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
The thighmaster had better hope that Rudy doesn't run against her broad A$$ in 2006. If he does, she can join Mondale, Cleland, and the rest of the Beaten DemocRATs.
Now we have Nancy Pelosi.
There is a God.
And he has a sense of humor.
""We have seen 'anonymous' fliers displayed in predominantly African American communities in Baltimore, MD, with an incorrect Election Day date, warning voters to make sure their parking tickets are paid, their rent is not overdue, and they take care of any outstanding warrants before they go vote."
Is that what they think of their constituency ?
That even if the flyers were distributed that the average DEM voter in those communities owe back rent, don't pay parking tickets and are on the run from arrest warrents ?
Hey Baltimore Democrats ! --- This is what your Democrat representatives think of you !
When are conservative Democrats going to jump ship?
Probably just as soon as one can be found. Don't hold your breath.
Remember after Republicans took the house in 1994, a lot of Democrats switched the party.
By CARL HULSE with TERENCE NEILAN
New York Times
ASHINGTON, Nov. 8 Representative Nancy Pelosi of California appeared today to have won the contest for House Democratic leader when her chief rival, Martin Frost of Texas, withdrew.
"It is clear to me that Nancy Pelosi has the votes of a majority of the caucus," Mr. Frost said in a letter to his Democratic colleagues. "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."
Mr. Frost's withdrawal left only Representative Harold Ford Jr. of Tennessee as a rival to Ms. Pelosi, at least for the moment. But it was not clear this afternoon how long Mr. Ford would stay in the contest, and Ms. Pelosi was widely viewed as the front-runner in any event.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/08/politics/08CND-DEMS.html?todaysheadlines
Go Nancy!!!! My district
Pretty soon they will be able to add irrelevance to the list items they stand for.. LOL
Before it was "Let them eat cake," now it's "let them run as anti-war candidates."
The party elites have just written off all moderately conservative parts of the nation.
Who's going to vote for a party headed up by an honest-to-god member of the Socialist Internationale? Yes, the "Democratic Socialists of America" are part of the International Socialist Organization AKA the Internationale.
They should have chosen Frost. They are IDIOTS.
I know of five: Billy Tauzin, Nathan Deal, Greg Laughlin, Tommy Robinson, and Jommy Hayes.
That doesn't seem like "a lot" to me, but we all have our own perspectives obviously.
With a leader like Nancy Pelosi
The Democrat future ain't rosy
To the left they will swerve
Their votes will downcurve
And Dubya to a new term will mosey
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