Dodd’s Recent Record Places Him Among UnProgressive Democrats
The announcement last night by Chris Dodd that he will not run for re-election to the U.S. Senate this year cements a trend in which the Democrats who are dropping out of Congress come from the right wing of the Democratic Party, rather than the progressive side. The nearly simultaneous retirement announcement by Byron Dorgan also is a part of the emerging pattern.
Chris Dodd is categorized as a “Congressive”, with a legislative score that’s among right-leaning Senate Democrats such as Blanche Lincoln and Tim Johnson. Byron Dorgan is also among this group, with a legislative score only three points more progressive than Dodd’s.
This year, Dodd supported the wasteful military spending on the outdated and ineffective C-17 and F-22 projects. He also voted to block President Obama’s efforts to close Guantanamo Bay’s infamous prisons. At the same time, contradicting his previous efforts to restore constitutional rights, Dodd failed to support efforts to reform the Patriot Act.
Given this kind of voting record, along with Dodd’s recent connection to corruption scandals, his retirement won’t be much of a loss for either the Senate Democrats in general, or for progressives in particular.
Net website but the one of the worst pages ever for legibility. Dark print on a blue background is NOT conducive to pleasurable viewing. In fact, it is a chore.
BB, I’ve been thinking the same thing lately. I’ll speak to the partnership here, and see what we can do.