2012 May 22 |
 |
http://www.theatlanticright.com/2009/07/31/bloggers-split-on-value-of-vulnerable-dems-going-their-own-way/
0
0

blue dogsNational Journal continues to ask ‘leading bloggers’ what they think of ‘the news of the day.’ The latest poll was published today. The questions we answered: “Are moderate Democrats helping or hurting their re-election prospects by resisting President Obama’s legislative agenda?” and “Should the 111th Congress increase the gasoline tax to fund a six-year highway bill?”

The second question is, of course, purely ideological. If you’re a liberal, you’re probably in favor of increasing taxes for this purpose. If you’re conservative, you’re not. The poll shows this as well. No surprise there.

But the first question isn’t ideological, or it shouldn’t be. It’s purely strategic. Are they or are they not hurting their reelection prospects by resisting Obama’s legislative agenda?

Although it’s not ideological in nature, liberals and conservatives are deeply divided on the answer nonetheless. A full 100% of conservative bloggers say moderate dems are helping their chances of being reelected, while 88.2% of liberal bloggers believe the opposite.

That’s a gigantic difference. So big, even, that I have to wonder about whether everybody answers these questions as honestly as possible or whether they’re spinning.

  1. Posted by Tully
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #99112
    Tully “Are moderate Democrats helping or hurting their re-election prospects by resisting President Obama’s legislative agenda?” Depends on their district, of course. Specifically, moderates in moderate districts are helping themselves. Moderates in very liberal districts are shooting themselves. Most specifically, freshman Blue Dogs in swing districts are helping themselves by resisting liberal tax & spend proposals.
  2. | Quote | Trackback | Link #99113
    Jason Arvak
    Moderates in very liberal districts
    I think this species is in the same genus as pink elephants.
  3. Posted by Tully
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #99115
    Tully Yeah, I shouldn't have used the qualifier "very." But it happens in left-leaning districts. Usually when a couple of liberals split votes in a primary, allowing a more centrist Dem to win, or when someone gets shamed out of office. Of course, the reason they become pink elephants is that once in office they generally quit being moderates/centrists and run left in order to get re-elected. Much as centrist Dems elected in right-leaning districts naturally move a bit to the right. The former are embraced bu the left, the latter reviled. Guess which districts tend to swing back to the other party when the left gets their way?