Over the last couple of years, I have heard the term "Blue Dog Democrats" used to refer to congressmen from that party who take a fiscally more conservative stand. Anyone know the origin of the expression?

Hi juan...

Here's a little something.

Thanks, Tree. I guess Paul Martin would be a Blue Dog Liberal, eh?

Here is an explanation from the horse's (donkey's?) mouth.

The 34 conservative and moderate Democrats in the group hail from every region of the country, although the group acknowledges some southern ancestry which accounts for the group's nickname. Taken from the South's longtime description of a party loyalist as one who would vote for a yellow dog if it were on the ballot as a Democrat, the "Blue Dog" moniker was taken by members of The Coalition because their moderate-to-conservative-views had been "choked blue" by their party in the years leading up to the 1994 election.

Danke sehr, Methos!