We need Jack Murtha for Majority Leader (Dennis Kucinich)

[laststeamtrain]

I support John Murtha for Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives.

As many of you know, I was one of those who organized the effort to stop the US from going to war against Iraq. One hundred and twenty-five Democrats, nearly two-thirds of our caucus, voted against the war.

<snip>

Jack Murtha's reconsideration of the Iraq War enabled many others who had voted for the war or otherwise supported it, to express their own doubts.

Jack Murtha and I have not always agreed in the past, and we may disagree in the future. None of us is right 100% of the time. We need Jack Murtha for Majority Leader because, at a critical moment on the major international policy issue facing America and the world, he showed an openness, a readiness to listen, and a willingness to set a new direction, based on new information.

<more>

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-dennis-kucinich/we-need-jack-murtha-for-m_b_34175.html

[MADem]

1. And on the opposing team: Charlie Rangel, Maxine Waters, Barney Frank

Rep. Charles Rangel of Harlem, who called Mr. Murtha "a friend" and received support from him in 2004 in his push for the reinstitution of a military draft, said yesterday that Mr. Murtha would make a good majority leader. But Mr. Rangel is going to vote for Mr. Hoyer.

"My kind of politics is, if you do your job, you are supposed to be rewarded," Mr. Rangel, who was one of 105 co-sponsors of Mr. Murtha's resolution to redeploy American troops in the Middle East in 2005, said. "I think Steny has done his job. I cannot think of any reason why this is happening."

Mr. Hoyer said yesterday that he has the support of most Democrats in the House. The centrist Democratic Leadership Committee also has endorsed him, saying yesterday in a statement that Mr. Hoyer would best continue the Democrats' momentum from Election Day. Another New York Democrat, Rep. Anthony Weiner, who represents parts of Brooklyn and Queens, takes the opposite view. He said Mr. Murtha was instrumental in the Democrats' midterm victory.

http://www.nysun.com/article/43459

And THIS article is worth reading in its entirety: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/14/PELOSI.TMP

"There must be an inside story here; perhaps that Hoyer has it wrapped up and she is rewarding an old and important ally. I just don't get it. Pelosi is smart and pragmatic. Why do this now?"....Murtha, a towering, burly, 74-year-old decorated Marine veteran long known as one of the military's biggest backers in Congress, and the petite Pelosi are a Capitol Hill odd couple. Despite any policy differences, they have been close for years, and Murtha is one of her closest advisers behind the scenes.

The two used to belong to a small group of Democrats who met informally for dinner on Tuesday evenings, a group that oddly enough also included Hoyer.

Murtha managed Pelosi's successful campaigns for minority whip in 2001, when Hoyer ran against her, and for minority leader in 2002. When Pelosi took over as minority leader, Hoyer was elected whip, and the two have co-existed since. ....Hoyer responded quickly and calmly after Pelosi's letter was made public.

"Nancy told me some time ago that she would personally support Jack. I respect her decision, as the two are very close. I look forward to working with Speaker Pelosi as majority leader,'' said Hoyer, who first met Pelosi more than 40 years ago when both were interns in a Maryland lawmaker's office.

"Much has been made of the conflict that Nancy and I both say doesn't exist,'' he added Monday on CNN. ....Liberals backing Hoyer include Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and civil rights legend Rep. John Lewis of Georgia. Rep. Maxine Waters of Los Angeles, head of the House's anti-war Out of Iraq Caucus, also supports Hoyer. .....

[jackbourassa]

2. Murtha has the votes...

So they say on Hardball.

After all, if Hoyer were ahead, why is he on this smear campaign against Murtha? Front-runners don't smear.

I think Murtha has it.

The vast majority of the 125 anti-Iraq Democrats are supporting Murtha, as are a handful of long-time Murtha allies who supported the war and about half of the freshmen.

That should give him enough votes.

[MADem]

4. I said a week ago that Hoyer would take 150 votes. Apparently I know better than HARDBALL.

I was only off by one.

You don't seem to get that this has nothing to DO with the war. Like it or not, it doesn't. It's HOW the Dems are choosing to organize themselves; it is a procedural thing, not a policy thing. Having Murtha at the head would not ensure a particular vote on the war, and having Hoyer at the helm doesn't ensure a different result.

[bemildred]

3. Attaboy Dennis. nt