A Party Divided Cannot Stand: Infighting Amongst The Democrats
Yes, Madam Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, cannot control her kids. But this is due, in no small part, to her idiocy in stabbing Steny Hoyer in the back, and endorsing John Murtha for Majority Leader. But it is that decision that has Charlie Rangel incensed, and unwilling to cooperate with Pelosi:
The battle between Rep. John Murtha and Rep. Steny Hoyer for the no. 2 leadership spot in the House of Representatives is dividing the New York City delegation to Congress.
Although Mr. Murtha led a charge against the war in Iraq, which contributed to the Democrats' taking both the House and the Senate, many Democratic representatives in New York, including some who co-sponsored his troop redeployment resolution in 2005, are backing the Pennsylvania congressman's rival, Mr. Hoyer, to become House majority leader. The Democrats will decide the matter in a closed-door vote Thursday.
Some of Mr. Hoyer's backers in New York are asking why the likely new speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, has endorsed Mr. Murtha rather than the Maryland congressman, who is the minority whip and the second-ranking Democrat.
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."
Despite the fact that Thomas and I differ with the Democrats when it comes to ideology, and the fact that we disagree with Charles Rangel 99% of the time, Rep. Rangel is spot-on correct here. (No, pigs are not flying around our house right now.) Steny Hoyer has been a loyal soldier for the Democrats for a long time, and Ms. Pelosi's choice was not only follhardy, but it drove a wedge into the party.
Furthermore, not only is Jack Murtha one of the biggest pork-barrel spenders in Congress, he was alos under investigation in 1980 in the Abscam bribe scandal. He is hardly the right choice for House Majority Leader. In addition, he displays no talent for being able to handle the party properly in the House. No experience from his service record is going to help him with his job, and the rift caused by Nancy Pelosi is only going to make his job harder.
Maybe Mr. Hoyer is far too moderate for Ms. Pelosi's tastes. But she would be remiss in backing Murtha over Hoyer; the party's base has already sent a clear and resounding message that they do not like nuts. Ned Lamont lost to Joe Lieberman in a landslide. Their base would prefer a more moderate approach to politics rather than the extreme liberal fringe that has reared its ugly head in recent years.
To add more fuel to her funeral pyre, she has not done a good job in uniting the Democrats behind her. The Congressional Black Caucus, as Captain Ed notes, is extremely disappointed with her backing of Murtha over Hoyer--a fact made clear from Mr. Rangel's and Rep. Maxine Waters' dismissal of Murtha as Majority Leader.
The rift is growing within the House Democrats, and she is to blame. Rather than acting as a uniter, and weighing each leadership position carefully, she is acting like a bull in a china shop. Her decisions seem more like a parent punishing children for the occasional misstep rather than a leader looking to promote the best people for the right jobs. As I noted yesterday, Ms. Pelosi is dumping Jane Harman from the House Intelligence Committee, which clears the way for Rep. Alcee Hastings to take the post. We will recall that Rep. Hastings is an impeached judge--one removed due to his corruption and bribe taking.
Rep. Pelosi can brag all she wants about the Democrats, and she can deny her straight liberal side if she wants. But her actions are speaking much louder than words. Again, instead of appointing moderates who will resonate with the nation, she has opted to shift the Democrat House leadership more to the left rather than the middle. Her choices also signal that bipartisan cooperation is officially dead. She is going to try to play the big boys game in the House, and it is going to backfire badly. In closing, Ms. Pelosi should remember that she does not have the power she thinks she does. The president still has a veto pen, and her majority is not big enough to overcome a presidential veto.
Marcie
Yes, Madam Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, cannot control her kids. But this is due, in no small part, to her idiocy in stabbing Steny Hoyer in the back, and endorsing John Murtha for Majority Leader. But it is that decision that has Charlie Rangel incensed, and unwilling to cooperate with Pelosi:
The battle between Rep. John Murtha and Rep. Steny Hoyer for the no. 2 leadership spot in the House of Representatives is dividing the New York City delegation to Congress.
Although Mr. Murtha led a charge against the war in Iraq, which contributed to the Democrats' taking both the House and the Senate, many Democratic representatives in New York, including some who co-sponsored his troop redeployment resolution in 2005, are backing the Pennsylvania congressman's rival, Mr. Hoyer, to become House majority leader. The Democrats will decide the matter in a closed-door vote Thursday.
Some of Mr. Hoyer's backers in New York are asking why the likely new speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, has endorsed Mr. Murtha rather than the Maryland congressman, who is the minority whip and the second-ranking Democrat.
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."
Despite the fact that Thomas and I differ with the Democrats when it comes to ideology, and the fact that we disagree with Charles Rangel 99% of the time, Rep. Rangel is spot-on correct here. (No, pigs are not flying around our house right now.) Steny Hoyer has been a loyal soldier for the Democrats for a long time, and Ms. Pelosi's choice was not only follhardy, but it drove a wedge into the party.
Furthermore, not only is Jack Murtha one of the biggest pork-barrel spenders in Congress, he was alos under investigation in 1980 in the Abscam bribe scandal. He is hardly the right choice for House Majority Leader. In addition, he displays no talent for being able to handle the party properly in the House. No experience from his service record is going to help him with his job, and the rift caused by Nancy Pelosi is only going to make his job harder.
Maybe Mr. Hoyer is far too moderate for Ms. Pelosi's tastes. But she would be remiss in backing Murtha over Hoyer; the party's base has already sent a clear and resounding message that they do not like nuts. Ned Lamont lost to Joe Lieberman in a landslide. Their base would prefer a more moderate approach to politics rather than the extreme liberal fringe that has reared its ugly head in recent years.
To add more fuel to her funeral pyre, she has not done a good job in uniting the Democrats behind her. The Congressional Black Caucus, as Captain Ed notes, is extremely disappointed with her backing of Murtha over Hoyer--a fact made clear from Mr. Rangel's and Rep. Maxine Waters' dismissal of Murtha as Majority Leader.
The rift is growing within the House Democrats, and she is to blame. Rather than acting as a uniter, and weighing each leadership position carefully, she is acting like a bull in a china shop. Her decisions seem more like a parent punishing children for the occasional misstep rather than a leader looking to promote the best people for the right jobs. As I noted yesterday, Ms. Pelosi is dumping Jane Harman from the House Intelligence Committee, which clears the way for Rep. Alcee Hastings to take the post. We will recall that Rep. Hastings is an impeached judge--one removed due to his corruption and bribe taking.
Rep. Pelosi can brag all she wants about the Democrats, and she can deny her straight liberal side if she wants. But her actions are speaking much louder than words. Again, instead of appointing moderates who will resonate with the nation, she has opted to shift the Democrat House leadership more to the left rather than the middle. Her choices also signal that bipartisan cooperation is officially dead. She is going to try to play the big boys game in the House, and it is going to backfire badly. In closing, Ms. Pelosi should remember that she does not have the power she thinks she does. The president still has a veto pen, and her majority is not big enough to overcome a presidential veto.
Marcie
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 8:29 AM
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