Murtha to vie for majority leader, urges leaving Iraq

[sabra]

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2006/11/murtha-to-vie-for-majority-leader.html

Murtha to vie for majority leader, urges leaving Iraq

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Just because they're in control of the House doesn't mean everything will be smooth among Democrats there. Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha says he will "absolutely" challenge Maryland colleague Steny Hoyer for the majority leader's post.

Murtha heads into his 17th term with a feeling of vindication. A year ago, he caused an uproar by declaring American troops should leave Iraq. Today he says "the country has spoken," and that he's anxious to "get this thing over with."

A decorated Vietnam war veteran and retired Marine colonel, Murtha says it's time to "hold people accountable" for the war. He supports bringing most troops home A-S-A-P, though he's willing to leave some on the periphery of Iraq. Murtha says it's "not a disaster" for the U-S to leave Iraq, but it's a disaster not to have a policy.

[chelsea0011]

1. Go John Go

[bullimiami]

2. no. i want a liberal majority leader. not someone who supported an insane

war and changed their mind later on when it went badly.

murtha is not my cup of tea at all.

[coalition_unwilling]

3. I want Kucinich as majority leader, but I think I will have to

wait on that.

[bullimiami]

4. i like dennis but i think he might infuriate me as majority leader.

not angry enough.

[momophile]

10. wouldn't that be wonderful?

when do we get the Peace Department?

[tabasco]

19. Yeah, I want somebody who was wise enough to see through the BS.

I appreciate all Murtha has done but let's remember he was for the fucking Iraq war at the start. We have a lot of smart Dems who opposed the war and tried to stop it. Let's pick one of them.

[u2spirit]

22. Hoyer is a DLC tool

Hoyer is a gasbag who has consistently voted for big business and against the common man for years. See bankruptcy bill for instance. Murtha may be socially conservative, but he's a populist and as genuine as any member of congress. Plus, he was the first with the balls to flat out say we need to get out of Iraq without nuance. For that alone, he deserves our respect. Hoyer is pure DLC and sums up the wishy washy image that our party has had to try and overcome. I would obviously prefer Kucinich or someone more ideologically pure, but Goddammit people, let's come together as a party and stand behind those who are bold and frank. Murtha is such a person and I respect him as much as any Democrat today for sticking his neck out and calling for an end to this illegal, murderous war.

[NOLADEM]

5. YES...Called it earlier...MURTHA FOR SENATE MAJORITY LEADER!!!!

[Penance]

7. Technical problem...

Murtha has to be a member of the Senate to be Senate Majority Leader. :) Personally, I'd like someone with a more solid progressive leanings. He opposes abortion, for example.

[Hosnon]

13. Actually there is no Constitutional requirement that the Leader of either

house be a member of that house.

Article I, Section 2, Clause 5:

The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers ....

Article I, Section 3, Clause 5:

The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States.

The Leaders have always been members but there is no explicit requirement for that.

[tabasco]

17. Oh Puh-leeze. That's just silly.

You think they could appoint some unelected guy off the street to be third in line to the Presidency?

The clause also does not state human beings will be appointed. You think they could appoint a dog?

I'm sure this would fall under implied conditions.

on edit: Any good hound dog could have done a better job than Hastert!

[NOLADEM]

14. D'oh!

[Raiden]

6. I think he'd make a good House Majority Leader

But isn't he tainted by (slight?) scandal? Or is that just right-wing spin?

I like Jack Murtha a lot. He's intelligent; tough; credible; stubborn; and he could really keep the Dems in line on the Iraq issue. I don't see any problems with him as Majority Leader, except that he is a conservative Democrat. Doesn't matter though, we're a Big Tent Party with a newly crowned liberal Queen Bee! Nancy's in charge now!!!

[bemildred]

8. Works for me. nt

[LeahD]

9. No. He stumbled today on TV...too many pauses, couldn't remember

McCain's name, had to refer to him as the Senator from Arizona. He came across like Perot's running mate, Stockdale. He's done an excellent job of getting the word out about the mistakes in Iraq, but he's not the man for the job.

[flordehinojos]

11. Yeah Murtha!

:bounce:

[w4rma]

12. Pelosi or Murtha, they are both good. As long as there isn't a huge fight over it.

I'm not buying all this "Democrats are breaking apart", now that Democrats are in a position to lead, BS from big media.

[JaneQPublic]

16. Pelosi for Speaker, Murtha for Majority Leader. Two different jobs. (nt)

[Joe Bacon]

15. I love seeing Murtha Smack Down Tweety

I love how he gives Tweety and Tiny Tim Russert the Smack Down!

[Blue State Bandit]

18. Give the old Hoot a chance.

Steny may have helped get people elected, but Jack Murtha put his seat on the line when he stood up.

Yes he's is a conservative Democrat, what I would call a "Liberal Conservative" (if only to get a rise out of the wing nuts), but we are not in power to lead half the country. Let's not make the same old mistakes again.

If we install a staunchly liberal House Majority Leader (no matter how much I want to) right next to Speaker Pelosi, this will be a very short ride.

We won a tough battle on Tuesday, but the war is far from over.

[kdpeters]

20. CREW: Murtha among most corrupt in Congress

http://www.citizensforethics.org/activities/campaign.php?view=150

The group accused Murtha of allowing his brother to lobby for him, which is against the rules according to CREW.

I love the guy, but corruption is a deal breaker and CREW has so far proved credible. If there's any truth to this accusation, I hope he will withdraw his name from consideration.

[Zech Marquis]

21. nothing wrong with that

Murtha will be fine with me, especially after how those Repuke cowards called him a coward for the past year.

[kdpeters]

23. Bah!! Who cares what they think?

those Repuke cowards called him a coward for the past year

Repuke cowards might love our choice for Majority Leader; they may crap their pants. I don't give a fig either way. They have nothing to do with it. They were voted out because of these partisan "gotcha" politics. If we act like that, then I'll vote against us next round. This bull scheisse has to stop. Pelosi, my representative, promised to clean up corruption in Congress. I expect her to do just that.