Imo, this is the first dumb move I've seen by Pelosi so far (most of her others have been good), if true.
Murtha does not impress me one bit (intelligence-wise). Hoyer is a very smart guy, imo.
Bizarre.
This will be (I hope) a battle royal between the "Soros-kook-fringe" and "normal-leftleaning-Democrats".
If Murtha and Pelosi win this battle, it will be a long two years, but they will self destruct in the end. If Hoyer wins, Democrats have a better shot in '08.
Steny Hoyer used to be my Representative. He's head and shoulders over Murtha.
I see Murtha as being almost like a Democrat version of Tom Delay - extremely polarizing who will say the oddest things at the most inopportune moments. At the same time, he doesn't seem to share Delay's intelligence or political acumen. In other words, what does Murtha bring to the table?
Hoyer would be the man to go with if they were looking to make deals on domestic policy with the White House. Murtha is the man if they're looking to go into permanent warfare mode. This choice speaks volumes.
If Pelosi next axes Harman for Hastings, my optimism for taking back the House in 2008 will rise considerably.
I don't know where he is on the issue today, but a few years back - after the Dems began to peel away for support of the war - I dropped a dime on Steny and thanked him for backing the President and supporting our troops. I appreceated his support regardless of the fact that I disagreed with him on every other policy issue.
He sent me a nice note back with a thank you. Hoyer is smart (intelligence-wise) and politically, as well,
Murtha is a big step to the left for the folks who have promised to work in the true spirit of bipartisanship. Hey, how's that Bolton nomination coming along, anyway??