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If Doug Hoffman is elected to Congress, his name will have a (C) after it, not (Independent), one assumes? Because he will be neither a Dem or Republican. My next question. As it is, we have a defacto (not dejure) two party system, which means we have Majority and Minority Leaders (1 each), and Majority and Minority Whips (1 each).

But if Hoffman is elected, he would not be a member of the Republican Minority, but would still in the Minority nevertheless.

Does that mean, Hoffman himself can become a "Minority Leader" in the House? He will in fact be the leader of his Party in Congress. It would be interesting if they would have to have "First Minority Leader" and "Second Minority Leader" posts created because of the three political parties that would henceforth be represented on the Hill. Just a thought.

In general when you get elected you become part of the caucus you chose.

Hence Independents Joe Liberman and Socilaist Bernie Sanders are Democrats for organizational purposes.

Not many years ago there was an I that caucused with the GOP, I think he later became a Republican.

Hoffman would caucus with the GOP.

Nope, depending on the House Leadership and the fact that this is merely a fill-in election, Hoffman will be persona non-grata in the House if he wins as far as leadership positions...magritte

If Doug Hoffman is elected to Congress, his name will have a (C) after it, not (Independent), one assumes? Because he will be neither a Dem or Republican.

When Bernie Sanders was in the House, he was listed I, though not a registered member of the Independent party. I believe they may need to change the designation to U, unaffiliated, but otherwise, I believe they put those who are not specifically registered Republican or Democrat as Independent.

My next question. As it is, we have a defacto (not dejure) two party system, which means we have Majority and Minority Leaders (1 each), and Majority and Minority Whips (1 each).

But if Hoffman is elected, he would not be a member of the Republican Minority, but would still in the Minority nevertheless.

Does that mean, Hoffman himself can become a "Minority Leader" in the House? He will in fact be the leader of his Party in Congress. It would be interesting if they would have to have "First Minority Leader" and "Second Minority Leader" posts created because of the three political parties that would henceforth be represented on the Hill. Just a thought.

Again, look to Sanders during his tenure in the House as your example, he associated himself with the Dems, he caucused with them, he voted with them, he was not considered a member of his own party, entitled to his own designations. Hoffman has said he would associate himself with the Republican side of the aisle, probably because he is a Republican, needed to file as he did because the GOP candidacy was already taken, similar to Joe Lieberman claiming to be an Independent, he had to do that because the Democrat candidacy was taken (from him!) in his last Senate race.

I don't see us becoming like Israel or Italy, hopefully Hoffman will secure enough principled votes and show these old gas-bag Republicans that the days of standing ridiculous candidates for office and attempting to extort our votes has come to an end.

Others have answered your questions to a large degree, but just to clear one thing up. Hoffman has said that if elected, he would caucus with the Republicans. In general, that means that he would support their choice for speaker, and that the Republicans would seat him on committee(s) in seats that they control. Sanders worked with the Democrats in a similar way.

From the desk of
cc2k:

Candidates I support: Doug Hoffman for Congress, NY 23rd (PayPal), David Harmer for Congress, CA 10th.

Please, spread the word about these important special elections on November 3, 209: New York’s 23rd congressional district and California’s 10th congressional district.