Reply #133: Follow the money indeed--check who STENY contributed to. Loyalty is a two way street.

[MADem]

Steny gave more than a million bucks to the incoming freshmen for their campaigns. And he has given similarly large amounts to every incoming class since he got his PAC up and running. He earned the loyalty by raising money for Democrats, and helping them win.

He campaigned for them. Hell, he RECRUITED them. He had more votes locked up and SIGNED for than Murtha got. Ranking members, Black caucus members, Blue Dogs...he had declared support. It was NEVER a contest.

Murtha, too, usurped the ordinary progression of things. As Barney Frank said, if you do the work, you should get the promotion. Steny has been doing the work for twelve years. And Steny has voted with the GOP way less than Murtha has, if you check their records.

Pelosi knew this would happen. She was given an opportunity to demonstrate her loyalty, she did, but the conclusion was foregone. It was a win-win for her, and anyone who sees the "inside baseball" aspect of this can understand that. Only the stooooooops on TV who love a catfight and those who do not understand the process are ignoring that reality.

When all was said and done, as should have happened, everyone who worked over the past twelve years for this victory got promoted.

You clearly have trouble understanding how things work on the Hill. POLICY views have nothing to do with who gets the leadership jobs. Don't make the mistake of confusing policy with cat herding. If you continue to do that, you may as well go waste your vote with the Greens.