Pelosi pulls out the stops for Murtha for Majority Leader: Not just loyal letter of support

[DeepModem Mom]

The Hill: Pelosi pulls out the stops for Murtha
By Josephine Hearn

Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is imploring her colleagues to support Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) for majority leader, multiple House Democrats said yesterday, dealing an unexpected but not necessarily fatal blow to Murtha’s opponent, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

It had been unclear until yesterday whether Pelosi would use her clout to turn votes to Murtha. She endorsed him in a letter Sunday, but some dismissed it as a nod to personal loyalty rather than a statement of her intentions.

But by yesterday, her intent was clear, several lawmakers said; she hopes to oust her onetime rival Hoyer from the leadership....

By throwing her full weight behind Murtha, Pelosi risks suffering an early setback with her colleagues if Hoyer wins; however, a Murtha victory would cement her total control....

***

...nine...incoming full committee chairmen are supporting Hoyer. Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.), Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), John Spratt (D-S.C.), Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) signed a letter yesterday backing Hoyer....

http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/111506/pelosi.html

[bemildred]

1. It almost seems like there are different factions struggling for power. nt

[Tellurian]

2. I'm for helping Pelosi cementing her power and control..

I've done the due diligence researching the (no) facts.

The final word on this morning's news confirms Pelosi's
endorsement of Murtha..She was right all along and perhaps
what we're seeing are the doubter who fear their credibility
will be affected by supporting Murtha!

First the recap...then scroll to the bottom:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15719627/

[bemildred]

3. I think she threw down the gauntlet when she spoke up for Murtha

instead of Hoyer. I think it was no accident. Power is the expectation of being obeyed. She is going to establish now whether she is going to be obeyed or not. I think she is very ambitious, and hence not content to just go along. She has been there long enough to see how things are run, and she comes from an old political family. It should be very interesting to see how it comes out, who wins.

[Tellurian]

5. In full control of what she is doing..

Undoubtedly, she knew all along, the swift boaters would be out
to challenge her first decision and has successfully rebuffed
their first of many upcoming attacks.

In light of a certain outcome, I'm hoping Hoyer supporters
throw their weight to Pelosi/Murtha. Beginning control of both
Houses as a united Democratic front unanimously thwarting future
attacks from the GOP and swift boating operatives.

[bemildred]

8. I hope your are right.

I expect scorched earth politics for a while here.

I do think her opponents would do well to reconsider.

[Tellurian]

9. agreed..

I can't hide my disdain for swifting. Perhaps, administration
may develop policy for swifting posters.

After all, since DU's inception, we have never held a majority
in both Houses and shouldn't have to waste valuable time skirmishing
with Swift Boating.

just sayin..

[bemildred]

10. I hear you.

It's very annoying having your perceptions "managed".

[bemildred]

18. Although I have always found it fascinating that our perceptions

here are important enough to be worth "managing".

Still it is very annoying to have twenty "so and so screws goats" threads every day.

[Tellurian]

36. It's obvious Rethugs wanted Hoyer and why Rethug operatives

are arguing non stop on this board.

The main thing is, Rethugs want to erode the public's confidence in Pelosi-
Hoyer is for Stay the Course in Iraq..Murtha championed getting them out!

So, what is going on here?

[bemildred]

37. The Republicans probably have different motives that those that

opposed Pelosi/Murtha on the Dem side, and this is only the
beginning. It is always a mistake to underestimate the
duplicity of public political debate. We will see more of this
issue, in some form.

[Tellurian]

38. Thanks,

I'll bear that in mind..

[sandnsea]

22. Gee - ya think? n/t

[phiddle]

4. "We made history, now we have to make progress"---Pelosi

Our best chance to make progress in this oh-too-brief period before the '08 campaign is to work together as 1 party. I don't think that it's a control issue, as much as a unity issue. Nancy can trust Murtha to be a loyal lieutenant, even if he is dirty. With Hoyer there will always be the question of whether he is trying to create a rival power base. And, Hoyer has a lot of K-street connections, meaning both that he's not squeaky clean, and also that he would probably impede the lobbying reforms which Nancy wants to put into place. Make no mistake, this is a big one for her, and she's not even in the job yet!

