Now that election day is over the real fun begins. Jockeying for leadership positions in both Washington and Harrisburg is on and there are various news reports concerning both. The incoming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (isn't that just music to the ears?) endorsed our own Jack Murtha for Majority Leader. This should give him the inside track although he has said he already has the votes lined up (yea, as if you can trust all those promises!).
Various liberal bloggers are criticizing the choice of Murtha because he doesn't have many liberal credentials. That's true, especially on the question of Choice. Others have mentioned some of the ethical questions surrounding the Congressman from Johnstown. That isn't relavant to this issue though. None of the issues raised about Murtha rise to anything truly serious. He wheels and deals to get things done, it how government works.
The Majority Leader helps gets bills passed and lead and manage the Democratic caucus. No one has the authority and gravitas to do so more than Jack Murtha, in my opinion.
It's essential we get things done in the 110th session. After two years of a Do Nothing assembly most often depicted as corrupt we have a unique opportunity to show the people what we can do in the Majority. Jack Murtha can help get our agenda through and to the President's desk. From a parochial viewpoint this is also huge for Pennsylvania. Having the dean of our Congressional delegation as Majority Leader provides significant influence in Washington for issues directly related to the Commonwealth.
Murtha showed his leadership on the matter of Iraq. He showed he has the strength to stand up for what is needed and the influence to gather others behind that position. This is essential to forging a path out of the quagmire in which the nation sits, not only in regard to Iraq but many other issues. We need the strongest possible team to lead and Pelosi/Murtha provides it.
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