House Republicans Oust VA Panel Chairman (Why? Too Close To Vets)

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- House Republican leaders decided Wednesday to oust Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Christopher Smith, a lawmaker with strong allies in the veterans' community who has tested his party's demands for loyalty with his stances on funding.

The GOP leaders, in a secret ballot, chose Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., a 10-year veteran of the committee, to replace Smith, R-N.J., who has led the panel for the past four years. Smith is expected to lose his committee seat, which he has held for 24 years.

The decision is expected to be ratified when all House Republicans meet on Thursday.

Buyer was the only lawmaker to challenge a sitting chairman as party leaders met to organize for the 109th session of Congress. Removing an incumbent is highly unusual, but Smith has been criticized for not being a team player and threatened with loss of his post for questioning party policies.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-veterans-chairman,0,4146566.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[Art_from_Ark]

1. Gotta love those "support the troops" Republicans!

:puke:

[Tweed]

16. Support Our Troops

Fire Rumsfeld!

[cosmicdot]

2. "Smith has been criticized for not being a team player ...

... and threatened with loss of his post for questioning party policies."

that's how these good ol'boys bullies and their corporate mindset operate

character assassination likely will carry over to the next election, and he'll be 'replaced'

[shraby]

3. Maybe there is a Repug vote for

Conyer's challenge tomorrow.

[TankLV]

5. repukes put loyalty to their PARTY first above everything

even the Constitution and Country.

I will never trust ANY repuke

[Just Me]

4. Will this turn the "Bush-supporting" veterans' heads?

You betcha'!!!

*sigh*

I foresee so many with regrets over the next several months.

[UndergroundLight4]

6. I thought these people espoused states rights...

And here they are butting into Virginia's business. Hypocrites.

[MADem]

7. Emily Latella? Is that YOU????

VA=Veteran's Administration, in this case, not VA as in Arlington, VA.

Or were you goofing on us???

On a serious note, this is a real blow. The Pentagon liked that guy, he never promised anything he couldn't deliver. He has some friends in uniform and in senior civ slots.

Obviously, they're getting out the hatchet and getting ready to do some budget chopping.

[jdj]

8. come one, say it!

Oh...Nevermind.

I've had my share of Emily Latella moments, too,

[jdj]

9. dupe

dupe

nevermind.

[struggle4progress]

10. The Repubs can't let a friend of vets chair the VA committee. eom

[gratuitous]

11. Just like the Department of Labor

Has to be run by cheap labor sweatshop devotees.

[TahitiNut]

12. Loilty to the Reich is required. Screw the vets for the fuhrer!

:puke:

[MGKrebs]

13. Wow. Get Jeffords over there to talk to this guy about

the joys of being an independent!

[fearnobush]

14. It could work, Smith reps my district. He gets votes from both sides

because he is pretty much a stand up guy.

[canadianbeaver]

15. Sure wish the boys in Iraq could get info like this...and all the

other stuff floating around DU regarding Troops and Iraq.....someone must know persons serving in Iraq. We need them to understand what their Bosses are up to.....I for one am glad Kerry is in Iraq...

[Gloria]

17. I never voted for Smith because he is very anti-choice...but he

he seemed sincere and pretty consistent in some other areas involving humanity.

[gardenista]

18. kick for Khephra

[bobbieinok]

21. .......

[msongs]

19. sieg heil the brown shirts are purging the non believers. eom

[dbeach]

20. Veterans Beware!

Smith is big loss for Veterans.Larger than his departure will be the new VA director whom is James Nicolson ,the former RNC director.He is the axe man who will kill the VA .Another heart of stone repuke who will lap at the trough of big govt while condemning the social services that big govt provides..Nicolson has potential to be worst VA director in history dating back to 1929.Nice cushy job for the guy who helped raise millions to get the criminal bushfraud appointed.Payback must be sweet when the good crimes roll.

[miss_kitty]

22. kick for Khephra

[Scout]

23. kick