Wikipedia:

Blue Dog Democrats are social and economic conservatives and centrists in the United States Democratic Party. The term is a reference to the "Blue Dog" paintings of Cajun artist George Rodrigue of Lafayette, Louisiana; the original members of the coalition would regularly meet in the offices of Louisiana representatives Billy Tauzin and Jimmy Hayes, both of whom had Rodrigue's paintings on their walls (and both of whom later switched to the Republican Party).

Not to be confused with "Yellow Dog Democrats", Dems who'd vote for a yellow dog if that's who the party was running.

Jesse, I know Wilder was the 1st. I think he's still (until Patrick's inauguration, of course) the only.

I guess it shouldn't be that surprising, but Wilder was a long time ago!

The Blue Dog thing is Clinton-era, I think, but I'm not sure where it actually comes from. A Yellow Dog Democrat is someone who would vote for a yellow dog if it were running as a Dem.

I just like the imagery of this Salon article:

And on the other side of the Capitol from Dole, the scene at the shared headquarters of the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee wasn't just glum, it was desolate. The Republicans had set up a small stable of folding tables in the lobby of their building. A half-dozen reporters crowded around laptops, watching a television that had been propped up on a windowsill. A discarded cardboard box, half-full of unused pamphlets extolling the virtues of Virginia Sen. George Allen, kept a door propped open. The press was left with little more than a soda machine in the basement. "Is there a coke machine, or any way there is caffeine in this building?" one reporter asked the security guard sitting at the front desk. The reporter then speculated aloud as to why the GOP had made it so hard for the press to get substance or color from their party on election night. "You get the feeling they don't really want us here, don't you?"

I am personally grateful that all eyes are on Montana and Virginia instead of Florida for a change. I have more confidence that they will get it right in the end.

Today I succeeded in ingesting my coffee rather than wearing it, although I think going to bed at a decent hour instead of refreshing CNN until the wee hours might have worked better.

unused pamphlets extolling the virtues of Virginia Sen. George Allen

How much paper do you need to say, "He hasn't committed murder. As far as we know"?

We probably won't know the results in Virginia until next month.

The loser can't ask for a recount until the election is certified, and it won't be certified until November 27.

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tommyrot, remember your post yesterday about the blogger for Bush who was confident that the Repubs would win? tommyrot "Natter 47: My Brilliance Is Wasted On You People" Nov 7, 2006 12:57:19 pm PST

As for me, this is a great day to be a Republican - I've been talking big about how well we're going to do and my faith, shaken from time to time, never failed. Now it is to be put to the acid test - we shall know within 24 hours of this writing if I've been whistling past the graveyard, or have been realistic in my predictions. I'm standing by my words: the GOP gains seats in both Houses.

Well, today his blog starts with:

Mmmmmm; nummy, nummy crow! Best I ever tasted!

And then goes on to explain how the Democrats are actually fucked, because they'll HAVE to vote with the Repubs for tax cuts, etc., or else they'll be kicked out in 2008.

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Uh. Huh.

We probably won't know the results in Virginia until next month.

Sounds familiar!

O'Malley and Cardin are claiming victory, but their opponents haven't conceded. Given the absentee ballots aren't counted until tomorrow, fair enough. But Ehrlich and Steele would have to be really, really lucky to pull it off. Really.

We probably won't know the results in Virginia until next month.

The loser can't ask for a recount until the election is certified, and it won't be certified until November 27.

Yes, but it will be huge if Webb is perceived as the initial winner. Perception has a way of dominating the discussion, although I suspect Allen is a big enough asshole to push the recount even if it's against him. A huge part of the problem with Florida in 2000 was that Bush managed to entrench himself as the perceived winner.