Ark. BLUE DOG Mike Ross WON'T Seek Reelection

[Segami]

:smoke: :smoke: :smoke:

Goodbye!!!



Rep. Mike Ross, a leader of the "Blue Dog" Democrats in Congress, said today he will not seek re-election next year and might run for Arkansas governor.



Ross, co-chairman of communication for the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, said it's time to do something else. He is the only Democrat in Arkansas' four-member House delegation.


"I believe it is time for me to begin a new chapter in my life by spending more time with my family and exploring new opportunities here at home in Arkansas," he said.


Ross was an outspoken Democratic critic of President Obama's health care legislation. He was among a handful of Democrats who voted with the House GOP majority to repeal the law.



cont'

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/07/mike-ross-retire-congress-blue-dog-democrat-/1?csp=34news&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20usatoday-NewsTopStories%20%28News%20-%20Top%20Stories%29



.

[polichick]

1. See ya! Can we have a real Dem now?

[brooklynite]

4. Depends...can you get one elected in his district?

Maybe Dennis Kucinich could move there...

[polichick]

6. imo you can elect a real Dem anywhere with the right messenging...

When presented with without labels, Americans go for liberal policies.

[onenote]

11. so why did 58 percent of this district go for McCain

Obama's messaging seemed to work a lot of places, but not here.

You need to face reality. Some places really don't have a silent majority of progressive voters.

[polichick]

13. You have to use populist ideas in right-leaning places - economic populism.

[TheWraith]

16. Good luck with that.

Frankly, most people don't appreciate that populism is a double-edged sword. The Blue Dogs are "populist" on social issues for their districts, but some DUers don't really want that. They want Congressional Progressive Caucus members run in every single district, on the belief that that will, somehow, result in them getting elected.

The reality is that without large Democratic enrollment majorities in at least 220 House seats, you cannot realistically expect to create a House majority without Blue Dogs or others like them.

[Hawkowl]

18. Racism

It wouldn't have mattered what Obama's message was.

[Segami]

19. In a nutshell, that pretty much about sums it up

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Oh joy, and now there will be no Democratic representation from Arkansas in Congress.

[socialshockwave]

3. +1

Even though you all hate the Blue Dogs and accuse them of being part of some Koch new world order whatever conspiracy - they're still DEMOCRATS. Who would you rather have? A fiscally conservative Democrat or an out there Teabagger?

[murielm99]

5. He voted with the House GOPers on an issue that is

very dear to us.

If he can't vote with his caucus, he is no better than a repubbie.

[FLAprogressive]

7. "fiscally conservative"? There's nothing "fiscally conservative" about supporting their wars

and not-so-fiscally-conservative agenda.

[socialshockwave]

8. Trust me.

I'd like them to end the wars too. It would save TRILLIONS in future spending.

And if this guy voted for the war - then he's an idiot. But - again, what's the alternative? An extreme right-wing idiot who wants to privatize EVERYTHING?

[FLAprogressive]

9. Seeing as this guy votes with them on almost every substantiative issue.....

....I don't think there'd be that much of a difference.

[onenote]

12. One vote that he cast that a repub successor won't

A vote for a Democratic speaker of the house.

[sinkingfeeling]

14. Before making such a statement, try here...

http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=24571&type=category&category=13&go.x=11&go.y=8

[TheWraith]

17. Really, you'd prefer a Republican?

From http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Mike_Ross.htm:

Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
Voted NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad. (May 2001)
Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
Voted YES on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (Mar 2009)
Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Jan 2009)
Voted YES on monitoring TARP funds to ensure more mortgage relief. (Jan 2009)
Voted YES on $15B bailout for GM and Chrysler. (Dec 2008)
Voted YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
Voted YES on defining "energy emergency" on federal gas prices. (Jun 2008)
Voted YES on revitalizing severely distressed public housing. (Jan 2008)
Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 2001)
Voted YES on $40B for green public schools. (May 2009)
Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
Voted YES on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets. (Sep 2008)
Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (May 2008)
Voted YES on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)
Voted NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program. (Jul 2009)
Voted YES on environmental education grants for outdoor experiences. (Sep 2008)
Voted YES on $9.7B for Amtrak improvements and operation thru 2013. (Jun 2008)
Voted YES on four weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees. (Jun 2009)
Voted YES on establishing nationwide AMBER alert system for missing kids. (Apr 2003)
Voted NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding. (Jun 2005)
Allow travel between the United States and Cuba. (Feb 2009)
Voted NO on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade. (Jul 2005)
Voted NO on implementing US-Singapore free trade agreement. (Jul 2003)
Voted NO on implementing free trade agreement with Chile. (Jul 2003)
Rated 17% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record. (Dec 2002)
Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation. (Jun 2009)
Voted NO on restricting frivolous lawsuits. (Sep 2004)
Voted YES on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions. (Feb 2002)
Voted NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts. (Apr 2011)
Voted NO on repealing the "Prevention and Public Health" slush fund. (Apr 2011)
Voted YES on regulating tobacco as a drug. (Apr 2009)
Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Jan 2009)
Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare. (Jul 2008)
Voted YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health. (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids. (Jan 2008)
Voted NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay. (Feb 2006)
Voted NO on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages. (May 2004)
Voted NO on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients. (Nov 2003)
Voted YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs. (Jul 2003)
Voted NO on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits. (Mar 2003)
Rated 78% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
Voted YES on requiring FISA warrants for wiretaps in US, but not abroad. (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on Veto override: Congressional oversight of CIA interrogations. (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on adopting the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. (Oct 2004)
Rated 89% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. (Dec 2003)
Voted NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment. (May 2004)
Voted YES on extending Immigrant Residency rules. (May 2001)
Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration. (Dec 2003)
Voted YES on extending unemployment benefits from 39 weeks to 59 weeks. (Oct 2008)
Voted YES on overriding presidential veto of Farm Bill. (Jun 2008)
Voted YES on end offshore tax havens and promote small business. (Oct 2004)
Voted YES on $167B over 10 years for farm price supports. (Oct 2001)
Voted NO on zero-funding OSHA's Ergonomics Rules instead of $4.5B. (Mar 2001)
Rated 93% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 90% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
Reject privatization; don't raise the retirement age. (Aug 2010)
Voted YES on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends. (Dec 2005)
Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent. (Apr 2002)
Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years. (May 2001)
Voted NO on terminating funding for National Public Radio. (Mar 2011)
Voted YES on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on promoting work and marriage among TANF recipients. (Feb 2003)
Voted NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks. (Jul 2001)

[Horse with no Name]

10. In other words...he did what he was hired to do

he came in, obstructed Obama and now will go back home to reap his Koch-rewards.

[SoCalDem]

15. not surprising to see many of them leave

They probably know their days are numbered, so why bother.. The know-nothings have pretty much overrun the "red" areas when it comes to representation.:(

[tabbycat31]

20. my personal opinion

Is that I'd rather have a Blue Dog who votes with the party 85% of the time than a Republican who votes with the party 0% of the time.

He represents a more conservative area. I can't stand when Democrats eat their own.

[BigDemVoter]

21. He knows he'd be defeated.

My parents live in AR, and my mother was telling me on the phone last night that Ross has been targeted by the GOP. It appears that he knows it and is looking for something else to do, as he knows he'd lose. What the fuck is wrong with Arkansas? They used to have well-known Democratic leaders like J.W. Fulbright and Dale Bumpers and now it's full of a bunch of know-nothing Repig idiots!

On edit-- Terrible grammar correction!

[MisterP]

22. wait, since when was a corporate-written law enslaving all 310M of us to private insurers

some sort of liberal touchstone?