The white Southern Democrat endangered since the 1960s civil rights era is sliding nearer to extinction.
Voter anger at out-of-control government spending and mounting debt ironically proved toxic for many of the most fiscally conservative Democrats in Tuesday's midterm vote.
Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi uttered powerful words upon becoming speaker of the House: "I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship, and look forward to working with you on behalf of the American people." What happened to that pledge?
Across the country, Blue Dog Democrats — whose 54 members represent more than one-fifth of their party's 255-seat majority and many of the country's most contested swing districts— find themselves squarely in the cross hairs.
Some congressional Democrats might actually be having second thoughts about creating new spending programs. Last week, the House demonstrated unusual restraint in declining to put taxpayers on the hook for yet another government-backed insurance scheme. Unfortunately, the reluctance may turn out to be only a temporary delay.
"Once we got through this transition we felt that football should qualify for the tournament. Maybe not every year, but fairly consistently," Taylor said.
"She definitely hurts," said Rep. Gene Taylor, Mississippi Democrat, who lost his re-election bid this month.
