NYT: Many Say House Leadership Race Damages Democrats’ Image

[DeepModem Mom]

Many Say Leadership Race Damages Democrats’ Image
By CARL HULSE
Published: November 16, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 — House members acknowledged on Wednesday that the increasingly bitter contest for majority leader was sullying the image of unity and new direction that Democrats hoped to convey.

“It’s four days that we haven’t talked about our message and built on the euphoria,” said Representative Ellen O. Tauscher, a California Democrat who is supporting Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland in the leadership vote on Thursday. “We had such perfect pitch last week.”...

***

The race has not broken along conventional ideological lines. Mr. Murtha, a staunch conservative on most issues with the exception of his highly publicized opposition to the Iraq war, enjoys support from some of the most liberal Democrats. Mr. Hoyer, the more liberal of the two, has attracted strong backing from moderates and centrists, as well as some of the most seasoned House Democrats.

It has also left Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate straining to understand Ms. Pelosi’s strategy.

They wonder why, in her moment of victory, she injected herself into a leadership fight that will end with the selection of her rival or her own choice, a lawmaker criticized for his ethics record, after an election in which Democrats campaigned on a clean-government theme....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/16/us/politics/16cong.ht...

[Kagemusha]

1. Because of the Iraq war?

Taking a wild stab here.

[dailykoff]

5. Which the NYT has supported from the get go.

More campaign literature for their guy.

[leesa]

2. "Some say"....nobody gives a shit about it. Nice try though Mr Hulse.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

21. Somebody does. CNN and MSNBC.

They are blabbing about nothing else this morning.

[zonkers]

54. And they get paid to do this. I caught a minute of TUcker today, What a wanker.

[Exiled in America]

34. Well I do. And the people I talk to do. So nice try.

[EFerrari]

39. Well you and the people you talk to should pay closer attention.

NYTs is for sale and they always have been. If it's not good for corporate interests, it's not good.

[Exiled in America]

43. It's not that we don't pay attention, its that we disagree with you.

There's a big difference.

[EFerrari]

47. Disagreement is fine, healthy. But the fact is, NYTs

has always shilled for Wall Street. And they always will.

They never met a defense contract they didn't like or an advantage to Big Pharma or a smear on a Latin American leader who got too close to actual democratic process.

Look at their track record, don't listen to me. For example, didn't they withhold the NSA wiretapping story until after the 2004 election WHILE they were telling us there was no story in Ohio in 2004? That we were just paranoid? lol

They had to send out a mass mailing to thousands of readers who were demanding they cover Ohio. They promised they would if a "story" turned up.

(So far, zip.)

And that "no story" has turned into a mountain of evidence. Of course, there was RIOTING at the statehouse on election night but the NYTs brushed that off as an internet conspiracy theory. lol

Their Reader's Rep embarrassingly posted a non-apology apology for that little fiasco.

And that's just one in recent memory.

I loved that blue plastic wrapped thump in the morning. The day I canceled was a bad day.

[aquart]

3. Yeah, Steny's spokesperson is a good impartial viewpoint.

We should just give Steny what he wants because anything else would look like democracy. And the nation just isn't used to that.

Oh, and NYT.....who is "THEY"?

I like how confused and uneasy they are that a liberal could support a conservative, and work with him. That's really not divisive enough for the Bush administration, is it?

Honestly, I suspect that the people I really don't like are "centrist." Because they ain't got no guts.

Go away, irrelevant NYT. Shoo.

[onehandle]

4. Nobody gives a shit.

The voters don't care about this. This is BS.

[Xipe Totec]

6. We're Democrats. Screw It!

Goose steeping in unison is just not our thang.

Let'r rip, and may the best Damned Dem win

The time for unity is after the leadership question is resolved.

We have until Jan 20th.

[Born Free]

51. we had 6 years of lock step unity leadership...

the American people want discussion, and they will understand that it's all part of the process. However the right wing media will try to show it as being something we should be ashamed of, "Hells fire!" those damn democrats argue and disagree, how dare they not line up like the republicans do so well.

[chaumont58]

7. Democracy can be messy

Bismark said something like: one should not view politics and the making of sausage up closely.

