Jim Cooper - victim of attempt to purge centrist Dems?

[krazen1211]

If they didn't split up Nashville the first time around, why they would during the middle of the decade?

In 2012, they were dealing with proven over performer Jim Cooper. If he is primaried by a Pelosi liberal they will no longer have to account for such over performance by the incumbent.

[smoltchanov]

The extremes on both ends try to purify their respective parties. It just seems more obvious on the Republican side, as they have let several Senate seat slip away from them over the past few cycles.

Cooper's vote against Sandy relief was pretty inexcusable to this centrist Democrat.

+1

[smoltchanov]

It's definitely encouraging to see liberal and progressive groups finally taking much more concentrated aim at remaining Blue Dogs like John Barrow and Jim Cooper, but like I said, the Death of the Blue Dogs has much more to do with Republicans reaching certain demographic thresholds in Blue Dog districts over the 2010 and 2012 election cycles as part of a natural political realignment which has been taking place since the 1960s, and which we are now in the final stages of, as opposed to any organized, concentrated effort on the part of progressive activists and voters.

'Because a far-left Democrat would be very electable in GA-12

This time - + 100. Extremists on BOTH sides, seeking to "purify" their corresponding parties beyond any even slightly reasonable limits are always make an impression of COMPLETE idiots to me. And "undemocratic" idiots to boot: both far-right Republicans and far-left Democrats are not only sure that ONLY ther voices must be heard in their parties, but, essentially, try do deny a proper political representation to 35-40% of the people who call themselves "moderates" or "centrists" or so on... If they (extremists) would have their wish - these 35-40% would have no choice at all: Democratic party (as envisioned by far-left) would be way too liberal for them, Republican (as envisioned by far-right) - way too conservative. For me present Democratic party is slightly preferrable (but - only slightly) because, as it is, it tolerates dissent slightly more then present Republican party, but when i compare situation with those of 1960-70, when BOTH parties had numerous opposition factions inside them - i can only deplore present situation with it's highest level of partisanship in 100 years and "if you are for it, i will be against it" general approach
 

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

It's only a D+3 district he's in, he's not David Scott or Mike Thompson.

A D+3 seat in Tennessee is pretty darn safe for a Dem. 

No kidding, this is Obama we're talking about. Yarmuth has a D+2 in Kentucky, and he's actually a pretty good Democrat.

[smoltchanov]

It's only a D+3 district he's in, he's not David Scott or Mike Thompson.

A D+3 seat in Tennessee is pretty darn safe for a Dem. 

No kidding, this is Obama we're talking about. Yarmuth has a D+2 in Kentucky, and he's actually a pretty good Democrat.

Cooper can be successfully primaried and replaced by somewhat more liberal Democrat, Barrow, McIntyre, Matheson and so on - obviously no

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

It's only a D+3 district he's in, he's not David Scott or Mike Thompson.

A D+3 seat in Tennessee is pretty darn safe for a Dem. 

No kidding, this is Obama we're talking about. Yarmuth has a D+2 in Kentucky, and he's actually a pretty good Democrat.

Cooper can be successfully primaried and replaced by somewhat more liberal Democrat, Barrow, McIntyre, Matheson and so on - obviously no

Replacing him with someone like Yarmuth would be pretty cool.

[Torie]

I think there is a good chance Cooper could hold on to the 5th district you drew, Torie. Indeed, his current voting record indicates he thinks he is running in that sort of a district.

Maybe, but Cooper would have to go pretty rogue to survive. It didn't work for Davis or whatever is name was in the Mid TN rural CD, TN-04. He was blown out in 2010. He would certainly survive in my more "responsible" gerrymander, which was about Pub PVI 3% or so. I like marginal to tilt CD's with Dems in them. The Dems need more outspoken centrists, and it is good to have some bipartisan support for controversial issues. Ditto for the Pubs of course in swing CD's and tilt Dem CD's.

Look at how much better Cooper did than Obama in his district. I think he would do fairly well in Rutherford County and the race would be decided by what the people in the Mount Juliet area as well as the more rural areas of the south feel like (I think that's Tullahoma?).

I doubt Cooper had serious opposition this time. He certainly would have lost in 2010 per my lines above, as my numbers showed. Anyway, the CD ain't changing from its safe Dem perch - certainly not as long as Cooper is around anyway.

[smoltchanov]

I doubt Cooper had serious opposition this time. He certainly would have lost in 2010 per my lines above, as my numbers showed. Anyway, the CD ain't changing from its safe Dem perch - certainly not as long as Cooper is around anyway.

I doubt too. Nashville is liberal by Tennessee standards, but, surely, is not SF, Seattle or NYC. Cooper is more of fiscal conservative then social ones, and now social issues usually trump economy in importance (especially - for activists). And so on...