Keepers of Madame Thenardier's Zoo

They could have been masters of the House instead they have proven to be keepers of the zoo "ready to relieve you of a sou or two:"

Every year since 2007, the Democratic advantage in the House has been fewer than the number of seats held by Blue Dogs: If they had wanted to, the Blue Dogs could have made themselves masters of the House. They could have held an effective veto over any bill they pleased, insisting that Mrs. Pelosi, Majority Leader Harry Reid and even President Obama himself heed their call for fiscal responsibility.

Instead, the Blue Dogs became Mrs. Pelosi's lap dogs, voting with her 80% of the time on economic issues. Every one of them voted for the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Sixty-three percent voted for the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program; 91% voted for the stimulus package in February 2009; 85% voted for the cash-for-clunkers program; 74% voted for President Obama's debt-tripling 2010 budget; 73% voted for the auto bailout; and 54% voted for the federal takeover of health care.

The evidence is overwhelming: The Blue Dogs are not fiscal conservatives, and only a few can credibly claim even to be fiscal moderates.

I can think of one who voted for all of it yet still claims to "stand against his party when they are wrong."   Madame Speaker has plenty of "lap dogs" keeping her zoo.  Everybody raise a glass this November to the masters of the House:



Apologies in advance to those who will suffer from the George Costanza  earworm after reading this post.