Schuler To Challenge Pelosi

[Me.]

Blue dogs now have 20+ members in their caucus, progressives have 70+.

Heath Shuler Would Challenge Pelosi For House Minority Leader Post

“Nancy Pelosi's demotion from Speaker of the House could end up being a few more steps down if Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) has his way, as reports now suggest that the Blue Dog Democrat will challenge her for the House minority leader position.

"If there's not a viable alternative -- like I said all along -- I can go recruit moderate Members to run in swing districts," Shuler said on Thursday. "In that situation, I could do it better than she could, and that's what it's going to take. It's going to take moderate candidates to win back those seats."

Pelosi has not said whether she will pursue the leadership post.

Shuler announced his intention to challenge Pelosi late last month during a debate with his opponent, Jeff Miller, whom he defeated on Tuesday.

"If there is no viable alternative (to Pelosi), I will be running for speaker of the house," Shuler said during that exchange. The top House spot in the Democratic party will now be minority leader following the shift of power”…cont…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/04/heath-shuler-minority-leader_n_779052.html.
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[RZM]

1. This is a surprise

What does he mean by 'viable alternative' I wonder? I imagine there are plenty of people with much stronger connections and favors to call in who want that job. Don't think it's happening, Heath.

[Me.]

7. Just What We Need

A Con speaker and a faux one as minority speaker

[DainBramaged]

13. Sure to roll over for the Repukes

I wonder what is in his Swiss bank account?????

[Divine Discontent]

15. not surprising, much like the ego of most QB's, he thinks he's the one who should run things, but,

like his NFL career, he's gonna be throwing an incomplete pass on this attempt!!!

[RZM]

21. LOL

I was thinking more he was going to get sacked, but yours works too.

[Divine Discontent]

22. as does yours! ha! I trashed about 50 Rookies of his I had, about 10 years ago, he failed really

badly in the NFL.

[global1]

2. Sure - A Repug Majority In The House And A Blue Dog Dem Wanting To Be The.....

house minority leader. Just what we need - more capitulation.

[Me.]

11. Beat Me

A great mind moment or just so obvious it smacks one in the face?

[Warpy]

3. I'm always astonished by conservative hubris

There is no way that loon is mainstream, especially mainstream in this party or in Congress as a whole.

Remember, Blue Dogs lost 50% of their seats this time. Progressives held onto ~75% of theirs.

[RZM]

14. I know this runs against the CW here

But I don't really think the recent spate of Blue Dog euthanasia happened because these people are conservative Dems and that progressives would do better. I think that the only reason they were elected in the first place in some of those districts is because they're conservative. A rep has to fit the district and in a lot of these places, that means conservative beliefs. It is true that people will usually prefer a real Republican over a Blue Dog (just as in more liberal districts they'll prefer a Dem over a liberal Republican, one reason that the latter are an even more endangered species), but NOT ALWAYS. This was a Republican year, it happens, so when the choice was between two similar candidates, the Republican will win -- a mirror image of 2006. But sooner or later, we're going to have a Democratic year again and some of these Blue Dog slayers will themselves be in danger and like it or not, the candidates that will be best equipped to defeat them will not be progressive (that will usually go for the primaries too). I don't have a lot of love for Blue Dogs, but I recognize that some places are more conservative than others. Sometimes other factors are at play too. Without the Bob Ney scandal, I don't think Zack Space would have won, even with the climate in 2006. Same for the recently ousted Joseph Cao in Louisiana, who wouldn't have been there in the first place without the antics of William 'Freezer Cash' Jefferson.

That being said, I'd be absolutely shocked if Shuler got minority leader. I imagine there are tons of other House members who could defeat him handily without even trying.

[Warpy]

18. Given a choice between GOP lite and GOP

people will generally vote for the real thing. That was especially true in this election since Democrats are largely perceived as spineless and ineffective.

People are angry and that makes them especially ornery.

[RZM]

26. True, but like I said, not always

It depends on the year and the place. Much of the time that's true, my issue is that I think sometimes people are mistaken when it comes to the reasons for and interpretations of shifts like this. The rejection of Blue Dogs is not always a case for progressive candidates (not saying you are making that, btw), it's more of a statement about the district itself and the ebbs and flows of the fortunes of the two parties. What could unfortunately complete the above maxim is this: 'Given a choice between GOP lite and GOP people will generally vote for the real thing, but in a red-leaning district, given the choice between GOP and progressive, people will generally vote GOP just about all the time.' When you have one party rolling, it's natural that they would make gains in districts that are somewhat favorable to them in the first place.

