I think Murtha would be the smarter choice. The Dems need someone w/ brass balls who's not afraid of Dubya or the Repubs. And his military credentials would be best in the new direction that is needed in Iraq & Afghanistan. The only thing I dont like is that apparently Pelosi and Hoyer aren't very fond of eachother so hopefully that doesn't become the central issue & divides the party. Because if it does divide the party then it's gonna be politics as usual & a VERY bad start for the Dems. Read on...

Hello? Jack Murtha is the reason the Dems are sitting in the position they are. He was the original challenger to the Bush Regime's stance on Iraq, something that took place nearly a year ago. That is what got the snowball rolling downhill into what transpired just last week with the vote. So the thanks he gets is to NOT be majority leader? Pardon my being blunt, but that sounds like gratitude in this world of political ingrates.

I don't think thta Murtha will win and I also think that Pelosi's endorsement is a sign that she's loyal to those who have supported her

I doubt that she thinks that Murtha will win either

I don't think Pelosi went so far as to take on a lobbying-for-Murtha position, but I wonder why she would speak on this issue at all.

I think Steny Hoyer will win and I wonder why Pelosi would do this. Loyalty is one thing, but injecting herself into this race (and taking what might be the losing side in her first "battle") is not a prudent decision.

The one thing I really like is as a Westerner, the two most powerful people in my party, are from way out west, for once. How refreshing!!!Pelosi from Calif., and Reid from Nevada. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Let's hope they use a West Coast Offense and get things back on track for us.

U got it.

Speaking of I see Illinois' own Dick Durbin is now no. 2 in the Senate. Go Illinois! He's a quiet powerhouse in the upper chamber, and Senator Odreamy gets to traipse all over the country promoting hope and love and goodness. Either way, Illinoisans have a lot to be happy about!

I also saw the list of Senate Democratic committee chairs, and it's enough to make right-wingers explode. I actually laughed out loud. Here are some of the good people who will be chairing committees:

Agriculture-Harkin
Appropriations-Byrd
Armed Services-Levin
Banking-Dodd
Budget-Conrad
Commerce-Inouye
Energy-Bingaman
Environment & Public Works-Boxer
Finance-Baucus
Foreign Relations-Biden
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions-Kennedy
Homeland and Government Affairs-Lieberman
Judiciary-Leahy
Intelligence-Rockefeller
Aging-Kohl
Veterans-Akaka
Small Business-Kerry
Rules-Feinstein
Joint Economic-Schumer
Indian Affairs-Dorgan

Every single one of these people, save Baucus and Lieberman, could easily be described as a "liberal." Some of them--Kennedy, Harkin, Boxer, Akaka, Inouye, Rockefeller, Kohl, Dodd, Bingaman--are so liberal they could easily be pictured under a dictionary definition. See what you and your abysmal, failed war hath wrought, Bushie?

Keep in mind too that the House chairs will include liberal women, blacks, latinos, and possibly out gay people! Talk about making the Republicans' heads explode....

Byrd is no liberal; he's an old fashioned southern conservative Democrat

Rockefeller is not that liberal either-I'd say he's more moderate

Well, he's voted to the left on a number of pieces of legislation over the last few years, and has regularly condemned the war, which is not something I'd imagine many of his former southern Democratic compatriots like Howell Heflin, Sam Nunn or even Richard Shelby before he jumped ship would have done. According to VoteSmart, he's pretty far left--he regularly gets above 80% with NARAL and Planned Parenthood as well as the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health folks, he regularly has 100% ratings from the National Farmers Union, he was endorsed by Humane USA and has high ratings for animal protection and the environment, he has the highest ratings for supporting the arts and humanities, etc. He's a lot more liberal than you may think....

Rockefeller's 2005 liberal ratings were 80% on economic, defense and foreign policy issues and 73% on social issues. That's pretty liberal to me. Not Barbara Boxer liberal, but pretty darn liberal.

I think those ratings from NARAL and PP are a bit high-Byrd is pretty much pro-life

I think that the main reason he opposed the war was because of the constitutional issues-Byrd is a stickler for division of power in the federal government

Byrd has a mixed record on enviromental issues. He does support big coal in WV and always has

I back Murtha 100% and it sounds like Nancy does as well. The people voted last week for CHANGE, and for a way to get us the hell out of this Iraq mess. I hope Murtha gets it. He seems to think he did.....will be watching and listening. He speaks far more up front about the war than any of the Generals I have heard on the same subject.

Am I the only one who thinks there has got to be someone better than Murtha or Hoyer?

Murtha has voted against reforming the ear-mark process and delivers more pork than average to my current home state of Pennsylvania.

Hoyer was a supporter of the "War" in Iraq and, though he is from the state of my birth (Maryland), there must be some in the house who have consistently voted against this fiasco from the beginning.

I find either of them preferable to the robber barons from the elephant party. But neither strikes me as a devout "progressive".

The Dems are risking backsliding into the normal political deadlock and game-playing with either of them IMO.

2008 is too close for that. The Repubs will soon be smacking their lips at the possibility of watching the Dems wallow in the mess the Repubs have left. Legislative bodies are notoriously clumsy at dealing with issues that require decisive action.

I am far from despondent, but there will have to be some soul-searching for these folks to make any reform.

Hoyer just won -- quite handily: 149-86

Good news for the Dem. party

Well I found this mildly stunning. Just yesterday on "Hardball" Murtha said he would be the winner and that he had the votes. Wow.Will take a bit to absorb this and how it will affect my party...

Nah -- not that surprising -- especially after yesterday when he told a group of moderate Dems. (the Blue Dogs) that Pelosi's ethics and lobbying reform bill was “total crap”

Can't have the prospective Majority Leader saying that about one of the party's planks.

Hoyer is picked as Majority Leader. After Murtha's outburst yesterday it's probably best. He seems to be a loose cannon. Maybe he can help w/ advising 'bout Iraq & Afghan. Proved me wrong about what he really is about. The Dems certainly didn't need a loud mouth bully.

Steny Hoyer will be grilled on "Hardball" in less than 45 minutes for those of you like me, interested. The Show "Hardball" will replay 3 hours later. Looking forward to this interview. I want to hear about getting out of Iraq.