Steny Hoyer is an enemy of Net Neutrality.

If he had our way we would not be able to do what we do.

Murtha is an American hero.

If Hoyer is against net neutrality, get rid of him.

To get what took me 5 seconds.

And, no, I'm not being snide.

Obviously we represent different approaches, as well as having different histories.  So it's a good thing that you took your time to come to the same conclusion.  (I'm sure there were side benefits as well, FWIW.)

And whatever thought processes you went through along the way, the ones you presented in the end were remarkably similar to what I might say.

I completely agree.  Murtha's election would send such a strong message of the new tone in the Democratic House.  

Here in San Francisco, it's really funny how much local progressives who have no freakin clue about how Congress works hate Nancy Pelosi.  The fact that she has come out so early for Murtha is a very good sign of her new leadership.

By the way, really liked your post on Harold Ford and how if you look at the numbers, it's hard to understand why he was such a "great" candidate.  My boss here at Beyond Chron pointed it out to me and we both agree that it's a lucid analysis.

I was also persuaded of this in the last day or two, and contacted my new representative, Peter Welch of VT, to encourage him to support Murtha over Hoyer.  I also asked him to respond to me letting me know who he did vote for, and why.  

I like a representative, who doesn't do what I'd prefer, much more if they explain themselves to me.

Is it a secret ballot?
Will numerical counts be released?
When is the vote?

It wasn't so long ago people did not even know who the majority leader was, never mind have opinions about it. This is another sign of how much netroots is changing the dialog.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/11/14 /93728/403

Will Bunch, on attytood, threw a spanner in the works... I'd be interested to hear what anyone had to say about that. I think he was quoting from TPM.... http://www.attytood.com

I don't think it would appropriate to contact your representative and suggest they vote for one person or another. This is an internal vote, a vote that we should entrust to the Members we elected to vote the best person whom they think will run the majority as best as possible. It's not about image. It should be about who would be the best at getting things done, something the current congress has been seriously lacking.  

I just don't want to see this issue and the issue of who will chair the Intelligence Committee to:
a) divide Dems when they need to be united, or;
b) blow up any notion of the House enacting some real ethics reforms. It sounds like all of the parties involved have some pretty scary ethics skeletons rattling in their respective closets.  The last thing the Dems need right now is for the talking heads to start comparing them to Delay, Ney, Cunningham and the rest of those bottom feeders.

I don't really give a damn either way. But when undecided, I say favor the bold. The timing is right for the Iraq war opponents to get their due and continue the good work by gaining more credibility.

And he has been the bold one in the party. So I go with the boldness inspite of murtha's past.

I contacted my congressman George Miller yesterday, he and his aid assure me he's backing Murtha.  And sent this

Dear Democratic Colleague,

Congratulations to all of us for this incredible victory and a hearty welcome to our newest Members.

On November 17, 2005 Jack Murtha humbly came before our Caucus and clearly stated with vision and compassion for our troops the need for a new direction in Iraq. It was because of his courage to speak truth to power that we are in the majority today. Equipped with his impeccable credentials, Jack Murtha accomplished what no one else could or did. He rescued the Democratic Party and revived enthusiasm all across the country in taking back the House. This momentous event not only changed the dialogue but provided the momentum that was essential for Democrats to change the direction of this country.

Having known Jack Murtha all these years, we have admired his loyalty: to his family, the country, and the military. But we have also taken considerable note of his loyalty and dedication to this Caucus and to our next Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Jack has done so much for the unity of our Caucus and has provided crucial support in so many areas over the years. It is for these reasons and more that we are so proud to support his candidacy for Majority Leader.

The position of Majority Leader will be decided by this Caucus based on the qualities, skill, character and loyalty that the Caucus places in their chosen leader, the person who will be the right hand of the Speaker. Jack Murtha has been there for this Caucus. He gave the Democrats a credible voice in national security issues; a voice that was heard loud and clear across this great country. It was a voice that would change the course of history. He crisscrossed the nation, galvanizing public sentiment and energizing voter turnout. Along the way, his tireless efforts have been chronicled by bloggers, newspapers and the television news media, amplifying his strong clear message and providing the centerpiece for so many of our successful election campaigns.

We support Jack Murtha because of his commitment to the nation, to the party and to those we are sworn to serve. That is why we support Jack Murtha as our Leader. He is the people's choice in the people's chamber. He has earned and deserves your support.

Sincerely,

Anna G. Eshoo          George Miller

Mike Thompson        Zoe Lofgren

-----Original Message-----

As I've said before, I tend to agree with Murtha on Iraq.  However, I think we may be overlooking the importance of ethics and role they played in the election.  Right before the election, Congress had an approval rating of like 15-20 percent.  The polls tended to show that ethics played a huge role in that terribly low number.  Voters also delivered a message on ethics and blindly following Murtha because of his stance on Iraq is a huge mistake.  Do we really think it's smart for Democrats to elect an ethically challenged person to be Majority Leader.  Murtha bragged about handing out pork and seems to have a pay to play mentality.  He's spent years and years building influence by spending your and my tax dollars all the while padding his brother and cronies pockets.  Come on people wake up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/02/washin gton/02murtha.html?ex=1317441600&en= 0f6ac767e3885818&ei=5090&partner =rssuserland&emc=rss

I think this says all you need to know about where Jack Murtha stands on ethcis and his work AGAIST Democrats.

