Originally Posted by Ecto
Originally Posted by Ma_Republican
So, what makes a progressive?
Well, if you mean in Congress, they do caucus together, and I don't mean the Democratic party. Within the Democratic party there are three sub-groups, the Progressive Caucus (largest of the groups), the Blue Dogs, which are basically Republicans with a D after their names (formed in 1994 after the trouncing in the election believing the party had gone too far left) and the New Democrats which sit somewhere between the two, what my high school civics teacher would have called "oatmeal" politicians.

Interesting fact, in this last election, the Progressive Caucus lost only 3 seats, the Blue Dogs lost the lions share of the Dem seats followed by the New Democrats.
I would think that would be a logical outcome. In order to get elected in the first place a Progressive (a.k.a. mod lib in hiding) would have to come from a very left-of-center district (and given the magic of gerrymaindering, extremes can easilly gain a premanent bit of political turf) and it would be very difficult for a middle-of-the-road candidate (Blue Dog Dem)to oust such an incumbant, and basically impossible for a Repub of any degree to do so. However, for a Repub to oust a Blue Dog there would be exactly the opposite factors at work. Blue Dogs get elected in a moderate district by being Repub-lite and get ousted by Repubs who can ride a wave of anger (preferably staying away from social hot button issues).

So, though it may be an "interesting fact", it is also meaningless in reference to why the Repubs are now lords of the House.
Yours,
Issodhos

"When all has been said that can be said, and all has been done that can be done, there will be poetry";-) -- Issodhos