Primary Targets on Iraq: Allen Boyd?

by Matt Stoller, Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 07:01:19 AM EDT

If you want a focus for your anger on Iraq, there are a few members to look at. The most prominent - the one who forced Pelosi to drop the Iran attack language - is Allen Boyd, who is coincidentally also the only Democrat to offer an alternative to Bush's Social Security plan in 2005. His voting record is up and down, somewhat reflective of his rural-ish district that has military bases. He's a genuine split-the-middler, pretty bad on choice, net neutrality, pro-corporate, with a mixed record on civil rights (including a vote for the hate amendment).

Most significantly, Boyd is a horrible Democrat on Iraq. I don't know Florida's 2nd particularly well, but the Florida Democratic Party is a mess, and I could see an activist challenger working effectively to capitalize on Boyd's weaknesses.

UPDATE: Ari Berman does some background reporting on Boyd and the Webb amendment.

UPDATE 2 (Chris): Josh Marshall called for a primary against Boyd over two years ago. When you have lost Josh Marshall...

UPDATE: I stand corrected on the FL party. It's improving.

Tags: Allen Boyd, Florida (all tags)

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Re: Primary Targets on Iraq: Allen Boyd?

It's the central panhandle and Tallahassee. I wouldn't call that prime progressive real estate (although Tallahassee is pretty solidly Democratic).

by Double B 2007-03-13 07:22AM | 0 recs

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Re: Primary Targets on Iraq: Allen Boyd?

True enough. Do you think we can beat him or annoy him sufficiently to change his behavior?

by Matt Stoller 2007-03-13 07:25AM | 0 recs

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Re: Primary Targets on Iraq: Allen Boyd?

I'm no expert on the area. I was born in CD 1 (shout out to you Santa Rosa County) and grew up in Jax. I think you'd have to find a candidate who can really attract those Tallahassee Democrats and force him to compete in the primary and even then you are looking at an uphill struggle. That being said, he acts like he's bulletproof. Maybe just forcing him to compete will get him to at least alter his behavior.

How many military bases are in his district by the way (I would figure they are mostly to his west in CD 1)?

by Double B 2007-03-13 07:41AM | 0 recs

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Re: Primary Targets on Iraq: Allen Boyd?

Eglin AFB, which is a major one, is just to the west. Tyndall AFB is in the district.

It would definitely be a tough district, mostly rural, but Iraq isn't popular anywhere, and Iran is just crazy. You'd have to find the perfect candidate, anti-Iraq, but otherwise a moderate.

by fwiffo 2007-03-13 09:03AM | 0 recs

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AIPAC

someone needs to explain to AIPAC that if Iran is attacked, and if Iran mobilizes that Shi'a of Iraq against our troops, and if all of our troops are massacred as a result, Israeli/American relations will never recover

by Alice Marshall 2007-03-13 09:17AM | 0 recs

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It's A Solid Democratic District

Boyd ran unopposed in 2006. In 2004, he got 61.6% against Republican Bev Kilmer.

The question isn't how progressive this district is. It's how Republican it is--because that's what the Blue Dogs are all about: carrying water for the Republicans. And the answer is--it's not very Republican at all.

The aim here should not be to replace Boyd with a progressive--though that would be nice, if possible. The aim should be to replace him with a Democrat. With a representative that doesn't repeatedly give cover to George W. Bush, who after all is not all that popular even with Republicans these days.

This is what the problem with the likes of the Blue Dogs has always been: they exist to give cover to the Republicans. There are certainly a small number of Dems from highly competetive districts who actually need to talk up bipartisanship, no matter how mendacious such talk may be. Stephanie Herseth, for example. But the Blue Dogs have many members who need do nothing of the sort. Boyd is one of them.

It's all very good to talk about "representing all of the American people," particularly since the "moderates of both parties" want to preserve Social Security and avoid war with Iran--unlike Boyd himself. One can make strong bi-partisan appeals to voters on the issues, and do it without collaborating with Republicans to undermine the Democratic Party.

We should look for a candidate in FL-2 who understands that, and is willing to stand up for the Democrats in the district.

by Paul Rosenberg 2007-03-13 09:38AM | 0 recs

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Re: TPM

I hope the comment "When you have lost Josh Marshall..." was meant to end "You've pissed off the wrong guy so call it a day" and was not meant as a cut, or was at least meant as a good-natured cut, at Marshall's (allegedly)centrist views.

by thesleepthief 2007-03-13 01:12PM | 0 recs