It's time for a new Democratic whip in the House!

[Idioteque]

In the Senate, our whip is Senator Dick Durbin. While there are always a few defections, Sen. Durbin does a pretty good job getting the caucus to stick together. With very very very few exceptions, Dick Durbin votes with the majority of Democrats.

In the House, however, our whip is Steny Hoyer. Take a look at the results of the vote on reauthorizing the U.S.A P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act Look which group Steny is in. This isn't the exception either. Steny Hoyer votes with the Republicans any chance he can get.

I don't mind moderate to conservative Democrats being in the caucus. However when it is your job to WHIP members into voting the party line, you ought to vote the party line yourlself. If Steny voted like this in a parliamentary system, he wouldn't be whip. He wouldn't even be a backbencher. His ass would be thrown out of the party.

Not once have I seen Roy Blunt vote with the Democrats. The result? Unprecedented Republican party unity. If Steny Hoyer can't vote like a Democrat, he shouldn't be our whip.

[pstans]

1. This might be a job for the DU Activists

I see a letter writing campaign by the DU Activists to old Steny coming up.

[napi21]

2. Don't they elect a WHIP at the start of a new session?

I admit, I don't know how this works. Can you just demote or fire someone from that position and vote for a new one?

[Idioteque]

7. I assume somebody in the caucus can make a motion to elect an new whip.

"The Democratic Leader appointed the Democratic whip until 1986, since then the caucus has elected the Whip. The Whip is assisted in his or her duties by a large whip organization made up of Members and staff."

link

[OzarkDem]

3. Agree

You can't have a whip who thinks he has to vote like an R to get re-elected.

Who would make a good replacement? Has to be someone agressive, persuasive, loyal.

[Old and In the Way]

5. Barney Frank

[Allenberg]

12. I'd support him if only

for the speeches he gave during the Terri Schaivo farce.

[Idioteque]

6. Jim McDermott!!! n/t

[Glorfindel]

8. John Lewis!

n/t

[Tesha]

14. Bernie Sanders. Of course, he's *NOT* a Democrat. (NT)

[ElsewheresDaughter]

4. Cynthia McKinney

[KingFlorez]

9. If we ever win the majority

He will most likely be majority leader.

[TahitiNut]

10. Deputy Whip is Mike Honda ... as solid a Liberal as you can get.

I loved living where Mike was my Representative. He's superb.

[zann725]

11. How 'bout Conyers...or Sheila Jackson Lee?

n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

13. Conyers needs to stay where he is

Generally nobody gets to be in the leadership and be chairman/ranking member of a committee. If we get the House back, Conyers gets to be chairman of the judiciary committee, a position that will much better assist him in his efforts than whip.

[babylonsister]

15. Sheila Jackson Lee would get my vote! She's outspoken,

honest, and a true Dem; these qualities are sadly lacking in the majority of TX politicians.