August 30, 2007

8/30: Diluting The Bush Dog Brand

The netroots are not in the habit of listening to us insider-beltway-types, but we're going to offer some advice on their fledging Bush Dog campaign anyway: Don't make Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) the focus of your efforts. As we understand it, the Bush Dog campaign is part of a larger long-term effort to move Dems towards more progressive policies. The initial definition of a 'Bush Dog' after all was someone who had voted both for the Iraq war supplemental and the new FISA bill (and Chris Bowers also demonstrated large numbers of these Bush Dogs also voted for the Bankruptcy bill). Baird's only sin so far has been his recent change on Iraq. We are unaware of a long established Joe Lieberman-like history of undercutting Dems on other key issues. If the netroots wish to establish themselves as something more than an anti-war movement, Baird is not the best candidate to be run out of Congress.

Posted by Conn Carroll at August 30, 2007 12:59 PM