[Tellurian]

7. AYE!

whats more, Hoyer recommends 'Staying the Course in Iraq!

who needs Republithink when we have Hoyer?

[bobbie]

12. Good point. Hey, we wanted Dems to get tough; Pelosi is being tough...

Hope she's tough on the Cons too.

[knight_of_the_star]

6. This is going to be key

If her move works, then her control of the House will be unquestioned, especially since Hoyer has done a piss-poor job as whip in the first place. If it doesn't then things will be very difficult for Madame Speaker.

[bemildred]

11. Pelosi Gets Tough

---

In the wake of her surprise endorsement of Jack Murtha for House Majority Leader, many in the party and press are already questioning Pelosi's judgement. "The biggest puzzle, and biggest disappointment," wrote Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus, "is Pelosi, who was pitch-perfect in her first several days as speaker-elect." In other words, what is she thinking?

Maybe there is an easy explanation for why Pelosi would use so much of her political capitol on backing Murtha. "Hoyer and his aides have consistently worked to undercut Nancy Pelosi since she defeated him to become minority leader," former Congressman Les AuCoin, a liberal Democrat from Oregon from 1974 to 1992, wrote yesterday. "Now Nancy is backing Jack Murtha over Hoyer, the current Democratic whip. Why would a shrewd operater like Nancy take such a risk before even being sworn in as speaker? Simple: She thinks Hoyer, as majority leader, will work as hard to cut her throat as to perform his duties."

Pelosi needs a deputy she can trust. This race may not be about
Iraq or corruption, but about who will allow her to be the most "effective" Speaker. That's why she's going all out, calling members of Congress and urging them to back Murtha.

"She will ensure that they wins," Congressman Jim Moran told the Hill. "We are entering an era where when the Speaker instructs you what to do, you do it."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20061115/cm_thenation/15140793

[Dhalgren]

14. This is what I like to hear:

"We are entering an era where when the Speaker instructs you what to do, you do it." We have been bitching for six years for the Party to produce a strong leader, with great Liberal credentials and it has. Nancy Pelosi is not only unassailably Liberal, she is a smart, practiced politician who knows how to get things done. Now she tells us who she needs on her team in order to move our agenda forward, and by the gods, she should have the team she needs. If the Party doesn't back Pelosi now, it will fail in the next two years to do anything meaningful and you can kiss '08 goodbye...

[Tellurian]

20. The main reason for not posting

on the newest swifty thread...quoting, a second hand quote, saying "Murtha said it was CRAP!"

From his mouth to God's ears. I can wait for a DIRECT Murtha quote!

..I can sense Nancy is putting a very heavy foot down, right NOW!

GO NANCY!

[geek tragedy]

25. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

She has a lot riding on this vote. If Murtha loses, it'll be viewed as a personal defeat for her. Not a good way to begin.

[bemildred]

26. "Faint heart never won fair maiden" as they used to say.

Better to kick them in the nuts first, if you know there is going to be a fight. They will pursue their own self-serving rinky-dink agendas if the Speaker cannot kick them to the curb. Why do you think some of the old Committee Chairs are not supporting Pelosi? They'd just as soon have a weak Speaker. It's all very reptilian, as Ms Pelosi herself said. If she wins, they will lose a lot too, and in fact, they have more to lose than she does.

[geek tragedy]

39. Discretion is the greater part of valour.

Tough and smart aren't opposites, but they're not synonyms either. This was a mistake.

[bemildred]

40. Seems that way. Steny sure looks happy. nt

[geek tragedy]

41. He should. Hopefully he'll be that happy

after a few rumbles with the Republicans.

[crispini]

34. Well, at this point, then, I'd back Pelosi.

Give the lady what she wants and go forward.

