up.

I'm also glad I was able to give you some information that you didn't have before. Hopefully you'll be able to keep it in mind and use it to your advantage.

Until we meet again.

[MuseRider]

36. Back in to watch the weather report.

Tornado watch just West and North of us. *sigh* It is really tough on the farm with this weather. I am learning a lot about what farming really takes. Most days are 16 hours long with a few short breaks in between jobs. You would think I would lose some weight!

Kansas is a pretty cool place to be. I really don't want to ever live elsewhere. Maybe you have to be born here to understand that.

Comrade fits nicely I think. You are my comrade and my friend.

Doing the outside work is hard but very worthwhile. I actually think that is what is changing things. When you announce a party you get that knee jerk reaction, probably not different than anywhere else. Working in nonpartisan politics gives you such a foot in the door for education and changing minds. We have made so many big changes here. The Repubs are fracturing partly because of how they are being run and partly because we are out there doing the work. We are gaining respect in the halls of our state legislature. I could go on.

Yes, that was great information to have. I have bookmarked so I can readily find it when I need it.

You are doing the work for us out in Maryland. Changing hearts and minds. I can't think of anyone I would rather have out doing that good work. We have a long way to go here but little by little. This election should prove very interesting.

[MuseRider]

13. Now I am pissed

you MUST hear this.

When she ran the first time the word was, well she was/is a Republican. She sounded much like a Republican and many of the things she said turned people right the hell off. Why vote for an unknown Republican when they could vote for the same one they already knew?

This second time was different. When I first spoke with her she was either thinking about running again or had just declared (Mabus put the gathering together, she would know). When I asked her why she had said this or said that she told me that she was run through Washington. They were not her ideas and she did not care for them but to get their support she had to run on them.

The second time around she ran her own campaign. She proudly stood as a Democrat in a sea of red. She worked her ass off as a DEMOCRAT, loud and proud. She even attended Anti War rallies. She had to run a genuine campaign and that was a campaign that reflected her and her values.

If that is not good enough for you or for the Democratic Party then too bad. If one is not allowed the latitude to make their own minds up and run the race they need to for their particular area then we will lose and lose and lose. People can spot bullshit a mile away. If you can't believe what you are saying you are done. So, should she not have that opportunity? Apparently not. Welcome a new Republican Congressman.

[Ken Burch]

23. Give me a break. Nobody is going to refuse to vote for her just because

She shows loyalty to the presidential ticket.

Also, why would anybody who has a "Kucinich" avatar in their posts be defending "Democrats for Nixon"-type thinking?

:wtf:

[MuseRider]

25. WTF indeed.

[Ken Burch]

26. You're asking us to accept that it's no big deal that a Democratic Congressmember

is refusing to back the Democratic ticket?

We aren't THAT unpopular as a national party. Nobody is in the place where they HAVE to disassociate themselves from our ticket to survive.

Is it asking that much for her to sit on a podium next to our nominee at least once when that nominee comes through in the fall?

Or, if she couldn't, did she have to make such a big show of ANNOUNCING it?

I'm sorry, but party loyalty is not that to ask.

I'm sure she's great, but I'm also sure that she doesn't have to repudiate our ticket to win.

[MuseRider]

29. I don't think

I ever said she would lose if she endorsed. If I did then I misspoke. What I meant was it would not make any difference because people can think for themselves and endorsements make little difference IMO. I don't think I have ever heard anyone out of the political geek club (that is you and me :)) even mention endorsements.

Not endorsing does not mean she will not vote for him. It does not mean she dislikes his platform. I don't know what she is thinking but she is doing what works for her. So she should be tossed aside because she doesn't want to make an endorsement? How do you know she does not have something already planned for his trip here? I don't know but I give her the latitude to do what she needs to do or thinks she needs to do. Why so critical? It is not as if people are going to not vote for Obama because she did not show him around the area where he has family and has probably been many times or that she did not endorse him. How do you know she isn't going to do it later? I don't know. :shrug:

Did she make a big show out of it? Well if she did then she had a reason but I am not privy to it. Why does everyone have to fit into the same mold to be considered a good this or a good that? Personally I think someone who functions outside the group think but comes in the end with their support based on true thinking is much more credible than someone who chooses not to think and just go along with the crowd.

