Murtha for Speaker. Feingold for Majority Leader.

[Octafish]

SHOULD we win in November, these two Democrats have proven -- by their words, actions and votes -- to deserve the leadership positions.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Works for me.

[Octafish]

3. They both stood up to the War Party.

Not enough of their colleagues have.

They need to know we've got their backs.

[liberal N proud]

2. Let's talk about this after November 7th

I wouldn't want to get ahead of things here. I still need to concentrate on beating out the bastards.

[Octafish]

4. I understand your point. We need to get the word out now, though.

With or without Diebold -- the more people know WHY it's worth voting for Democratic candidates, the better.

From what I've seen, the majority of Americans think Iraq is a big mistake. What part of that Pelosi and Reid don't understand, I don't know.

[peace frog]

5. Actually, I heard a rumor

the Democratic leadership offered to make HRC Senate Majority Leader if she agreed not to run for president. I have to admit, she would make a damn fine Leader.

[Octafish]

7. The things America could accomplish...

...are incredible. Health Care for ALL Americans. Good jobs for ALL Americans. Good education for ALL Americans. Heck, I'd settle with Peace and Prosperity for ALL Americans.

From your keypad to Rev Moon's ear, peace frog. Thank you for the heads-up.

[EFerrari]

16. Yeah, because she wants us to stay the course in Iraq

and her media advisors are so right on.

Oops.

[peace frog]

22. Calm down, kids

Merely repeating a rumor don't necessarily make it so, ya know.
Hillary is enormously ambitious, so much so that the promise of Senate Majority Leader may not be enough to tempt her away from a presidential run, foolish and futile though it may be.

[ronnykmarshall]

24. That would be in 2009 ...

Reid is going to retire and the rummor is that he spoke with HRC about this. I hope she takes him up on it.

Loves me some Hil-REY, but I think she would have to face so many attacks if she ran for president.

[MzNov]

35. HRC should be Chairwoman of Appropriations Committee

or something to do with budget/money/treasury whatever. She's excellent with money.

[Captain Hilts]

6. Give Barney Frank one of the leadership positions. He's great.

Smart, funny and his smarts scare the hell outta republics.

[bobbolink]

13. Wouldn't that be great! I'd love to get up in the morning, knowing

Barney is at the helm.

[Captain Hilts]

14. He's smart, funny and the Reps are scared of him because he's smart...

and funny.

[Octafish]

23. Barney Frank is a top-drawer Democrat.

He's fought to create a better life for ALL Americans. The guy has earned a leadership position.

[bobbolink]

32. I wish we were smart enough as a country--as a PARTy to recognize

his intelligent power, and put him in the leadership where he belongs.

sigh... Can you imagine how things would be if we had a whole bunch of leaders like him??

Ohyeah, I forgot... that's only us leftist fringe who see that..

[Captain Hilts]

38. I worked with Republicans and they know that BF is the smartest guy ...

on the Hill.

[bobbolink]

41. Is there anything we can do to encourage Barney having a good leadership

position? Just knowing that he scares the RW is good enough for me!

If we had people like him and Feingold and Wellstone Kucinich, etc in leadership positions, think what could happen with this country! We might become a republic again.

[ourbluenation]

8. can we not count our chickens before they hatch, please....

I'm superstitious that way...

[Octafish]

25. Know what you mean. But we were 'victimized' in 2000, 2002, 2004.

...We didn't count our chickens then, either. This time, let's be different.

What's more: Fred Alan Wolf describes what he calls the "quantum wave function." From what my small brain can gether, it's the sum total of all the current possibilities have in determining the probable future. What we can do, with our little minds, is help call into likelihood one probability over all others. Our brains act like rudders, moving through all the possible universes.

I trust us, rather than worry about what others think, want or believe. So, let's say to hell with those who don't agree with us. Let's move toward that day we see, want and believe in. After all these years of war -- unbroken since Korea in 1950 -- we deserve a break.

[Lefty48197]

9. Speaker Pelosi

you can just tell by how the Republicans are trying to demonize her, that she'll be good for America.

[Octafish]

26. Speaker Murtha should scare the devil out of the GOP.

The guy's respected from the right and the left. He's a war hero and one of the Pentagon's best friends on Capitol Hill. He also stood up to the War Party and said, "Enough."

[Bucky]

33. He's also got a well earned reputation for slinging pork.

That's reason #1 he decided to jump the leadership and throw in for Majority Leader. He's not running for speaker, just yet. Of course he's no fool--he knows that if the Republicans lose, the first thing they'll do to vent then anger is to hunting for Democratic scalps. From day one the Scaife machine will be out to Swiftboat him and do an Arkansas Project-style job on Pelosi. We're looking at a nonstop two year replay of the Clinton scandal hunt (remember Bob Barr was talking impeachment from January 1993!) It'll be ugly and it'll be relentless.

Strap on your helmets, kids.

