I've been following the Democratic Representatives/districts that opposed Obama/Biden/Holders proposed Assault weapons ban renewal. Few Gun owners are impressed w/ the "I support hunters & sportsman" meme. The (Jim) 'Zumbo effect' was the line in the sand for most gun rights voters & these 66 Dems (+ 3 Senators) clearly laid out their feelings on the 2nd amendment. So much so that most were even endorsed by the NRA. This was/is our last best chance to counter the Popular misconception that all democrats "Want to Grab your Guns" Turns out about 1/2 are/were Blue Dogs, whom sure seam to be getting a healthy share of the blame for Tuesdays looses. Even with the blue dogs, Pelosi Progressives managed to pass >400 pieces of legislation that Repub. filibuster threat prevented from getting a vote on, in the senate. The new house won't have a similar problemo, U lamo's.
Blue Dogs substantially helped Dems to seize the House majority in 06 & 08.
RKBA is a DKos group of second amendment supporters who also have progressive and liberal values. We don't think that being a liberal means one has to be anti-gun. Some of us are extreme in our second amendment views (no licensing, no restrictions on small arms) and some of us are more moderate (licensing, restrictions on small arms.) Moderate or extreme, we hold one common belief: more gun control equals lost elections. We don't want a repeat of 1994. We are an inclusive group: if you see the Second Amendment as safeguarding our right to keep and bear arms individually, then come join us in our conversation. If you are against the right to keep and bear arms, come join our conversation. We look forward to seeing you, as long as you engage in a civil discussion. RKBA stands for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
So How did our Gun advocates do competing against the tea bagging opposition?
Turns out the glass remains ~half full or 1/2 empty....U R the DECIDER
Out of 66 co signers to the Mike Ross Letter to Obama/Holder-
--about 32 of the 66 survive
--35 were blue dogs = BD
--most were endorsed by the NRA = *
--I had originally hoped to include these Representatives votes on HCR
Via Slate
Thirty-four Democrats voted against HCR, of whom the only survivors are Rep. Jason Altmire (Pa.), Rep. John Barrow (Ga.), Rep. Dan Boren (Okla.), Rep. Ben Chandler (Ky.), Rep. Tim Holden (Pa.), Rep. Larry Kissell (N.C.), Rep. Dan Lipinski (Ill.), Rep. Stephen Lynch (Mass.), Rep. Jim Matheson (Utah), Rep. Mike McIntyre (N.C.), Rep. Collin Peterson (Minn.). Rep. Mike Ross (Ark.), and Rep. Heath Shuler (N.C.)
Most of these names are familiar... I don't have the patience to cross reference them...
--The NRA also endorsed these Dems who DID NOT SIGN the 'Ross' letter
Barton Hill IN-9 R+6 lost 42--52r 61% win
Ben Lujan MN-3 R+? 37-59 R-incumbent 99.8% D loss
Scott Murphy NY-20 R+2 45--55r 60% D win
Bill Owens NY-23 R+1 48D--46r 56% R win
Mike Acruri NY-24 R+2 47d--53R 60% D win
Kirt Schrader OR-5 D+5 52D--46r 57% R win
Jim Oberstar MN-8 D+3 lost 46--48R (3400 votes)served since 1975
73.5% chance of D win
Joe Manchin WV Senate (won) DUH? Byrds seat 90% Win 43r--53D
Brad Ellsworth (Co Signed Ross)ran4 IN Senate, lost 2 bankster lobbyist
Ted Strictland OH Gov. Crushed Ken Blackwell in 06, lost 46.7d--49.4R
Joe Sestak (PA Senate) came close enough (80,000 votes) that 2nd amendment enthusiasts (Alabama in the middle) could have tipped the scales. Apparently he was a strong supported of AWB's & Gun control in general
Clarification
I never intended this diary to be supportive of blue dogs, but it seams like that's where its ended up. I'm a big believer in the expression that "All Politics are Local" & "all's fair in love, war & Politics" or whatever it takes to get a Democratic MAJORITY's elected, in no way whatsoever am I advocating that blue dogs should be controlling the Party, or telling other members how to vote. (I would love to see 'outside the district' campaign donations outlawed.) I can't speak for our RKBA group, but personally I strongly believe condemning blue dogs makes electing moderates, or regaining rural swing districts much MUCH harder, if not impossible. Is the country really better off w/o moderate republicans, or supreme court Judges? Unfortunately, my HERO's, Allan Greyson & Howard Dean can't get elected in many rural districts.
-- Today we'll look at the races rated 40% chance of winning & better (Nate silver) The rest, under 40% went south.
--District is identified by 'signer of Ross letter'- retirements/promotions are noted
Many of these Democrats WON, or at least, FOUGHT the good fight, in Majority R districts.
