A most unusual conspiracy theory.

[kentuck]

Have you ever thought that there are some Congressmen and Senators in our Party that are there simply because they could not win running as Republicans? Even though they are actual Republicans in philosophy?

This latest debate about extending the taxcuts has caused me to think it may actually be true. We do not have as many Democrats in the House or Senate that we think we have.

We can all think of a couple of Senators that vote with the Republicans on almost every big issue, even though they call themselves Democrats. We don't have to mention names but I'm sure a couple come to mind?

Then we have the "Blue Dogs" in the House. Obviously, they believe they have a better chance winning as Democrats than as Republicans, otherwise, they would run as Republicans. But they vote more with the Republicans than with the Democrats.

They are like spies within the Party. They know everything that is going on. But they do not vote like Democrats.

We can say we have a big tent. But, the big tent is for Democrats - not Republicans. It seems that we have a lot of Republicans infiltrated into the Democratic Party. That is why we find ourselves in the present dilemma over the taxcut debate.

This is my conspiracy theory. And I'm sticking with it.

[CrispyQ]

1. I absolutely believe this.

And, it's only going to get worse as the teabaggers take over the repub party. More & more 'reasonable' repubs will defect to the dem party. As democratic voters continue to vote for the "lesser of two evils" to keep the batshit crazies out of office, our own party is being taken over by repubs. The blue dogs & DLCers are not friends of liberals. At some point, the left is going to have to break away from the democratic party if we want representation. Our hope, is to get the attention & action of the non-voters. If we don't get that group engaged, we won't make it.

This is my conspiracy theory. And I'm sticking with it. ;)

[TBF]

3. I believe that is exactly what will happen -

labor is currently not represented.

[Vincardog]

7. EGGGZACTLY what is happening. Kick them to the curb. If the alternative is a Republican Let the

voters decide. DINOs and Conservadems are a CANCER in our party. I think THEY should leave and start their own party.

[leveymg]

2. Wouldn't it make more sense for the Blue Dogs and RINOS to go 3rd Party together?

Aren't the radical centrists in the Democratic Party and GOP really the same thing? I'd like to see both major parties run along clear lines of ideology, and let the Corporate Centrists do their own thing somewhere else.

Let them go protect their assets by taking over the political system in China, Switzerland or the Cayman Islands. Just pay your back tax bill before you leave.

[kentuck]

4. Just think of them as operatives for the Republican Party...

and it makes more sense.

[CrispyQ]

6. The Democratic party is the best party for them to co-opt.

It already has name recognition & an engine in place for raising cash. It's leadership has shown that it is amiable to supporting candidates who have views in direct conflict with the democratic platform. (In other words, our platform is negotiable!) And it has a group of voters who will vote for anyone with a D behind their name.

[nemo137]

19. It would, but the FPP system and our way of apportioning seats makes it impractical for them to.

Systems. Matter.

[drm604]

5. It's not a conspiracy but yeah,

I believe it's true.

[KoKo]

8. Interesting point ....That's why I couldn't understand why Liberman wasn't stripped of his Committee

Participation. I think he's still the Chair of one of the Committees but had to drop another in a Reid Compromise after some Progressives Dems were upset at him retaining his perks.

You Say:

"They are like spies within the Party. They know everything that is going on. But they do not vote like Democrats."

[kickysnana]

9. Sen Klobachar n/t

[Drunken Irishman]

10. Doubtful...

Many Blue Dogs are in districts that lean heavily Republican. They probably stood an easier chance of running as a Republican than they did running as a Democrat.

I look at my congressman Jim Matheson. He's a Democrat. His father was the last Democratic governor in Utah. His brother ran for governor in 2004 as...a Democrat.

His mother has campaigned for Democrats ever since she stopped being first lady here.

But he is very conservative. Maybe one of the more conservative Democrats in Congress.

Much of that has to do with the fact he's in a very conservative district. Cook PVI puts it at R+15.

If he went to the left, he'd lose in a landslide.

[kentuck]

11. "lean heavily Republican"?

Then why do the Republicans not win??

[Drunken Irishman]

13. They have and probably will one day.

It's going to happen this election. You'll see many conservative districts that elected Democrats in 2006 flip Republican and probably stay Republican for a long time.

Here? Matheson has great name recognition and is conservative enough where his challengers have a difficult time beating him. But that's not to say Republicans haven't come close to knocking off Matheson.

In 2002, when Republicans cleaned up nationally, he won re-election by a little over 1,000 votes.

If Matheson decided to retire, I guarantee you the Republicans would easily win this seat.

[Mnemosyne]

12. Cross-filing lets pukes be "elected" as Dems due to ignorant voters. n/t

[Fire1]

14. I thought that's why we called 'em "Blue dogs!" n/t

[Milo_Bloom]

15. A theory????

I would say that MOST of the representatives don't give a #$&# what the party platform is... and they don't care to serve the interests of any particular party. They toss out red meat during election time to fire the voters up and then do what best serves them personally in Washington.

There have been democrats that should be republicans, republicans that should be democrats...a handful of them actually believe their own BS.. the rest are just along for the ride!

[TK421]

16. The thought has crossed my mind as well...this is weird reading this

[tavalon]

17. DLC, third way, new Democrat otherwise known as old Republican

[Exilednight]

18. All true, and one more to add.........

triangulation.

[pampango]

20. Works in reverse in our area. Some young Democratic politicians switch to repub party to get elected

since Democrats never win around here. Some have gotten elected to office after switching parties, but I'm not sure how the repub party bosses look at them (spies, welcome converts, etc.). As far as I can tell, these "new" repubs act as conservatively as the "old" ones, so if they are "spies" for the Democratic party, they are under deep, deep cover. ;)

[kentuck]

21. They are not "spies" for the Democratic Party...

They are conservatives. By their votes, they are known.

[Blue_Tires]

22. that's not unusual at all...

[mkultra]

23. I live in Oklahoma and we have a Dem Gov.

fact is though that dems in oklahoma are like conservatives in other states. and our republicans are outright insane(Coburn)