Murtha Loses

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

2/3rds of the incoming house members are progressives

Is that really something to be proud of?

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

Forgive me if I wait and see how this new majority votes. We saw the first vote today. Didn't look that progressive to me?

Like I said, guys so liberal they probably give you nightmares voted for Hoyer...this was not a vote on "how liberal are you!"

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Is that really something to be proud of?

One of the very few times in American History where a party with some 245 congressional seats won both houses of Congress...30+ house seats, and put in almost all liberals

THAT'S an achievement, and thats going to be in the history books when they talk about 2006

[Vietvet]

Originally Posted by Phantom

So, Murtha lost. That was unexpected, for me at least.

Is this because of his past, or because the other guy would be better?

Is this a sign of hard times to come for Dems? All these new guys come in and label themselves Dems, but they don't seem to all be in line with eachother. Will the Dems have trouble legislating with such a diversity among party members?

It has nothing to do with his past.Murtha has done nothing wrong. Steney Hoyer has been the minority leader for a long time, and has garnered plenty of support over the years. Pelosi endorsed Murtha, I think, as a gesture of respect for what he has done over the past year, speaking his mind about the war in Iraq. I understand that Pelosi and Murtha have been friends for a long time, and that was her way of showing her loyalty. This was a minor skirmish, and naturally the right is gonna jump in and make a big deal out of nothing. Dems have always had a big tent party. Don't kid yourself, we'll get legislation through. Starting with a minimum wage increase, then action on other things like Iraq. AND, there will be more than a few investigations. Nancy won't be able to stop guys like Henry "nostrils" Waxman. I'll bet Cheney is having nitemares of giant flaring nostrils relentlessly attacking him.

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by Vietvet

It has nothing to do with his past.Murtha has done nothing wrong. Steney Hoyer has been the minority leader for a long time, and has garnered plenty of support over the years. Pelosi endorsed Murtha, I think, as a gesture of respect for what he has done over the past year, speaking his mind about the war in Iraq. I understand that Pelosi and Murtha have been friends for a long time, and that was her way of showing her loyalty. This was a minor skirmish, and naturally the right is gonna jump in and make a big deal out of nothing. Dems have always had a big tent party. Don't kid yourself, we'll get legislation through. Starting with a minimum wage increase, then action on other things like Iraq. AND, there will be more than a few investigations. Nancy won't be able to stop guys like Henry "nostrils" Waxman. I'll bet Cheney is having nitemares of giant flaring nostrils relentlessly attacking him.

Originally Posted by Washingtonpost.com

House Democrats elected Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (Md.) the new majority leader yesterday over strong opposition from Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), exposing a deep political divide even before the party takes control.

The 149 to 86 vote for Hoyer over Rep. John P. Murtha (Pa.) was viewed by many in the party as a repudiation of Pelosi's strong-arm tactics and a recognition of Hoyer's tireless work to elect a Democratic majority for the first time in 12 years. If the Hoyer camp's head count was correct going into yesterday's secret balloting, Pelosi and her allies may not have swayed a single vote for Murtha, a close associate.

from the Washington Post. It doesn't look like I'm in the minority here...

full article here: Democrats Pick Hoyer Over Murtha - washingtonpost.com

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Is that really something to be proud of?

Extremely.

The people have spoken and they want progressives in power.

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

Extremely.

The people have spoken and they want anybody but Republicans in power.

Progressives aren't going to be in power long.

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Progressives aren't going to be in power long.

Conservatives aren't in power now.

[Thorgrim]

Yeah, the washingtonpost, whose same political insights said the whole election was won by conservatives, which i completely debunked

look, when you're talking about politics...their only sources are politicians who WANT to talk about it...aka people who don't like Hoyer or don't like Murtha or don't like Pelosi

Many people have disliked all of them since 2001, and yet they still got a lot done, especially 2004-2006

When a big bill comes, you have Pelosi and Hoyer working their people for votes, even if it was the worst situation and there was some sort of temporarily split, that works out because both people will rally behind their respective side for the same bill