[MADem]

8. Oooooooooh!!! "MANY" say, eh? Let's all be AFRAID of "MANY!!!"

What a load of horseshit. Most people are NOT PAYING ATTENTION to this race. They could GIVE a shit. The only contest they care about is Emmitt's Dancing With the Stars victory.

Further, once the votes are cast tomorrow, the choice is made, and the dust settles, this will be a distant memory to those who actually DID pay attention. If "Meat the Potatohead" even carries it this Sunday beyond a short five minute segment (after all, the REAL story is Trent "Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold" Lott getting the R-Senate-Whip job), it'll be because no one spouted off anymore about Iraq, or the Monkey didn't fall down the aircraft ramp or insult a foreign dignitary on his swing through Asia.

WTF is WRONG with the NYT??? Why must they perpetually be such asses? They have to treat every political difference like it's Ali v. Frazier. And they have to cherrypick like hell to find someone WHINING about the matter. I'd wager the bulk of that Tauscher interview was considerably more upbeat about what the Dems accomplished this month. And that gratuitous LaHood comment--"Everyone on our side is GIDDY." PLEASE--they're GIDDY because they slit their wrists after they lost both chambers--bleeding out will make one feel that way.

I hate to think it, but I swear, if there weren't a FEMALE Speaker-in-Waiting wrapped up in this little tiff, I don't think it would merit this many column-inches. I just don't. They gotta find a way to inject a little Lady-Catfighting into the whole discussion, using dramatic, tabloidish words like "giddy" and "stunned" to inject drama into a process that is just what it is, a process.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

24. Niiiice post!

Like chunky soup, I ate it with a spoon...

[Tight_rope]

52. Wellput!

[TankLV]

9. NAME THEM or shut the fuck up...

So - where were the headlines when the repukes were fighting tooth and nail - or was a a "wonderful display of democracy in action"?!

Fucking.
Media.
Whores.

[chaumont58]

10. Hoyer is DLC. I'm suprised he hasn't worn a bomb onto House Floor

threating to blow up everything, if he doesn't get 100 percent of the votes.

[struggle4progress]

11. *gasp!*

[beltanefauve]

12. "Many say..."

they don't give a shit about the House's organizational and procedural maneuvers (which will go into affect in January!) I had to look to see if Adam Nagourney wrote this one.

And for the record, Ellen Tauscher is very DLC.

[truthisfreedom]

13. it's part of the process, people. we're not going to lose any seats over this.

the election is over. we can bicker all we want now.

[ShockediSay]

14. Murtha, is first of all, a military man

no chicken hawk,
no chicken dove,
no taker of the pollsters' pulse

he is PRINCIPLED

and if the principled are passed over, in favor of some insider from inside the beltway
I'm looking for a 3d party to vote for in '08

[EFerrari]

15. "Many say the NYTs are propaganda whores"

[KoKo]

32. and Many would be Correct that NYT's are Propaganda Whores....

They are up for sale aren't they? Yet, they whore along as if nothing happened with this last election. Business as Usual for the Whore Propagandists.

[EFerrari]

48. Hi there, KoKo01. I can honestly say that I'm sorry we agree on

this one.

("Gracefully surrender the things of youth -- clean air, Taiwan . ." -- National Lampoon)

[wisteria]

16. The papers and other media sources are back to presstituting

themselves. Hoyer isn't exactly Mr. clean government. I am beginning to think the DLC owns the portion of the media the right wing doesn't. I hope Murtha pulls this one out- after all, it is all about Iraq.

[AIJ Alom]

17. I wonder if the many are Tucker Carlson and 7 Republican staffers...

just a thought. That's more than half a dozen, so it's got to be many people because it's not two (couple) or three (several).

[mhatrw]

18. Translation: DLC mouthpieces are crying because they are not getting their way.

[depakid]

35. That's the long and short of it

These people are just as much a part of the problem as the Republicans are. Indeed- it was their pandering to the right that led to much of the mess we're in today.

[rodeodance]

19. and here we have the nyt going with the RW talk show hosts now. yup,

circle is complete.

[dmosh42]

20. Pelosi looking for a 'hard line' approach

Hoyer is the guy the corporate side wants, so we can keep up with these 'free' trade agreements that pit our working people against the slave labor countries. There's not much doubt left about Murtha's stand on Iraq, plus he voted against the biggest 'free trade agreement' with China in 2000. Our jobs market is still paying the price from that one with all the outsourcing of jobs. Pelosi knows what the country wants, and she wants Murtha to spearhead this thing. Like someone posted on DU, "Bush's worst nightmare is to have breakfast with John Murtha"!

