Dick Gephardt quits as house leader

[Guest bob_barron]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt is stepping down after eight years as House Democratic leader, looking ahead to a possible run for the White House and leaving behind a succession struggle in a party jolted by midterm election losses

 

 

 

 

Gephardt, 61, informed party leaders Wednesday night he will not to seek a fifth term as House minority leader, according to several officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Senior aides said he would make his intentions public Thursday, although no formal announcement was scheduled.

 

 

Gephardt told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in an interview Wednesday that he decided to leave his leadership post after discussions with his family and longtime advisers following Democrats failure to make gains in the House in Tuesday's elections.

 

 

"We didn't get to the goal line," Gephardt told the paper. "We didn't score the touchdown. I'm sorry about that, but I'm proud of what I did, proud of what they did. Now I've talked with my family, and I've come to the conclusion that it's time for someone else to take a crack."

 

 

Even before a public declaration though, the lawmakers who rank second and third in the party hierarchy, Reps. Nancy Pelosi of California and Martin Frost of Texas, launched a race to replace Gephardt and try to lead the party back into power.

 

 

"To win back the House in 2004, we need a unified party that will draw clear distinctions between our vision of the future and that espoused by the Republicans," Pelosi said in a statement. "Working together, I am confident the Democrats will succeed."

 

 

But in a statement, Frost said, "After yesterday's election, it's clear that a Democratic majority requires a strategy focused on challenging Republicans in parts of the country that are not always easy for Democrats."

 

 

That was a reference to a large number of House races in southern and western portions of the country that were pivotal in the battle for control of the House in midterm elections. While Democrats won some of them, they lost seats overall — a highly unusual setback for the party that does not have the White House in an off-year election. And they face two more years in the minority in a Republican-controlled House.

 

 

Aides said Gephardt would remain in Congress.

 

 

And he was not expected to discuss any presidential ambitions in the immediate future, although he long has been interested in running for the White House. He challenged for the party's nomination in 1988, and was on the verge of running a second time in 1998, when Democrats unexpectedly gained seats in midterm elections. He set aside his White House ambitions at the time, endorsed Al Gore (news - web sites) and plunged into a two-year campaign to win back the House that fell a few seats short in 2000.

 

 

Two years later, Gephardt was buffeted by public criticism from two members of the rank-and-file on the day after Democrats lost seats.

 

But others praised his work over eight years.

 

"There's no doubt in my mind if he ran for leader he'd be re-elected leader," said Rep. Steny Hoyer (news, bio, voting record), D-Md. "I frankly do not believe that the reasons we lost yesterday had anything to do with any failures on his part."

 

With close ties to organized labor, Gephardt served as his party's chief legislative strategist in the House, often struggling to hold a diverse caucus together on issues ranging from tax policy to international trade legislation.

 

He was also the Democrats' political leader and chief fund-raiser in the House. In the final weeks before Tuesday's elections, he campaigned for Democratic candidates in competitive House races around the country, and spent hours on the phone in a final round of appeals to party donors.

 

Hoyer said in an interview he intends to run as whip next week, and claimed the support of more than 170 members of the rank and file, well over a majority. He has no announced opponent.

 

Pelosi was elected whip over Hoyer on a closed-ballot count of 118-95 a year ago, an early indication of her strength as she heads into the race to replace Gephardt. Her base is among California Democrats — 33 of whom will be in the House next year. She also draws support from women and liberals.

 

Frost has a Texas base, and is attempting to appeal as a moderate best able to position the party to win national elections. At the same time, he long has played an influential role in party politics, having served as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Last year, he played a key role in the efforts to make sure congressional redistricting was done on terms favorable to Democrats.

 

Gephardt's decision added spice to what was otherwise a predictable series of leadership choices by the two parties in the House and Senate.

 

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and the once and future Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., are reassured of re-election as their party's leaders, a reward for GOP election victories.

 

No challenger has yet emerged to Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota, running for a new term as party leader in the Senate.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

From what I read about him, it seemed he started out as a blue-collar Dem, but then turned leftward. Oh well, guess new blood is needed at the top.

 

"'We didn't get to the goal line,' Gephardt told the paper. 'We didn't score the touchdown.'"

 

Dude, you didn't even get past midfield...

[Guest Kingpk]

Geez, how many candidates are the Dems going to have in 2004?

 

From what I see:

Gore

Hillary Clinton

Gephardt

Dashle

John Kerry

and probably more

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Hmm, Well I'd count out Mr. Dick and Daschle. Hillary is too polarizing, and even she knows this (thank god for the electoral college). Gore and Kerry are my two bets, both of which would cause me to vote Bush in '04.

 

BTW: Just read that Bush wants Cheney as VP in '04. BIG mistake, imo. Need a successor, not a ticking heart attack waiting to happen...

[Guest Mad Dog]

I think Bush needs to go for Guliani or Powell for his V.P.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

I've been saying Powell since 2000.

 

I don't think Rudy G would make it because of his rather liberal social positions. I like the guy and wouldn't mind him running alongside Bush, but I don't think he'd be picked...

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Bush isn't going to dump Cheney. The only way Cheney isn't the V.P. is if he chooses not to run again.

 

If Cheney doesn't run Bush should seriously look at picking a Governor to be V.P. They tend to have more success winning the Presidency than Senators do. Do you know who the good Republican Governors. Tim Pawlenty might be a future player in the Republican Party he's only 41, a moderate that appeals to the Conservative wing of the party. He needs to do the job has Governor before he can move up the later.