(R+# or D+# refers to % advantage of registered voters in the district)
100% win Artur Davis(‘s district) D+18 (D-AL-7) Sewell(D) wins 72 - 27r
Conservadem Davis ran4Gov = lost in D. Primary
100% win BD* Mike Ross (D-AR-4) R+7 unopposed in '08 -- 57-40r
100% win BD* Dennis Cardoza (D-CA-18) D+4 57.6--42.4
replaced Gary Condit
100% win BD Joe Baca (D-CA-43) 68% in 08 65.5--34.5r
84% win BD* Sanford Bishop (D-GA-2) D+1 69% 08 51.4--48.6
99.9% win BD* John Barrow (D-GA-12) D+1 66% 08 56.7--43.3r
82.9% win BD* Joe Donnelly (D-IN-2) R+2 48.2--46.8r
100% win Jerry Costello* (D-IL-12) D+3 71% 08 59.6--36.7r
100% John Dingell (D-MI-15) D+15 56.8--40r
(Isnt this gun nut too 'left' 2b endorsed by the nra? )
97.5% win- Tim Walz* (D-MN-1) R+1 63% 08 49.4--44r
83% win- Martin Heinrich (D-NM-1) D+5 51.6--48.4
100% win- Tim Ryan (D-OH-17) D+12 78% 08 53.7D--30r--16(Traficant)
75% win- BD* Charlie Wilson (D-OH-6)R+2 sarah pac 62% 08- lost 45--50
93% win- BD* Dan Boren (D-OK-2) R+14 70% 08 56.5--43.5r
100% win-Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4) D+2 since 86 56.5--43.5
82% win Jason Altmire* (D-PA-4) R+6 51.1--48.9r
93% win BD Tim Holden (D-PA-17) R+6 64% 08 55.6--44.4r
100% win Gene Green (D-TX-29) D+8, 58% 08 65--34r
88% win BD* Jim Matheson (D-UT-02) R+15 63% 08 51-46
Please note; R+15... in UTAH & a dem WINS! wtf if he votes r 99%, as long as he helps elect a Dem Majority + speaker !
81% win Rick Boucher* (D-VA-9) R+15 lost 46-51r
100% win Peter Welch (D-VT-al) D+13 65-32r
92% win Ron Kind* (D-WI-3) D+4 63% in 08 50.3--46.6r
77% win Nick Rahall* (D-WV-3) sarah pac R+6 67% 08 56--44r
54% win Ike Skelton* (D-MO-4) R+14 lost 45-51r
Ike could replace Gates @ Defense dept
59% win Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX-23) R+4 lost 44.4--49.4r
62% win BD Gene Taylor* (D-MS-4) R+20 75% 08 lost 47--52r
repeat R+20 & he lost by 5%
58% win Larry Kissell* (D-NC-8) R+2 lost by 329 Votes in 06/ won >55% 08
won '10 53--44r
58% win BD Mike McIntyre* (D-NC-7) R+5 54--46r
64% win BD Zach Space* (D-OH-18) R+7 Replaced Bob Ney in 06- 60% 08
lost 41--54
65% win BD Allen Boyd (D-FL-2) R+6 VietVet, Sara pac, 62% 08, lost 42--54
65% win BD Walt Minnick (D-ID-1) R+18 defeated Sali 08
lost 51r--41d--5.8 ind
How the F@#k does a DEM get elected in R+18 I DA HO ?
65% win BD* Ben Chandler (D-KY-6) R+9 49.9--50.1 lost by 600 votes
50% win BD* Leonard Boswell (D-IA-3) D+1 since 96 WON 51--46
47% win John Murtha(s Dist) (D-PA-12) R+1 open seat *Critz(D) wins 50.8--49.2r
44% win BD Lincoln Davis* (D-TN-4) R+13 59% 08 loss 39--57r
44% win BD* John Salazar (D-CO-3) R+5 61% 08-sara pac, lost 50.2r--45.7
46% win BD* Jim Marshall (D-GA-8) R+ 10 loss 47--53r
44% win Alan Mollohan (D-WV-1) R+9 retired sara pac, loss 50.4r--49.6 Oliverio(D) (by 1300 votes)
98.8 win BD Collin Peterson (D-MN-7) R+5 wins 55.2--37.6r
On July 27, 2009, a controversy erupted after Peterson was quoted in a Politico.com article saying, "25 percent of my people believe the Pentagon and Rumsfeld were responsible for taking the twin towers down. That's why I don't do town meetings." The state Republican Party denounced the remark as "outrageous and offensive". Peterson apologized for the comment, which he described as "off-hand"
76.6% Win Solomon Ortiz (D-TX-17) R+2 Served since '82 Lost by 800 votes 47.1--47.9r
This kinda sums up this years environment
Sara Pac
These are 20 Districts occupied by Democrats that McCain/Palin won, that also voted FOR HRC
3 retirements
only 2 wins
AZ-8 Gabrielle Giffords BD 48.7-- 47.4r
WV-3 R+6 Nick Ranhall BD 55-- 45r
I just saw a googlette about RedState targeting EVERY SINGLE BLUE DOG
Whats that about... The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
I'm bound to have made a few errors... So be nice !
Feel free to call me an NRA shill if it makes U feel better, we're in fact moving the NRA leftward...LOL
Full Disclosure.. Growing up to the left of Fidel Jane Fonda...
I can honestly say the only Blue Dog I truly LOVE is my Blue Heeler.
After living in TX so damn long, I have to respect any & all Democrats that can win in a conservative nutter environment. I remember moderates being hammered in the 60s & 70s. As I reread the history I'm learning of the great sacrifices & contributions everyone made. I'm old enough to remember Tom Delay et al almost passing quarantine legislation for Gays when AIDS 1st started appearing. (it failed in the TX house by just a few votes, the TX senate never took it up) Every sane vote matters.