[librechik]

22. From now on, EVERYTHING will tarnish our image, according to the librul media

you'll see--now that we are in control at last, the liberal media will be licking our...HUNHHH????!!

[warrens]

23. Not pretty, but it will be forgotten before the turkey leftovers get finished

[Strawman]

25. "Image" is irrelvant. Authority is what matters

This will fade from public consciousness as any sort of issue with the next news cycle. That means squat. If there is damage it will be to the authority of the House leadership. I want to see a strong speaker who can effectively move legislation through the House. If we can't do that then we'll run into public image problems later on.

[gauguin57]

26. Pardonnez-moi! Trent Lott is minority whip, and WE have IMAGE problems?

Oh, please.

[StrictlyRockers]

27. Cripes, what an annoying article! Swiftboat meme much?

[bemildred]

28. NYT, the paper of gossip and innuendo. nt

[Tellurian]

29. After yesterday's rueful display against Pelosi and Murtha..

The NYT need go no further than right here on these threads.

The hyperactive blockhead sharpshooters are the ones who will bring down the Demo Party.

Shut em down as soon as they get started and give the Demos a chance to begin to clean house.

[MarkTwain]

30. Great Piece from the NYT...

... a good analyzation of exactly the problem that Speaker Designate Pelosi has created by the support of Mr. Murtha as a candidate for Majority Leader - with his severely challenged and compromised legal and ethical past.

Kudos to the Old Grey Lady for a good and fair article.

[mhatrw]

38. Yes, kudos on the fine analyzation.

Let the swiftboating of Murtha continue apace.

[Tesha]

31. "Many say headlines use the term 'many say' when most don't (say)."

"Many say" is the classical weasel-wording of someone just
looking to write a snappy headline that is unsupported by
the actual facts of the matter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel_words

Tesha

[Gormy Cuss]

33. Yep.

Close cousin of "some say"

[Amonester]

36. Me: "Many say the New York Times was complicit in the unneces-

sary (thus, criminal) launch of the illegal war of aggression against hundreds of thousands innocent civilians in Iraq (and that includes babies, pregnant women, little kids under 5, children, teenagers, college students, young adults, middle-aged workers, and elderly people). Many say also, that the New York Times was complicit in the ** criminal maladministration about willfully hiding everything about the unconstitutional (thus, illegal) eavesdropping program, instead of reporting about it before the 2004's stolen elections, as they should have."

Giddit, NYT?

[zara]

37. I heard on Faux news Terrorists were rejoicing over this!~

[goodhue]

40. Many say beltway journalists make mountains out of molehills

[Cha]

41. WHINE WHINE WHINE..

Would you like some fucking rat cheese with WHINE?

[Guaranteed]

42. Fucking DLC clowns ruining everything. nt

[rocktivity]

44. HIT PIECE ALERT!!!

Translation: Many REPUBLICANS Say House Leadership Race Damages Democrats’ Image

There's a difference between unifying and the lockstepping the Rethugs were doing, which the voters clearly rejected with last week's election. Arguments occur within the best of families, but the VERY best of families find a way to unite afterwards. Hey, maybe THAT was Peolsi's strategy!

rocknation

[moondust]

45. Exactly.

Republicans and their media stooges continue to grasp at straws. It's pathetic.

[Generator]

46. Unity? Bwaahhhhhhhhh

That must have been the five seconds on Tuesday night. But WHAT a five seconds it was! I will treasure it always.

[high density]

49. Oh please

Most of America doesn't even know what's going on here.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

50. Bullshit

The votes have been cast, and we're moving on.

I'm curious...Does anyone knoe if there's ever been an uncontested race for majority leader?

[zonkers]

53. What wanky bullshit. A little friendly internal competition is always a good thing.

[Nancy Waterman]

55. People are too used to the GOP marching in lockstep

Democracy is messy. Different people want different things and then we vote and decide. That the Dems can handle disagreement and then move on says a lot for them. We should not ask for this coerced lockstep like the Nazi GOP usually does. But we need to reframe our benign disagreements as a good thing.