Inspired by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House progressives have a fervent belief that they now have a mandate for radical economic and social change in America. They demonstrated just how fervently last week when they trashed their own seniority system and replaced longtime House Energy and Commerce chairman John Dingell, D-Mich. with Henry Waxman, the Democratic congressman who represents Hollywood. The shake-up was a very pointed jab at moderate Blue Dog Democrats who represent districts that are considerably less liberal than Beverly Hills and who supported Dingell. Now the progressives may learn that poking dogs is not a good idea because sometimes they bite back.

Centrist House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., tried to warn his fellow Democrats against doing just that in a recent speech at the National Press Club: “We must remember where our majority came from. We did not just make full-blown ideological converts of the other half of the country. What we did do…was convince majority-making independents that we will govern responsibly at a time of national crisis.” That is exceptionally sound advice from a consummate politician.