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

[Cimarron]

The Senate does not need a Republican-light caucus. It needs to be united in supporting the progressive agenda of President-elect Obama.

[bayside]

Blue dogs and republicans did this mess to us. Hear that Obama the moderates and right wing, the same lieberman dems you have in your cabinet...­We have got to get a JFK liberal president in the running.. We havent had a liberal president since JFK, see what happens when liberals are not in office..

[ECBA88]

can you point to some specific accomplishments of the Kennedy administration to back that up? they did send us to vietnam...

[heal57]

JFK was tough as nails to the steel industry. He was many things. He was President for all the people, not just left wingers.

[reliant1]

It's good see the anti Obama tide swelling..­.perhaps a seperate Progressive Party is needed.

[psnyder]

Screw Blue Dogs.

[FreedomAgain]

Just when I was starting to like Bayh. Oh well, as one poster said, keep involved and vote. We need to somehow mobilize democrats in all elections.

[marinade]

Electing Obama was only a first step.

The next step is holding the House and Senate accountable.

They haven't been doing their job. They are too busy protecting their own little fiefdoms.

[dadw5boys]

If blue starts turning Republicn Red they can be VOTED OUT !!!!!!!!!

[marinade]

Stay involved. There will be opportunities to campaign and vote against blue dog incumbents in primary elections.

[quist 85]

As much as I agree with most posters that the blue-dogs aren't true progressives, we can't fail to look at the big picture. True progressives would never get elected nowadays in Arkansas, Indiana, Nebraska, etc. And it's much better to have a Dem. who will vote with you 75 percent of the time than a Rep. who will almost never.

[hardybear]

That was my reaction to the article as well. Our former Vermont Congressman/Senator
Jim Jeffords left the GOP to become an Independent and vote with the Dem caucus, he
made some tremendous contributions.

Pat Leahy worked with him for years prior to his defection, however, and always had
a knack for finding common ground with the "opposition" ~ still does. I see a great
deal to admire in the Senators who opt for inclusion. It's definitely a quality that drew
me to PE Obama.

We have to work with what we have until we attain better.

[AtlantaPeach]

Bayh has a great idea. I hope he moves on it.

[LiberalBuzz]

Well now we've heard from the southern racist demographic which tells me all I need to know that Evan's idea is horrible.

[gamoonbat]

Democrats just cannot handle victory!

[CornSyrupAwareness]

Comment of the year. The old school dems are abused, they definitely suffer from Stockholm Syndrome. Blue Dog Hoover Party.. hooray for Hoovers!

[Kassandra]

Will our government EVER work FOR the people again? We fight our a**es off to get these guys elected and they turn on us every time. And slender Reid thinks it's a good idea. So much for a "majority" they'll be french kissing the republicans in the bathrooms

[redsongia]

You can be center right, center left, up, down, whatever but alot of you guys simply need to go back to school and learn some fundementals.

[stubbhead]

Like how to spell, for example.

[ritenow]

Now we know why he DIDN'T get the VP spot.

[Mildmannered]

I can't figure out whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. Time will tell, I guess.

[marinade]

It's bad. It's Democratic obstructionism to Obama's initiatives.

F****** losers. Sure Bush has been a problem but the legislative branch has hidden its incompetencies behind the executive branch's for way too long.

[texastrixie]

If Bayh forms the "blue dog" Democrats, and tries to thwart the Obama initiatives to get this country back on track, he can kiss any chance at a future presidency - BA-BAYH!

[djgonebad]

Just when the horizon started to look good. You get someone hedging their bets on the "CENTER-RIGHT".

WHY, EVEN?! WHY?!