[emulatorloo]

4. Shuler needs some basic math lessons.

I'm guessing Pelosi is going to step down, I'm guessing another progressive is going to take her place.

[Old and In the Way]

5. We don't need a bluer version of Republicans running the House, Heath.

A lot of chutzpah from someone who's caucus just got cleaned.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

6. Too dumb to master an NFL playbook... but just right for congress, I guess.

Heath Schuler was a great quarterback at Tennessee with a simplified offensive scheme geared to athleticism.

In the NFL he simply could not master the basic complexities of the game.

The Redskins got to the point where they were running a bare-bones vanilla offense and he had the shortened roster of plays written on his wristband still couldn't keep up!

[TwilightGardener]

8. In that case, I am pulling for Nancy.

[Hawkeye-X]

9. Guess that brain study needs your brain badly, Heath

You have been knocked in the noggin one too many times.

You aren't going to win it with just 30 votes.

[sharp_stick]

10. I love people that have spent very little time

in Congress thinking they are qualified to run for leadership spots. Elected for the first time in 2006, he has a grand total of 4 years in Congress and a lack of any real Bill writing and passing credentials. I see him getting maybe 1/2 of the blue dogs to vote for him and nobody else.

I know he represents a really red district and I respect the fact that he's not ever going to be able to even come close to being a Progressive member of Congress but this kind of grandstanding makes him look like an idiot.

[RZM]

17. I find the internal jockeying fascinating

It's interesting to watch. I wondered before how, on the other side, people like Santorum in the Senate and his royal swarthiness in the House got into high positions not long after being elected (in the orangeman's case, I'm talking about his first stint in the 1990s). I would guess the job will go to Steny Hoyer if he wants it -- it sure as hell ain't going to be Heath.

[BootinUp]

12. One thing he is right about

you can't win those seats back in most cases without moderate candidates. Unless the demographics change somehow. As for Pelosi's role, I think she was a strong choice for us, I defer to the dem caucus and Pelosi on who should lead going forward.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. The moderates got their asses kicked on Tuesday, so he wants to run more moderates?

More brilliant ideas from the "if you can't beat them, join them" wing of the party.

[joeybee12]

19. Newsflash Dikwad Shuler, you're NOT a moderate, you're a RIGHTWING D**K!!!

[Dappleganger]

20. Somebody needs to shut this moderate shit machine down now...

and read those "dems" the riot act.

[gkhouston]

23. Show of hands: how many DUers not from the Carolinas have even heard of this guy? n/t

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

25. Lots of sports fans have

[RZM]

27. Not a sports fan anymore

But I was when I was a kid/adolescent so I do remember him from then.

[Uzybone]

24. hahahah...sit down Heath

[charlie]

28. 2 terms and he thinks he should be in charge

Reminds me of Harold Ford, another Republican Lite asshat.

[alarimer]

29. PSST,Heath! Blue Dogs lost, get over it.

The minority leader needs to be someone from one of the larger caucuses, one that actually represents Democratic interests, instead of Repuke-wannabe interests.

[MerryBlooms]

30. Seriously?

Pelosi hasn't shed a tear and worked her ass off! Can you imagine the how the reich would be circling in the water if she had?

Unlike our soon to be our weeping Orange sauced Overlord who couldn't turn down a wallbanger or nine holes if his soul depended on it. Gawd, the assbag may have to work a full f'n day for a change.

Pelosi has kicked some serious backside and deserves respect!

[YankeeLeft7x]

31. Heath Shuler.....Please.....Enough Already

Heath Shuler----Stop being such a windbag.....You are not one ounce of importance in the overall scheme of things.

As much as I disliked many of the decisions made by Speaker Pelosi, I am sure she had to do certain things to please stiffs as yourself.

As much as I may have disliked Nancy Pelosi at times, she was a very good leader overall and held the Democrats together in the minority during the Bush years. Moreover, Nancy Pelosi was a significant improvement over Richard Gephardt as well.

Heath----enough already!!!! And stop your bashing of Nancy Pelosi because it shows what a disloyal hack YOU ARE-Heath!!!!

[YankeeLeft7x]

32. Deleted By Me

Duplicate Post----Sorry