About Me
I'm originally from a suburb Northwest of Chicago, Ill. During my junior year at UD I accepted two internships during the summer and fall semesters - both in Washington, D.C. - in the U.S. House of Representatives with Congresswoman Melissa L. Bean, and another with the U.S. State Department. It's the former that inspired this thesis and I'm proud to say that my research into Blue Dogs last summer proved to be extremely relevant in the context of the President's health care reform agenda. I'm just starting out blogging. I'm not a Nate Silver (and no where near as brilliant a political statistician), a William Safire or Charlie Cook, but I'm inspired by them. This kind of work gives definition to the political science field, and applies political theories to reality.
Beyond its applicability, I think this research is relatable. Many people, myself included, grew up in areas of the country which did not necessarily reflect their families' values, background or beliefs. For individuals of any political persuasion, it is difficult to say that a specific congressperson can represent you entirely. That's why we vote, that's why we elect people who do reflect our values.
For me personally, this research is relevant because of my upbringing. I grew up in what has been called the "most conservative district in Illinois." It's where Donald Rumsfeld got his start, where Phil Crane became the longest serving Republican on Capitol Hill, home to the 3rd largest megachurch in America and the sixth wealthiest zip code. The town was not diverse, and the people were very conservative - both socially and fiscally. As I came to understand my politics, my comparatively liberal views were often in conflict with the conservative establishment. I discovered in college how moderate I really am, and the process of self-identity is a lifelong process that continues to this day.
All that aside, please check back in and explore the content. I'm still working on building the blog/site and I can't wait to keep you guys 'posted.' (in a literal sense I guess)
About Blue Dog Democrats: The Democratic Blue Dog Coalition is a group of currently 54 conservative Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives, first formed in 1995. The Blue Dog Coalition describes itself as a group of moderate-to-conservative Democrats committed to financial and national security, favoring compromise and bipartisanship over ideology and party discipline. In 2006, Blue Dog candidates such as Jason Altmire, Heath Shuler and Brad Ellsworth were elected in conservative-leaning districts, ending years of Republican dominance in these areas. The group is the rough equivalent of the Republican Main Street Partnership. More from Wikipedia. Read more...
