Who is going to fight for Medicare, Social Security, and the minimum wage?

[kentuck]

After this election is over, we will need fighters on the front line to protect these Democratic cornerstones. We don't need timid, compromising, milque-toast Democrats that will surrender to the radical Republicans. We need Democratic warriors.

It doesn't matter if we are in the minority. We will have to use the same tactics that Republicans have used to save these programs. We cannot let the Republicans destroy them.

It bothers me that our Party has lost much of its fighting spirit. And perhaps these programs are in danger? Because we have lost our identity in search of "bi-partisanship".

This election will be a call for Democrats to put on the gloves. If you are not ready to fight, get the hell out of the way.

[stray cat]

1. The best way to fight is by electing dems even blue dogs rather than tea partiers

[kentuck]

2. Blue dogs are "tea partiers"...

if given the opportunity. They would switch parties and stab you in the back in a second if their vote would give the Repubs the majority. Do not be deceived.

[jaxx]

5. If there is a bluedog and a repub on the ticket, who gets the vote?

I think calling bluedogs teapartiers is not accurate.

[kentuck]

6. They will betray you.

Always.

[jaxx]

7. So you would advocate just going ahead and voting for the repub?

On the off chance the bluedog might betray you? What if he/she votes 70% dem, that is a vote we wouldn't have had in congress.

[kentuck]

8. I don't agree with your premise that Democratic values cannot win...

..and that we have to suck up to these fakirs because we have no other option. People have to be given the option before they can vote for it.

[jaxx]

9. This has to do with who is on the ticket.

The primaries are over, this is the reality.

Either people vote for the bluedog or the repub. Which will it be?

[kentuck]

10. I would not recommend voting for the Repub...

But I would warn you that there is not a whole lot of difference in the two. And if the election in the House is so close, maybe Democrats ahead by one or two seats, there is a danger and a probability that the Blue Dogs would switch Parties and give the Republicans the majority and stab you and us in the back and twist the knife. Do you doubt that??

[jaxx]

11. It's always a possibility, on both sides.

I'm a liberal Democrat and don't trust the repubs one bit. That said, I don't favor the bluedogs but a D is worth a majority in tough times. I like the majority being Democratic, it's committees and inquiries and clout.

I'd vote for the bluedog 100% over a repub on the ticket.

I've never been into 'what if' much. It's a waste of time and rarely pans out. If it does, deal with it, but don't give it all the power over the future.

[kentuck]

12. Nothing from nothing leaves nothing.

If the Blue Dogs block or compromise away everything, who wins?

[jaxx]

13. If the repub gets the seat, who wins?

Really, I am not seeing your argument. Other than alluding to there must never be a bluedog on a D ticket ever.....that defies reality since we don't live in every district in every state and have no say so over who wins the primaries, and goes on to be on the ticket.

[kentuck]

14. I see your argument.

But I don't agree that Blue Dogs are the only options in these so-called "conservative" districts. Evidently, there are a lot of Democrats in these districts or, otherwise, these "conservatives" would simply run as Republicans? Why are they Democrats? They have certain principles that can be addressed.We don't have to surrender our beliefs to the Republicans in order to win. We only have to do it in a different way. We have to talk about jobs and tax breaks for millionaires and not get bogged down in social issues and hot topics. And more progressives can win these seats. It is not impossible. That seems to be the argument of most that believe Blue Dogs are inevitable.

[jaxx]

15. Who said they are the only option? They do have to get the votes.

If you want nothing but full blown progressive candidates then the only thing to do is get out there and make sure they win the primaries and get on the ticket. If they don't win, then what? Do we go for a purity test for Democratic candidates before they can run under the D banner? And the voters, what can guarantee they'll vote for candidate P over candidate B, what if they don't do it right and the bluedog makes it to the ticket?

Xanadu is bright and shiny. Reality is black and white...or in this case red and blue.

[CakeGrrl]

19. Get a "real" Dem on the ballot. It's up to the grassroots to do that.

But for whatever reason you don't like who's there, the reality is that the names on the ballot ARE your choices, and for 2010 those names are it.

And I don't buy this "they're too similar" line. A Blue Dog may be a disappointment on some votes, but they aren't kowtowing to an extremist base. Republicans are beholden to Palin and Beck worshippers: anger- and hate-driven ignoramuses who'd love to lock down borders, do away with "elitist" education and keep us in perpetual war fighting for our "freedoms".

Don't tell me a Blue Dog isn't very distinguishable from a Teabagger. Maybe you won't notice much of a difference, but I'll do what I can to keep the representative of a party whose base consists of people who sport "DEPORT THE KENYAN" bumper stickers out of office.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

16. You mean "teabaggers".

[Exilednight]

3. Good question, when you find the answer let me know, because it sure as hell ...........

won't be a repug, and Dems don't seem willing to take up the fight.

[Lasher]

4. I wish we would have strikes if they touch our social programs or the minimum wage.

Like the ones they're having in France. I wish our unions would organize such things here if it came to that.

[alsame]

17. Bernie Sanders will fight for those programs. I'm less

confident about the Dems.

[Enrique]

18. the Senate dems, hopefully

and the President, with his veto power, again hopefully.

The Senate dems blocked Bush when he tried in 2005, and I think we will have a larger majority now compared to then.

[sad sally]

20. Who will fight for the homeless children, veterans and people out of work?

Haven't heard one candidate mention the growing number of Americans with no place to call home. Children are the most vunerable and who speaks for them? As reported on 60Minutes last night, the number of homeless veterans is growing at an alarming rate and unless there's a substance abuse problem, they aren't even considered to go into temporary treatment centers.
America: give us your rich and greedy, not your poor and needy.