Interesting take on Murtha by Steve Clemons (The Washington Note)

[Boo Boo]

Click the link if you want to read comments; there's come good stuff. Clemons sparked an interesting discussion with this post.

Steny Hoyer will most likely be the next Democratic Party Leader in the House of Representatives despite Nancy Pelosi's support of John Murtha today.

But Pelosi's move is gutsy -- and diplomatic. She needs to build bridges between different factions in the House -- including traditional liberals like Hoyer and realist hawks against the Iraq War like Murtha. She's also got quite a few neo-con lite types among Dems that need to be handled.

By not favoring favorites and promoting competition, Pelosi is kick-starting the Democratic Party to start serioiusly debating how it defines itself and what message and objectives it wants to transmit to the public.

I'm impressed with the move -- even if the Murtha campaign fails. It's extremely smart to do. Even Hoyer seems to think so and accept what she has done.

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001766.php

Not sure I buy Steve's premise that Hoyer is a shoe-in. Hoyer and Murtha represent two different positions on the war, and Hoyer ran against Pelosi for Minority Leader back in '01. I sorta think Pelosi will do more than just send Murtha a nice letter voicing support. He helped her beat Hoyer, after all---why wouldn't she return the favor? Why wouldn't she want a close ally rather than somebody who opposed her?

[hippiechick]

1. "not favoring favorites" ??

... but Murtha is Pelosi's favorite ...

[Boo Boo]

4. Yeah, I agree. I don't think I'm buying Steve's premise. If Pelosi stays

true to her reputation she is going to back her ally Murtha to the hilt. Murtha's supporters seem to think that she is going to seal the deal for him.

This is getting exciting! :7

[savemefromdumbya]

2. Yes Dems have to be kick started

Nancy is strong enough to see this through - most of them are frightened of their own shadows.

[swimboy]

3. Maybe Congress will play Chess now instead of Whack-a-Mole.

I would really like to see deliberative debate and thoughtful action and I'm encouraged to read something positive about her actions as they are being portrayed largely as problematic and dooming the Democratic Party.

I have a lot of faith in our ability to do well!