Is the following mere coincidence? One doubts it in a Congress known for Cornhusker Kickbacks, Gator Aid; the Louisiana Purchase  and other tricks of the political trade. Daniel Foster on NRO:

Two Blue Dogs Get New Subcommittee Chairs 

From The Hill:

Ways and Means Democrats have named Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.) the chairman of the trade subcommittee.

Fellow Blue Dog Democrat Rep. Earl Pomeroy (N.D.) takes over from Tanner as chairman of the subcommittee on Social Security.

Tanner replaces Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), who became acting chairman of the full committee last week after Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) temporarily stepped down.

Tanner, who is retiring at the end of this Congress, is seen as a pro-trade Democrat by business groups. He voted in favor of granting former President George W. Bush fast-track authority.

Tanner and Pomeroy were both next in line for the subcommittee chairmanships at the two subpanels.

Tanner, who comes from a district that McCain won by double-digits, was a 'no' vote on Obamacare.