BTW, what the hell is it about Nixon? Are you insinuating I am a McCain person? LOL.

**I have to leave and may not be back for a while so if I don't answer it is not because I am pouting and putting you on ignore or not wanting to talk anymore. For what it is worth I have been plenty mad at Rep. Boyda for some of her votes. I am not her biggest fan but I respect her and I like her personally therefore I can't sit and see her smeared all over the place with incorrect information.

[Ken Burch]

32. Thanks for your response.

I wasn't implying that YOU were a McCain person. That was more meant to apply to the thought process behind Rep. Boyda's decision. That reminds me of "Democrats for Nixon", a group that was formed in the '72 election to stop McGovern.

And, no, everyone doesn't have to fit into the same mold, but we do need to avoid having Democratic officeholders disassciate themselves from the presidential ticket. Too many ugly things have come of this in the past.

The refusal of Southern Democratic Congressmen from the 60's to the 80's to support our presidential ticket should, as many AA Dems pointed out at the time, have cost them their committee chairs(they were in violation of party rules for doing so) but they never suffered for it and they grew even more arrogant towards the national party BECAUSE they never did. This, and the betrayals of McGovern and other Democratic presidential nominees are part of the reason why this kind of thing is a sore point for me.

[madfloridian]

18. I can't read half of the comments....but I darn well tried to make amends.

Just think....what if every Democrat in every state decided they would not back the nominee.

This is pretty dangerous stuff, this distancing from the nominee.

I am not sure what I am being called or what...but I tried to make amends for calling her a Blue Dog.

Apparently there is no forgiveness. Fine with me.

[MuseRider]

22. Well since you can't read this

I will post anyway.

Go ahead and ignore me. I am fine with that but it sure shuts down a discussion you don't want to have. You were wrong. You did say that she is not a Blue Dog but you continued on with your smear.

When you did not win with that and we proved that she is a proud Democrat in spite of what you were making up you resorted to your usual, "I am being attacked" then you shut it all down with the ignore button.

I guess I can now understand why you find so much comfort standing with as many like minded people as you possibly can. I guess it is hard for some when the people who are on the same side as you don't just do the proscribed steps required for approval. Personally I prefer a party where free thought and critical thinking are encouraged. Just because someone does not agree with you totally does not mean they can't be counted on. It also does not mean they are your enemy. Thought can not be shut down. Individuality can be through scare tactics and threats but thought will always be there. Why are you so afraid of her being independent? It works for her so she should change?

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mmm413]

30. I think you need to re-think your admiration for Boyda

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/05/is-boyda-nuts/

[Mabus]

33. Not this shit again

What she was saying was that Bush was elected president and it is hard to get things done in congress because of that.

That clip is over a year old and apparently you didn't hear about her walking out on Keane's testimony at the Armed Services Committee because of his rosy Iraq report.

Well, it really doesn't matter because those of us in Kansas knew what she was saying and we support her.

[Ken Burch]

41. NEWS FLASH: Boyda has now ENDORSED Obama!

It's way down in this article, but it's there:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/06/12/politics/p001802D75.DTL&hw=pelosi+primary+opponent&sn=003&sc=336

[madfloridian]

43. I wrote about it before, gave her kudos. I added another post.

SO...any more apologies due? How about those who don't stand with Obama or say he has terrorist ties...how about they apologize.

[Ken Burch]

44. Well, they should. They definitely should.

Thanks for posting again about it here. Just thought we should be up-to-date now that the situation's changed. It's good to give somebody credit for doing what's right.

[madfloridian]

45. How many times must I do it? I just went back through my posts....

and I have given her kudos 3 times.

Plus now.

[madfloridian]

42. Someone just let me know I forgot to add on this post that Boyda did endorse.

I thought I had added it to the post.

I apologize again for saying she was a Blue Dog, and I hope CQ Politics and others edit as well. I do not apologize for holding Dems accountable, but I apologize for calling her a Blue Dog...though she apply.

However, I admire her and I am glad she chose to endorse.

I think all of the Democrats should.