[mike777]

Geez only one week and they are not even in power yet and the Democrats are eating their own. See Murtha tapes....fight.....geez whiz.......

[pbleighton]

Disagree.

A party has power for the first time in 12 years in the house, and you expect no contests for leadership positions? What planet are you from, boy

I think this is a good move by Pelosi, and I hope she succeeds.

Peter

[hrothgar]

Agreed...

I recognize that Mike might more comfortable sweeping this sort of thing under the rug. However, that just leads to issues like the Foley scandal.

I'm glad that this is being discussed openly.

For what its worth, I like the stance that Murtha took on Iraq, however, I think that he's a poor choice for Majority leader. You can't run against the "Culture of Corruption", then place Murtha in a leadership position.

[pbleighton]

"For what its worth, I like the stance that Murtha took on Iraq, however, I think that he's a poor choice for Majority leader. You can't run against the "Culture of Corruption", then place Murtha in a leadership position."

In general, I'm not crazy about Murtha (pro-gun, anti-abortion, etc.). However, he is the best (and was the first prominent) Democratic spokesman on what is by far the most important issue of the next two years.

Iraq determined the election result. Corruption was IMO a minor issue. It is after all historically quite bipartisan, and there is no doubt in my mind that the Democrats (after a while) will indulge in it (again).

Peter

[mike777]

Have you guys seen the FBI attempted bribe tapes the other dems are running now? "Murtha" "I do not want the money " "at this time" geez.........looks like eating their own children.

[pbleighton]

Looks like politics to me, Mike.

[mike777]

pbleighton, on Nov 14 2006, 08:11 PM, said:

Looks like politics to me, Mike.

lol it is all..repeat all politics....so is war Simply an extension of politics

[pbleighton]

"lol it is all..repeat all politics....so is war Simply an extension of politics"

No.

Negative ads don't cause thousands (or millions) of deaths.

Peter

[pclayton]

hrothgar, on Nov 14 2006, 04:25 PM, said:

...  You can't run against the "Culture of Corruption", then place Murtha in a leadership position.

Nice to know the Dems have their spinmeisters busy.

Look at the Intelligence Committee. Pelosi passing on her arch-enemy Jane Harman for Alcee Hastings who TOOK a bribe as a judge at about the same time as Murtha's ABSCAM and was impeached. Somehow he weaseled his way into congress 10 years later.

Makes Murtha's "..at this time..." (24 years ago) look pretty tame.

[hrothgar]

pclayton, on Nov 15 2006, 08:54 PM, said:

hrothgar, on Nov 14 2006, 04:25 PM, said:

...  You can't run against the "Culture of Corruption", then place Murtha in a leadership position.

Nice to know the Dems have their spinmeisters busy.

Nice to know that the Republicans are stupid enough to confuse open debate as a sign of weakness...

I'm a strong supporter of the Democratic Party and I agree with you. I think that it would be a mistake for the Democrats to appoint Murtha to a leadership position. I'm no supporter of Hastings, however, I also don't want to see Jane Harman chairing the Intelligence Committee. At the moment, Pelosi seems to be moving towards a clean slate.

The difference between the Democratic Party and the Republicans is that we're openly debating this topic while the Republicans quietly let Trent Lott take over as Minority whip.

[keylime]

Trent Lott as Minority Whip.....what acid trip caused this massive porklover to get elected? What a &*%^# piece of crap - his stunt about not sending federal money to rebuild the railroad lines in Mississippi was the final straw with him.

And, it only gets worse...Mel Martinez OVER Michael Steele for RNC Chair? <beats head against the wall>

[Winstonm]

This is the reason I view dumbocrats and repukeicans as simply left and right arms of the same body - there has been no meaningful change, IMO, just a shifting of angle of attack.

(Do not take this to mean there are no worthwhile people within each party - I am sure there are a few good ones but they have no meaning to the larger whole - a gnat to be brushed aside, IMO.)

[pbleighton]

"Trent Lott as Minority Whip.....what acid trip caused this massive porklover to get elected?"

In case you haven't noticed, the combination of a Republican-controlled Congress and a Republican President (except for a two year blip in the 50s, the first time this has happened since Hoover) has produced a historic high in pork - I believe at least triple previous levels, though I'm too tired to look it up.

Taking a good look at the Republican party, it's not at all surprising that this racist porklover got elected. He fits right in.

I vote Democrat 100% every election, in spite of the corruption, the spinelessness on Iraq, etc. (it's a LONG list).

Whenever I waver, the Trent Lotts of the GOP (not to mention President Onward Christian Soldiers) bring me back to the straight and narrow.

Peter

[hrothgar]

hrothgar, on Nov 16 2006, 01:21 AM, said:

I'm no supporter of Hastings, however, I also don't want to see Jane Harman chairing the Intelligence Committee. At the moment, Pelosi seems to be moving towards a clean slate.

As surmised, neither Hastings nor Harman will be chairing the House Intelligence committee. Pelosi went with Silvestre Reyes. Here's an interesting excerpt from Reyes floor speech back when congress was debating military intervention in iraq.

"Every one of us understands that we are a nation of laws, that we lead the world by example, that we have a great respect for process and to protect the rights of everyone. That is why, Mr. Speaker, I reluctantly today rise in opposition against this resolution, because I think that the president has not made a case as to why Iraq and why attack Saddam Hussein. As a member of the Intelligence Committee I have asked consistently the questions to those that have come before us with information, I've said -- I've asked the question of what is the connection between 9/11 and Iraq and Saddam Hussein? None. What is the connection between Iraq and Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda? Very little, if any."

looks like a good choice to me