Going To The Dogs
Which Class of '06 will have a greater impact on their party, House or Senate Dems? While folks like Webb and Tester will draw more ink and air, it's Dems like Ellsworth and Boyda, and Speaker Pelosi's response to them, who'll decide whether their party's reign endures.
Ellsworth and Boyda join a big class of Blue Dogs (almost all elected in the 12 years since Dems last controlled the House) that Pelosi needs to protect to hold onto power. In the past, Blue Dogs have strayed when necessary to back GOP bills. With GOPers out, will they take the lead and introduce bills in order to put them at odds with their caucus?
Meanwhile, Pelosi faces demands from lefty cmte chairs whose 12 years of minority-fueled rage may be hard to rein in. And then there are the bloggers, like MyDD's Matt Stoller, who asks, "Which Democrats believe in date rape bipartisanship and which ones believe in trying to work together, and failing that, actually work to govern?"
New Senate Dems are a populist lot likely to cause headaches on key issues. But it's the lower chamber's freshmen who'll help their party advance, or tie it in knots.
Join the Discussion
The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.
Comments powered by Disqus