interesting development? blue dog reversal on health care?

[onenote]

When the health care reform bill was passed in 2009, 39 Democrats voted against it, most of them blue dogs. Voting against it didn't help most of them when it came to the 2010 elections. Of those 39 Democratically held districts, 26 are now represented by repubs. Of the remaining thirteen, only three stuck with their original position and voted in favor of repeal. But 9 Democrats who voted against health care in 2009 (plus one Democrat who replaced a Democrat who had opposed the bill) voted against repeal. Its an interesting twist. Is it just limited to this issue or is it possible that, pushed into the minority, the blue dogs will learn a lesson from the repubs and recognize the value of a united Democratic party on issues.

It certainly makes those predictions (I think it was Cantor) that the repubs might have a "veto proof' majority for repeal look particularly stupid (the repubs were more than 40 votes short of that mark).


on edit: I should note that one of the 9 that voted against the bill originally but then opposed repeal was Dennis Kucinich, who obviously is not a blue dog.

[mmonk]

1. They are in the minority party in the House now.

Voting with Republicans didn't help their numbers either as there are less of them now.