Posted on 11/08/2002 11:31:09 AM PST by RobFromGa
ROLL CALL DAILY
Following is the full text of Frost's letter to his colleagues announcing his decision:
8 November 2002
Dear Democratic Colleague: Nancy Pelosi and I have waged a quick and close race for Democratic Leader - one that has been hard fought on both sides. Over the past several days, I have talked extensively with virtually every Member of this Caucus. And I am gratified to have broad and deep support that reaches across ideological, regional and racial lines.
However, it is clear to me that Nancy Pelosi has the votes of a majority of the Caucus. In light of this fact, today I am releasing all of my commitments. I am deeply appreciative of all those who have supported me in this race, particularly those of you who have campaigned so strongly on my behalf.
Nancy Pelosi is a talented and capable party leader. I intend to support her for Democratic Leader in next week's election, and I will work with her to do everything I can to return Democrats to control of the House of Representatives. In doing so, I will continue to be an outspoken advocate for the mainstream, centrist views that will lead us to the Majority.
That is the goal that has driven me to work so hard and successfully to keep a Democratic Majority within reach. It is why I accepted the challenge of rebuilding the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee eight years ago after we lost the House. It is why I took on the task of ensuring a fair redistricting for Congressional Democrats after the 2000 Census. And it is why I entered this race for Democratic Leader.
As Democrats move forward to challenge the Republican leadership, it is critical that we bear in mind the unalterable political facts of life in the House of Representatives. No matter how eloquent our rhetoric or how sound our positions, we must have a realistic strategy to win a Majority. That is the only way Democrats will ever have the capacity to implement our ideas for helping the American people.
Given the extremist nature of the House Republican leadership, and their consistent refusal to compromise, we have no other choice. The Democratic principles that bind us together will never become a reality until we control the House of Representatives.
To do that, we must ensure that the public sees our party as the mainstream, aggressive advocate for the American people that it is. That requires maintaining centrist positions consistent with the majority view of the nation - and of the competitive battleground districts that determine the House Majority. Otherwise, we will continue to fall just short of control of the House.
I look forward to working with each of you to carry on the fight for a Democratic Majority. Together, we will go head-to-head with the Republican leadership, and build a Democratic House of Representatives.
Yours truly,
Martin Frost
END
(insert sinister laugh here)
She and her husband, Paul Pelosi, a native of San Francisco, have five children: Nancy Corinne, Christine, Jacqueline, Paul and Alexandra, and five grandchildren.
NO MORE LIES, HATRED, CORRUPTION AND EMBARRASMENT!!!
LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO PARTIES AND IT IS A NO-BRAINER AS TO WHY THE DNC LOST!
THE DIFFERENCE IS APPARENT...THE RNC HAS CLASS AND MORALS AND AN AGENDA THE MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT. THE DNC ARE A BUNCH OF CHILDISH, WHINY LOSERS, THAT DO NOTHING BUT BASH OTHERS ON THEIR WEB PAGE!
I think it will be great news for the Republicans if Nancy Pelosi becomes Minority Leader. (One of the pundits has already predicted that this kind of leftward shift by the Dems will push the Republicans up to about 60 Senate seats and keep us there for a generation.)
THE DUMB-O-CRAT LEADERSHIP
This is going to be so much fun to watch as they crash and burn.
I doubt it. That has the ring of a business owner whose factory burns down and (despite the fact that he had no insurance) expresses happiness. "I was hoping that factory would burn down. Now I have a perfect opportunity to rebuild it and make sure it looks exactly they way I want. I'm thrilled. .... Uh, do you have $100 million to spare?
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