 

Guiliani will not be V.P. in 2004. If I had to guess the Republicans want Guiliani to run against Charles Schumer.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

Bush shouldn't be looking for a successor, since I can almost guarantee a Democratic victory in 2008 if the country isn't burned out on Republican politics and policies by 2004. The best bet for Republicans would be to have Powell or Guilani run, as those are two men I'd gladly vote for over a Gore or Kerry, as a pair of Democratic examples.

 

On Election Night on CNN they were discussing how there have been *rumors* of Bush wanting Jeb to succeed him in 2008, assuming he's reelected in 2004. They figured these rumors were either baseless or if they weren't, was a really silly idea. I agree.

 

Kotzenjunge

Has Wanted Powell Since 1996

[Guest NoCalMike]

Well hopefully with the Gephardt leaving his positions, the Democrats will go back left and stop trying to be "friends" with the right, and grow some balls and stick to the policies they debate about instead of deciding they would rather follow polls.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

But following polls, and the will of the people as a result, is a good thing. Personal and Party convictions are only useful until people won't vote for them any more.

 

Kotzenjunge

You Know the Crying Game, I Know the Political Game

[Guest NoCalMike]

No man. Following polls usually gets nothing done because people for the most part are afraid of change, and you have to convince them it is good. In the 50/60's civil rights was a radical change that a LOT OF PEOPLE did not want to happen, but it was the RIGHT thing(of course) I am sure the polls back then would have led politicians to back down from it, if they followed the polls.

 

Ever since Sept. 11th, democrats decided that representing the opposite view of the republicans and presenting an opposition was not as important as avoiding being called, "unpatriotic" and "cowardly" as if namecalling was the be-all, end-all. Right now the democrats have NO IDENTITY, that is why practically only HARDCORE VOTERS showed up at the polls this time around. Shit, Gray Davis won CA with 3 million votes, that is less people that live in Los Angeles alone(and of age to vote).

 

If the democrats want to play buddy/buddy to republicans, then they can expect to get their asses handed to them over and over, while the Green Party picks up steam and voters(hopefully).

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

While the use of the now-dreaded patriotism card is unjustly used, it (patriotism) is still at least the feeling of the nation. Naturally if a party goes against something that is meant to in effect make the people of the country safer, they're just asking to get killed the moment they object to a single clause of the bill. No matter how practical or rational the objection may or may not be, the headline still reads "Democrats Against Homeland Security," and the vast majority of America just looks for headlines.

 

Kotzenjunge

Will Put What Works Over Party Alleigance Every Time

[Guest NoCalMike]

You are right to a certain extent, but once the paranoia settles down, people will get a little smarter about the situation. Sept. 11th has happened once in the history of our nation, and the Bush Administration all but promises on a daily basis that it is gonna keep happening and soon, although nothing since it has even developed or been threatened. Bush fails to see that the terrorists wanted to pull America back into the brunt of middle-eastern affairs, and look where Bush has lead us right into.....TADA.....Meanwhile, the Democrats are not offering an opposition. In the beginning they talked a good game about not wanting war, no stupid tax cut, etc....but at the end of the day, they cried and went home and voted for everything they vowed not to. What does that do for credibility on election day? If I am someone not sure who to vote for and this scenario plays out, who am I likely to vote for?? My main question to the Democrats right now is.......WHERE IS THE OPPOSITION/IDENTITY of the democratic party?

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

IMO, had the Democrats offered up a position against Bush's policies (tax cut, homeland security, etc.) I think they would have been beaten even more resoundly. Sure they may have won an extra seat in CA, Mass., or some urban district, but a good number of Dems that lost this election came from states where being a pseudo-hippie would have gotten them lauged off the debate stage.

 

I'm curious to see where the Dem. Party goes from here. Do they appeal to middle America, or do they go pseudo-hippie, Berkely style?...

[Guest Vern Gagne]

I'm curious to see where the Dem. Party goes from here. Do they appeal to middle America, or do they go pseudo-hippie, Berkely style?...

Hopefully Berkely style, but if they wanna appeal to more people they have to go middle of the road.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

But that would make Babs and Alec Baldwin upset...

[Guest Olympic Slam]

I'm curious to see where the Dem. Party goes from here. Do they appeal to middle America, or do they go pseudo-hippie, Berkely style?...

Looks like Nancy Pelosi is going to be their House leader. If it turns out that way, look for the Democrats to move left as Pelosi is so FAR left she can reach around and grab you on the right. I'm praying the Dems take her borderline marxist stance so they can be exposed for who they truly are.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

Anything other than appealing to middle America would be near-suicide for the Democratic Party. They need to gain steam for the 2004 elections, and it would be foolish to do that by alienating the majority of Americans.

 

Kotzenjunge

Troubled By The Virulence Of Attacks On The Left

[Guest Olympic Slam]

Anything other than appealing to middle America would be near-suicide for the Democratic Party. They need to gain steam for the 2004 elections, and it would be foolish to do that by alienating the majority of Americans.

That's why their party is in such dissaray. They can't decide if they want to go for it all and go with the far left Greenish platform or be Republican-Lite. The Democrats believe in the former but are more considered about being elected, thus the move towards the center.

[Guest Mad Dog]

I think their in trouble if she doesn't tone it down as the Minority Leader in the House.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

I wonder if there will be mass defections by conservative dems, much like what happened in the mid-'90s...

[Guest DrTom]

As a right-leaning chap, I'm thrilled that the Dems have installed such a bleeding-heart liberal into such an important position. Maybe this will finally flush the "New Democrat" label once and for all.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Just heard a congressman from TN, Ford Jr. is throwing his hat into the race.

 

Being a Republican, Ford would be a Dem. who I wouldn't mind having represent me. I hope he loses so the fringe section of the Dem. party rules the roost until '04...