[WillyT]

10. Um... You Might Wanna Read This First...

Trading Votes for Pork Across the House Aisle

By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
Published: October 2, 2006

<snip>

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 — For more than a decade, Representative John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania has operated a political trading post in a back corner of the House of Representatives. A gang of about two dozen Democrats mill around his seat. A procession of others walk back to request pet spending projects, known as earmarks. And Republicans come by, asking him to enlist some of those Democrats to join them on close votes. “Whether they get what they want in the bill or they get the votes they are looking for, nobody ever leaves completely disappointed,” said Representative Paul E. Kanjorski, a Pennsylvania Democrat often found in what is known as the Murtha corner.

Outside Washington, Mr. Murtha, a Vietnam veteran and longtime hawk, may be best known for his break with the president over the Iraq war last fall. But inside the Capitol, he is best known for turning earmarks into power. As the top Democrat on the House military spending subcommittee, he often delivers Democratic votes to Republican leaders in a tacit exchange for earmarks for himself and his allies.

In the last year, Democratic and Republican floor watchers say, Mr. Murtha has helped Republicans round up enough Democratic votes to narrowly block a host of Democratic proposals: to investigate federal contracting fraud in Iraq, to reform lobbying laws, to increase financing for flood control, to add $150 million for veterans’ health care and job training, and to exempt middle-class families from the alternative minimum tax.

In one case that particularly irked Democratic partisans, Mr. Murtha led three others in voting against a politically vulnerable Louisiana Democrat’s proposal to divert money intended to be spent on base closings to research prosthetic limbs for veterans. It failed by one vote.

For their “nays” on that and other matters, all four Democrats were rewarded. In the weeks after the vote, they claimed credit for a total of more than $250 million in earmarks in the 2006 appropriations bills. Mr. Murtha alone brought home about $80 million for his district and $120 million for his state, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan group that tracks such projects.

<snip>

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/02/washington/02murtha.h...

I like some of what Murtha has done recently, but I don't want him as the leader of our party in the house.

[Octafish]

28. The guy sure knows how to play the game, bringing the pork back home.

Thanks for the article and info, WillyT. I appreciate your perspective.

The thing is, the Democratic Party has a public image as being a bit -- how to put this politely? -- less than vigorous in the leadership department. Murtha stood up to the same War Party and said "Enough." He may be the figure Democrats need to draw new blood into the ranks.

BTW: Murtha, IMO, has the credentials to get the Pentagon in line. As Speaker, he'd have to figure out how best to use the nation's treasure for ALL Americans, not just the folks in the Granite State.

[Captain Hilts]

37. Johnstown, PA has a shiney, new airport, for no apparent reason.

It's like a ten minute flight from Pittsburgh.

[UTUSN]

11. I'm DOWN with that!!!1 And Oct for PREZ!!!!1 n/t

[Octafish]

29. You're a pal, UTUSN.

World's a better place because of people like you and my life is a happier one knowing I have a real Friend.



You know who I feel sorry for in the Monkey House? Barney.

[onenote]

12. it will be Pelosi and Reid

unless for some reason they decline the jobs.

[EFerrari]

15. And it should be. Their reward for working the Congress from Hell. nt

[mitchtv]

17. suits me just fine

I prefer the leadership we have especially in the house. Nancy voted against the war, didn't she? Murtha was a supporter.

[The Wielding Truth]

18. Oh, wouldn't it be lov'erly,lov'erly.

[KingFlorez]

19. The leadership is lined up

Pelosi will be a good Speaker and Reid will be a good Majority Leader. Feingold is all right, but I'm not sure he'd be a good majority leader.

[never_get_over_it]

20. Definitely think we need a change

I'm fine with Feingold - Reid has GOT TO GO

not sold on Murtha - and sort of favor Pelosi going too - think any one from the Congressional Black Caucus would be a great pick for Speaker of the House - the members of the Congressional Black Caucus know how to kick ass and take names....

[Mass]

21. Right now, we need to win the two houses. We can speak about

leadership positions later.

[Subdivisions]

27. I like it. Don't get me wrong, I like Nancy too but she is being

vilified by the pugs and some of that might seep through and it would be alot harder to swift boat Murtha.

[Little Star]

30. John Conyers! Been out there for years!

Love both the other guys tho.....

[paulk]

31. Murtha' s a conservative

he's got a 64% lifetime ADA rating (through 2005). That's about 20 points lower than Lieberman, fer crissake!

Why would a liberal Democrat want him as speaker?

3rd in line to the presidency!

I truly don't understand the Murtha worship around here.

Sure, he's done a great job on Iraq - but, that's just one issue.

I want a liberal as speaker - not a conservative like Murtha.

[MzNov]

36. Murtha for Defense Secretary in 2009

except he might be too old, what he's in his 70's?

[paulk]

39. he'd be 77 in 2009

Clinton considered him for Sec. of Defense back in '93, but ended up choosing Les Aspin.

[goodhue]

34. Kucinich for speaker

Murtha is rightwing in my worldview

[WI_DEM]

40. dems will back Pelosi and Reid, but if anybody should be Senate leader it

it should be Ted Kennedy who has proven in 44 years in the Senate that he is the best legislator on either side of the ailse.

[NYC Liberal]

42. How about....Gore!

Constitution doesn't require the Speaker be a member of the House...or even a member of Congress.