But it’s excellent to read Paul Krugman call out Broder on specifically torpedoing progressive legislation in a way that repudiates Broder’s concern trolling about costs: It’s a front for Broder to push right wing policies.

…

As for the question: “Why is it that Blue Dogs will act like Republicans…”

Answer: “Blue Dogs” are moderate to conservative Republicans that don’t fit in the current right wing extremist Republican Party.

Some “Blue Dogs” are usually (a little) better than the Republican that might replace them and occasionally reflect the will of their constituencies (if not those constituencies best interests).

Unfortunately, many (though not all) “Blue Dogs” are just corporate shills that make the larger Democratic Party look bad.

There are a good number of good Progressive Democratic leaders in Congress, but they are still a minority within the Democratic Party. And while “Progressive” Dems might outnumber “Blue Dogs” there are still a good number of “middle Dems” to contend with.

Until Progressive voters learn to distinguish good Progressive Democratic leaders from “Blue Dogs” Democrats and the middle Dems and stop blaming the larger “Democratic Party” for things done by those “Blue Dogs”, many middle Dems will not feel they have the support needed to stand up for Progressive causes.

And in fact, because many Progressive’s are so quick to blame and attack and generalize about what constitutes the “Democratic Party”, even while there are excellent people in it doing good work, the feelings by the middle Dems that they aren’t being supported isn’t off the mark.

If you want to be helpful, target the “Blue Dems”, celebrate the Progressive Dems, and work to support the “middle Dems” to feel confident that they can support Progressive legislation.