Evan Bayh Forming Conservative "Blue Dog" Caucus In Senate

Via Open Left, Roll Call reports:

Bayh, who has spoken with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) about his initiative, said he is trying to create a faction of moderate Senators who will gather on a weekly basis ahead of the usual Tuesday Democratic Caucus meetings.

Additionally, Bayh envisions inviting outside speakers to address the group, which would also work in concert with third parties that have similar viewpoints, like the Third Way, a nonpartisan progressive think tank.

A Reid spokesman said the Majority Leader was similarly upbeat about the idea.

"Nearly a decade of Republican fiscal irresponsibility has contributed to our current economic crisis," Reid spokesman Jim Manley said in an e-mail statement. "That is why Sen. Reid welcomes Sen. Bayh's decision to form this group. For we know that Sen. Bayh, like all Democrats, is committed to restoring our nation's fiscal and economic health."

Over the past three weeks, Bayh and his staff have reached out to Senators to judge the appetite for such a group.

"I've had some expressions of interest," Bayh said. "I'm going to continue to meet and talk to my colleagues."

Likely targets for Bayh would include moderate Democrats like Sens. Mark Pryor (Ark.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Mary Landrieu (La.), Ben Nelson (Neb.), Jim Webb (Va.), and Sen.-elect Mark Warner (Va.).

Steve Benen adds:

In the House, the Blue Dogs are not only overly cozy with corporate lobbyists, this is a coalition reluctant to embrace a progressive vision on issues like climate change, and committed to a financial plan focused on spending reductions and balanced budgets -- precisely when the federal government needs to be doing the opposite.

That Bayh wants a similar group working in the Senate is discouraging, to put it mildly.

Comments

[springsm]

milqtost I never have liked Bayh...but then look from whenceth he cometh. He will probably filibuster with Mitch and gangs

[ohmercy]

EVAN BAYH???

Not THE Evan Bayh?
You mean the same Evan Bayh everyone here on HP were touting as the perfect VP choice while bashing and hate mongering against HRC?
Seriously?
THAT Evan Bayh?

Well Damn!
Who knew???
Oh, right- anyone who did any kind of research.

[soundfury]

Another Benedict Arnold.

[MichaelConrad]

A Progressive Populist Caucus including Dems like Brown, Harkin, Feingold, Merkley, the Udalls, Franken (fingers crossed), and others would be much better. The idea that we need to apologize for our progressive values to win is a myth. A majority of Americans are with us on most issues. Clearly communicating what we stand for and taking bold positions on issues like Universal Health Care, trade, and the minimum age... that is how we build a bigger and better Democratic Party.

It's hard to tell what Evan Bayh stands for... if anything. He's a relic of the DLC / Third Way, "let's shoot ourselves in the foot by being gutless pushovers" days.

[MichaelDeane]

Evan Bayh might want to take a little time learning how the Senate works. His pathetic strategy on Lieberman was this side of moronic.

[PAposter]

This little b!tch was already an unknown, now he's irrelevant! Maybe he can run in 2012 with Palin the other has been.

[heal57]

Hostile little thing, aren't you?

[stell]

LOL

[George Whizz]

Buh-bye, Bayh

[drkazmd65]

Yep.

[leeman79]

Please don't include Senators Webb and Warner of VA in your blue dog bashing. I'd take these two guys over anybody.

Senator Jim Webb, elected in 2006, has led the charge on the crackdown of the defense contracting scam in Iraq. He also wrote the 2008 GI Bill. This man's been in the senate for two years and has already had legislation passed of FDR proportion. He's a decorated combat marine Vietnam veteran.
He's also a best selling author.

Senator Mark Warner, elected in 2008, was a two term governor of VA. As usual, he had to clean up a huge mess left by an incompetent Republican. It was broke, and Mark fixed it. Once DNA technology was perfected, Mark reopened nearly every death row case in VA, and had the evidence reanalyzed. The result, numerous overturned convictions.

I don't know about you, but these are the kinda guys that I want running this country.

[GeorgeP922]

If Webb signs this deal with this devil, and ESPECIALLY Warner since he has been "Bayh-lesque" all this time,

I will donate and voulenteer in VA to the hild to get these guys out by primary.

We don't need a GOP caucus within the dem caucus, its absurd.

[EllisWyatt]

Thank God for Evan Bayh. He is a great American.

[leftbehind2000]

Sincerely, Evan Bayh

[SouthFloridaDem]

Ha! Sincerely, Moms Bayh

[stlrfan]

Evan seems to be a little miffed that that he couldn't pass muster for the best and brightest.
No Veep, No cabinet, so I guess he figures petty obstuctionist is his best revenge.

[PAposter]

Exactly! I never trusted this b@stard! Fvck him, he can go down with the GOP!

[alnc]

Example one on why Bayh is not Vice President.

Example two why Democrats HATE success!!

Example three why Repugs win......they stay focused on their evil....together...(see 8 years of Bush love without stabbing him in the back).

Example four of why Obama better enjoy his honeymoon.....cause not only will he have the RW media and radio attacking him......the Evan Byahs of the world will help!

[alexis d]

We are not taking this lying down. Like an earlier poster said, electing Obama was only a first step. We will take our country back.

[ChiGuy]

If the Senate could become an effective bi-partisan body, the things that they and Obama could accomplish could be phenomenal.

[PAposter]

...and now we have this scorned little b!tch dividing our party, but we knew who he was, and so did Obama, that 's why he wasn't picked for a top position.

[heal57]

'Our' party is not just the left wing.

[LiberalBuzz]

Moderate faction means rightwing Evan.

So when did you become a republican?

[WhatIKnow]

Ditto,

Evan Bayh is an obstructionist! Plain and simple this is sour grapes. We do not need another group within the senate doing another thing. We need our country on the right track and Evan Bayh needs to get with the program. Shame on gutless Harry Reid for not telling him so. Evan Bayh and Harry Reid will be hearing from me and my friends. It's time out for stupid stuff! Let governing begin.

[marinade]

The GOP doesn't need to reorganize itself, Bayh is going to do it for them.

[PAposter]

What a loser, I never liked him.

[XME]

I have no problem at all with being fiscally conservative and RESPONSIBLE. The problem is that most pols pick one extreme or the other...either they want to spend like mad, or they think all government spending is evil.

The key is to recognize where spending on a project, etc. is beneficial and when it's just wasteful...and also to recognize that to flip out because our country's debt is so steep and not want to spend ANY money, will undoubtedly result in a much worse recession.

The worst time to worry about balancing the budget is in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression. Thank goodness Obama gets that (and that we didn't elect McCain who wanted to enact a "spending freeze").