These figures prove that while the Democrats have fairly good party discipline, there is still work to do. The fact that Republicans have nearly total loyalty when voting, shows that we need to work harder at ensuring our Congressional Representatives demonstrate party loyalty

It might be hard to compare, but how does the 95% loyalty statistic for the Republican caucus stand up against the historical record?  I'm guessing that the 95% number is the anomaly -- especially considering the controversial agenda the Bush administration.  Considering Bush's current popularity and the fact that the republicans are the folks more likely to be voting against their districts, we might have more success pushing that number down.  
 

I wonder if once Democrats take control and Speaker Pelosi gets to set the agenda, the House will be voting on bills that it is easier to maintain party discipline on.  Having Hastert and DeLay set the agenda means they can pick bills that they know will be divisive to the Democratic caucus.

because I love to deride Republicans as unthinking droids who fall over eachother doing their master's evil bidding, and harping about party voting discipline undermines my moral high ground. But having said that, What the hell are these DINOs doing voting with those unrepentant assholes? C'mon people! Even Republicans are beginning to sense that there may be a benefit to standing up against Dumbya. Vote Blue, Dickheads!

There's no good reason for him to represent that district.

He needs to retire and be replaced by Shiela Simon.

was given Emily's List support in the last go around and has been asking for more since the election. Though I'm a good loyal E.L supporter, she's on my list of those I will not write out checks for unless something changes--like the way she votes.

C.Bowers post has once again conjured up the image of right-winger hordes goose stepping in unison down the streets of America.

Lets face it, after 4 billion years of evolution and 10,000 years of civilization we have it pretty good. We get most things mostly right. So why risk it? Why try to turn back the clock to a time that never was and never can be? Most (elected) democrats understand that philosophy very well... republicans? Their critical base is made up of religious kooks who want all this to come crashing down so that the agrarian way of life can once again dominate the world.

Under the guise of honorable "conservatism" lurks what Freud warned us about, mans desire to throw off the strictions of law and morality and indulge in an orgy of instinctual violence. Since nothing could be more indicative of the triumph of one's will over one's reason than believing whatever the hell you want no matter the evidence, religious fervor is a telling sign of trouble ahead for civilization. On paper I ought to be a republican because of my ethnic and economic status, but like Jim Jeffords, I have concluded that "character matters" and no matter what the policy of the republicans, they cannot be trusted.

Unfortunately, the rural counties (which have been insolvent for generations) disagree.

Any way you can include a link to a list of the votes which qualify for this loyalty scorecard?

Party line voting is asinine. I judge my position on every issue based on how it hashes with my personal beliefs. And I know for a fact that 45 or 55 senators cannot agree in unison on 99% of all issues either based on their personal beliefs or the majority sentiment of their constituents. Therefore, if senators of any party were doing their jobs and actually making sound policy decisions and not playing partisan politics, they should never agree in solidarity with any party line position.

Just because the gop is a bunch of corporate sellout whores doesn't mean the dems have to likewise stoop to that level. It's times like this I really start to like Nader.

Remember, he's really a Libertarian (and was that party's nominee for president in 1988).  OF COURSE he opposes a bunch of crap that Bush et al supports.

This is why Democrats have NO credibility, can't win elections, and are interferring with Dean's ability to raise money.  If one of these Ds belong to you, you need to cream them, Pelosi and Reid.   We need to take our Party back so we CAN take our country back.  A crook is a crook - D or R.

VOTE ALERT: 28 Dems block crackdown on corporate tax evaders
http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D) last night offered her legislation to ban government contracts from going to companies that abuse offshore tax loopholes and evade U.S. taxes. In 2002, DeLauro actually passed this legislation as part of the bill creating the Department of Homeland Security, as Democrats stayed unified, and Republicans capitulated (unfortunately, it was later removed in the final bill). This year, however, 28 Democrats sold out to Corporate America, and helped defeat the legislation outright.
That's right, when DeLauro offered her legislation this time around, she attracted 20 Republican votes - plenty to pass the legislation if her own party had stood up and done the right thing. However, 28 Democrats voted against the legislation, siding with the companies that have the nerve to openly abuse tax loopholes. These companies want to be able to get fat off government contracts, even though they are ripping off U.S. taxpayers at a time of war and record deficits. Yet, instead of prohibiting those contracts from going to these unpatriotic companies, 28 Democrats joined with 203 Republicans to sell out and say bilking America is A.O.K.