What about HOYER? I get strange vibes

[UTUSN]

Here I am, not wonderfully educated on all regions, yet with a LOT more time spent on politics than the average: And I had never heard of HOYER before.

In the recent photo ops, there he is, VERY cool, self-possessed, and DANGEROUS-seeming. Very Kevin McCARTHY. In the pics, it's hard to tell that PELOSI is the top dog, because he seems to be in charge, OOZING self-confidence. Yet in all these years that Dems were on the defensive, I never once saw him out there.

I get the uncomfortable feeling that he is one of those Dems who is better at fighting other Dems-- like Joementum-- than fighting Rethugs. I hope I'm wrong.

[cali]

1. You didn't know who Hoyer is?

Look, he's a well known dem. He has his good points and his not so good points, but evidently his fellow House members believe he does a good job in a leadership position. He's been a dem leader for years. Yes, he's too involved with K Street, and he voted for that awful bankruptcy bill, but in general, he votes pretty liberally. The ADA gives him a 95% rating.

In any case, though gut feeling can be good indicators, they can also be wide of the mark. And just because someone is cool and self-possessed, doesn't make them danger.

[Flabbergasted]

2. Interesting Address....

http://democraticwhip.house.gov/media/statements.cfm?pressReleaseID=406

Hoyer Addresses AIPAC Political Leadership Conference

The US and Israel have stood together since 1948 because we stand up for what is right – liberty, freedom, and democracy

by Congressman Steny Hoyer

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer addressed the AIPAC Political Leadership Conference on December 15, 2003 (as prepared for delivery):

From my perspective as the Democratic Whip, I believe that AIPAC and all the friends of Israel can look back at the past year as one of many successes.

In April, Roy Blunt and I circulated a letter signed by 313 House Members urging President Bush to abide by the principles for Mideast peace that he articulated on June 24th, 2002.

First and foremost among them was this absolute precondition for peace: that the Palestinian side unconditionally cease the campaign of terror and violence against Israel.

In June, the House passed a resolution by a vote of 399 to 5 condemning the unconscionable terrorist attacks against Israel and expressing our solidarity with Israelis in the continuing war on terrorism.

In October, the house passed the Syria accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act by a vote of 398 to 4.

That legislation would require the president to impose economic and diplomatic penalties on Syria unless it makes immediate and meaningful changes in its policies.

[John Q. Citizen]

3. Give it some time. I hoped Nancy's guy would win because I thought it would

be better to have united leadership.

But it's up to the members of congress to elect their leadership, which they did, and decisively.

let's give him a chance and see what he does.

[MoonRiver]

4. What are you talking about?

There's nothing diabolical about Hoyer. He won because he is more popular with House Democrats. :wtf:

[William769]

5. Would you suggest that we have someone that looks like Bush?

Someone who looks like an idiot!

[UTUSN]

6. Thanks, posters 2 & 3, for the civility. Dear #s 1, 4, and 5:

1: I *did* OWN both my knowledge and my lack of all encompassing knowledge. Why the snippiness?

4: What am I talking about? This sounds like the dude in the recent Paula POUNDSTONE comedy show: "WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT???!!!!1" She replied to him, "I didn't know I was being so upsetting to you, sir." What am I talking about?---uh, could it be what I said, my subjective perceptions, like 99% of the threads on an internet discussion board? I didn't question why he won. I said what I said.

5: What gives you the LEAP that I wold prefer anybody looking like Shrub? There's a sly slur there. On the contrary, I would have JUMPED FOR JOY to see a bold, self-confident, aggressive Dem like what I see in HOYER now, OUT THERE in 2000, '02, and '04, bashing Rethugs. It says SOMETHING that I who have spent hours here daily for years never heard of him before. Is this a dastardly personal failing of MINE? But thanks for dropping in.

[jannyk]

9. Don't fret UTUSN, I'd never heard of him either

I could rattle of the names of a few hundred democratic congressmen, governors, senators, strategists, spokesmen and policy wonks, and probably half as many corresponding republicans, but like you my reaction was - Steny who?

I find it strange that someone so influential in the party is so little known.

[MoonRiver]

10. Dear UTUSN,

If you can't take the heat, get out of the fire. You post, we respond. Sometimes we disagree. That's the deal.

[DaveinMD]

7. Hoyer

has been a great force in helping to build our party both in Maryland and nationally. He is no Joe Lieberman.

[Octafish]

8. You've got him pegged, UTUSN.

Here's what David Sirota wrote before the election:

Dueling Democrats

No matter what happens election day, Democrats are in for a wild ride in 2007

By David Sirota

EXCERPT...

What will happen, for instance, when Chairman Miller pushes through legislation that outlaws the most vicious of Corporate America’s pension cutback schemes? Will people like Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)—who has bragged about starting his own K Street Project—lead the opposition? How about when Chairman Levin introduces a resolution demanding an exit strategy from Iraq? Will he face a battle not only with Republicans, but with Democrats backed by neoliberal, pro-war think tanks like the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC)? And what about when the Bush administration sends down its next corporate-written trade deal? Will Democrats have the unity to defeat it? The answer is that progressives will certainly have a decent chance of enacting their agenda—but not without bruising fights within the Democratic caucus.

SNIP...

http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/dueling_democrats/

Thanks for the heads-up on your inner sight.

[soothsayer]

11. Didn't he already say we'll stand with Israel, and that we ain't

going to cut and run from Iraq? Or something along those lines? Same old same old. He's a career politician. I don't expect any great changes with him around.