Over at the Seattle Times, they're only publishing letters to the editor from two wise viewpoints: the Right and the Far Right. To wit, we have this deranged, psychopathic tirade:

“Liberals are no better than a terrorist who is out to destroy our great country. If you don't get your way, then go out and tear down the system. Americans don't need this and, if we ever want to come together again as a nation, it has to stop.”
— Tom Hagadone, Lynnwood
Anyone know Tom? Sounds like he needs a valium.

Tom,

You’re really going to help us understand your totally logical viewpoint by letting us know that we’re all terrorists. If only we could just see how your hateful, goose-stepping, right wing ideology would make our lives better, then we could “come together as a nation.”

Uh-huh.

It must be really hard for Tom, you know, living in a state where most of his fellow citizens, two thirds of the state legislature, most federal representatives and even the governor are terrorists.

It would be even more shocking for him to go on vacation to Canada and discover that 67% of Canadians are terrorists. They call themselves Liberals (gasp!), New Democrats, Greens and Bloc Quebecois (I’m picturing the Home Alone kid’s expression on his face). Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Talk about a rock and a hard place: Hoyer is a punk who was instrumental in helping the GOP pass bankruptcy "reform", and Murtha is a liberal only in the sense he opposed the war before it was fashionable. At least he doesn't have it out for Pelosi like Hoyer. Gotta agree on those Times LTTEs. Blethen is pissed. His neighbors better keep the dogs indoors.

So I'm pretty sure the Dems are going to fuck up early. I'm so sad.

Majority whip has to be a close ally of the speaker - must be.

The job is keep things running on the speakers agenda and reflecting the party unity and strength Velvet glove enforcer.

It is completely Pelosi's choice.

Murtha is popular and well known. The other guy is just a power hungry young turk. Hoyer gain all by some big time national media. Get it while you can, looking for position in the new Congress next year. Smart for the publlicity resume, pointless to court favor with Pelosi.

Murtha is great by me. Nice older guy, good link to an aging population. Vet. Real vet. Not many left from the Big War. So he is a hustler for money for his Disrtict, so what. That is his job.

People who see Congress as a debating club are silly. Power and money, money and power.

Go Dems.

The majority leader is a different position than the majority whip. The majority leader "is by recent practice the day-to-day manager of business on the House floor." (Via Congresslink.) " Further, the majority leader is not "completely Pelosi's choice." The candidates will be voted on by the Democratic caucus, and Murtha is not the current frontrunner.