Why can't Daschle show this type of leadership?

[ringmastery]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21912-2003Nov29.html

As Pelosi winds up her first year as leader of the House's 205 Democrats -- a caucus still adapting unhappily to a decade of GOP control -- she has focused on back-to-basics priorities: party discipline, loyalty and unity. That is no easy feat for a party historically divided between liberals and moderate to conservative members, even if some of the most conservative Democrats have vanished as Republicans prosper in the South.

Pelosi's main focus has been limiting Democratic defections on tough issues, forcing Hastert to fight hard for every GOP vote. On a recent vote involving President Bush's plan to revise overtime pay rules, for example, only two Democrats voted for the administration plan, while 21 Republicans went against Hastert and the White House.

"If the job of a minority leader is to make the majority work harder for every vote, she's doing quite well," said Bruce Reed, president of the Democratic Leadership Council. "At least it's Republican arms that are being broken."

Pelosi also demands loyalty from Democrats outside Congress. Tom Downey, a lobbyist who had served with her in the House, said Pelosi recently chided him for skipping a Democratic fundraiser.

"She said to me in the hallway, 'Well, we missed you at this event,' " Downey said. "In her mind, she knows who's done what."

[pasadenaboy]

1. because he doesn't even vote

with the party on a lot of issues. How can he encourage others to do what he himself won't? Didn't support fillibuster of medicare bill, than cowardly voted against it. Why vote against it if you won't vote to sustain the fillibuster?

Voted for Iraq War authorization. Voted for Patriot Act. If that's democratic leadership, remind me again why I'm not a republican!

[whirlygigspin]

2. Pelosi was wonderful during the medicaire bill debate

cheers to the fighters!

Go Dean!

[Adjoran]

3. Daschle wouldn't

His interest, from the time he first became leader, was in promoting himself as a Presidential candidate. He never caught on, of course.

As a legislative leader, Daschle has been the Incredible Shrinking Man. His tenure has been a failure by every objective measure.

A minority party can't ascend to the majority unless it has leaders willing to fight for the party.