Unfit for Majority Leader

[Algorem]

Unfit for Majority Leader

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/14/AR2006111401230.html

By Ruth Marcus
Wednesday, November 15, 2006; Page A21

The videotape is grainy, dark and devastating. The congressman and the FBI undercover agents -- the congressman thinks they represent an Arab sheik willing to pay $50,000 to get immigration papers -- are talking business in the living room of a secretly wired Washington townhouse.

Two other congressmen in on the deal "do expect to be taken care of," the lawmaker says. But for the time being -- and he says repeatedly that he might change his mind and take money down the road -- he'd rather trade his help for investment in his district, maybe a hefty deposit in the bank of a political supporter who's done him favors.

"I'm not interested -- at this point," he says of the dangled bribe. "You know, we do business for a while, maybe I'll be interested, maybe I won't, you know." Indeed, he acknowledges, even though he needs to be careful -- "I expect to be in the leadership of the House," he notes -- the money's awfully tempting. "It's hard for me to say, just the hell with it."

This is John Murtha, incoming House speaker Nancy Pelosi's choice to be her majority leader, snared but not charged in the Abscam probe in 1980. "The Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history," Pelosi pledged on election night. Five days later she wrote Murtha a letter endorsing his bid to become her No. 2...





Senate Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on FTC Nominees

http://www.techlawjournal.com/topstories/2004/20040602.asp

June 2, 2004. ...President Bush has nominated Majoras, a Republican, to replace Tim Muris as Chairman, and Liebowitz, a Democrat, to replace Mozelle Thompson...

Liebowitz brought his wife, Ruth Marcus, who is a member of the editorial page staff of the Washington Post...


http://www.c-spanstore.org/shop/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=193124-1&template=3

Mona Charen and Ruth Marcus were interviewed about their lives, their careers, and their writings. They grew up as friends in Livingston, New Jersey and have remained close ever since. Ms. Charen is a noted conservative columnist while Ms. Marcus is, she said, "not as liberal as Mona is conservative."...

[Jim Sagle]

1. Chickenshit bullshit.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. Steny Hoyer

I see your opinion column, and raise you one...

So who is Steny Hoyer, and what can we expect from him? Zack Roth, at the end of a long profile in the November Monthly, comes away unimpressed:

The spate of recent lobbying scandals revealed a system in which corporate interests enjoy an unprecedented degree of control over the legislative process. Indeed, the influence of corporate money on legislation is the single biggest obstacle to achieving a broad array of progressive policy goals—from universal health care, to a fairer tax code, to curbing global warming.

That’s why Democrats need leaders who are willing to play aggressively by the current rules of the game — but who seek to change those rules once in power. The enthusiasm with which Hoyer has raised money from K Street, his resistance to serious lobbying reform, and his general comfort with the Washington establishment all imply a politician with little interest in systemic change. Indeed, Hoyer’s contention that the problem lies not with lobbying practices as a whole, but rather with individual corrupt members of Congress, suggests he genuinely sees little need for such change.

The title of the article is "The Establishmentarian," which pretty much sets the tone for the whole piece. It's well worth a read.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2006_10/009817.php

[MADem]

3. Don't get sucked into this divisive horseshit. Let them choose their own

organizational leadership in the Democratic caucuses. Steny has the backing of the Black Caucus, the Latino Caucus and the Blue Dogs, and here is how he is rated on the issues:



Steny Hoyer is a Populist-Leaning Liberal.


http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Steny_Hoyer.htm

Washington Monthly is hardly a liberal rag. They carry more Bush water than the urinal just off the Oval Office. I say look at Hoyer's record before you condemn him so easily. It's not a simple thing to compromise on some issues but stay true to "populist, left leaning, liberal" goals. He deserves some credit, frankly.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. actually, I just posted the same kind of bullshit

opinion column cause I'm feeling frisky.

They both have good points and bad. Murtha is usually too Conservative for my liking, and Hoyer really is entrenched in the DC machine.

On the other hand, Murtha is standing up for our troops and Hoyer is backed by several progressive groups.


I'll take my punishment for stirring the pot now. :evilgrin:

[MADem]

5. I'm of the mind that it is THEIR decision, they have to live and work with their pick

If they want the damned janitor to do the job, hey, whatever! I don't care who does it so long as the business of the people is accomplished!

I do think that the devastated GOP want to find some excuse to try to rile us, but this is a foolish issue, really, because once the votes are cast and counted, that is that. They can't drag this out because Nancy has already worked well with Steny (she as minority, he as whip) so there's not any big drama there.

She'd likely be happier having her old pal Jack in the job if she had the choice, but she'll be fine with anyone...even the damn janitor, if that's what it came to!

I do think she, and the rest of the delegation, have WAY bigger fish to fry! And the GOP, with their Murtha-Hoyer dramatic horseshit, is like a pouting child tugging at Momma's apron, distracting and delaying her from frying those way bigger fish!

[Union Thug]

6. My enthusiasm is instantly drained when reminded of the

overwhelming influence wealthy special interests hold over our representatives. I begin to doubt anything progressive is possible, considering how the system is so tilted towards the greed of the elite.

And we as a society tolerate it.

Blah.