The incompetence of Ellen Tauscher’s internet moves has Washington insiders paying attention, with the Hotline’s Blogometer noting:

CA 10: “The Kiss” Becomes “The Caress”

The samecircles  that got such mileage out of naming Sen. Joe Lieberman‘s (I-CT) SOTU embrace of Pres. Bush “the kiss” have now labeled the pre-Iraq-war picture of Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) sitting with Bush‘s hand on her lap “the caress.” But Tauscher’s trouble with pictures past does not end there. DailyKos‘ founder Markos Moulitsas calls Tauscher “a coward” for “scrubbing pictures of Lieberman from her site in fear they’ll be used against her.” Kos even hits Tauscher for photos not on her site including one from the signing of the Homeland Security Act, calling the pictured Tauscher, Lieberman, Bush, and ex-Maj. Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) “the four horsemen of the apocalypse.”

Kos later spells out the netroots case against Tauscher: “Suffice it to say, she’s the leader of the Conservative Blue Dog Democrats, has consistently undermined the Democratic Party, has been a driving force (not just a supporter) in things like the Bankruptcy Bill, and essentially acts like she represents Utah while serving in a 59 percent Kerry district.”

That last point is key, because if it weren’t for the district, the netroots would be giving Tauscher a pass (the blogs have never gone after Jim Matheson). But Tauscher’s district deserves to send somebody to DC who actually, uh, represents the district.