If you feel that this kind of statement makes Joe Barton a tragedy of the first proportion in Congress, you’re not alone. But wait: it could get worse. Did you know that if the Republicans regain a majority in the House in November, Joe Barton will be made Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee?

Don’t let it happen. Make your public stand against the likes of Joe Barton with this anti-Barton bumper sticker (or, if you prefer, with this made-in-the-USA anti-Barton t-shirt).

Here’s what it means for Wright to be running as a “citizen’s candidate”: Instead of the standard procedure for the selection of a congressional candidate, in which a self-centered politician gathers resources for the power to orchestrate a top-down campaign, Claudia Wright was democratically chosen by a group of committed citizens who had organized around a selfless purpose: The replacement of Jim Matheson as Democratic congressional candidate with a progressive candidate.

As a Blue Dog, working with Republicans to block Democratic legislation, Jim Matheson has gained the strong opposition of his district’s progressive candidates. In spite of his claims that he doesn’t need liberal help to win re-election, Matheson looks vulnerable this time, and his campaign is struggling to figure out a good way to deal with the rebellion on the Left. So far, they haven’t come up with a reasonable response.

Win or lose, 2010 may well be remembered as he year of Claudia Wright. Utahn Democrats are tired of the Blue Dog nonsense.

The legislation: An amendment to extend the most abusive parts of the Patriot Act – without any reforms at all. These unconstitutional spying practices are almost never used in relation to cases of suspected terrorism, and even when they are used, the chances aren’t good that they result in actionable information.

In short, the Patriot Act isn’t doing much to actually protect Americans from terrorism. What the Patriot Act is accomplishing is the creation of a Big Brother system of federal government spying against its own citizens, leading Americans to always suspect that even their most private activities are being watched.

Such a state of continual fear of government espionage is inherently incompatible with the survival of democracy. That’s why this bumper sticker rallies the American people to the defense of liberty – to repeal the Patriot Act. We don’t need Big Brother to spy on our private lives.

It’s the Blue Dog Democrat strategy to a T – and it’s enabled Melancon to rise to the top of the right wing Blue Dog Coalition in the House of Representatives. The Blue Dog Democrats are like Melancon – voting like Republicans in Congress, but registered as Democrats for electoral advantage. Melancon has become the co-chair of the Blue Dogs, leading the charge as the Blue Dogs rip apart progressive Democratic legislation.

Charles Melancon thinks that kind of political two-timing has earned him a promotion, so this year, Melancon is campaigning to become Louisiana’s newest United States Senator. The bumper sticker you see here speaks to Melancon’s bid, reading, Melancon is too much like a Republican to get this Democrat’s vote.

This year, once again, Democratic voters are being asked to plug their noses, never mind the stench of betrayal, and give their support to members the right wing Blue Dog Coalition. Those Blue Dogs are Democrats, but they vote with the Republicans, wrecking Democratic Party attempts to to pass progressive legislation on issues like health care and climate change, over and over again.

Democratic voters have been asking themselves: What’s the point of having a Democratic majority in Congress, when it’s made up of creeps like the Blue Dogs? This year, the discontent is out in the open, with bumper stickers like this one, declaring, I’ll never give my vote to a mangy old Blue Dog – featuring a graphic of a blue dog, slinking away.

Sanford Bishop consistently votes against the progressive values of his constituents, and in favor of the interests of corporate polluters. The Democrats of Georgia’s 2nd district deserve better – and it’s to them that this bumper sticker is designed to speak. Sanford Bishop? I want a real Democrat! – not a blue dog.

Bye Bye Buyer, it reads, “Indiana can do better”.

Indiana certainly can do better. In the current session of Congress, Congressman Buyer earned a negative 49 legislative score from That’s My Congress. There is now hope that the 4th congressional district of Indiana can elect a more forward-looking Representative.

Michael Arcuri was part of the Blue Dog effort to stall Democratic health care legislation earlier this year – which made the Republican opposition to the bill possible. Representative Arcuri also voted against the House bill to deal with climate change. Who could have imagined a Democrat taking a position against the environment? Congressman Arcuri could imagine such a thing, apparently.

Mike Arcuri is a disappointment, not a Democrat.

Mainstream progressive Democrats are joining liberal activists in nearing a full scale revolt against their own party’s leadership, demanding that the Blue Dogs’ destructive activities finally be brought under control.

U.S. Representative Maxine Waters spoke for many when she said of the Blue Dogs, “Now the chickens have come home to roost.”

You can show your participation in the progressive campaign to challenge the Blue Dog Democrats with progressive primary campaigns by placing the bumper sticker you see here on your car – with an evocative graphic blue dog and a simple, clear message: No Blue Dogs.

In 2009, however, it’s become clear that the Blue Dogs are not really independent at all. They’re dependent – upon the Republican Party.

In the 2008 elections, voters gave Democrats the White House and both houses of Congress because they wanted change from the years of failure under George W. Bush, but the Blue Dogs have been fighting against change. Jim Costa and the other Blue Dogs have been working to scuttle climate change legislation and health care reform.

Jim Costa himself has earned a progressive rating of just 19 out of a possible 100 for the 111th Congress. The Democrats of California’s 20th district have watched Costa pal around with the Republicans over and over again this year, and cringed.

That’s why this bumper sticker has been created as a protest against Jim Costa – not from a Republican perspective, but on behalf of the Democrats in Costa’s district. Democrats, we can do better than Jim Costa.