Chris Van Hollen, the new head of the DCCC

[WI_DEM]

Let's hope he helps us add to our House Majority in 2008. Good luck, Congressman.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/12/19/114550/41

[LiberalEsto]

1. That's my Congressperson!

Congrats, Chris!

[mattclearing]

2. That's awesome.

One of the few bright spots of the '02 midterms was Van Hollen's election.

[jgraz]

3. What are his politics like?

Another Rahm Emanuel or a Howard Dean?

[DaveinMD]

4. he's a progressive Democrat

he defeated Mark Shriver in the primary in 2002 before knocking off a very popular moderate Republican.

[WI_DEM]

5. Say what you will about Rahm, he did a pretty effective job at the DCCC

though I didn't like his attacks on Dean.

[jgraz]

6. My guess is that there are about 200 Dems who would have done just as well or better

Remember, of the 29 new house members, only 8 were supported by the DCCC. In other words, we follow only Rahm, we lose the House. We ignore Rahm, we still take the House.

He blew it by supporting pro-war, centrist Dems when that was exactly what the voters DIDN'T want.

[derby378]

7. His record on gun rights leaves something to be desired

Let's hope he doesn't start alienating Democrats right off the bat:

http://www.house.gov/vanhollen/press2003-2004/Sniper.html

[benEzra]

10. H.R.2038 (rifle handgrip ban) rears its head again...

Van Hollen urged support for H.R. 2038

The Senate version of that bill, S.1431 (which Senator Kerry got sucked into cosponsoring, even though he apparently didn't understand what it covered, based on his campaign statements) helped cost Kerry/Edwards the 2004 election.

I hope Mr. Van Hollen has studied the issue a bit more since '03. If he wants to sustain the Dem majority in Congress, he needs to keep Congress the hell out of people's gun safes, and avoid falling for more bait-and-switch crap from the ban-guns lobby, unless he wants another 1994.

Rifles, even modern-looking ones, are simply not a crime problem and never have been: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_20.html

[derby378]

11. Word!

HR 2038 is an albatross. My goal is for Democrats to make gains and then keep said gains in 2008 and beyond.

[AnnieBW]

8. Wish I Lived In His District

Instead of Hoyer's. But, I'm NOT moving anytime soon!

Go Maryland suburbs of DC! Way to score another leadership position!

[JNelson6563]

9. Kicking in case any DUers missed this

I hope he does a great job!

Julie