I still don't understand why Murtha was not chosen as speaker. I believe

[AlinPA]

we would be better off now and the Democratic leaders in the house would not be running around scared of Bush**.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

1. You mean John "the surge is working" Murtha?

The fact that he's a dirty machine politician didn't win him any support, either. We're stuck with what we've got. I doubt a change at the top would make one bit of difference.

[AlinPA]

2. Yes, we are stuck.

[BadgerLaw2010]

3. Open Air Pork Market. n/t

[AX10]

4. Because Murtha has Duke Cunningham style corruption activities.

[terisan]

14. Murtha was taped during FBI Abscam sting decades ago. They did not charge him

because he did not take the money but seemed to leave the door open for future dealings. He gave the appearance of impropriety.

Cunningham, of course got arrested, convicted, and tossed in prison.

I think the Steny Hoyer branch of the Democratic Party sunk Murtha, firstly because he considered to be owed it for party work and maybe secondly because he became a vocal opponent of the war.

[kenfrequed]

5. I have two answers

Steny Hower and Immmanuel Rahm. If Pelosi wasn't acceptable to these two then she never would have gotten the damned job.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

8. You could at least learn to spell one of their names correctly.

Or get the forename and surname in the correct order... you know... before you go casting aspersions.

[kenfrequed]

16. Well I apologize

Done.

And these aren't aspersions. These are more like accusations I think. These two Dino's have caused more than their share of misery and discontent and have sucked the energy out of the room after the great blue wave washed democrats into office.

Personally I think both of them can take their triangulating butts back to the DLC and rot. I hope for some heavy duty primary challenges somewhere down the road for these tools.

[terisan]

6. Surely you recall that Pelosi wanted Murtha as Majority leader and many DUers opposed

him as too corrupt and many Dem reps, for different reasons, insisted upon Steny Hoyer instead. They said he was entitled to it apparently for services he had performed for them.

Murtha was only aggressive in getting goodies for his constituents, and in turning against the war.

[AlinPA]

7. Disclosure: I am one of his constituents.

[terisan]

12. I remember Pelosi was considered to have lost face when she couldn't get her

party to approve Murtha as Majority Leader.

I've been wondering if Hoyer as Majority Leader has been one of the biggest roadblocks to change.

What do you think ?

[AlinPA]

15. Looks like you have explained it to me. OK. I still think he would have fought harder.

[terisan]

18. I agree. He would be firing people up. She is trying to put a party program together with

nuts and bolts.

[Franc_Lee]

9. DUers opposed Cindy Sheehan over no-impeachment Pelosi

[onenote]

17. Cindy isn't running as a Democrat so take your crap elsewhere.

[Virginia Dare]

10. He's had some ethics problems in the past.....n/t

[Bitwit1234]

11. The House voted for Pelosi and not Murtha that's why.

[terisan]

13. My recollection is that Murtha had announced his interest to become Maj Leader not speaker.

Pelosi was considered practically a shoo-in for Speaker because she had been Minority Leader until Dems got majority.