The Blue dogs are trying to flex their muscles, and threaten to join with Republicans if Obama doesn't give them their way with the budget.
Via Crooks and Liars I found this story
Blue Dogs Present The Single Biggest Threat to Obama's Budget
It quotes a McClatchy article and if the quotes are correct, then the blue dogs have egos much bigger than their mathmatic ability
First they threaten to join with Republicans to deny Dems a majority:
As a result, "you'll see a budget come out of the House that spends considerably less," said Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla., a leader of the Blue Dog Democrats, a group of 47 of the party's House of Representatives conservatives and moderates.
If all 47 Blue Dogs joined the House's 178 Republicans, they could deny Democratic leaders a House majority of 218.
Then the article quotes Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D as follows:
"When I look at this budget, I see the debt doubling again, and that gives me great concern," he said. Obama's budget projects that by 2019, debt held by the public will reach $15.3 trillion, roughly double the current level.
Now this morning it was reported that the national debt topped 11 trillion for the first time. If in ten years that were to double, wouldn't that be 22 trillion? I think I am beginning to understand why the budget is in such a mess if this is the chairman of the budget comittee. Perhaps Kent should spend more time with economists and fifth graders, and less time with Republicans?