It comes down to who will support Pelosi's agenda. And it's not Hoyer the DLC gang (Yes, I'm talking to you ET!)

And my Congressman is Peter Roskam.

Spicybite, you think Murtha will support Pelosi's agenda?  On the war, yes, but that's about it.  Do you think he will support her pro-choice, pro-environment, pro-civil rights, anti-gun agenda?  I don't think so.  On every other issue but the war, Murtha is more of a republican than a democrat.  

Also, did anyone else catch the ABSCAM footage on NBC this evening?  Let's not forget that corruption also played a major role in this election.  It's kind of hard to say we will be the most ethical Congress in history if the Majority Leader was caught on camera leaving the door open for bribes.  

No need to contact as my Rep. is Pelosi. ;-)

A Choice for Democrats
Steny Hoyer should be the new House majority leader.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006; A30

Washington Post

LOYALTY IS an admirable quality, but sometimes it can be taken too far. That is the case with the decision by the incoming House speaker, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), to offer a public endorsement of the bid of Pennsylvania Rep. John P. Murtha (D) to become majority leader. Ms. Pelosi's preference for Mr. Murtha was no secret; he managed her campaign for minority leader against Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), now Mr. Murtha's rival for the majority leader post. What was surprising was that Ms. Pelosi would weigh in publicly on Mr. Murtha's behalf, albeit -- as she pointedly noted at the beginning of her letter -- in response to his request.

On the merits, Mr. Hoyer is by far the better choice for the job. He is a moderate and highly capable legislator whose selection would reinforce Ms. Pelosi's announced commitment to govern from the center.

Mr. Murtha's candidacy is troubling for several reasons, beginning with his position on the war in Iraq. A former Marine, Mr. Murtha deserves credit for sounding an alarm about the deteriorating situation a year ago. But his descriptions of the stakes there have been consistently unrealistic, and his solutions irresponsible. Just last week he denied that the United States was fighting terrorism in Iraq, though al-Qaeda is known to play a major part in the insurgency. He said the United States should abandon even the effort to train the Iraqi army and should "redeploy as soon as practicable," an extreme step that most congressional Democrats oppose. He claimed that "stability in the Middle East, stability in Iraq," would come from such an abrupt withdrawal; in fact, virtually all Iraqi and Middle Eastern leaders have said that it would lead to a greatly escalated conflict that could spread through the region.

Mr. Murtha would also be the wrong choice as majority leader after an election in which a large number of voters expressed unhappiness with Washington business as usual. Mr. Murtha has been a force against stronger ethics and lobbying rules. He was one of just four Democrats whose votes helped kill a strong Democratic package of lobbying reforms this spring.

As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, he has been an avid participant in the orgy of earmarking, including numerous projects sought by a lobbying firm that employed his brother. During the Abscam congressional bribery investigation in 1980, Mr. Murtha was videotaped discussing a bribe with an undercover FBI agent. ("You know, we do business for a while, maybe I'll be interested, maybe I won't, you know," Mr. Murtha said.) He wasn't indicted, but it's fair to say the episode raised questions about his integrity.

Mr. Hoyer says he has the support of a majority of members of the Democratic caucus. We hope they aren't persuaded otherwise by Ms. Pelosi's letter.

Hoyer seems to be on both sides of most issues just like Clinton & Lieberman. He may have friends, but he comes off like slime.
So,  Murtha's got a few knuckle-dragging beliefs. Does it matter? Not much!  The House can't do anything but squawk and pass bills that no one will read or do anything about. The Senate is sitting on a knife edge. It is not going to be able to do much at all. Bush is still an idealogue and an idiot.

After they do or not do whatever about Iraq, the Dems will hold endless hearings.  With any luck, they will impeach "G" & "D".  Yea, KooL !!!
Lets have a nice Double Impeachment in the Spring and a trial before the Senate for Summer fun!
Then around next Halloween, President Pelosi with power to arrest, try convict & execute anyone, can ship "G" & his senior staff off to Waterboardville, FiringSquadistan (no known zipcode) and line them up against the wall !!
Democrata-t-att-tat-a-ttatt-a-tat-t-taat -at-at

yep we did that.  murtha had some ethical scars but they weren't too bad.

for example, he was filmed during the abscam controversy - with a person offering bribes, but he was the one who said "no thanks" to the bribe.

he's no angel thats for sure but he's probably good enough ethically

me and the hubster want to know who will be majority whip.

"My" Democratic Congressman?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.  That'll be the day.  Sigh.  Fucking moronic red state Misery voters.