[mondo joe]

13. Good. We need a speaker who can play and who can play tough.

[patricia92243]

15. Is there a date for all this to be over? n/t

[bemildred]

16. I believe there is an election on Thursday. nt

[DeepModem Mom]

17. That's getting to be an important question; let's get it behind us. nt

[God Almighty]

19. I don't like any of the expected top three.They're all conservatives.

Perhaps, Congress should pick someone who agrees with the American people on the issues.

[chill_wind]

21. Waxman backing Hoyer? Waxman has my backing. nt

[IndyOp]

30. Not only Waxman. Barney Frank also backs Hoyer. And...

they might be thinking only of the individual (Hoyer v. Murtha) rather than the team (Pelosi undercut by Hoyer vs. Pelosi supported by Murtha)...?

My biggest concern - has Pelosi secured a promise from Murtha that passing ethics legislation will be a top priority?

If Pelosi has Murtha as a powerful friend -- that could more quickly end the occupation of Iraq.

Ethics reform and out of Iraq -- critical.

[chill_wind]

35. Yes. Corruption and Iraq were the top two mandates. nt

[Orsino]

23. Ick. TPM just reminded us of Murtha's ABSCAM history...

...which I am just barely old enough to recall. This is disappointing.

[MarkTwain]

24. Yes. Unfortunately,"disappointing" does not really describe Murtha's ....

... involvement in these matters:

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001995.php

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001993.php

Just what does it say about the Speaker Designate and her control over the issue when " nine...incoming full committee chairmen are supporting Hoyer. Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.), Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), John Spratt (D-S.C.), Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) signed a letter yesterday backing Hoyer...." and "...other freshmen remained steadfast in their support of Hoyer despite intense lobbying by Murtha’s allies. Reps.-elect Ron Klein (D-Fla.), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) and Phil Hare (D-Ill.) were vigorously supporting Hoyer yesterday" ?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2615624&mesg_id=2615624

Pitiful, is a word that comes to mind. As well as a "missed opportunity" to dramatically stamp your ethical impramatur on the new House that now has been tragically missed by the Speaker Designate.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Beam Me Up]

32. Thumb:

:thumbsup:

[w4rma]

31. WATCH THE ABSCAM VIDEO: Murtha Displays A High Degree of Ethics

berni_mccoy says:
I've watched the Abscam tape. You can watch it here too: http://lonestartimes.com/2006/11/14/

I listened to every statement Murtha made.

Murtha did exactly this:
1. Discussed housing prices
2. Discussed the problems of his District
3. Told the agents that they can't give him money to get legislature drafted and that is illegal
4. Told the agents that he wants to follow the law
5. Told the agents that they are free to invest in his district and that he would be appreciative of that
6. Told the agents that they don't need to spend a damned cent on this
7. Told the agents that he could speak kindly of them for investing in their business and that would work for him politically to show he is able to get business investments for his district
8. He even told them what is legal and that they are going out of bounds
9. Any sort of investments have to be dealt with legally and politically and that he needs to know details before discussing further
10. A few investments in his district will get the attention and everything has to be above board or otherwise people go to jail.
11. The people in his district will be supportive of investing companies and will want to advertise the fact and that Murtha was helpful. It's a good thing when done properly.
12. Introducing legislation is only legal when initiated by people in his district.
13. The LEGAL and ETHICAL way for a company to have legislation drafted is by investing in the district, lobbying the people of the district to initiate the laws and then Murtha can respond.
14. He gave examples of ways that this has been done successfully and unsuccessfully in the past.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that.

What Murtha Didn't say:
1. He didn't take money to draft legislation
2. He didn't say he would draft legislation for investing in his district
3. He didn't guarantee the agents that they would get their legislation proposal supported by the people in his district.

Murtha was completely above board on the entire issue and educated the agents on the legal and ethical issues of lobbying.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2725397

[Imagevision]

29. Go Nance, you're cool...!

[dailykoff]

33. Hope she pulls it off.

Bold but necessary IMHO.