Another Scared Blue Dog Quits

Last updated: July 31, 2020 | December 14, 2009 | Anita Barnes

Rep. Bart Gordon becomes the fourth Democratic member of Congress in a month — the second “Blue Dog” from Tennessee — to announce his retirement in 2010. Like Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.), who announced his retirement last week, Gordon represented an old-line Democratic seat whose voters increasingly went for the GOP’s presidential and Senate candidates; the district went for the McCain-Palin ticket in 2008 by a margin of 62 percent to 37 percent for Obama-Biden. And while, as in Tanner’s district, Democrats are trying to get a credible local office-holder into the race — and sources tell me they knew this was coming — they have traded a safe seat for a toss-up race.

One long-term effect I see here: There are going to be a number of deep red areas where, in 2010, prospective presidential candidates can happily stump for Republican nominees. In 2009, Republicans in New Jersey and Virginia were skittish about bringing Sarah Palin into their blue states. But Palin, a laughable figure among non-Republicans, would be a massive draw in a rural Tennessee district that went nearly two-to-one for her ticket. Come election night 2010, Palin and a lot of other 2012 hopefuls will try and take credit for any red state or red-district GOP gains. It’s what Richard Nixon did in 1966, stumping in districts that briefly turned blue in the LBJ landslide, and basking in gratitude when, unsurprisingly, Republicans won back the seats.

Anita Barnes | With over twenty years of professional experience in the design industry, I'm a web designer and front-end web developer. As a small business owner, I am familiar with the difficulties that come with running a business. One of those challenges is creating a strong online presence. One that not only represents your ever-changing brand and personality, but also appeals to your target audience. Throughout my web design career, I've built a distinct design style that emphasizes attention to detail. I assume that less is enough when it comes to design. You don't have to have all the bells and whistles only because you can. It's critical to figure out which elements are essential for getting your message through to your customers – and which ones are unnecessary. I'll assist you in sorting through the choices to see what works best for you.