The Bush Dog Whisperers

by digby

The guys over at Open Left are running a campaign against what they are calling the Bush Dogs. These are Democrats, many of whom identify themselves as part of the conservative Blue Dog caucus, who have consistently betrayed progressive principles, heck even centrist middle of the road principles, to vote with one of the most unpopular presidents in American history. (It should be noted that not all of those who identify as Blue Dogs are also Bush Dogs — these BD’s are a special breed.)

There was a time when a cross party conservative coalition was a natural part of the political spectrum. It was a function of the unusual New Deal coalition brought about by the crisis of the Great Depression. But we are now in a partisan world in which the two parties have naturally split along pretty clear ideological lines. Members like the Bush Dogs are relics who are skewing the new order in ways that only serve the Republicans. (You’ll notice that they don’t have any Reid Dogs or Nancy Dogs.)

These people are called Bush Dogs for a simple reason: they have no self-respect and they have no sense of dignity. They are faithful hounds who continue to love the man who beats them no matter what. The Republican congress of the last six years is equally pathetic, of course, but these Bush Dogs are so much more so. They are loyal to a man who isn’t even their master. They get nothing in return, no money, no help no support — and they never did. Yet still they sit at Bush’s feet and beg for his kick.

I think Open Left is right to call these people out. There are good reasons for people to be moderate or conservative Democrats in certain areas, even in this partisan era. There are votes and policies that they will want to influence and there are times when they will use their clout to block votes. That’s politics in a big coalition.

But empowering the most unpopular, failed president in history, voting affirmatively with him on issues that the majority of the country are against and which will bring them no credibility with their own constituents is just blind, drooling devotion for no good reason. Bush is serving up nothing but poison, even to Republicans. These pooches are foolishly begging for tainted table scraps.

The Bush Dogs need to be retrained. It’s for their own good. They’ll be much happier.

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