Obama's courting blue dog democrats

November 24, 8:20 AMSF Politics ExaminerArthur Bruzzone

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In the week leading up to Election Day, President-elect Obama was on the phone to members of the powerful Blue Dog Democrats.  A smart move.  Since the Blue Dogs increased their numbers-- by as many as 10.  They numbered 49 prior to November 4.

The conservative and moderate Democrats in the group hail from every region of the country,  although the group acknowledges some southern ancestry which accounts for the group's  nickname.  (The California members are shown below.)

Their website's home page includes a running national debt total and interest  (down to the penny).

"Taken from the South's longtime description of a party loyalist as one who would vote  for a yellow dog if it were on the ballot as a Democrat, the "Blue Dog" moniker was taken by  members of The Coalition because their moderate-to-conservative-views had been "choked blue"  by their party in the years leading up to the 1994 election."  [From the Blue Dog Coaltion site]

Jason Furman, Obama's economic policy adviser, has held  extensive talks with Blue Dog Democrats and said Obama would seek to establish "a government unified around the concept of fiscal discipline and centered around the pay-go rule. Insisting on paying for things will lead to better economic policy."

Blue Dog member, taking a more conservative stance on social issues like 2nd Amendment rights along with advocating for a strict "pay-as-you-go" budget philosophy. 

California blue dogs include Representatives Joe Baca, Dennis Cardoza, Jim Costa, Jane Harman, Adam Schiff, Loretta Sanchez,  and Mike Thompson.